Research opportunities
Our biomedical engineering department offers a postgraduate degree programme that combines engineering, medicine and life and physical sciences.
The department is an international centre of excellence in postgraduate teaching and research.
Postgraduate education and research is directed at the application of the methods and ideas of engineering and the physical and biological sciences in medicine and surgery.
We have a particular emphasis on clinically-related research which ranges from basic investigations to direct clinical applications.
Much of our research is based on active collaboration with clinical units, academic departments and industry in Glasgow along with other areas of the UK and overseas.
As a student here, you'll play a vital role in the development of innovative research, enjoy state-of-the-art facilities and have the opportunity to network with industrialists, academic experts and clinical collaborators.
Visits to local clinical centres along with lectures from industrialists and visiting experts from the UK and overseas are a key part of our courses. You'll also have the opportunity to meet our many industrial and clinical experts to help advise and further your career.
Our postgraduate education includes research degrees that can be studied over one year (MPhil, MRes), three years (PhD) or four years (EngD). Our external research is supported by funding from Research Councils, the Scottish Government, charities, commerce and industry within the UK, EU and internationally in countries such as the US and Japan.
PhD & MPhil
You can study a degree in biomedical engineering within any of our three major research areas:
MRes
You can study for an MRes in:
EngD
You can study an EngD in:
Postgraduate Certificate in Researcher Professional Development (PG Cert RPD) programme
As part of your PhD degree, you'll be enrolled on the Postgraduate Certificate in Researcher Professional Development (PG Cert RPD).
This certificate is designed to support you with your research and rewards you for things you'll do as a research student here.
It'll help you improve skills which are important to professional development and employability:
- the knowledge and intellectual abilities to conduct your research
- the personal qualities to succeed in your research and chosen career
- the standards, requirements and conduct of a professional researcher in your discipline
- working with others and communicating the impact of your research to a wide range of audiences
All you have to do is plan these activities alongside your doctorate, documenting and reflecting your journey to success along the way.
Find out more about the PG Cert RPD programme.
PhD Advanced Algorithms for Breast Cancer Diagnosis from Tactile Images
A 42-month fully-funded PhD project, supported by EPSRC and industry partner PPS, focused on developing a system for automatically diagnosing and classifying lesions associated with breast cancer from tactile images.
Deadline:
Funding:
funded
Development of multi-sensor measurement for characterizing biological suspensions and tissue
The project will focus on the development of novel multi-sensor measurement-analysis platform which integrate optics (instrument configuration) and theories of light propagation through particulate media to extract physical and chemical information of biological suspensions.
Deadline:
Funding:
unfunded
Fees & funding
Fees
All fees quoted are per academic year unless stated otherwise.
Here are our fees for 2018/19:
Scotland/EU
Rest of UK
International
Funding
Find out about funding opportunities through our scholarship search.
Research Council studentships (AHRC, BBSRC, ESPRC, ESRC, MRC, NERC, STFC)
- Full Research Council studentships can only be awarded to UK and EU students.
- If you're an EU student, you're eligible for Research Council studentships if you've been living in the UK for three years, including for studying, immediately before starting your PhD.
- If you're an EU student and you haven't been living in the UK for three years, you may be eligible for a 'fees only' studentship.
- If you're an international student, you can only be funded by a Research Council if you have the Right to Abode (ie if your passport describes you as a British citizen), if you have Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK or have the right of permanent residence in the UK under EC law.
- If you have full Refugee status, you're eligible for fees and stipend.
Travel awards
Postgraduate Research Travel Award
This award contributes to the costs of conference and international travel for research purposes. The fund is open all year round but you can only make one application during your PhD.
Mac Robertson Travel Award
This is a joint fund between the University of Strathclyde and the University of Glasgow.
It provides funding for students studying a PhD or an MRes, to undertake a course that lasts from two months to a year at a centre of advanced study either in or outside Scotland. It doesn't cover conference travel and applications close in May each year.
Finn Randall Travel Award
This award was created in memory of Finn Randall, an alumnus of the University of Strathclyde and an adventurous traveller.
It was established to help a registered student with the cost of a particular travel scheme that's considered to be the most enterprising and relevant to their course of study. It doesn't cover conference attendance or travel for research purposes. Applications close in March each year.
The fees shown are annual and may be subject to an increase each year.
How can I apply?
You can apply for a postgraduate research degree at any point in the year.
All you have to do is complete an online application.
Entry requirements
A first or 2:1 Honours degree in biomedical engineering, electrical and electronic engineering, physical or life sciences.
If you have previous biomedical engineering or research experience you may register for the degree of MPhil. If you're studying for an MPhil or PhD you'll normally attend some of the MSc classes in the instructional MSc. You'll also undertake a research or development project and submit a thesis.
If you're in industry, the health service or other suitable employment you may register for part-time MPhil or PhD study. Projects for part-time study are subject to the approval of the head of the biomedical engineering department.
The application
During the application you'll be asked for the following:
- your full contact details
- transcripts and certificates of all degrees
- proof of English language proficiency if English isn't your first language
- two references, one of which must be academic
- funding or scholarship information
- research proposal of 250 to 1,000 words in length, detailing the subject area and topic to be investigated
By filling these details out as fully as possible, you'll avoid any delay to your application being processed by the University.
Supervisors
Research supervisors are assigned to you by the department of biomedical engineering.
We ask you to highlight a potential supervisor in your application but the department will team you up with the best supervisor to support your project.
Once we've received your application, your research proposal is passed to potential supervisors for consideration.
If it's not compatible with the researcher's current projects and they can't supervise then it's passed along to another supervisor for consideration.
If they can supervise you then the supervisor will confirm and nominate a potential second supervisor.
As soon as a second supervisor is confirmed, an offer will be sent to you through Pegasus; our online application system.
If you accept our offer of study, you'll then be sent a full offer in writing via the email address you provide.
Accepting an offer
Once you've accepted our offer, we'll need you to fulfil any academic, administrative or financial conditions that we ask.
UK or EU students
If you're applying as a UK or EU student, you'll then be issued with your registration documentation.
International students
An ATAS clearance certificate will be a mandatory requirement for some postgraduate students in science, engineering and technology.
You do not need an ATAS certificate if:
- you are a UK/EU/EEA national
- you require a Tier 4 student Visa, Entry Clearance or Extension to Stay to study in the UK
- you wish to study within certain subject areas at the University where the exit award will be a doctorate or postgraduate masters degree
Find out if you need an ATAS certificate.
You can apply for a postgraduate research degree at any point in the year.
All you have to do is complete an online application.
Support & development
Postgraduate Certificate in Researcher Professional Development (PgCert RPD)
Our PgCert RPD programme aims to ensure you get the most out of your current research activities at Strathclyde and help you prepare for your future career as a researcher.
We'll help you recognise and develop your transferable skills that'll have a positive impact on your research, now and in the future.
Careers
We have a great careers service at Strathclyde that can help you with everything from writing your CV to interview preparation.
Student support
From financial advice to our IT facilities, we have loads of different support for all students here at our University. Get all the information you need at Strathlife.
