ucl phd programs

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Welcome to the Doctoral School website

The Doctoral School is committed to ensuring that the quality of research training at UCL is at the highest international level. We aim to ensure that you as a research student or supervisor work in a high quality research training environment. UCL is proud to have been judged to be one of the leading research universities in the world. We aim to develop creative rigorous researchers for both academic and non-academic research careers across the world.

Through courses, inter-disciplinary programmes, and scholarships we encourage research students to look beyond the boundaries of their chosen discipline, as well as sharing and broadening knowledge across disciplines through societies and competitions. All of these activities are detailed on this website with links to all elements of the doctoral research training environment here at UCL.

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Computer Science (4 Year Programme) MPhil/PhD

London, Bloomsbury

The PhD programme in UCL Computer Science is a 4-year programme, in which you will work within research groups on important and challenging problems in the development of computer science. We have research groups that cover many of the leading-edge topics in computer science , and you will be supervised by academics at the very forefront of their field.

UK tuition fees (2024/25)

Overseas tuition fees (2024/25), programme starts, applications accepted.

• Entry requirements

A UK Master's degree in a relevant discipline with Merit, or a minimum of an upper second-class UK Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Work experience may also be taken into account.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 1

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

If you are intending to apply for a time-limited visa to complete your UCL studies (e.g., Student visa, Skilled worker visa, PBS dependant visa etc.) you may be required to obtain ATAS clearance . This will be confirmed to you if you obtain an offer of a place. Please note that ATAS processing times can take up to six months, so we recommend you consider these timelines when submitting your application to UCL.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website .

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

On this PhD programme, you will work within research groups on challenging computer science projects.

Our research groups cover leading-edge topics , and our academics are at the forefront of their field.

The research groups, the department , and the college, provide numerous opportunities to learn more about your field and the skills required to develop your research and future careers.

Who this course is for

This programme is best suited for people wishing to embark on an academic career, as well as those interested in finding work in industry. You will be assigned a first and second supervisor, who will guide you in the development of your research project and your abilities as a researcher. The research groups, the department, and the college, provide numerous opportunities for you to learn more about your field (e.g. seminars, conferences, and journal clubs) and the skills required for you to develop your research and future careers (e.g. training courses). Many of our students have had their research results published and recognised at leading international conferences during their time on the PhD programme.

What this course will give you

UCL is ranked 9th globally in the latest QS World University Rankings (2024), giving you an exciting opportunity to study at one of the world's best universities.

UCL Computer Science is recognised as a world leader in teaching and research. The department was ranked first in England and second in the UK for research power in Computer Science and Informatics in the most recent Research Excellence Framework ( REF2021 ). You will learn from leading experts with an outstanding reputation in the field. 

Code written at UCL is used across all 3G mobile networks for instant messaging and videoconferencing; medical image computing has led to faster prostate cancer diagnosis and has developed tools to help neurosurgeons avoid damaging essential communication pathways during brain surgery; and our human-centred approach to computer security has transformed the UK government's delivery of online security.

This MPhil/PhD in Computer Science is a research degree programme that will not only challenge and stimulate you, but also has the potential to lead to a varied and interesting career and introduce you to valuable contacts in academia and the industry.

The foundation of your career

Your employability will be greatly enhanced by working alongside world-leading researchers in cutting-edge research areas such as virtual environments, networked systems, human-computer interaction and financial computing. UCL's approach is multi-disciplinary and UCL Computer Science shares ideas and resources from across all departments of Faculty of Engineering Sciences and beyond. Our alumni have a successful record of finding work, or have founded their own successful start-up companies, because they have an excellent understanding of the current questions which face industry and have the skills and the experience to market innovative solutions.

Employability

UCL Computer Science graduates secure careers in a variety of organisations, including global IT consultancies, City banks and specialist companies in manufacturing industries.

The department takes pride in helping students in their career choices and offers placements and internships with numerous start-up technology companies, including those on Silicon Roundabout, world-leading companies such as Google, Skype and Facebook, and multi national finance companies, including Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank and JP Morgan.

Our graduates secure roles such as applications developers, information systems managers, IT consultants, multimedia programmers, software engineers and systems analysts in companies such as Microsoft, Cisco, Bloomberg, PwC and IBM.

UCL Computer Science is located in the heart of London and subsequently has strong links with industry. You will have regular opportunities to undertake internships at world-leading research organisations. We frequently welcome industry executives to observe your project presentations, and we host networking events with technology entrepreneurs.

You will also benefit from a location close to the City of London and Canary Wharf to work on projects with leading global financial companies. London is also home to numerous technology communities, for example the Graduate Developer Community, who meet regularly and provide mentors for students interested in finding developer roles when they graduate.

Teaching and learning

You are assigned a first and second supervisor who you will meet regularly. You are also assigned a research group who normally meet regularly for research seminars and related activities in the department.

