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Dental & Health Sciences Research MPhil/PhD

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Overview

  • The Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences 2014 REF profile confirms our position as the most influential UK Dental School for research - 42 per cent of our activity is recognised as being 4* - world leading in terms of originality, significance and rigour in research.
  • Research income: £2.6M in 2016-2017.
  • Current number of academic staff: Around 74 research-active.
  • Current number of research students: Over 140 PhD Students across the faculty.
  • Recent publications: We published 204 peer-reviewed papers in 2016-2017. Journals included British Medical and Dental Journal, PloS, Nature, The Lancet, several dental specialist journals and many more area specific journals.
  • Partner organisations: King's College London is one of four partners making up King's Health Partners (KHP). KHP is one of only six Academic Health Science Centres (AHSCs) in England designated by the Department of Health. KHP's aim is to create a centre where world-class research, education and clinical practice are brought together for the benefit of patients.
  • Funding bodies:
    • UK & EU Government funding: BBSRC, EPSRC, MRC, NC3Rs, Royal Society, European Commission 
    • UK & Overseas Industry funding: Colgate-Palmolive, GSK, Unilever
    • National Institute for Health Research (UK); National Institutes of Health (US)
    • Charity funding including: Wellcome Trust, Leverhulme, Rosetrees Trust, Action on Hearing Loss, Anatomical Society, British Heart Foundation, Bone Cancer Research Trust, Lister Institute of Preventive Medicine, Oral & Dental Research Trust, Muscular Dystrophy UK, Royal College of Surgeons.

Key information

Duration Three to four years FT or up to six years PT. Registration normally October, although students may commence at any time.

Study mode Full-time, Part-time

Further details

Awarding institution King's College London

Faculty Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences

Locations

 

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Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology at King's

Professor Paul Sharpe and PhD students describe some of the work of the Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology

The Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology – a Centre of Excellence at King’s College London - produces world class scientific research in Development, Regeneration, Repair & Tissue Engineering.

Watch more videos

Course detail

Description

Excellent facilities, cutting edge technology and our international collaborations underpin research in each of our three Centres:

 Each Centre includes basic and translational scientists as well as clinicians to provide an interactive environment where new discoveries are easily commercialised or translated into clinical practice.

View available PhD projects.

Course study environment

All research students are appointed two supervisors at registration to guide them through their research project. Students belong to one of three research Centres which provides interaction with academic staff and other students in the same discipline. The research Centres organise seminars and journal clubs and student participation is expected. The students organise their own science club and are in charge of their own postgraduate room. The research atmosphere is friendly, encouraging and positive, and the success rate is high. All students are allocated a Postgraduate Coordinator (PGC) in addition to the two supervisors. The PGC will provide additional support and will review the student's progress in accordance with the timetable for FT or PT students.

Postgraduate training

The Centre for Doctoral Studies has a range of courses available for the development of a research student. Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences students are required to attend the annual Postgraduate Research Day and present their research in their second and third years.

Head of group/division

Professor Abigail Tucker

Contact for information

If you know which area of study you are interested in please contact the supervisor or Centre head. For further information regarding postgraduate research in the faculty, please contact Dean for Research, Professor Abigail Tucker at abigail.tucker@kcl.ac.uk

 

Contact email

abigail.tucker@kcl.ac.uk

Course website

kcl.ac.uk/dentistry/research/index.aspx

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

Entry requirements
Minimum requirements  

Bachelor's degree with 2:1 honours in a relevant subject (or overseas equivalent). 

A 2:2 degree may be considered only where applicants also offer a master's degree with Merit or above (or equivalent).
International requirements   Visit our admissions webpages to view our International requirements.
English Language requirements Band D Visit our admissions webpages to view our English language entry requirements.

 

Application procedure

Named studentships are usually advertised on the the King's College London health schools studentships website, on the faculty website, in the New Scientist or Nature journals, on www.jobs.ac.uk or www.findaphd.com. Applicants should follow the instructions given in these advertisements. We aim to interview all short-listed applicants.

Applicants with personal funding (ie government scholarship) to cover the costs of living expenses, tuition fees and research expenses can apply at any time. Candidates can also contact potential supervisors directly to enquire if they have any research projects available before completing the online application.

