Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences | Study

Overview

We are driven by our commitment to improve the way we deliver healthcare through the use of advanced engineering.

A diverse and talented group working across the whole Medtech sector, we advance research, innovation and teaching progress through our shared missing of engineering better health for patients worldwide.

Our state-of-the-art and clinical-research facilities are embedded in St Thomas' Hospital where we can ensure our research projects are fully aligned with current clinical practice. Long-term collaborations with global MedTech companies and new partnerships with innovative start-ups ensure multiple pathways to translation.

Research is organised into ambitious, large-scale and long-term research projects supported by our six departments. This diverse infrastructure allows us to combine expertise and apply the latest healthcare concepts to deliver ground breaking results.

We pass this integrated approach to the next generation of healthcare specialist who study with our lecturers. Courses with practical training and real-world application at their core, taking place at the UK's most research active NHS Trust.

Joint PhDs available: exciting opportunities to gain a joint PhD with Universidad Católica de Chile (Santiago de Chile, Chile).

REF2014: 99% of our research outputs were rated 4* and 3* in the unit of assessment for general engineering, and 99% of our overall performance achieved these ‘world leading’ and ‘internationally excellent’ ratings.

Research income: ~£13.5 million pa (for year ending 31 July 2018)

Current number of academic staff: 76 academics

Current number of graduate research students: 110 in total: MPhil/PhD 95; 15 MD(Res)

Current number of post-doctoral research assistants: 137

Visit our list of recent publications webpage

Current research project areas:

Biomedical Engineering
Simultaneous PET-MR Methodology
Biophysical Modelling
Cardiovascular MR
Machine learning
Mathematical Methods and artificial intelligence in medical imaging
Quantitative MRI

Surgical & Interventional Engineering
Biophotonics
Artificial intelligence and machine learning
Medical imaging and computer vision
Mechatronics
Data sciences
Robotics, precision engineering

Cancer Imaging
Biomarker development, methodology, treatment planning
Disease phenotyping & response prediction / evaluation & prognosis
Development & optimisation of hybrid imaging
Image analysis, processing & optimisation, bioinformatics and radiomics
Multicentre clinical trials including programmes for clinical pathway development and optimisation

Cardiovascular Imaging
Acquired Heart Disease
Electrophysiology
Heart Failure
Interventional MR
Paediatric Cardiology
Vascular Surgery

Imaging Chemistry & Biology
Cancer
Cardiovascular
Immunology
Neuroscience
Musculoskeletal
New Chemistry

Perinatal Imaging & Health
Biology of cerebral injury and developmental disorders
Brain imaging particularly in utero and in the neonatal period
Clinical trials of novel therapies neuroprotective therapies

Partner organisations, examples include:

Key information

Duration MPhil/ PhD:Three to four years full-time, six to seven years part-time. MD(Res): Two to three years full-time, four to five years part-time.

Study mode Full-time, Part-time

Further details

Awarding institution King's College London

Faculty Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine

Department School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences

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Course detail

Description

The School brings together physicists, chemists, biologists, mathematicians, computer scientists and clinicians working in biomedical engineering, medical imaging and image-guided therapy into six departments: Surgical and Interventional Engineering, Cardiovascular Imaging, Cancer Imaging, Biomedical Engineering, Imaging Chemistry and Biology, and Perinatal Imaging and Health. We are keen to recruit PhD students from all these disciplines.

All imaging modalities are studied including MR, x-ray, CT, ultrasound, PET and SPECT as well as therapeutic nuclear medicine. On-going projects range from the development of new imaging agents and technology and computational image analysis, machine learning and modelling, through to the clinical assessment of new imaging methods.

We have a wide range of work from studies of the basic science of imaging to research into specific clinical areas such as cardiology, neuropsychiatry, oncology, radiotherapy and surgery. Our work is carried out in close collaboration with other groups within the Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine and associated hospitals.

For further information about the research within the School, please refer to the School website.

Joint PhD programme
Exciting opportunities are now available to undertake a joint PhD programme with the Universidad Católica de Chile, for topics specifically relating to Biological and Medical Engineering (Biomedical Imaging, Cellular and Molecular Engineering, Tissue Engineering and Biomechanics and Quantitative Physiology).

Course study environment

The emphasis in the study environment is on interdisciplinarity and translation to the clinic, and students work in an environment in which close interaction with colleagues from other complementary disciplines is the norm. In accord with wider Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine practice, each student has at least two supervisors, strengthening the cross-disciplinary nature of the training and their progress is monitored closely and reported on every six months. Students have access to excellent laboratory facilities for radiochemistry and radiobiology, PET, SPECT and MR imaging facilities.

Postgraduate training

As well as access to the taught modules on the MRes in Medical Imaging Sciences, students in Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences can supplement their training through Departmental Seminars and our CDT programme of Advanced Skills sessions and Seminar Series. Our postgraduate students also have the opportunity to assist with teaching of undergraduates as demonstrators in practical classes or by leading tutorials.

Head of group/division

Professor Sebastien Ourselin

Contact for information

Postgraduate Research Admissions Enquiries

Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7848 7000

Contact email

Please fill in the Admissions enquiry Form

School contacts

PGR Lead: Professor Andrew Reader

Contact email

andrew.reader@kcl.ac.uk

Course website

Find out more by visiting the course website

Entry requirements

Entry requirements
Minimum requirements		Bachelor's degree with 2:1 honours in Applied Mathematics / Mathematics, Biochemistry, Biology, Biomedical Engineering or another engineering-related discipline, Biomedical Sciences, Chemistry, Computer Science, Medicine, Physics A 2:2 degree may be considered only where applicants also offer a Master's degree with Merit or above.
International requirements		Visit our admissions webpages to view our International entry requirements.
English Language requirements	Band D	Visit our admissions webpages to view our English language entry requirements.