You will participate in three vivas during the course of your study. These are useful feedback opportunities and allow you to demonstrate your understanding of the literature, your progress in your research and eventually, your final thesis and research. For each viva, you will be expected to produce a detailed report of your work to date and to attend a 'verbal exam' with supervisors and/or external academics/experts.

During your research degree, you will have regular meetings with your primary supervisor, in addition to contact with your secondary supervisor and participation in group meetings. Full-time study should comprise of 40 hours per week .

Research areas and structure

• Bioinformatics: protein structure; genome analysis; transmembrane protein modelling; de novo protein design methods; exploiting grid technology; mathematical modelling of biological processes
• Financial computing: software engineering; computational statistics and machine learning; mathematical modelling
• Human centred systems: usability of security and multimedia systems; making sense of information; human error and cognitive resilience
• Information security: human and organisational aspects of security; privacy-enhancing technologies; cryptography and cryptocurrencies; cybersecurity in public policy and international relations; systems security and cybercrime
• Intelligent systems: knowledge representation and reasoning; machine learning
• Media futures: digital rights management; information retrieval; computational social science; recommender systems
• Networks: internet architecture; protocols; mobile networked systems; applications and evolution; high-speed networking
• Programming Principles, Verification and Logic’: logic and the semantics of programs; automated tools for verification and program analysis; produce mathematically rigorous concepts and techniques that aid in the construction and analysis of computer systems; applied logic outreach in AI, security, biology, economics
• Software systems engineering: requirements engineering; software architecture; middleware technologies; distributed systems; software tools and environments; mobile computing
• Virtual environments: presence, virtual characters; interaction; rendering; mixed reality
• Vision and imaging science: face recognition; medical image analysis; statistical modelling of colour information; inverse problems and building mathematical models for augmented reality; diffusion tensor imaging

Research environment

UCL Computer Science is one of the leading university centres for computer science research in Europe. The department is very well-connected with research groups across the university, and is involved in many exciting multi-disciplinary research projects.

Furthermore, research groups in the department are heavily involved in collaborative research and development projects with other universities and with companies in the UK and internationally. UCL provides significant support for technology transfer, and in particular for technology start-ups, and the department has an increasingly successful record of spin-out companies including a number of spin-outs that have been acquired by Google, Facebook, Amazon, etc.

Month 0 Registration - initially MPhil registration.

Month 0-6 - General reading, directed by the supervisor, in the area of interest. This should bring you up to the sharp end of the area and allow you to appreciate what the research problems are.

Months 6-9 - More detailed reading, aimed at becoming expert enough to tackle a thesis project. A small focused project is in order here to pin the reading on. A report on the year's activities should begin to be prepared.

Month 9 - FORMAL 1ST-YEAR VIVA (10-12 for Part-time) This is the first major examination, and must take place no more than 9 months from the start date. A feedback activity. Given a read of your report, the supervisor, 2nd supervisor and an 'assessor' review the work done with the aim of providing you with proper feedback on your work. This is also a good opportunity to get feedback for the Transfer Viva and is often used as a “mock transfer”.

Months 12-18 - FORMAL TRANSFER VIVA (15-21 for Part-time) Also known as the “Upgrade Viva” - this is where you would upgrade your expected qualification from MPhil to PhD. A substantial project report is expected demonstrating the ability to conduct research, with initial research results, and a plan for completion of the work and writing of the thesis. The outcome of the viva will determine whether you are allowed to transfer registration from MPhil to PhD.

Months 24-36 - Thesis project work being tidied up and turned into a unified piece of work. Thesis writing being planned and chapters being drafted. You are now eligible for Completing Research Status

Month 36 - MOCK VIVA (48-60 for Part-time) A draft thesis and mock viva. This is to be attended by the supervisor, second supervisor and assessor and any others thought relevant. Thesis submission forms (aka Entry forms) completed and submitted.

Months 36-42 - Complete the writing of the thesis.

Month 42 - (60-72 for Part-time) Submit thesis.

See full-time summary

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk . Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing team .

Fees and funding

Fees for this course.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees .

Additional costs

As each research project is unique in nature, the AFE (Additional Fee Element) is calculated on a student-by-student basis and is determined by your academic supervisor. Please contact your supervisor for further details.

A student conference and travel fund is available to students within the department to help with costs associated with attending and presenting at conferences. Applications are considered on a case-by-case basis.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs .

Funding your studies

UCL offers various funding opportunities for postgraduate students. Please see UCL's Scholarships website for more information.

The department offers funding for overseas and UK students. Please see the Computer Science website for more information.

Home students will have the opportunity to apply for EPSRC DTP Studentships where available.

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website .

