Medicine research degrees

Our postgraduate research in medicine including entry requirements for PhDs and other research degrees.

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We provide a high quality research and training environment for more than 500 scientists and clinicians.

Our goal is to improve the understanding of the mechanisms of disease to address important health problems and to deliver practical solutions leading to health improvement for individuals, communities and populations. Working together we aim to translate research between the laboratory and the clinic, with fundamental research themes being informed by important clinical problems.

The research strategy is strongly informed by our close working relationship with NHS Tayside, and this partnership is driving the development of the Tayside Academic Health Science Network, which will impact on local, national and international healthcare delivery and improvement.

Our activities include collaborations at local, national and international levels and we receive funding from various sources including UK research councils, medical charities.We also have strong links with major pharmaceutical companies, who contribute to funding of applied research.

Research themes

The principal research themes of the School of Medicine are:

  • Cancer
  • Neuroscience
  • Precision Medicine
  • Pharmacology, Drug Outcomes and Regulatory Medicine
  • Health and Bioinformatics
  • Imaging and Health Technologies
  • Chronic Metabolic, Cardiovascular and Inflammatory Diseases

We are based on the University of Dundee’s Ninewells Campus, co-located with Ninewells Hospital (one of the largest teaching hospitals in the UK). Researchers have access to a number of excellent core research facilities and School support services.

We pride ourselves on delivering an excellent research-led and learning experience for undergraduate and postgraduate students in Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science. We have a vibrant graduate programme for Masters by Research and PhD students and provide training for postdoctoral researchers supported by research awards and personal fellowships.

To read more, please visit our School of Medicine research pages.

Propose your own PhD topic

If you want to propose your PhD topic, you can use the contact details below to contact a staff member to discuss your proposal.

How to write your best postgraduate research proposal

Entry requirements

You should have an honours degree at 2.1 or above, and/or a Masters degree in a relevant discipline.

English language requirements

IELTS (overall) Reading Listening Speaking Writing
6.5 5.5 5.5 5.5 6.0

We also accept other English language qualifications

You do not need to prove your knowledge of English if you are a national of certain countries.

Don't meet the English language requirements?

English language programmes

Prepare for university study and benefit from extra English tuition with an English language programme.

Medical Education PhDs

IELTS (overall) Reading Listening Speaking Writing
7.0 7.0 7.0 7.0 7.0

We also accept other English language qualifications

You do not need to prove your knowledge of English if you are a national of certain countries.

Don't meet the English language requirements?

English language programmes

Prepare for university study and benefit from extra English tuition with an English language programme.

Medicine PhD tuition fees

  • MD in Medicine
  • Doctoral Research in Medicine
Academic year of entry Scottish/Rest of UK fee status International fee status
2023/24
Band 1 £4,712
per year of study		 £20,895
per year of study
Band 2 £8,855
per year of study		 £25,305
per year of study
Band 3 £12,765
per year of study		 £29,490 or £37,905
per year of study
2024/25
Band 1 £4,786
per year of study		 £21,940
per year of study
Band 2 £9,120
per year of study		 £26,570
per year of study
Band 3 £13,148
per year of study		 £30,965 or £39,800
per year of study

Medicine Masters by Research tuition fees

Academic year of entry Scottish/Rest of UK fee status International fee status
2023/24
MPhil with Specialism Specialism PGT Tuition Fee for entry year Specialism PGT Tuition Fee for entry year
Band 1 £4,712
per year of study		 £20,895
per year of study
Band 2 £8,855
per year of study		 £25,305
per year of study
Band 3 £12,765
per year of study		 £29,490 or £37,905
per year of study
2024/25
Band 1 £4,786
per year of study		 £21,940
per year of study
Band 2 £9,298
per year of study		 £26,570
per year of study
Band 3 £13,148
per year of study		 £30,965 or £39,800
per year of study

 

Tuition fee per year of study (subject to a 3% annual increase for Scottish/Rest of UK students and a 5% annual increase for International students).

Part time study, where available, is charged on a pro-rata basis.

Scottish/Rest of UK fee status annual increase

Each year, UKRI sets a recommended fee and stipend level for Scottish/Rest of UK students, which we use as the basis for fees charged to this group.

UKRI usually increases its fee and stipend levels in line with inflation, based on the Treasury GDP deflator. 

Therefore, the Scottish/Rest of UK fees detailed in this table for 2025/26 (and beyond) can only be estimated according to the typical increase. 

The fee charged to you may differ, though only slightly, from the figure given.

Apply for a research degree

You can apply for a PhD or other postgraduate research degree using our Direct Application System.

We have three start dates per academic year.

PhD Medicine (3 years)

PhD Medicine (part time)

PhD Medicine (4 years)

PhD Medicine (EMBL Joint Programme)

MSc by Research Medicine

MSc by Research Medicine (part time)

Medicine (non-graduating) (research)

Medicine (research) (part time)

MD Medicine

MD Medicine (part time)

See also: Medicine (Professional Doctorate) DProf

The University of Dundee welcomes applications from disabled students.

Enquiries