Infection Medicine PhD
Awards: PhD
Study modes: Full-time, Part-time
Funding opportunities
Programme website: Infection Medicine
Our staff conduct research on infectious diseases caused by a broad range of different pathogens. The group is located within Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences and is part of the Edinburgh Infectious Diseases (EID) umbrella organization.
The group has developed an extended teaching and training portfolio ranging from various undergraduate courses on infectious diseases to online and residential Masters programmes, Continuing Professional Development (CPD) courses and a PhD programme in Infection Medicine. Staff and students come from across the world and maintain an international and interdisciplinary culture. Principal investigators (PIs) lead or participate in a wide range of research and policy programmes with partners in the UK, Europe and globally. They have been instrumental in the foundation and operation of the Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute (ZJE) in China.
In the past few decades, there has been almost a new infectious disease emerging each year and more than 75% of these diseases derive from zoonotic origins. The objective of this research theme is to develop strategies to manage emerging and endemic diseases particularly in low- and middle-income countries. By bringing together a diverse community of multidisciplinary researchers, opportunities are created to identify, explore and address both local, region and global health challenges in order to bring about a positive change.
If your research interest lies in other aspects of infectious diseases, such as antimicrobial resistance, development of diagnostic tools, or systems biology and big data analyses, then it would be more appropriate to consider applying to one of the PhD programmes run from the Centre for Inflammation Research where some PIs also have research interests in infection medicine.
This programme is highly relevant for graduates with a biomedical, medical or veterinary background. The research training provided is supported by access to a wide range of scientific and clinical seminars. In addition, transferable skills and competencies in many relevant areas will be enhanced by courses in presentation skills, project management and writing skills delivered through the University of Edinburgh's Institute of Academic Development (IAD).
The programme currently offers facilities to support advanced interdisciplinary scientific research. The University has facilities for handling clinical samples and culturing a wide range of pathogens and host cells. It has high throughput equipment for genetic, biochemical, cytological and immunological screening and has access to state-of-the-art microscopy, genomic, proteomic and microscopy facilities.
These entry requirements are for the 2025/26 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2026/27 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2025.
A UK 2:1 honours degree or its international equivalent.
International qualifications
Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:
English language requirements
Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.
English language tests
We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:
- IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
- TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
- C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 169 in each component.
- Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
- PTE Academic: total 65 with at least 59 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
- Oxford ELLT: 7 overall with at least 6 in each component.
Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.
Degrees taught and assessed in English
We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:
We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).
If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old at the beginning of your programme of study.
Find out more about our language requirements:
Academic Technology Approval Scheme
If you are not an EU, EEA or Swiss national, you may need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme clearance certificate in order to study this programme.
Additional programme costs
Additional programme costs vary depending on the individual projects.
Living costs
You will be responsible for covering living costs for the duration of your studies.
Tuition fees
| Award | Title | Duration | Study mode | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PhD | Infection Medicine (Biomedical Sciences) | 3 Years | Full-time | Tuition fees |
| PhD | Infection Medicine (Biomedical Sciences) | 6 Years | Part-time | Tuition fees |
Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.
Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:
borrowing money
taking out a loan
family support
personal savings
income from work
employer sponsorship
- scholarships
Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study
Featured funding
UK government postgraduate loans
If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.
The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:
- your programme
- the duration of your studies
- your tuition fee status
Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.
Other funding opportunities
Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:
- Postgraduate Director, Dr Martin Simmen
- Phone: +44 (0)131 651 1773
- Contact: m.simmen@ed.ac.uk
- Hugh Robson Building
- George Square
- Edinburgh
- Central Campus
- Edinburgh
- EH8 9XD
- Programme: Infection Medicine
- School: Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences
- College: Medicine & Veterinary Medicine
Applying
Select your programme and preferred start date to begin your application.
PhD Infection Medicine (Biomedical Sciences) - 3 Years (Full-time)
PhD Infection Medicine (Biomedical Sciences) - 6 Years (Part-time)
We encourage you to apply at least one month prior to entry so that we have enough time to process your application. If you are also applying for funding or will require a visa then we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible.
You must submit two references with your application.
Before making your application, you must make contact with a potential supervisor to discuss your research proposal. Further information on making a research degree application can be found on the College website:
You will be formally interviewed (in person, by video-conferencing or Skype).
Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:
Further information
- Postgraduate Director, Dr Martin Simmen
- Phone: +44 (0)131 651 1773
- Contact: m.simmen@ed.ac.uk
- Hugh Robson Building
- George Square
- Edinburgh
- Central Campus
- Edinburgh
- EH8 9XD
- Programme: Infection Medicine
- School: Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences
- College: Medicine & Veterinary Medicine