Please do not complete an application form until you have spoken with and have confirmation from your preferred supervisor.

Information about research staff can be found on King’s Research Portal here: https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/

Application procedure

Studentships will be advertised on findaphd.com, Naturejobs, the College’s Health Schools Studentships website or on www.jobs.ac.uk.

All applicants are required to complete the KCL online application form. Short-listed applicants will be interviewed by at least two academics. Please do not complete an application form until you have spoken with and have confirmation from your preferred supervisor.

Personal statement and supporting information

You will be asked to submit the following documents in order for your application to be considered:

Document checklist
Personal Statement	Yes	A personal statement is required. This can be entered directly into the online application form (maximum 4,000 characters) or uploaded as an attachment to the online application form (maximum 2 pages).
Previous Academic Study	Yes	A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing the subjects studied and marks obtained. If you have already completed your degree, copies of your official degree certificate will also be required. Applicants with academic documents issued in a language other than English, will need to submit both the original and official translation of their documents.
References	Yes	Two references are required with at least one academic. Professional references will be accepted if you have completed your qualifications over five years ago.
Other	Optional	You may also wish to include a CV (Resume) or evidence of professional registration as part of your application.

Course intake

No set number

Application closing date

We recommend that you submit your application as soon as possible as we may need to request further information from you to assess your application. This is also important if your application is successful and you are required to meet any offer condition, and/or you need a Student Visa to study here at King’s.

The final application deadlines are detailed below; on these dates, the programme will close at 23:59 (UK time) and we will open for the corresponding intake in 2023 soon after the same intake has passed in 2022.

· February 2022 entry – 12 November 2021 for Overseas fee status and 6 December 2021 for Home fee status

· June 2022 entry – 1 April 2022 for Overseas fee status and 11 April 2022 for Home fee status

· October 2022 entry – 29 July 2022 for Overseas fee status and 26 August 2022 for Home fee status

· February 2023 entry – 21 October 2022 for Overseas fee status and 22 November 2022 for Home fee status

· June 2023 entry – 3 April 2023 for Overseas fee status and 17 April 2023 for Home fee status

Please note that funding deadlines may be earlier than the application deadlines listed above.

Joint PhDs - Application advice

Applicants for the Joint PhD programme must contact the relevant departments at both universities before submitting an application in order to discuss the suitability of their topic for the joint programme and to locate potential supervisors. Applications should initially be submitted to the proposed home institution only, ie where the student will start and finish their programme. Students should note that acceptance onto the programme may take slightly longer than for single-institution PhDs because of the additional steps involved.

Applicants who choose King’s as their home institution should apply through the online system, selecting the appropriate Joint PhD option from the drop-down list. In addition to the standard supporting documentation, applicants should submit a travel plan form indicating how they intend to divide their time between the two partner institutions. Students must spend at least 12 month in each institution, details of which can be found in the ‘Notes’ section of the travel plan form.

It is recommended that students submit applications for the Joint PhD programme by the end of March to begin the following September.

The programme will be jointly awarded, so will result in one qualification awarded equally by both partners. Applications must be approved by both universities, so the process can take slightly longer than for a single PhD.

Help and support

If you don't have a suitable qualification for direct entry to a UK university, or if English isn't your first language, our academic preparation courses can help you get ready for study in the UK.

International Foundation

Fees and funding

UK Tuition Fees 2021/22

Full time tuition fees:

£5,850 per year (MPhil/PhD)

£5,850 per year (MPhil/PhD Clinical)

£5,850 per year (MDRes)

£5,850 per year (MDRes Clinical)

£5,850 per year (MDRes – joint PhD with Universidad Católica de Chile)

Part time tuition fees:

£2,925 per year (MPhil/PhD)

£2,925 per year (MPhil/PhD Clinical)

£2,925 per year (MDRes)

£2,925 per year (MDRes Clinical)

International Tuition Fees 2021/22

Full time tuition fees:

£25,800 per year (MPhil/PhD)

£49,050 per year (MPhil/PhD Clinical)

£25,800 per year (MDRres)

£49,050 per year (MDRes Clinical)

£25,800 per year (MDRes – joint PhD with Universidad Católica de Chile)

Part time tuition fees:

£12,900 per year (MPhil/PhD)

£24,525 (MPhil/PhD Clinical)

£12,900 per year (MDRes)

£24,525 per year (MDRes Clinical)

UK Tuition Fees 2022/23

Full time tuition fees:

£6,120 per year (MPhil/PhD)

£6,120 per year (MPhil/PhD Clinical)

£6,120 per year (MDRes Clinical)

£6,120 per year (MDRes – joint PhD with Universidad Católica de Chile)

Part time tuition fees:

£3,060 per year (MPhil/PhD)

£3,060 per year (MPhil/PhD Clinical)

£3,060 per year (MDRes Clinical)

International Tuition Fees 2022/23

Full time tuition fees:

£27,090 per year (MPhil/PhD)

£51,540 per year (MPhil/PhD Clinical)

£51,540 per year (MDRes Clinical)

£27,090 per year (MDRes – joint PhD with Universidad Católica de Chile)

Part time tuition fees:

£13,500 per year (MPhil/PhD)

£25,755 (MPhil/PhD Clinical)

£25,755 per year (MDRes Clinical)

EU Students starting their programme in the academic year 2021/22 will pay international tuition fees.

These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King's terms and conditions.

Financial help and support

Visit the fees and funding webpages to find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans and other financial help available at King's.

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Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences MPhil/PhD MD/(Res) or option of Joint PhD in Medical Imaging and Biomedical Engineering