Biosystematics
Broaden your understanding of taxonomy and systematics and gain practical experience in the field
Broaden your understanding of taxonomy and systematics and gain practical experience in the field
Improve your research skills for further PhD study
Learn from international experts at a seminar series run jointly with the Natural History Museum
Course key facts
Qualification
MRes
Duration
1 year
Start date
September 2026
Study mode
Full-time
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Fees
£16,300 Home
£36,000 Overseas
Delivered by
Location
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South Kensington
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Course overview
Gain a broad perspective of taxonomy and systematics as well as relevant practical experience on this Master's course.
Run jointly with the Natural History Museum, the programme will prepare you for further PhD study, or a future career in systematics research.
You'll carry out two hands-on research projects at the Natural History Museum and Imperial under the supervision of acknowledged international experts at both institutions.
You'll also improve your knowledge of biosystematics through regular academic tutorials, attendance at lab meetings, and external lectures and seminar series.
MRes Living Planet streams
Our MRes Living Planet course will equip you to tackle the great environmental challenges facing the world, providing training on the transferrable research skills you’ll need to develop science-based understanding and interventions.
You may wish to consider if another stream is right for you according to your career aims and background:
- MRes Biosystematics (this stream)
- MRes Living Planet with Ecology, Evolution and Conservation
- MRes Living Planet with Computational Methods in Ecology and Evolution
- MRes Living Planet with Ecosystems and Environmental Change
MSc Living Planet streams
We also offer an MSc in Living Planet course with the following streams:
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 complete the following compulsory modules in the Autumn term, designed to give you the core skills needed to understand, interpret and conduct independent research. This training is conducted in field and computing environments and will introduce you to modern data collection and experimental methods, along with state-of-the-art techniques in data science, geographic information systems (GIS), genomics and bioinformatics, and data interpretation.
- NHM Field Course and Basic Computing
- Statistics in R
- Ecological and Evolutionary Data Science
- Planning Research Projects
You’ll complete one research project in each of the Spring and Summer terms from one of the following topics:
- Specimen-based phylogenetics
- Molecular systematics and genomics
- ‘Big-data’ bioinformatics and biodiversity informatics
You’ll complete one research project in each of the Spring and Summer terms from one of the following topics:
- Specimen-based phylogenetics
- Molecular systematics and genomics
- ‘Big-data’ bioinformatics and biodiversity informatics
Teaching and assessment
Teaching and learning methods
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Lectures
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Computing labs
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Journal clubs
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Projects and assignments
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Presentations and seminars
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Tutorials
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Virtual learning environment
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Independent study
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
- Lectures and practicals
- Research project 1 – Spring term
- Research project 2 – Summer term
- 33% Title 1 goes here
- 33% Title 2 goes here
- 33% Title 3 goes here
Assessment methods
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Individual research project
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Presentations
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 - Biosystematics MRes (Living Planet)
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 - Biosystematics MRes (Living Planet)
2026 entry
£36,000
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?
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Develop the essential core knowledge and skills for a career in systematics research.
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Our graduates often pursue further study in master's programs or doctoral research.
Benefit from excellent networking opportunities through your work at both Imperial and the Natural History Museum.
Students who graduate from Imperial's Life Sciences program are highly sought after by a variety of sectors.
These include business and consultancy, health and social work, banking/finance, education, and manufacturing.
Further links
Contact the department
- Email: s.dennison@imperial.ac.uk
Course Directors: Professor Alfried Vogler and Dr Arkhat Abzhanov
Visit the Department of Life Sciences website.
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Request info
Find out more about studying at Imperial. Receive updates about life in our community, including event invites and download our latest Study guide.
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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