Stem Cell Research Under review

Training within the Centre is provided through a series of structured seminars and literature reviews, in addition to the laboratory and scientific skills training imparted to students by their PIs.

Generic training in presentation skills, project management and writing skills is delivered through the University of Edinburgh's Institute of Academic Development (IAD):

• IAD support for postgraduate students

Since 2011, the Centre has been housed in a spectacular, specially designed building that provides high quality research facilities, including:

• a state of the art centralised cell culture facility for isolation and culture of primary and established cell lines including embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells
• clinical-grade GMP cell culture facility
• Specific Pathogen Free animal facility;
• transgenic service covering derivation and provision of mouse embryonic stem cells, blastocyst injection, morula aggregation and production of defined genetic alterations
• ultrasound micro-injection equipment
• flow cytometry service consisting of cell sorters, BD FACSAria II cell sorter, BDFACSAria III FUSION cell sorter and Sony SH800 cell sorter, operated by facility staff and analysers, and the BD LSRFortessa (4 laser) analyser, BD LSRFortessa (5 laser) analyser and Acea Novocyte 3000 analysers that can be operated by users following mandatory training
• a new single cell genomic analysis service using a 10x Genomics Chromium Controller
• histology building
• imaging facilities including standard compound microscopy, widefield, confocal, and lightsheet microscopes. , high-content and timelapse imaging. The facility has dedicated imaging managers and offers two high-end workstations for bio-image processing and analysis
• quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction

• Fluidigm Biomark and CellPrep for single cell transcriptomics

• Take a virtual tour of our facilities at the Centre for Regenerative Medicine

Your colleagues will include members of the University’s College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine who can provide a clinical perspective and, as you’ll be located a stone’s throw from the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, you’ll also have access to hospital facilities and practising clinicians.

These entry requirements are for the 2023/24 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2024/25 academic year will be published on 2 October 2023.

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in a relevant subject. You should have some research experience and be able to demonstrate that you have a good understanding of the field you propose to study.

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country

English language requirements

You must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies, regardless of your nationality or country of residence.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 169 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 62 with at least 59 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

• Approved universities in non-MESC

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than three and a half years old at the beginning of your programme of study.

Find out more about our language requirements:

• English language requirements

Additional programme costs

Most laboratories require a bench fee of up to £5,000 per year. This cost can be covered in Research Council studentships.

Further research costs may be required, depending on your project requirements.

Living costs

You will be responsible for covering living costs for the duration of your studies.

Tuition fees

Featured funding

• School of Biological Sciences PhD funding
• Research scholarships for international students
• Principal's Career Development PhD Scholarships

UK government postgraduate loans

If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK's governments.

The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:

• your programme
• the duration of your studies
• your tuition fee status

Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.

• UK government and other external funding

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

• Search for funding