Molecular Plant and Microbial Sciences
Research advanced concepts and technologies related to the molecular basis of plant and microbe functions, including two research projects.
Course key facts
Qualification
MRes
Duration
1 year
Start date
October 2027
Study mode
Full-time
Delivered by
Location
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South Kensington
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Course overview
Explore how plants grow and regenerate, how they capture energy from sunlight, and how they interact with the microbes around them.
Plants are the foundation of our food supply, and understanding how they work is central to tackling food security, sustainable farming and a changing climate.
Rather than working through a long series of lectures, you will spend most of your time doing research. You will carry out two substantial projects alongside active research groups, learning modern laboratory and analytical skills used in plant and microbial science, from genetic techniques and microscopy to handling and interpreting large biological datasets.
By graduation, you will have hands-on experience of how fundamental discovery translates into more resilient, disease-resistant crops, and a strong platform for a PhD or a career in research, biotechnology and agritech.
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.
You’ll take all the core modules below.
Core modules
The first research project begins with intensive practical molecular biology skills training.
You’ll pick from a range of topics offered by the molecular plant and microbial sciences research groups.
After choosing your project, you’ll produce a literature survey and research outline, before embarking on lab work.
Your work will be assessed by presentations, an individual research project report and a viva.
You'll also carry out a second research project, which incorporates a literature survey and outline proposal.
The second project must be on a different topic to the first project, and should normally have a different supervisory team.
Your work will be assessed by presentations, an individual research project report and a viva.
Teaching and assessment
Teaching and learning methods
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Computer-based work
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Formal presentations
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Individual research projects with thesis reports
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Research laboratory
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Seminars
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Skills training practicals
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
- Research Project 1
- Research Project 2
- 50% Title 1 goes here
- 50% Title 2 goes here
Assessment methods
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Individual research project reports
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Presentations
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Oral assessment
Entry requirements
We consider all applicants on an individual basis, welcoming students from all over the world.
How to apply
Applications open on Wednesday 30 September 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 Wednesday 30 September 2026
- Applications close on Wednesday 6 January 2027
- Decision by Wednesday 3 March 2027
Round 3
- Applications open on Thursday 7 January 2027
- Applications close on Wednesday 10 March 2027
- Decision by Wednesday 5 May 2027
Round 4
- Applications open on Thursday 11 March 2027
- Applications close on Wednesday 28 April 2027
- Decision by Thursday 1 July 2027
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.
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
There is no application fee for Postgraduate Certificates, Postgraduate Diplomas, or courses such as PhDs and EngDs. This includes MRes and PhD combined (1+3) courses with the Centre for Doctoral Training.
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: CAH10-03-05
- Descriptor: biotechnology
- Supervisor name: Professor Daniel Davis
Get guidance and support for obtaining an ATAS certificate.
Fees and funding
Home fee - 4x MRes "Low/High" (Mol.Cell, Mol.Plant, Structural, Sys.Synth)
2027 entry
Not set
As a guide, the fee for 2026-27 was £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 £13,206 if your course starts on or after 1 August 2026.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Please note that 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.Cell, Mol.Plant, Structural, Sys.Synth)
2027 entry
Not set
As a guide, the fee for 2026-27 was £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 £13,206 if your course starts on or after 1 August 2026.
The loan is not means-tested and you can choose whether to put it towards your tuition fees or living costs.
Please note that 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?
With employers, researchers, and governments realising plant biotechnology's potential, you will have a wide range of career options upon graduation.
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Many graduates pursue further research leading to a PhD.
With specialised knowledge, you'll be highly sought after in a range of sectors.
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Consider joining one of the Research Council-funded institutes that develop and monitor various aspects of plant biotechnology.
Your expertise will be highly sought after by the food industry as well as agrochemical companies with a focus on modern plant breeding methods.
There may also be opportunities for employment in biofuels research.
Further links
Contact the department
Course Director: Dr Giovanni Sena
Course Co-Director: Dr Tolga Bozkurt
Course Administrator: Lucy Barron
Visit the Department of Life Sciences website.
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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