CSC-UCL Joint Research Scholarship

Value: Fees, maintenance and travel (Duration of programme) Criteria Based on academic merit Eligibility: EU, Overseas

Deadlines and start dates are usually dictated by funding arrangements so check with the department or academic unit to see if you need to consider these in your application preparation. All applicants are asked to identify and contact potential supervisors before making an application. For more information see our How to apply page.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2024-2025

Got questions get in touch.

Computer Science

[email protected]

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UCL School of Management

University college london, phd programme in financial economics.

Start date:  September 2024 Duration: 5 years (1 year MRes + 4 years PhD) Fees:  We offer fully-funded scholarships to all admitted students who have applied by the 31 January 2024 (see details below)  Application deadline:  31 January 2024, 17:00 UK time (late applications submited by the 05 April 2024 may still be considered, see details below) Entry:  Applicants must hold a distinction in a master’s degree in Economics or a closely related subject. Applicants must demonstrate a high level of analytical and quantitative skills (such as in mathematics and statistics), evidenced by strong performance in relevant modules taken on previous degree programmes and/or through relevant standardised test performance (such as GRE Quantitative of at least 160). International students, please note that UCL’s English language requirement for this programme is a ‘ Level 2 ’ (IELTS and TOEFL are the preferred test, however others on the UCL recognised test list will be accepted if required) - further details regarding this can be found on the  UCL English Language Requirements  page.

The MRes and PhD in Financial Economics is a joint programme between the UCL Department of Economics and the UCL School of Management.

The MRes programme is the first year of the five-year integrated MRes/PhD programme in Financial Economics. The MRes programme will provide you with training in research methods together with an advanced understanding of financial economics, to enable you to conduct insightful and original PhD level research in financial economics. 

The MRes will firstly provide quantitative training in microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics, and finance. These will be taught in the context of cutting-edge research and relevant applications. Secondly, it will provide you with analytic frameworks and transferable skills that will allow you to identify relevant and promising research topics, present ideas in order to obtain feedback, and provide feedback yourself. 

The subsequent years (for students who progress from the MRes to MPhil) will focus on the skills you will need to run research projects to completion and to present completed research projects to various kinds of specialised audiences. Likewise, teaching skills will also be developed.

PhD Structure

• The MRes programme consists of taught modules (Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Econometrics. Real Analysis and Probability with Economic Application), a hybrid module (Financial Economics) with taught components and research based components, and a research project in the final part of the year. For the MRes project, you work under supervision to design and carry out a substantial piece of original research. This enables you to gain a deep understanding of the entire research process.
• Superior performance is required for automatic progression from MRes to MPhil. In particular, students should achieve an average mark of not less than 60% in the independent, original research components of the programme, and not less than 50% in the taught element.
• Our highly selective and small-sized PhD programme ensures that each student receives personal attention and guidance from our faculty members throughout their doctoral study. The close mentorship process forms the foundations of a successful academic career. At the same time, you will be part of both the School of Management PhD cohort and the Economics PhD cohort, with which you will share most of the taught modules.
• We expect our PhD graduates to have as their goal an academic career as a faculty member in a top business school or Economics department or in the research group of an international institution or a central bank.

Students take a total of 180 credits in the MRes year. This is made up of the MRes Research Project (MSIN0135) and 75 credits of compulsory taught modules. 

All modules in the MRes year are core modules, there are no optional modules. 

• ECON0107 - Macroeconomics, 15 credits  
• ECON0106 - Microeconomics, 15 credits  
• ECON0108 - Econometrics, 15 credits  
• ECON0118 - Real Analysis and Probability with Economic Applications, 15 credits
• MSIN0234 - Topics in Financial Economics, 30 credits  
• MSIN0135 - MRes Financial Economics Research Project, 105 credits  

The programme is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars, and class discussion. Student performance is assessed through presentations, coursework, projects, and examinations. 

Students will study 4 compulsory taught modules. A typical taught module is taught over two terms (2 x 10 weeks) with 4 hours of contact hours per week (3 hours of lecture + 1 hour of review session). In addition, students spend approximately 6-8 hours a week for each module on assessment and independent study to further develop the skills and knowledge covered in lectures and seminars.  

Students will also undertake a substantial research project, which would usually start in Term 2 and be completed over the Summer. The total number of weekly hours will vary according to the weekly activities being undertaken.

Why choose us

What makes us different:.

Unlike many PhD Programmes in finance, our programme has a full anchor in economics and econometrics. Hence, we offer a unique world-class environment that combines the best of a leading business school, located in Canary Wharf, the heart of London’s modern financial district, and the tradition of economic research and teaching of the Department of Economics, which is located in Bloomsbury, London’s historical intellectual centre.

If you want to become an academic economist conducting research in finance, this programme is for you.  

