university of edinburgh immunology phd

• Schools & departments

Institute of Immunology & Infection

Research in the Institute for Immunology and Infection encompasses immunology, parasite biology, parasite immunology and the RNA biology of infection.

We share extensive links and research collaborations with our sister Institutes of Evolutionary biology and Cell Biology within the school of Biological Sciences. Our focus is on human, animal and global health and our researchers are fully integrated within the University-wide Edinburgh Infectious Diseases network. The excellence of our research culture is recognised through our Wellcome Trust PhD programme ‘Hosts, Pathogens and Global Health’, which closely links with the allied Wellcome PhD programmes, ‘One Health Models of Disease’ (hosted within the Roslin Institute) and ‘Integrative Cellular mechanisms’ (hosted within the Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology). Our Global Health activity is underpinned by the NIHR TIBA (Tackling Infections for the Benefit of Africa) Unit.

Research topics

The research of principal investigators in Immunology and Infection encompasses four overlapping topics of study:

Fundamental immunology

Fundamental Immunology research centres around how B and T lymphocytes interact and develop in response to antigen challenge, how responses are initiated by dendritic cells and dampened by regulatory cells.

Specific interests include surface receptors and ligands involved in intercellular communication within the immune system, and the analysis of the role of each molecular and cellular component over time in vivo.

Immune regulation of disease

Studies on the Immune Regulation of Disease combine research into autoimmunity and parasite immunology. We study immune evasion by long-lived parasite pathogens (such as filarial nematodes), as well as the factors controlling immune pathologies such as autoimmune diseases and allergy.

Projects aim to design immunological interventions to ameliorate pathology or to enhance host immunity, in conjunction with new vaccines against parasites.

The Molecular Biology and Genetics of Parasites is a major interest, with several laboratories in the Malaria Group focussing on defined antigens in malaria parasites. These antigens present potential for new vaccines, and complement a long-standing interest in protozoan genetics.

Trypanosome molecular biology aims to understand cell cycle control and differentiation with a view to novel drug development.

The molecular biology of helminth parasites (worms) is also under study in Immunology and Infection.

Host-pathogen population biology

Host-Pathogen Population Biology is an important stream of activity, which bridges from conventional immunology and pathogen research into systems-level quantitative biology.

This field is rapidly growing, in the wake of demonstrating the interaction between, for example, vaccination and the emergence of pathogen virulence.

Each of these areas has a long history of Research in Ashworth Laboratories.

These four strands are closely interlinked within Immunology and Infection and also have firm connections with other research specialities on the Edinburgh scene.

Related Links

Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution

Centre for Inflammation Research of the Medical School

Department of Chemistry

Division of Pathway Medicine

Centre for Optical Imaging Laboratory

Centre for Infectious Diseases (EID)

This article was published on 2022-11-08

• Schools & departments

Biological Sciences PhD

Awards: PhD

Study modes: Full-time, Part-time

Funding opportunities

Programme website: Biological Sciences

Introduction to Postgraduate Study

Join us online on 18 December at our live webinar session for an overview of postgraduate study and life at Edinburgh.

Find out more and register

Research profile

Based in King's Buildings Campus at the University of Edinburgh, our staff and students within the School of Biological Sciences are the modern inheritors of a 400-year-old reputation for excellence with Nobel laureates among our notable alumni.

Currently at the leading edge in teaching, research and innovation, we are ranked top 5 in the UK and top 30 in the world for Biological Sciences in both the QS and Times Higher Education world university rankings (2024).

Key to our success is the highly dynamic and supportive research environment we offer our postgraduate research community; we offer students the tools and confidence they need to make a lasting, positive impact in our world.

Within the School, our research is clustered into six large research institutes:

• Institute of Cell Biology
• Institute of Ecology and Evolution
• Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences
• Institute of Immunology and Infection
• Institute for Stem Cell Research (Centre for Regenerative Medicine)
• Institute of Quantitative Biology, Biochemistry and Biotechnology

Join our community and undertake a specialised research project under the guidance of two experienced and well-published supervisors. Our staff have a wide range of research interests and we strongly encourage interdisciplinary research, working closely with physical sciences, engineering, medical and veterinary sciences.

