Course details
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Overview
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This full time or part time doctoral programme is suitable for people who have a particular research question or topic in mind, and wish to explore this through independent study in order to produce an original contribution to the subject. If you aspire to a research career this is usually the most appropriate research degree to undertake.
Potential applicants should first identify a member of academic staff who may be a suitable supervisor, and contact them by email to discuss possible directions for a research proposal. The research proposal must be agreed by the supervisor before an application to study can be made. You must also ensure thatappropriate funding is in place, to cover both fees, and the cost of the research.
You will be guided by a small team of academic experts, led by your main supervisor (Director of Studies).
You will be expected to fully engage with skills development and training and to present your research in a range of scholarly contexts, including seminars.
A PhD is assessed via submission of a written thesis and a viva voce (an oral examination).
For full details of what doing a PhD entails at the University of Plymouth, please visit ourPostgraduate research degrees pages.
Core modules
A relevant research skills module (following discussion with your supervisor), either
MAR513 Research Skills and Methods
or
BIO5131 Postgraduate Research Skills and Methods
If you do not already have a masters degree, you may be interested in one of our masters level research degrees – for instance, our ResM in Marine Sciences (which enables a transfer directly into the PhD programme if you are making excellent progress), or else an MPhil degree.Further details about the University’s research degree awards .Core modules
GSRMSCI4
Research Marine Sciences -
Year 2
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Core modules
GSRMSCI5
Research Marine Sciences -
Year 3
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Core modules
GSRMSCI6
Research Marine Sciences
The modules shown for this course or programme are those being studied by current students, or expected new modules. Modules are subject to change depending on year of entry.
Entry requirements
Applicants are expected to have either a good 2:1 or first class honours undergraduate degree in an appropriate subject, and typically to have also completed a masters level qualification to a high standard (e.g. at 'merit' or 'distinction' level). If you do not have a masters level qualification, you may wish to consider an appropriate ResM such as
ResM Biological Sciences
or
ResM Marine Sciences
. Students who are making exceptional progress in a ResM programme may sometimes progress directly into our PhD programme without having to complete the masters, depending on the availability of funding.
Potential applicants for both ResM and PhD programmes should first identify a member of academic staff who may be a suitable supervisor, and contact them by email to discuss possible directions for a research proposal. The research proposal must be agreed by the supervisor before an application to study can be made. You must also ensure that appropriate funding is in place, to cover both fees, and the cost of the research.
Applicants must have discussed a research topic with a prospective University of Plymouth supervisor in advance, including agreement about possible sources of funding for the project. Find out more about our research groups, their members and interests via the
School of Biological and Marine Sciences research
page before applying. The research group leaders will be happy to answer your questions about potential supervisors and research topics.
Please contact
Dr Mick Hanley
with any additional queries.
If English is not your first language, you must have proficiency in written and spoken English (normally a minimum test score of 6.5 for IELTS, or equivalent). Given the nature of the programme, you’ll be expected to read and engage with complex theoretical texts and debates for which fluency in English is essential.
For more general guidelines and application requirements, please visit the
research degree applicants
page.
For more general guidelines and application requirements, please visit the
Fees, costs and funding
Please visit
tuition fees for postgraduate research
for information about fees. We are in Band 2 for fees purposes. You must also discuss direct research costs with your potential supervisor before applying, as these will also need to be covered.
If you are a full time student, you will pay full time fees for three years. If you have not submitted your thesis by the end of this period, then you may pay for an optional one year writing up period.
If you are a part time student, you will pay part time fees for four years. If you have not submitted your thesis by the end of this period, then you may pay for an optional 'writing up' period of up to two years.
You are responsible for meeting all of the costs related to your own research project, beyond the resources available in the department.
Please visit our postgraduate research
money matters
page to find out more about issues related to fees, funding, loans and paying for your programme of study.
Please visit our postgraduate research
How to apply
In addition to completing the online application form (which includes space for a personal statement), you must also upload a research project proposal. Your research proposal should outline your research topic, your key aims and the research question/problem you are addressing, a brief literature review, your proposed methodology, and an explanation of why this topic is significant or important.
Your personal statement should briefly explain why you have chosen to apply to our programme and what you feel you can offer our research community.
Submitting your application
Complete your application and upload supporting documents to the
Doctoral College
by completing our online application form.
Questions on the application process?
We're here to help. Please contact the
Doctoral College
and we'll be happy to assist you.
More information and advice for applicants can be referenced in our admissions policy which can be found on the
student regulations, policies and procedures
page. Prospective students are advised to read the policy before making an application to the University.
Our students have access to the Marine Station, a state-of-the-art teaching and research facility that serves all our marine-based courses including civil engineering, earth sciences and marine biology.
Situated on the shores of Plymouth Sound as part of our ‘Waterfront Campus’, the facility offers labs and classrooms extending out into the natural environment, a wet lab for sample examination and analysis, a seawater aquarium, field equipment storage and changing facilities. It is also the base for our research vessels and a centre of excellence for diving.