UCL School of Management and the Department of Economics  

Founded in 2007, UCL School of Management has forged a reputation for world-leading research in management studies with 95% of the School’s research deemed to be world-leading or internationally excellent, the second highest percentage of any business school in the UK, according to the 2021 REF . The PhD programme is an integral part of our School’s active and ambitious research environment where students receive rigorous academic training and personalised research mentorship. 

The UCL Department of Economics has an outstanding international reputation in key areas of current research. The Department ranked top in the UK for research environment and outputs in the field of Economics and Econometrics in the 2021 REF . 

Our research programme offers a unique education and research experience with the intent of preparing you for scholarly careers at the highest level. Our highly selective and small-sized programme ensures that you receive personal attention and an opportunity for guidance from our world-leading scholars. The close mentorship process forms the foundations of a successful academic career. 

As a research student you will join a highly active research environment which involves frequent research seminars and visits by leading scholars worldwide, reading groups, brown bag seminars and panels in which PhD students and faculty members present and discuss their ongoing work. Such forums provide an excellent opportunity to receive critical constructive feedback on your research and to develop academic, generic and transferable skills.

Applications

Applying for our mres/phd programme.

Entry requirements and admissions criteria:

Applicants to the MRes+PhD programme must hold a distinction in a master’s degree in Economics or a closely related subject. Applicants must demonstrate a high level of analytical and quantitative skills (such as in mathematics and statistics), evidenced by strong performance in relevant modules taken on previous degree programmes and/or through relevant standardised test performance (such as GRE Quantitative of at least 160). Submitting a GRE test result is encouraged but not compulsory and is only one of the components used to assess the strength of applications. 

We only have a single intake in September. We accept applications throughout the year. Successful candidates who have submitted their MRes application by 31 January 2024 will receive a scholarship (full fee waiver plus a stipend). Successful candidates who have submitted their application after this date may receive a scholarship subject to availability, or will come with their own funding.

In your personal statement you are expected to suggest one or more faculty members as potential supervisors. On the application form you may see that it states that it is preferred that you contact potential supervisors beforehand. However, we strongly discourage applicants from contacting individual faculty members or potential supervisors when applying to our programme. All applications are first evaluated by a joint admissions committee, so contacting potential supervisors separately will not increase your chances.

We also require you to submit IELTS or TOEFL scores if English is not your first language. Our School requires a “Level 2” English language qualification which corresponds to:

IELTS: Overall grade of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each of the sub-tests.

TOEFL: Score of 96 overall, plus 24/30 in the reading and writing subtests and 22/30 in the listening and speaking subtests. 

Application Deadline

The application window closes 31 January 2024 (17:00 UK time) and a late submission window closes on 05 April 2024 (17:00 UK time). We advise those interested in the programme to apply before 31 January 2024, as those applying in the late submission window will only be considered if there are still places remaining.

Application Procedure

Apply via UCL Postgraduate Admissions System here . When starting the application, you must select the MRes Financial Economics option. In addition to filling out the online application form, please upload a copy of the following documents:

• Official Transcripts of Grades / Course marks
• A 1 page personal statement that clearly indicates: (i) your research interests and preliminary research ideas, (ii) potential faculty member(s) you may want to work with (this is a suggested list, you don’t need to contact potential supervisors beforehand), and (iii) your motivation to do a PhD.
• Your  GRE  score report, if you took the test.
• Your IELTS/TOEFL score report, if English is not your first language.

Funding/Scholarships

We offer fully funded five year scholarships to all admitted students who apply before the 31 January 2024. The scholarship is open to all nationalities. It covers all tuition fees, and includes an annual stipend of £25,000 which is tax-free. 

Successful candidates who have submitted their application after 31 January 2024 may receive a scholarship subject to availability or will come with their own funding.

Additional Costs

This programme does not have any compulsory additional costs outside of purchasing books or stationery, printing, thesis binding or photocopying.  Students may have the opportunity to participate in conferences in the UK and internationally. The UCL School of Management provides MRes/PhD students with an annual budget for conferences, which students will use to cover the travel, accommodation, food and other costs whilst at conferences, in line with UCL’s expenses policy. 

Further Information and Contact Details

The full-time MRes/PhD programme runs from September each academic year. Entrance is therefore every September. While we may accept applications until 05 April 2024 we encourage candidates to apply as early as possible. Our programme is very selective and we only admit a limited number of students, so applying before 31 January 2024 increases your chances.

How to Apply

For queries about the MRes/PhD Programme that are not addressed on our web pages, please contact [email protected] .

Video Library

Frequently Asked Questions about the UCL School of Management MRes/PhD Programme

Programme Information

Application process, admissions requirements.

Students are required to possess a “Level 2” English language qualification if it is not their first language. This means: TOEFL: Score of 96, plus 24/30 in the reading and writing, and 22/30 in the listening and speaking subtests. IELTS: Overall grade of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each of the subtests.

