Surgery PhD, MScR
Awards: PhD, MScR
Study modes: Full-time, Part-time
Funding opportunities
Programme website: Surgery
The department of Surgery is headed by Professor Stephen Wigmore.
Research themes include systemic inflammation, cancer biology, surgical data science and liver injury and regeneration, in addition to surgical trials and aspects of clinical research in hepatobiliary surgery and transplantation.
We cater for our wide range of disciplines with extensive facilities and critical investment in order to create the perfect environment for discovery.
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:
Tuition fees
Award | Title | Duration | Study mode | |
---|---|---|---|---|
PhD | Surgery | 3 Years | Full-time | Tuition fees |
PhD | Surgery | 6 Years | Part-time | Tuition fees |
MScR | Surgery | 1 Year | Full-time | Tuition fees |
MScR | Surgery | 2 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 Administrator, Amy Ma
- Phone: +44 (0)131 242 3614
- Contact: CIR.Postgraduate@ed.ac.uk
- Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh
- 51 Little France Crescent
- Little France
- Edinburgh
- EH16 4SA
- Programme: Surgery
- School: Edinburgh Medical School: Clinical Sciences
- College: Medicine & Veterinary Medicine
Applying
Select your programme and preferred start date to begin your application.
PhD Surgery - 3 Years (Full-time)
PhD Surgery - 6 Years (Part-time)
MSc by Research Surgery - 1 Year (Full-time)
MSc by Research Surgery - 2 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:
Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:
Further information
- Postgraduate Administrator, Amy Ma
- Phone: +44 (0)131 242 3614
- Contact: CIR.Postgraduate@ed.ac.uk
- Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh
- 51 Little France Crescent
- Little France
- Edinburgh
- EH16 4SA
- Programme: Surgery
- School: Edinburgh Medical School: Clinical Sciences
- College: Medicine & Veterinary Medicine