Programme structure

Our PhD programmes are available as full-time or part-time study. The full-time route is 48 months and part-time 84 months, with study normally commencing in October.

The first year of PhD studies is probationary. Your supervisor will identify your training needs and invite you to attend relevant training as appropriate. To successfully progress onto the next year of study, students must pass an annual review.

Annual reviews

Students submit a 10-week report and a 10-month report, both assessed by the thesis committee. Each committee comprises of the student's supervisory team, the committee chair, and up to two additional academic staff members.

The 10-week report is a short report outlining the project, with the 10-month report an extended version that includes a literature survey. While meeting their thesis committee, students deliver an oral presentation of their work.

Students complete a presentation during the School’s annual Poster Day. Academic staff and peers review presentations, with feedback discussed with the thesis committee during a second year review meeting.

Students deliver a presentation to academic staff and their peers, traditionally during their Institute’s annual symposium. They also submit a thesis plan for their third year review meeting that contains a timetable for completion, content listings of each chapter, completed work and highlighting outstanding tasks.

To be awarded a PhD, students must submit their final thesis and defend it in an oral examination (assessed according to the University's regulations).

Training and support

We encourage support in a range of academic subjects, transferable skills and personal development. All students who join the programme will have access to our core training and development programme or our specialist cohort-programmes (e.g. EASTBIO).

Our training environment is highly dynamic, with students learning through hands-on laboratory-based projects as well as guided reading, one-to-one supervision, group seminars, societies and workshops.

The University of Edinburgh Main Library, open to all students, has one of the largest and most important collections in Britain. It has some two million items including the latest publications, key texts, and rare books.

The School of Biological Sciences is based wholly within King's Buildings and in close proximity to the Noreen and Kenneth Murray Library, which is well stocked with specialist literature, subscription databases and group study rooms and silent study spaces.

Dependent on their field of study, students will also have access to a range of specialist laboratories and equipment, and state-of-the-art facilities. Examples include:

• imaging facilities including the Central Optical Instrumentation Laboratory (COIL) and Collaborative Optical Spectroscopy Micromanipulation & Imaging Centre (COSMIC)
• advanced flow cytometry facilities, including sorting and analysis
• cutting-edge proteomics facility and automated drug-screening platforms
• Edinburgh Genomics, a University-based sequencing and bioinformatics facility
• multiomics facilities
• the Edinburgh Genome Foundry
• cell culture facilities
• expertise in genomic editing (animal and plant)
• animal and plant facilities

The School also has strong collaborative links to the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh to give access to an even broader range of facilities and expertise.

Postgraduate students are given their own desk space in shared student offices and have similar access to facilities available to academic and support staff. Wireless network access is available in many parts of the University campus.

Career opportunities

The School of Biological Sciences offers training events and support for all our postgraduate research students in both academic and key life skills. In collaboration with the University’s Institute of Academic Development (IAD), we also provide a supportive training programme for students hired as tutors and demonstrators.

Entry requirements

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 2026.

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or international equivalent, in a relevant subject. You should have some research experience and be able to demonstrate that you have a good understanding of the field you propose to study.

This requirement may be partially met by relevant industrial experience; applicants with non-standard backgrounds will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country
• 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:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

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).

• Approved universities in 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.

Fees and costs

Scholarships and funding.

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:

• taking out a loan
• family support
• personal savings
• income from work
• employer sponsorship
• scholarships

Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study

Featured funding

School of Biological Sciences PhD funding

Research scholarships for international students

Edinburgh Doctoral College Scholarship

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

• Search for funding

Further information

• Postgraduate Research Administrator
• Phone: +44 (0)131 650 5525
• Contact: [email protected]
• Graduate School of Biological Sciences
• Mary Brück Building
• Colin Maclaurin Road
• The King's Buildings Campus
• Programme: Biological Sciences
• School: Biological Sciences
• College: Science & Engineering

Select your programme and preferred start date to begin your application.