Further Information

If you have any other questions regarding the programme that are not addressed on our web pages please email the programme team ( [email protected] )

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UCL-NIMH Joint Doctoral Training Program in Neuroscience

About the program.

The University College London (UCL) – National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Joint Doctoral Training Program in Neuroscience is an accelerated graduate program for exceptional students in neuroscience. It brings together two powerhouses of neuroscience research and allows students to conduct collaborative research between two laboratories, one at UCL, the other at the NIH. Students are registered in the UCL Doctoral School and receive a PhD from UCL in 4 years or less.

The program is flexible, with the schedule for each student dictated by the demands of their research, and students spend approximately 50% of time in either their UCL or NIH labs. The program welcomed its first student in 2009 and currently has 9 students enrolled (see Student Profile page ).

Research Philosophy

Unlike many US graduate programs, students in the UCL-NIMH Joint Doctoral Training Program in Neuroscience choose their area of research interests, and their research mentors, prior to being accepted into the program. Students are highly encouraged to contact potential mentors at both UCL and the NIH as early as possible to begin the process of finding their mentor pair. It is very important that the potential mentors’ research fields are complementary, since the student will form a collaborative link between the two labs and incorporate their expertise into their dissertation research project. By the time students are interviewed, they should have a good idea of their research plans and how the mentors fit into the scope of the proposed project.

The degree is awarded by UCL, which, like most UK universities, has no formal coursework requirements for the PhD. Therefore, students are expected to engage in research from the very beginning of the program. However, they should attend any required training courses necessary at UCL or NIH, as agreed upon with mentors. Students are expected to submit their thesis within 4 years of starting the program and will be examined by viva (thesis defense) at UCL, according to UCL regulations. For more information on viva exams, visit UCL Viva Examination   page.

A crucial consideration for students in this program is not only whether the student’s interests match those of their chosen mentors, but whether the mentors’ interests overlap. Students should choose mentors with common interests, but who employ complementary approaches and techniques. The broad range of potential mentors at the two institutions means that students should be able to conduct research in practically any field of neuroscience. However, there are some mentors at the two institutions who already share collaborative links and have expressed interest in supervising students in this program.  See the Faculty page for details.

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UCL (University College London)

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Course and lecturers

Entry requirements, academic strengths, job prospects, student life, accommodation & facilities, student support, scholarships/bursaries, study options, postgraduate student body breakdown source: hesa , 2021.

• Study mode: This university 26% Part Time 74% Full Time
• Study mode: All universities (avg) 44% Part Time 56% Full Time
• Student nationality 53% UK 47% International
• Study level 19,575 Undergraduate 21,290 Postgraduate
• New students 53% School leavers 47% Mature students

UCL (University College London) is consistently ranked among the top ten universities in the world, conducting leading research across a wide range of subject areas. Throughout its long and prestigious history, it has inspired and educated countless minds and produced 30 Nobel prize recipients.

With one campus located in the heart of Bloomsbury and a second campus in vibrant east London, the university is home to around 42,000 students representing more than 150 countries globally, of which 20,000 are studying at postgraduate level. There are more than 700 graduate research and taught degree programmes available, as well as teacher training courses in a wide range of academic areas. 

Graduate study options include:

• Master’s degrees
• MPhil/PhD degrees
• PGCE degrees

UCL maintains a diverse and inclusive community, which pursues academic excellence, breaks boundaries and makes a positive impact on real world problems. 

Postgraduate

UCL has cultivated an impressive portfolio of more than 700 graduate taught, research and teacher training programmes, spanning a wide variety of subject areas. UCL’s world-leading research has been recognised in the Research Excellence Framework 2021, and students are encouraged to work across traditional subject boundaries to allow for cross-pollination of ideas and a greater connectivity between fields.

At the very heart of UCL’s mission is its research , with a research element integrated into many of its formal degree programmes. Students benefit from the opportunity to participate in significant projects with real-world impact, making an original contribution to their field of work. 

UCL is well known for the quality of its curriculum and the expertise of its teaching staff. The university’s teaching faculty comprises a team of highly qualified and widely experienced individuals, many of whom continue to be involved in leading work within their field. Teachers are not only able to communicate key professional insights to their students, but they can inform and inspire them with the latest research and industry developments in their subject.

Taught degrees include MA, MSc and MRes, MPA, and MBA programmes.

Research degrees include MPhil, PhD and Doctorate programmes.

Teacher training programmes include PGCE programmes.

Students receive dedicated attention from global experts in their fields, take part in the new cross-disciplinary investigations, and learn from esteemed guest speakers. The world leading IOE, UCL’s Faculty of Education and Society, provides initial teacher education programmes that are rated as 'outstanding’ by Ofsted in all areas. These are led by educators who are involved in ground-breaking education research, many of whom write textbooks around the subject areas.