Personal statement and supporting information

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

Document checklist
Research Proposal Yes

Please provide a description of the research project you wish to undertake, information on your previous research experience and, for self-funded applicants, details of how you plan to fund yourself. Applicants with personal funding should attach confirmation of this to the applications.

The proposal should explain in some detail precisely the field of study that you want to contribute to and current research gaps, what you want to do and how you propose to do it. For advice on how to write a winning application, please visit the following page.
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

There is no fixed intake rate but approximately 25-30 FT & 4-7PT per annum start each year.

Application closing date

The deadlines for applications are detailed below. We will open applications for an intake in 2020 after the final deadline passes in 2019.

  • October 2019 entry – 26th July 2019 for International students and 30th August for Home/EU students
  • January 2020 entry – 25th October 2019 for International students and 2nd December 2019 for Home/EU students
  • April 2020 entry – 14th February 2020 for International and Home/EU students
  • July 2020 entry - 15th May 2020 for International and Home/EU students

Please note that funding deadlines may be earlier.

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.

Preparation courses

Fees and funding

UK/EU Tuition Fees 2019/20

Full time tuition fees:

  • £5,300 per year (MPhil/PhD)
  • £5,300 per year (MPhil/PhD at The Crick Institute) 
  • £5,300 per year, tbc (MPhil/PhD Clinical)

Part time tuition fees:

  • £2,650 per year (MPhil/PhD)

International Tuition Fees 2019/20

Full time tuition fees:

  • £23,400 per year (MPhil/PhD)
  • £23,400 per year (MPhil/PhD at The Crick Institute) 

Part time tuition fees:

  • £11,700 per year (MPhil/PhD)

 Students starting their programme in 2019/20 who are eligible to pay EU fees will pay the same rate of tuition fees as UK students. This will apply for the duration of their programme, but may be subject to change by the UK Government for subsequent cohorts from 2020/21.

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

A small number of studentships for specific named projects, funded by external funding agencies such as the Research Councils, charitable bodies or directly by the Institute, are usually available (see applications procedure for details). The studentships usually provide for a stipend and the payment of tuition fees at the home/EU rate. Other than this, the division does not directly fund studentships and other applicants will be expected to be self-funded through a personal scholarship or through private means. Some funding may be available through the Graduate School.

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.

Testimonials

Alison

Alison

After visiting the Craniofacial Development & Stem Cell Biology laboratory in the Dental Institute, I knew it would be a great environment for me to carry out a PhD. The laboratory facilities and the large number of people working in the division meant it would be perfect for me to advance my skills as a developmental biologist. I was also extremely interested in the PhD project my supervisor had to offer. Now I can honestly say the three years of my PhD have been a wonderful experience. While I have learnt many laboratory skills, I have also had the opportunity to attend many conferences and network with international scientists.

Additionally, the Dental Institute has been extremely generous in awarding travel grants to help me attend these conferences. My time at King’s has given me the confidence and skill base to progress in my career. The reputation of the university and the experience I have had studying here has helped me land a postdoctoral job in the University of California, San Francisco, which I started in January 2015. I genuinely miss the academic environment of King’s, yet I have taken many great memories away with me.

Ellie

Ellie

Having previously worked on stimulating research projects within the Dental Institute I was excited to be given the opportunity to pursue my long-term ambition of studying for a PhD. My supervisors, Professor Tim Newton and Professor Avi Banerjee, are world renowned, approachable and are very supportive of my learning.

With the generous support of the Dental Institute, my supervisors and division, I will be presenting my research findings at a research conference. I am looking forward to progressing in an academic career in this world class Dental Institute and establishing great collaborations with colleagues nationally and internationally.

Kieran

Kieran

I found being in London very beneficial for my studies. I often went to seminars and discussed research ideas with scientists from other London universities. King’s has a great international reputation. It therefore attracts world leaders in stem cell research to talk about their work. Most notably, I was chosen to host a part of a symposium where scientists from Taiwan came to King’s and we discussed their research and shared ideas.

Furthermore, King’s actively encourages collaborative initiatives. As part of my postgraduate degree I was given the opportunity to study at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. This was an incredible experience and has helped me publish my research in the most impactful journals.

Next steps

Upcoming events

Nov 6 Electronic Engineering Taster Day
Nov 6 Chemistry Taster Day
Nov 13 Computer Science Taster Day

Full list of student events

View our postgraduate guide

Learn more about postgraduate degree programmes at King's. Download or view our guide in PDF format.

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