Academic staff
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Professor Mairi Knight
Professor of Evolutionary Ecology
Associate Professor (Senior Lecturer) in Molecular Ecology
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Dr Tim O'Hare
Deputy Head of School
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Professor Martin Attrill
Professor of Marine Ecology
Associate Head of School (Research)
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Dr Sarah Collins
Associate Head of School for Marketing, Recruitment and Outreach
Associate Head of School (Recruitment and Marketing)
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Professor Mark Briffa
Associate Head of School (Teaching and Learning)
Associate Head of School (Teaching and Learning)
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Dr Rich Boden
Associate Professor of Microbial Physiology and Taxonomy
Biological Sciences Subject Lead
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Dr Pete Cotton
Associate Professor in Ecology
Marine Biology Subject Lead
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Dr Gillian Glegg
Associate Professor in Marine Management
Marine Sciences Subject Lead
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Dr Richard Billington
Associate Professor of Biology
Programme Leader, Biological Sciences
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Professor Michael Cunliffe
Professor of Marine Microbiology
Programme Leader, MRes Marine Biology
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Dr Clare Embling
Associate Professor of Marine Ecology
Programme Leader, Marine Biology and Oceanography
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Dr Simon Ingram
Associate Professor of Marine Conservation
Programme Leader, Ocean Science and Marine Conservation
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Dr Daniel Merrifield
Associate Professor of Fish Health and Nutrition
Programme Leader, Sustainable Aquaculture Systems
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Dr Katherine Herborn
Lecturer in Physiology and Behaviour
Programme Leader, Zoo Conservation Biology
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Dr Robert Puschendorf
Associate Professor in Conservation Biology
Programme Leader, Conservation Biology
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Dr Manuela Truebano
Lecturer in Marine Molecular Biology
Programme Leader, Marine Biology
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Dr Lucy Turner
Lecturer in Marine Biology
Programme Leader, Marine Biology with Foundation
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Professor David Bilton
Professor of Aquatic Biology
Postgraduate Research Coordinator
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Dr Mark Davidson
Associate Professor in Coastal Processes
Postgraduate Taught Programmes Leader
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Dr Stacey DeAmicis
Lecturer in Marine Ecology (Education)
Admissions Tutor for Marine Biology
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Dr Miguel Franco
Visiting Research Fellow
International Tutor
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Professor Waleed Al-Murrani
Honorary Professor
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Dr Sarah Bass
Lecturer in Marine Physical Science
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Dr Chiara Boschetti
Lecturer in Biological Sciences
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Dr Benjamin Ciotti
Lecturer in Marine Biology
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Professor Daniel Conley
Professor of Nearshore Processes
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Dr Jon Ellis
Associate Professor in Molecular Ecology
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Dr Nikolaus von Engelhardt
Associate Professor in Animal Behaviour and Physiology
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Dr Andy Foggo
Associate Professor in Ecology
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Dr Keiron Fraser
Associate Professor (Education) in Marine Conservation
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Professor Mick Fuller
Professor in Plant Physiology
Professor of Plant Physiology
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Dr Jenny Gales
Associate Professor in Hydrography and Ocean Exploration
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Professor Jason Hall-Spencer
Professor of Marine Biology
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Professor Richard Handy
Professor of Environmental Toxicology
Professor of Toxicology and Physiology
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Dr Mick Hanley
Associate Professor in Plant-Animal Interactions
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Mr Matthew Hoddinott
Science and Engineering School Technical Manager
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Dr Philip Hosegood
Associate Professor in Physical Oceanography
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Professor Kerry Howell
Professor of Deep-Sea Ecology
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Professor Awadhesh Jha
Professor in Genetic Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
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Dr Ken Kingston
Lecturer in Theoretical Coastal Morphodynamics (Education)
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Dr Victor Kuri
Lecturer in Food Quality
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Dr George Littlejohn
Associate Professor of Plant and Fungal Biology
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Dr Andrew Manning
Associate Professor in Coastal and Shelf Physical Oceanography
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Professor Gerd Masselink
Professor of Coastal Geomorphology
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Dr Abigail McQuatters-Gollop
Associate Professor of Marine Conservation
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Dr John Moody
Visiting Research Fellow
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Dr Joanna Newbolt
Lecturer in Applied Animal Welfare
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Professor Alex Nimmo Smith
Professor of Marine Science and Technology
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Dr Anne Plessis
Lecturer in Plant Biosciences
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Professor Simon Rundle
Emeritus Professor
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Professor Paul Russell
Professor of Coastal Dynamics
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Dr Tim Scott
Associate Professor of Ocean Exploration
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Professor John Spicer
Professor
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Mrs Fliss Thom
Senior Technician (Plant Science, Ecology and Animal Behaviour)
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Professor Richard Thompson OBE FRS
Director of the Marine Institute
Director of the Marine Institute
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Dr Vasyl Vlasenko
Associate Lecturer
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Dr Alexander Wilson
Lecturer in Behavioural Ecology
Meet our school technical staff
Our technical staff are integral to the delivery of all our programmes and bring a diverse range of expertise and skills to support students in laboratories, workshops, and the field.