Graduate programme requirements vary between departments, research centres and programmes. They generally require:

First or upper-second-class UK bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject, or an overseas equivalent from a recognised institution.

Some require GMAT or GRE General Test scores.

Teaching programmes may require certain GCSE qualifications, Occupational Health and DBS checks, skills tests and relevant work experience.

In some cases, prospective students may be required to attend an interview, or submit a small portfolio of work.

Some graduate taught programmes may consider students with lower qualifications if they can demonstrate relevant academic background and experience in a related field. Any student whose native language is not English will have to provide proof of sufficient English language proficiency to meet the requirements of their chosen programme. 

The UCL admissions department is open all year round, staffed by a team of friendly and approachable advisors who can answer any questions about the application process.

Got a question?

Get in touch, if you're not sure that you have the right experience or qualifications.

UCL is a world-leading institution, ranked second in the UK for research power in the Research Excellence Framework 2021 (REF).

The university retained a leading position in third Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF), and in the Teaching Excellence Framework 2023 (TEF) UCL was awarded Gold for Student Outcomes, Silver for Student Experience, with an overall rating of Silver. 30 Nobel Prize laureates are among current or former staff and students.

Some of UCL’s accolades include:

• First in England to teach chemistry, engineering, English and German
• First in England to operate a fully open-access university press
• First in England to welcome students of any religion or social background
• First in England to welcome women to university education
• Top-performing university in the initial year of Horizon 2020, the EU funding scheme (Research Professional)
• Four UCL academics awarded European Research Council Starting Grants in 2022, awarding EUR 6 million to UCL projects
• UCL researchers were the first to find evidence of a supermassive black hole using the Event Horizon telescope
• UCL students won the Hult Prize for their proposal on how to alleviate food poverty in Southeast Asia

UCL is one of the UK’s most prestigious universities, maintaining a formidable academic reputation and recognised as one of the most impactful research-oriented institutes worldwide.

Graduates are highly sought-after by prospective employers, and the university’s London location means that students have excellent access to one of the most diverse and dynamic employment markets in the world. UCL students have a wide array of opportunities to complete internships and work experience placements across a huge variety of professional fields while they study in London, and this can add significant value to their employment prospects after graduation.

The top employment sectors for UCL graduates include academic research, healthcare, teaching and financial services. University College London also has numerous links with industry partners. These industry connections provide students with invaluable networking and work experience opportunities with influential organisations. Throughout their studies and as alumni, students can receive extensive career advice from UCL's careers services , which provide one-to-one career consultations, help with applications, interview practices, employer-led events, skills development workshops, support in finding work placements, and job vacancy information. 

IN THIS SECTION

Student union, clubs and societies.

UCL Students’ Union  strives to improve the lives of all UCL students by representing and advising them, offering support, fostering connections and organising activities and events. It is managed by elected officers who act as the student's voice.

The Postgraduate Students’ Association is dedicated to graduate students, providing them with many services such as social amenities and sports facilities.

The UCL students’ union offers students over 360 clubs and societies , with many opportunities to try something new or enjoy hobbies and interests with like-minded students. There is a huge selection of sports clubs, and many have world-class facilities in which to train, offering opportunities to compete with other universities around London and the UK.

London is energetic, diverse and is regularly ranked as the world’s best student city ( QS Best Student Cities 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024). It is home to some of the world’s greatest theatres, museums, galleries, music venues, cinemas, sports stadiums, restaurants, bars, cafes, shopping, comedy and clubs and offers a myriad of exciting experiences.

There’s something for everyone, as even away from buzzing city life there are numerous peaceful green spaces to relax in.

Accommodation

UCL offers a range of accommodation , with postgraduate halls conveniently located in central London. There is limited family accommodation for students that would like to live with partners, family or children, and UCL works with private providers to signpost alternative accommodation options for students that choose to live outside of halls.

Fees depend on location and facilities. However, all accommodation fees include:

• Furnished room rental
• Use of communal areas
• Halls maintenance
• Cleaning of shared bathrooms, kitchens and communal areas
• Utility charges, including Wi-Fi
• Basic contents insurance
• 24/7 support

A whole host of facilities are offered at UCL, including 15 specialist libraries with more than two million books, 12,000 journal subscriptions, archives, rare materials, significant manuscripts and many other resources. The university also holds globally important museum collections, artworks, objects, specimens and images.

UCL is undertaking a £1.25 billion investment in creating sustainable spaces and best-in-class facilities. The award-winning Bloomsbury campus is powered by 100% renewable electricity and produces no landfill waste. By 2024, all buildings will be net-zero and free from single use plastics, with 10,000m 2 of additional biodiverse green space.

