Organisms and Environment

Entry requirements

A 1st or Upper 2nd class UK honours degree or equivalent is usually required.

Suitable for graduates in biological and related sciences, including anatomy, physiology and pathology, aural and oral sciences, biomedical sciences, biology, chemistry, computer science and informatics, forensic science, genetics, medicine, neuroscience, optometry and vision sciences, mathematics and statistics, pharmacology, psychology, sport sciences and zoology.

Months of entry

January, April, July, October

Course content

The Organisms and Environment research division focuses on the biology of whole organisms and their roles and interactions in changing ecosystems, in infection and health and at the genetic level. Our aim is to understand the ecological, health and genetic consequences of environmental change on biological diversity. Our approach is to focus on processes and prediction, combining ecological, experimental and molecular approaches, in contrasting groups of organisms. All the major groups are studied, including animals, plants, bacteria, archaea, protozoa, filamentous fungi and yeast.

Research areas are broadly divided into three areas:

genomes, diversity and adaptation

individuals, ecosystems and GlobalChange

microbes, infection and communities.

PhD projects tend to be multidisciplinary in nature, and range from field ecology to experimental microbiology to population genomics. The group has a field centre in Sabah, Malaysia and O&E faculty are also responsible for maintaining the School’s Molecular Biology and Analytical support facilities. In this large and lively research division, many projects are run in collaboration with Universities and Research Institutes elsewhere in the UK and abroad, as well as with other departments (such as Earth and Environmental Sciences, Social Sciences, City and Regional Planning) within the University.

Information for international students

English language requirements

IELTS with an overall score of 6.5 with 5.5 in all subskills, or equivalent. Please see our English Language Requirements guidance for more details.