Biomedical Sciences (Based in China) PhD Level: Postgraduate research Subject: Biological, Biomedical and Life Sciences Year of entry: 2026 Study options Full-time PhD | 3 years | Start date: multiple dates Key facts PhD by Distance Not available Apply now 19 to 21 November 2025: Postgraduate Virtual Open Days Join us live to explore postgraduate taught and research study at Edinburgh and gain key insights before you apply. Register now Overview About the degree programme This is a four-year research-based PhD programme based full-time in our Zhejiang University campus in China. The programme is designed to integrate basic research and applied research to further understand human health and disease.The mode of study is supervised research. Individual students are integrated within their supervisor’s research group and participate fully in activities such as journal clubs, group meetings and seminar programmes.You will be expected to complete a piece of original research, directed towards solving important, novel and open questions that contribute to our understanding of human health and disease diagnosis, treatment and prevention.Study in China The Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute (ZJE Institute) is located on the International Campus of Zhejiang University in Haining, China. This programme will be taught in English by staff from Zhejiang University, the University of Edinburgh and the ZJE Institute. They will be based entirely in Haining, China.ZJE InstituteThe ZJE Institute provides innovative teaching in Biomedical Sciences, all from our new campus in China.Learn more about the ZJE Institute Applying How to apply Before making your application, you must contact a potential supervisor at the Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute (ZJE) to discuss your research proposal or area of research.Potential supervisors should be identified from the list of Principal Investigators on the Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute (ZJE) website.ZJE websiteFor general application enquiries, please contact the ZJE Postgraduate Officer:ZJEPGsupport@ed.ac.uk When to apply Applications are considered on a rolling basis up until the programme start date. However, we encourage you to apply at least one month prior to entry so that we have enough time to process your application. If you are also applying for funding or will require a visa then we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible. Application fee There is no fee to apply to this programme. What you need to apply As part of your online application, you will need to provide: a personal statementrelevant knowledge/training skillsand, if applicable:your research topicdetails of any published workYou will also need to provide some or all of the following supporting information and documents:a research proposalname of supervisor (if known)research project (if applying to an advertised project)copies of your degree certificates and academic transcripts that confirm your current or final marksreferencesevidence you meet the English language requirementscertified translations if your original documents are not in EnglishWhen you start your application, you will be able to see the full list of documents you need to provide. ReferencesYou must submit two references with your application. Interview You will be formally interviewed in person or by video-conferencing. Apply Select the award, duration and delivery mode you want to study. Then select the start date you want to apply for. Select programme - Select a programme -PhD Biomedical Sciences (3 years) After you apply Once you have applied for this programme, you will be able to track the progress of your application and accept or decline any offers.Checking the status of your applicationWe will notify you by email once we have made a decision. Due to the large number of applications we receive, it might take a while until you hear from us.Receiving our decisionWhat to do if you receive an offer:Receiving an offerAccepting an offerSubmitting supporting documents Academic Technology Approval Scheme If you need to apply for a student visa, you may need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme clearance certificate in order to study this programme. Academic Technology Approval Scheme Funding, fees and costs Funding Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:borrowing moneytaking out a loanfamily supportpersonal savingsincome from workemployer sponsorshipscholarshipsExplore sources of funding for postgraduate study Search for other funding opportunities You can find scholarships, bursaries and other funding you might be eligible for on our Scholarships and Student Funding site.Postgraduate funding opportunities Tuition fees Find your tuition fees on the ZJE website:PhD Biomedical Sciences (Based in China) tuition fees Graduate discount If you are a University of Edinburgh graduate, you will be eligible for a 10% discount on your tuition fees for this programme. You may also be eligible if you were a visiting undergraduate student.Find out how to receive your graduate discount Entry requirements These entry requirements are for the 2026-27 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2027-28 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2026. Qualifications A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in a relevant subject. You should have some research experience and be able to demonstrate that you have a good understanding of the field you propose to study. International qualifications To find international equivalent qualifications, select where you studied from the country or region list. Where you studied - Select a country or region -AfghanistanAlbaniaAngolaArgentinaArmeniaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBoliviaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBrazilBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaChileChinaColombiaCosta RicaCôte d'IvoireCroatiaCubaCyprusCzech RepublicDemocratic Republic of CongoDenmarkDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEritreaEstoniaEswatiniEthiopiaFinlandFranceGabonThe GambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGreeceGuatemalaGuineaHaitiHondurasHong Kong-SAR ChinaHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJordanKazakhstanKenyaKorea, Republic ofKuwaitLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLithuaniaLuxembourgMacau-SAR ChinaMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMauritiusMexicoMoldovaMongoliaMontenegroMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNepalNetherlands, TheNew ZealandNicaraguaNigeriaNorth MacedoniaNorwayOmanPacific IslandsPakistanPalestinian TerritoriesPanamaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPolandPortugalQatarRomaniaRussiaRwandaSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSierra LeoneSingaporeSlovakiaSloveniaSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSudanSwedenSwitzerlandSyriaTajikistanTaiwanTanzaniaThailandTogoTrinidad and TobagoTurkeyTurkmenistanUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited States of AmericaUruguayUzbekistanVenezuelaVietnamWest Indies and CaribbeanZambiaZimbabweMy country or region is not listed English language requirements You must prove that your English language abilities are at a high enough level to study this degree programme.This is the case for all applicants, including UK nationals.You can meet our English language requirements with one of the following:an English language testa degree that was taught and assessed in Englishcertain professional qualifications English language tests we accept We accept any of the following English language tests, at the specified grade or higher: IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements. TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements. C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 169 in each component. Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components. Oxford ELLT: total 7 with at least 6 in each component. Oxford Test of English Advanced: total 145 with at least 135 in each component. How old your English language tests can be Tests no more than two years oldThe following English language tests must be no more than two years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality:IELTS AcademicTOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition)Trinity ISEOxford ELLTOxford Test of English AdvancedTests no more than three and a half years oldAll other English language tests must be no more than three and a half years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality. Degrees taught and assessed in English We accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English-speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration.UKVI list of majority English speaking countriesWe also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English-speaking countries (non-MESC).Approved universities in non-MESCHow old your degree can beIf you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts.This time limit does not apply to your degree if you are a national of a majority English-speaking country. Find out more about our English language requirements Find out about other English language qualifications we accept, including professional qualifications.English language requirements Programme details Research profile This four-year programme provides an exciting and unique opportunity for interdisciplinary research training and development within the field of biomedical sciences and bioinformatics.You will contribute to the development of disease diagnosis, treatment and prevention in state-of-the-art research and teaching facilities at Zhejiang University’s new International Campus in Haining, China.The programme focuses on integrating basic research and applied research to further understand human health and disease, to address current global health challenges.Research projectsResearch projects will be developed to advance knowledge, expertise and skills ranging from biomedical science discovery to application of biomedical technologies for research translation in humans.Research projects will be themed from across five main research areas:regenerative medicine and stem cellsinflammation and immunologyinfection and molecular medicineneuroscience, cancer and oncologybiomedical informatics Our research community Extensive collaborations exist with the wider biomedical and clinical communities helping ensure your are supported in a world-class research environment. Taught courses This PhD is purely research-based; however, you may have the opportunity to participate in relevant taught courses either on campus or online as appropriate. Senior postgraduate students may also have the opportunity to act as demonstrators for undergraduate teaching. Support You will join the expanding postgraduate international student community at the ZJE Institute on the Zhejiang University International Campus in Haining, China.You will have access to local student services at the ZJE Institute and on the International campus, and University of Edinburgh online student services.You will carry out your studies within a research group under the supervision of an academic staff member, your ‘principal’ supervisor. The principal supervisor will normally be a member of the ZJE faculty.Thesis committeeYou will also be assigned a personal PhD thesis committee. This comprises:your principal supervisoran assistant supervisor from the University of Edinburgha thesis committee chairThe committee provides advice and mentoring, and monitors progress. Supervisors maintain the highest standards of research training with a strong research output in leading international journals.Courses and seminarsYou will also attend research seminars and can attend online research skills training courses provided by the Institute of Academic Development at the University of Edinburgh.Presenting your findingsYou are encouraged to present your findings at national and international conferences and to publish your findings in international journals, in advance of submission of your PhD thesis for examination. Facilities You will have access to state-of-the-art laboratories and equipment for all aspects of modern biomedical sciences to facilitate your research objectives. These are located at our new International Campus in Haining, China. Careers Career opportunities The programme prepares you for a career in related research, industry and healthcare sectors.You will gain advanced skills transferable to a broad range of careers in:research methodologies and data managementstrategy, project planning and managementethics and research integrity Careers Service Our Careers Service can help you to fully develop your potential and achieve your future goals. The Careers Service supports you not only while you are studying at the University, but also for up to two years after you finish your studies. With the Careers Service, you can: access digital resources to help you understand your skills and strengthstry different types of experiences and reflect on how and what you developget help finding work, including part-time jobs, vacation work, internships and graduate jobsattend careers events and practice interviewsget information and advice to help you make informed decisions Visit the Careers Service website Contact General enquiries ZJE Postgraduate Officer ZJEPGsupport@ed.ac.uk Phone:+44 (0)131 650 3160 Academic contact Dr Matt Brook Programme Director Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine University of Edinburgh Contact details Work: +44 (0)131 242 9437 Email: matt.brook@ed.ac.uk