UCL is proudly committed to ensuring that all of its students have access to the best support and welfare services they need for academic success, personal growth and development.

Each year, the university delivers a large programme of resources to its student support departments, which cover a wide range of services from academic support and financial aid services, health and wellbeing, and international student support.

The Student Enquiries Centre offers free walk-in guidance across a number of issues. Advice is free and confidential, and the centre is able to provide general support, as well as referrals to more specialised services where it is required. Tutors and research supervisors are also able to provide academic support as well as friendly advice and encouragement. Student Support and Wellbeing (SSW) offer personal services including:

• Drop-in sessions and counselling for mental health and wellbeing
• Specialist information for international students
• Disability or long-term health condition support
• NHS health centre
• Day nursery for students with children.

There are a number of scholarships available to postgraduate students including our  UCL Masters Bursary  for UK students and our  UCL Global Masters Scholarship  for international students. This year UCL has launched 2 new scholarships for postgraduate study. The  UCL East London Scholarship  supports the ambitions of east Londoners by funding the fees and living costs of all UCL East Master's programmes and select School of Management programmes. The new  UCL India Excellence Scholarship  aims to enable and encourage Indian students with an outstanding academic record to pursue full-time Master's degree studies at UCL. Students also have the option to apply for external funding opportunities, which could be in the form of governmental scholarship schemes or sponsorships from professional organisations. UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) studentships can also be applied to by individual academic departments.

UCL provides a number of teacher training bursaries for UK and EU teacher trainees embarking on a PGCE programme, who may be eligible for a training bursary of up to £27,000 to support their living costs. Explore other UCL Scholarships with our  Scholarships Finder .

Interested in scholarships?

Distance learning.

UCL’s graduate taught degrees  are designed for many needs – they may provide a foundation for research or a route to career advancement. Programmes cover a wide spectrum of subject areas, from aesthetic dentistry to virtual reality. A huge selection of full and part-time programmes are available which typically start in in September.

UCL offers a variety of research programmes , which provides students with the opportunity to undertake substantial, in-depth research on a full, part-time or flexible basis. Students can gain a variety of postgraduate qualifications, spanning a wide variety of subject and research areas.

Research programmes typically begin in September. Students are required to centre their academic work around the university and attend meetings with their supervisors as appropriate. There are also opportunities for visiting research students from overseas.

A growing number of UCL programmes can be taken on a distance learning basis, where some or all of the teaching is delivered online . Students can find details of individual programme entries online.

Distance learning students are assigned a personal tutor, and supporting materials can include lecture notes, interactive tools and podcasts —all of which can be accessed through the university’s virtual learning environment (VLE). Students can enhance their learning online by interacting with study groups and forums in the VLE. Some programmes require occasional visits to campus.

Sound interesting?

Popular subjects, find a course at this uni, urban studies, artificial intelligence (ai), pharmacology, physiotherapy, cognitive psychology.

Imperial College London Imperial College London

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Looking for funding?

Use our scholarships search tool to look for available scholarships. Also explore our latest funded PhD vacancies .

A PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) is the most common type of doctoral degree and the highest level of academic qualification you can achieve. 

It normally takes between three and four years of full-time work to complete. It is also possible to undertake a PhD part time, over five to six years.

The main activity of a PhD is to carry out an original research project under the direction of one or more supervisors, to be written up as a thesis.

Different routes to achieving a PhD

There are a number of ways to achieving a PhD at Imperial:

• by undertaking a course of study based on your own research proposal
• by joining a research project that comes with funding attached (known as a studentship)
• by combining it with Master's study in an integrated route that typically lasts four years

Pursuing your own research idea

To search for PhD opportunities based on your own research proposal you first need to identify a research group within Imperial whose area of expertise best matches your idea.

Use the links below to search the different PhD opportunities within our academic departments, centres and institutes. This includes information about current studentships and often guidance on finding a supervisor.

Our interdisciplinary approach means our expertise often spans departmental boundaries – and so do our courses – so you may find opportunities in an unexpected area of the university.

Faculty of Engineering

• Aeronautics
• Bioengineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Civil and Environmental Engineering
• School of Design Engineering
• Earth Science and Engineering
• Electrical and Electronic Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering

Faculty of Medicine

• Department of Brain Sciences
• Department of Immunology and Inflammation
• Department of Infectious Disease
• Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction
• Department of Surgery and Cancer
• National Heart and Lung Institute
• School of Public Health

Faculty of Natural Sciences

• Life Sciences
• Mathematics
• Centre for Environmental Policy

Imperial College Business School

• Doctoral programme

Centre for Languages, Culture and Communication

• PhD in Arabic, German, Italian, Russian and Spanish Studies
• PhD in science communication studies

Global Challenge institutes

We have six Global Challenge institutes, which were created to address some of society's biggest challenges.

