Projects are typically advertised throughout the year. Each project listing contains contact details for queries and a link to the online applications portal.

If you have a topic or research question in mind, please browse our Find a PhD Supervisor page to identify the most appropriate member of staff to support your idea.

Quick Links

• Funded Opportunities
• All Opportunities
• Find a PhD Supervisor

What is your PhD about? It’s about trying to make agriculture more sustainable and less harmful to the environment. In my particular project, we will be trialling willow as a feed supplement in grass-based pasture systems in the UK and Ireland. The work will be carried out in partnership with AFBI and also Reading University.

We all know now that agricultural emissions, particularly from ruminant livestock such as cattle, are a big contributor to climate change. But there are solutions and scientists are now providing the evidence for this. I’ve a passion for the dairy industry and I believe we can transform it so much. It’s exciting to be part of a big sea-change like that – future-proofing farming to meet the global challenge.

How supported do you feel? I feel very supported by my supervisor, Dr Katerina Theodoridou and by IGFS Director Professor Nigel Scollan – he’s a great teacher and has been a great encouragement to me. I also feel supported by the Food BioSystems DTP – I get to meet other PhD students through that, which is great. Online seminars available through the Graduate School were very useful when I first started my PhD as everyone was still working remotely and I did find that hard. I’m much happier now that I’m back on campus and I love the energy I get from seeing and talking to other students and researchers. I like a bit of both – I need the buzz of being around other people, but then I retire to the McClay Library for a few hours for some peace and quiet and to get some serious work done.

What are your hopes for the future? I’m a great believer in applying science to the real world. I would like to commercialise my research and start a business. I’m passionate about coming up with solutions for carbon-net-zero and adding value to food systems. I’m from a farming background and I’ve worked in agriculture and the agrifood industry in New Zealand and the US. So I would see myself going into industry but with a strong research element – eg. creating a spinout company.

Would you encourage others to do a PhD? I think if it can help you get to where you want to go, then definitely. It’s not something that was ever in my plan, to be honest. I always wanted to work in the agrifood industry. I’ve tried a few different things in terms of farming and agrifood. I also did a placement year at Ohio State University. I think these things are all important in trying to work out what it is you want. I didn’t rush into a PhD and I think it’s important to explore other options and make sure it’s really for you. When this PhD came up, it was right up my street, because it has that practical element to it – trying to get the science out there into the real world, where it can have impact. That’s what I’m most interested in.

At the application stage, you will need to provide the following:

• Personal details
• Details of your education to date
• Indication of your funding plans*
• Your research proposal
• Proof of your English language levels if English is not your first language – find out more about our English language requirements.
• Names and contact details of two referees – one of which should be an academic reference from the institution you most recently studied at
• The name or names of your intended supervisors
• Date you plan to start

*If you do not have a source of funding for your research, it may be possible for your research proposal to be considered.  However, you would be required to provide evidence that you are capable of covering all costs associated with a PhD, whether through self-financing or an external funding source.  Please note that it is not possible for the School or Institute to provide funding for any PhD projects other than those which are advertised as funded.

If you are an International candidate in need of funding, please visit the University's International Scholarships page for further information.

For detailed step by step guidance, please refer to the PhD Application Process page.

How to Apply

A prospective student visitor expresses interest in a visit to the School of Biological Sciences by contacting a potential supervisor. View a full list of our academic staff. 

The student then completes the Visiting Student Application Form and sends it to SBSIGFSVRT@qub.ac.uk at least three weeks before the start of the visiting studentship.

International students may need to allow additional processing time for visa requirements. You must also provide a copy of your transcript or other proof of your current registration status at your home institution, and a copy of your passport and other relevant documentation with your application.

An additional consideration for students who are non-European Economic Area nationals, and who wish to apply for a Visiting Student title for any duration in certain subject areas, is the requirement to apply for clearance under the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS). ATAS clearance must be obtained before application to immigration for visas.

More information is available on the Visiting Titles page.