PhD Biological Sciences - 3 Years (Full-time)

Phd biological sciences - 4 years (full-time), phd biological sciences - 8 years (part-time), application deadlines.

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, and before the funding deadline.

• How to apply

You must submit two references with your application.

You should submit two references with your application. Before applying you should identify potential supervisors from the School of Biological Sciences and discuss your proposal.

You can find more information on how to apply at our website:

• Postgraduate research at the School of Biological Sciences

Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:

• Schools & departments

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This postgraduate programme is no longer offered by the University of Edinburgh.

To find out what postgraduate programmes we currently offer, please search our degree finder:

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• Schools & departments

More information on research topics, postgraduate research opportunities, and translational activities.

Research in the Institute for Immunology and Infection Research encompasses immunology, parasite biology, parasite immunology and the RNA biology of infection. We share extensive links and research collaborations with our sister Institutes of Evolutionary biology and Cell Biology within the School of Biological Sciences . Our focus is on human, animal and global health and our researchers are fully integrated within the University-wide Edinburgh Infectious Diseases network. The excellence of our research culture is recognised through our Wellcome Trust PhD programme ‘ Hosts, Pathogens and Global Health’ , which closely links with the allied Wellcome PhD programmes, ‘ One Health Models of Disease ’ (hosted within the Roslin Institute) and  “ Integrative Cellular mechanisms ” (hosted within the Wellcome Centre for Cell Biology ). Our Global Health activity is underpinned by the NIHR TIBA (Tackling Infections for the Benefit of Africa) Unit.

Immunology and Infection PI 's form a major part of the Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution. The Centre carries out cross-disciplinary research across the broad scope of infectious disease, addressing the major challenges in global health today.

Visit the Centre for Immunity, Infection and Evolution website

Research topics

The research of principal investigators in Immunology and Infection encompasses four overlapping topics of study:

Postgraduate research opportunities

We offer several postgraduate degrees covering a wide range of research interests.

Translational activities

Overview of Translational work in Immunology and Infection.

This article was published on 2024-06-17

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Immunology and Infection Research PhD

University of edinburgh, different course options.

• Key information

Course Summary

Tuition fees, entry requirements, similar courses at different universities, key information data source : idp connect, qualification type.

PhD/DPhil - Doctor of Philosophy

Subject areas

Immunology (Medicine) Immunology (Microbiology) Infection Control: Awareness

Course type

Immunology and Infection Research has a proud tradition here at the School of Biological Sciences. As a researcher, you’ll be following in the footsteps of Nobel Prize winners – from malaria pioneer Sir Ronald Ross to the 2001 laureate Sir Paul Nurse – and other great names who have made ground-breaking discoveries over the years.

Our leadership in infectious disease research has emerged alongside the School’s strength in population biology and quantitative genetics. Our close association with biologists in these areas can be a valuable asset to your work.

Our institute has more than 20 research group leaders, including seven professors. While genetics is a core discipline, our work extends over molecular and cell biology, immunology, evolutionary biology and epidemiology.

Specialised training is available for those working with animals, pathogens, genetically manipulated organisms, and radioactive substances as well as in the use of flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. A programme of transferable skills courses facilitates broader professional development.

Within the Institute students attend seminars and the weekly Immunology Journal Club. Students also attend city-wide meetings of the Edinburgh Immunology Group which includes a student-only discussion with external invited speakers.

Supervisors are an important source of support for our PhD students. You can identify potential supervisors from the School of Biological Sciences website and discuss your PhD proposal with them.

UK fees Course fees for UK students

For this course (per year)

International fees Course fees for EU and international students

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in a relevant subject. You should have some research experience and be able to demonstrate that you have a good understanding of the field you propose to study.

Immunology of Infectious Diseases MSc

London school of hygiene & tropical medicine, university of london, biomedical science (medical immunology) msc, middlesex university, msc biomedical science (infection and immunity), allergy (msc), university of southampton, allergy (pgdip).