If you have an idea for a PhD that falls within the remit of one of our Global Challenge institutes please contact them directly to discuss before making a formal application.

• Data Science Institute
• Grantham Institute – Climate Change and the Environment
• Institute for Molecular Science and Engineering
• Institute for Security Science and Technology
• Institute of Global Health Innovation

Energy Futures Lab  does not offer PhD programmes, but does deliver the  MSc in Sustainable Energy Futures .

Joint Academy of Doctoral Studies | Imperial College London-Technical University of Munich

We have recently formed  a strategic partnership in education, research and innovation  with the Technical University of Munich, one of Germany’s most international and entrepreneurial universities, producing highly ranked research, like Imperial, in science, engineering and medicine.

As part of the partnership, Imperial and TUM have launched a 'Joint Academy of Doctoral Studies' with the aim of co-developing cross-disciplinary clusters of PhD students who will have access to world-leading academic supervisors and state-of-the art facilities at both institutions.

The first round of the programme will focus on the theme of 'Artificial Intelligence, Healthcare and Robotics'.

Find out more about the Joint Academy of Doctoral Studies and apply

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Research (MPhil / PhD) Entry Route

The University of London academic community pursues and achieves excellence in a wide range of research activities and scholarship.

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Research opportunities

MPhil and PhD opportunities are available on-campus and by arrangement through our self-governing member institutions and research institutes, including the School of Advanced Study

Many of these institutions have performed highly in the Research Excellence Framework and are consistently ranked highly for research among UK universities.

Postgraduate research is offered via distance learning through the School of Advanced Study (Opens in new window) .

Research activity

The majority of academic staff are actively engaged in research, so you will be taught by experienced and motivated researchers who are eminent in their field.

To find out more about research opportunities, you can either search our courses to see which areas of research are available, or contact a university that offers related subjects to see if they can support your proposal.

UCL Postgraduate Programmes

Anna Freud is a world leader in both research and practice in the fields of child development, psychopathology and intervention.

We have been hosting a range of University College London (UCL) postgraduate programmes from Postgraduate Certificate to Doctoral level for over 20 years, attracting students from the UK and abroad who wish to advance their research and clinical understanding and skills.

When studying at Anna Freud, you will be embedded in an environment active in cutting edge research and direct clinical work with children and families. For more details on each programme please click on the relevant title below.

Developmental Neuroscience and Psychopathology, MRes

This two-year full-time programme offered in collaboration with University College London and Yale University focuses on developmental psychopathology drawing on a range of perspectives....

Developmental Psychology and Clinical Practice, MSc

This two-year full-time programme combines multiple theoretical perspectives on child mental health with practical skills in working with children and families.

Early Child Development and Clinical Applications, MSc

This two-year full-time MSc programme (formerly known as MSc in Psychoanalytic Developmental Psychology) provides a comprehensive understanding of early child development through a range...

Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, DPsych

This four-year full-time, highly selective professional doctorate aims to develop the academic, clinical and research skills needed to practice as a professional Child and Adolescent Psy...

Child and Adolescent Psychology and Neuroscience in Practice, PG Dip (Distance Learning)

This new online distance learning programme provides a comprehensive overview of child and adolescent mental health, introducing core concepts, theories, and models of current evidence-b...

Psychoanalytic Studies, MPhil/PhD

This programme’s main focus is to conduct original research culminating in the submission of a doctoral thesis. The programme also includes a taught component, workshops and discussion g...

Child and Young Person IAPT Therapy, PG Dip

This Postgraduate Diploma is part of the Department of Health initiative to Improve Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) and provides specialist post-qualification training for Child...

Educational Mental Health Practitioner, PGDip

This one year long programme enables students to gain experience within educational settings and leads to qualification as an Educational Mental Health Practitioner (EMHP).

Child and Young Persons Psychological Wellbeing Practice, PG Diploma

This diploma aims to train a new workforce for CAMHS by providing specialist training on evidence-based treatment techniques.

Leading Transformation and Change: Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Services, PG Cert

This Postgraduate Certificate is part of the Department of Health initiative to Improve Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) and aims to provide Managers with the necessary backgroun...

Supervision: Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Services, PG Cert

This programme is aimed at supporting individuals in their role as Site Supervisors of trainees registered on various workforce development programmes delivered in collaboration with UCL...

Senior Wellbeing Practitioner, PG Dip

This new two-year programme is specifically being commissioned by NHS England with a view to developing the careers and employability of those trained on Children and Young People’s Men...

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UCI has a steadfast commitment to rigorous academics with cutting-edge research. With over 100 graduate academic and professional degree programs, we are a thriving generator of innovation and discovery. This directory lists all current UCI graduate degree programs organized by academic school. Select an individual degree program to view program contact information, websites and application deadlines.

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