Structural Biology
Train in major structural biology techniques for a career in research.
Receive training in structural biology for a career in research
Build laboratory and computational- skills to understand how biological function derives from structure
Develop your research expertise in a single, in-depth research project
Course key facts
Qualification
MRes
Duration
1 year
Start date
September 2026
Study mode
Full-time
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Fees
£16,300 Home
£40,500 Overseas
Delivered by
Location
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South Kensington
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Minimum entry standard
2:1 in a physical sciences-based subject, including biochemistry, molecular biology, or similar.
Course overview
Build skills towards a successful career in research on this Master's course, which specialises in structural biology.
You'll receive in-depth training of structural biology techniques.
Knowing the structure of a protein is vital to understanding how the protein works.
This course will provide an overview of the techniques used to derive biological function from structure.
You'll become familiar with the macromolecular structural determination techniques needed for success.
Extensive laboratory-based research will provide opportunities to learn skills in areas including biological NMR, X-ray crystallography, cryoEM, and structural bioinformatics.
You'll also consolidate your learning through workshops on topics from time management to clarity in writing.
The course immerses you in a research environment and includes networking by organising talks from structural biology researchers from outside of Imperial.
Structure
This page is updated regularly to reflect the latest version of the curriculum. However, this information is subject to change.
Find out more about potential course changes.
Please note: it may not always be possible to take specific combinations of modules due to timetabling conflicts. For confirmation, please check with the relevant department.
This MRes centres around a single, year-long research project. All assessments are courseworks associated with the project taking you from writing a Literature Review through a mock Grant Proposal to a final Research Report. These are split across three core modules.
- Introduction to Structural Biology
- Skills for Success in Structural Biology Research
- Research Project in Structural Biology
Below are examples of subject areas conducted by supervisors:
- Membrane protein structure-function
- Human disease and infection
- Photosynthesis and bioenergetics
- Transcriptional regulation and mechanism
- Enzyme catalysis
- Macromolecular machines
Teaching and assessment
Teaching and learning methods
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Class-based lectures
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Computer labs
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Literature dissertation
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Training in structural bioinformatics
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Individual lab research projects
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Web tools for the analysis of protein sequences and structures
Balance of assessment
This is an example of how assessments are usually divided, based on a typical pathway through the course. The actual breakdown may be different depending on the modules you choose.
Key
- Article and literature review
- Research proposal
- Project report and presentation
- 16% Title 1 goes here
- 16% Title 2 goes here
- 66% Title 3 goes here
Assessment methods
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Individual research project reports
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Laboratory performance
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Oral presentations
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Oral assessments
Entry requirements
We consider all applicants on an individual basis, welcoming students from all over the world.
How to apply
Apply online
You can submit one application form per year of entry. You can choose up to two courses.
Application deadlines – Round 2 closes on Wednesday 7 January 2026
We operate a staged admissions process with several application rounds throughout the year.
Apply by 23.59 (UK time) on the closing date of an application round, to ensure you receive a response on your application by the relevant decision date.
Round 1
Business School courses only.
Round 2
- Applications open on Monday 29 September 2025
- Applications close on Wednesday 7 January 2026
- Decision by Wednesday 4 March 2026
Round 3
- Applications open on Thursday 8 January 2026
- Applications close on Wednesday 11 March 2026
- Decision by Wednesday 6 May 2026
Round 4
- Applications open on Thursday 12 March 2026
- Applications close on Wednesday 29 April 2026
- Decision by Thursday 2 July 2026
We recommend applying as early as you can – we cannot guarantee that places will be available, or that courses will remain open, in later rounds.
There is no application fee for Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas, or courses such as PhDs and EngDs.
If you are applying for a Master’s course, you will need to pay an application fee before submitting your application.
The fee applies per application and not per course.
The application fees for postgraduate courses are:
- £90 for all Master's applications, excluding those to Imperial Business School
- £125 for MSc applications to Imperial Business School
- £150 for MBA applications to Imperial Business School
If you are facing financial hardship and are unable to pay the application fee, we encourage you to apply for our application fee waiver.
Find out more about how to apply for a Master's course, including references and personal statements.
Unless you are from an exempt nationality, you will need an ATAS certificate to obtain your visa and study this course.
Nationals from the following countries are exempt: Switzerland, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, USA and EEA members.
Use this information when applying for an ATAS certificate to study this course:
- CAH code: CAH03-01-02
- Descriptor: biology (non-specific)
- Supervisor name: Professor Daniel Davis
Get guidance and support for obtaining an ATAS certificate.
Fees and funding
Home fee - 4x MRes "Low/High" (Mol. Cellular, Mol. Plant, Structural, Synthetic)
2026 entry
£16,300
You should expect and budget for your fees to increase each year.
Your fee is based on the year you enter the university, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
The maximum value of the loan is £12,858 for courses starting on or after 1 August 2025.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Please note:
- The loan is only available if you’re studying a full Master’s course from the start.
- If you start on a Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert) or Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) and later move on to the Master’s, you won’t be eligible for this loan.
Overseas fee - 4x MRes "Low/High" (Mol. Cellular, Mol. Plant, Structural, Synth)
2026 entry
£40,500
You should expect and budget for your fees to increase each year.
Your fee is based on the year you enter the university, not your year of study. This means that if you repeat a year or resume your studies after an interruption, your fees will only increase by the amount linked to inflation.
Find out more about our tuition fees payment terms, including how inflationary increases are applied to your tuition fees in subsequent years of study.
Whether you pay the Home or Overseas fee depends on your fee status. This is assessed based on UK Government legislation and includes things like where you live and your nationality or residency status. Find out how we assess your fee status.
If you're a UK national, or EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you may be able to apply for a Postgraduate Master’s Loan from the UK government, if you meet certain criteria.
The maximum value of the loan is £12,858 for courses starting on or after 1 August 2025.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Please note:
- The loan is only available if you’re studying a full Master’s course from the start.
- If you start on a Postgraduate Certificate (PG Cert) or Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) and later move on to the Master’s, you won’t be eligible for this loan.
Scholarships
View all scholarshipsHow will studying at Imperial help my career?
Learn the skills necessary to pursue a career in structural biology, whether it's in academia or industry.
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Skills workshops will also improve your expertise in networking, time management, writing, and wellbeing.
Life Sciences graduates from Imperial are also highly sought after in a variety of employment sectors.
Life Sciences graduates from Imperial are also highly sought after in a variety of employment sectors.
Other potential career options include banking and finance, education, and manufacturing.
Further links
Contact the department
- Email: l.barron@imperial.ac.uk
Course Director: Dr Morgan Beeby
Course Administrator: Lucy Barron
Visit the Department of Life Sciences website.
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Events, tasters and talks
Meet us and find out more about studying at Imperial.
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Terms and conditions
There are some important pieces of information you should be aware of when applying to Imperial. These include key information about your tuition fees, funding, visas, accommodation and more.
You can find further information about your course, including degree classifications, regulations, progression and awards in the programme specification for your course.
Programme specifications