Queen's University of Belfast - Medical Faculty
PhD in Food Safety and Biotechnology
Belfast, United Kingdom
PhD
DURATION
4 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
GBP 25,600 *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* EU and international student
Key Summary
About: The PhD in Food Safety and Biotechnology at Queen’s University Belfast’s School of Biological Sciences offers PhD and MPhil research degrees across biochemistry, molecular genetics and agri‑food sciences. Apply with your own project via the Find a Supervisor link or consider advertised funded projects. Research themes: Agri‑Food Systems and Human Nutrition; Understanding Health and Disease; Sustaining Ecosystems and Biodiversity. Study full‑time or pro‑rata part‑time.
Career Outcomes: Graduates gain career opportunities in commercial science and public-sector research and development. Typical paths include research scientist, consultant, technical or executive roles in drug discovery, sustainable agriculture, food safety, ecological management, scientific communication and regulation.
The School of Biological Sciences provides PhD and MPhil (research degree) programs in subjects ranging from basic biochemistry, molecular genetics, and cancer research, to agricultural science, marine ecology, and the economic evaluation of ecosystem services and food retailing. If you have a topic or research question in mind, please use the Find a Supervisor link (see Apply tab) to identify the most appropriate member of staff to support your idea. If not, don't worry, we regularly advertise funded projects and there is no harm in browsing our academic staff profiles for inspiration and then contacting whoever seems best: we are very open to applications from suitably qualified people interested in scientific research. In every case, a PhD or MPhil course provides the means of being part of a cutting-edge scientific research team and contributing to genuine discoveries or developing new methods for practical use. If you cannot study full-time, we offer pro-rata part-time research degree programs as well.
There are three broad themes to research at the School:
- Agri-Food Systems and Human Nutrition
- Understanding Health and Disease
- Sustaining Ecosystems and Biodiversity
Biological Sciences Highlights
- Industry Links
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- Internationally Renowned Experts
- Key Facts
We offer prestigious, competitive scholarships of up to 50% off tuition fees to new international students. You must have an offer to study a full-time course with us in 2024 to apply for a scholarship.
Research degrees vary in length, but typically for a PhD they are three or four years long (full-time) and double that for part-time studies. They follow an annual cycle of progress with formal panel-based appraisals of the progress, the outcome of which is typically practical and academic advice about how to overcome problems encountered and how to move to the next stage. During each year, students are expected to supplement their studies with some tailored courses, ranging from highly specific (e.g. learning to use a piece of apparatus or technique) to generic (e.g. developing oral presentation or leadership skills). Every stage is supported by the supervisory team, augmented by an independent panel of progress monitors as well as the full support of the Graduate School.
Assessment
Assessment processes for the Research Degree differ from taught degrees. Students will be expected to present drafts of their work at regular intervals to their supervisor who will provide written and oral feedback; a formal assessment process takes place annually.
This Annual Progress Review requires students to present their work in writing and orally to a panel of academics from within the School. Successful completion of this process will allow students to register for the next academic year.
The final assessment of the doctoral degree is both oral and written. Students will submit their thesis to an internal and external examining team who will review the written thesis before inviting the student to orally defend their work at a Viva Voce.
Queen’s University Belfast is ranked 174th in the QS World University Rankings 2027
Learning Outcomes
A postgraduate research degree involves the undertaking of independent research under the guidance of a professional academic supervisory team, typically using the laboratory facilities on offer in one or more of the teams' labs. The student will be expected to develop their own ideas and learn the methods needed to test them empirically and theoretically. This usually involves learning and practicing both laboratory (and or field) skills as well as developing a strong theoretical background in the relevant subject.
As well as practical work, all the activities of independent academic scholarship, such as literature searching and critical appraisal, written and verbal communications, and academic networking will be developed during a research degree. Independence and innovation will be strongly encouraged, but the student will be supported by regular supervisory guidance. A wide range of courses will also be offered, both in subject-specific skills and generic skills, especially supported by the Graduate School.
Students are encouraged to interact with one another and with members of academic staff and postdoctoral scientists to build confidence and informal learning, through a range of ‘research culture’ activities, including peer groups where students get together to discuss topical research papers, or methods, or just chat about their interests.
Queen's postgraduates reap exceptional benefits. Unique initiatives, such as Degree Plus and Researcher Plus bolster our commitment to employability, while innovative leadership and executive programmes alongside sterling integration with business experts help our students gain key leadership positions both nationally and internationally. Career prospects in the biological sciences are exceptionally good. To some extent, it depends on the specific topic, of course, but laboratory-based and especially quantitative skills and the proven innovation of a PhD or MPhil are highly sought after. Degrees are very much in demand, both in commercial science and public sector research and development (e.g. drug discovery and development, crop and animal improvements and welfare, sustainable agriculture and resource use, human nutrition and health, animal health, ecological management, food safety and technology, scientific communications, regulation, and many more fields).
Employment after the Course
Graduates have gone on to be professional research scientists, and consultants, or hold technical and junior executive positions in commerce and government.