Studying here

Choose Southampton and you will become part of a strong postgraduate research and taught student community, work collaboratively with internationally-respected academics and be a part world-leading research as it happens. If you choose to study at Southampton you will gain access to state-of-the-art facilities, expert support services and a wide range of training and development opportunities.

Within Biological Sciences, we have around 75 postgraduate research students, supervised by 40 academic staff committed to high quality research and teaching.

Our research activities focus on three themes: Molecular Biosciences, Ecology and the Environment, and Neurosciences.

World-class facilities

Our facilities are first rate. The University has invested £50m in the Life Sciences Building, which became Biological Science’s home in autumn 2010. The building creates a thriving collaborative environment with cutting-edge facilities for life sciences researchers.

Supporting your studies

As a postgraduate researcher you will have the freedom to set your own timetable and agenda. We recognise that it can feel very different to undergraduate study, and will provide you with plenty of advice and support along the way.

Our first-class postgraduate induction programme will help you work both safely and effectively from the outset. You will also benefit from one-to-one academic mentoring and support throughout your research. Your personal supervisor will help you to draw up a personal development plan to make sure you are equipped for the challenges ahead.

Part of the research community

Research today is driven by international collaborations, both formal and informal, and we aim to offer you the opportunity to travel during your PhD. Meeting scientists from all over the world, sharing your own work at national and international conferences or by working in affiliate laboratories, you will become part of a global scientific research community.

Closer to home, the internal scientific culture is strengthened by the postgraduate research students that form part of the Biological Sciences Postgraduate Society (BSPS). All postgraduate students are welcomed to join the society upon enrolment to the University.

BSPS is led by PhD students who seek to represent the views of the postgraduate community within the school at departmental and faculty levels. As a community, BSPS provides a focal point for the academic and social life of the postgraduate students aided by close relationships with the departmental postgraduate representatives, postdoctoral researchers in addition to the Life Sciences Postgraduate Society committee and members.

Over the course of the year, the BSPS committee plans and hosts a range of both informal and formal social events and activities, provides welfare and mental health support, and organises a variety of academic events including careers days, internal networking events, seminar series and more.

All postgraduates are welcome to contact the BSPS committee at any time with any questions or queries on bsps@soton.ac.uk.

The city

Southampton is a thriving modern city, steeped in history and with a vibrant mix of recreation, culture and entertainment. Cinemas, sports facilities, internationally acclaimed arts venues and one of the UK’s top shopping centres – the city has something for everyone.

The city and surrounding areas offer a rich resource for bioscientists. Southampton Common, designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest, is next to our campus, and the New Forest, the Jurassic Coast and the Isle of Wight are all within easy reach.

Unilink buses provide easy access to the city, the airport and coach and train stations. As well as excellent links to Europe via cross-channel ferries from Portsmouth and Poole, there are frequent flights to continental destinations from Southampton and Bournemouth International Airports.