Students at Silwood Park Campus.

The Department of Life Sciences offers excellent facilities for advanced taught courses in a wide range of subjects considered to be essential aspects of the life sciences. As a recognised centre of excellence in both training and research, we support a wide range of world leading research labs whose expertise helps us to deliver world class Masters courses and to conduct ground-breaking PhD research projects.

Study and research opportunities

Masters courses

The Department offers a number of study options to help you take your knowledge to the next level. We offer courses at all scales of Life Sciences, from determining the structures of biomolecules in atomic detail, through cell and organismal studies and on to ecological courses considering ecosystem and global questions. 

Our Masters programmes are delivered across three sites.  Most of the molecular courses take place on our South Kensington campus in central London, our ecology-based courses are housed at our Silwood Park campus which is located near Ascot, west of London; and we also offer two courses jointly with the Natural History Museum, which is located within walking distance of our South Kensington campus.

PhD research

All of our research labs are able to offer PhD projects. If you are interested in Doctoral study, it’s critical to gain support for your application from your potential supervisor before making a formal application to the College.  You can identify potential supervisors from the staff listed in our Research Themes.

How to apply

Apply online through Imperial Gateway

You can apply for up to two courses in an academic year. If you are applying for two courses you should submit only one application, listing your course preferences, rather than submitting two separate applications.

You should list your preferred course as your first choice and your reserve course as your second choice as we will consider your application for courses in the order they are submitted.

We will only consider your second choice if your first-choice application is unsuccessful.

Find out more about the postgraduate taught applications process.

Fees and funding