Postgraduate study
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Inflammation PhD, MScR

Awards: PhD, MScR

Study modes: Full-time, Part-time

Funding opportunities

Programme website: Inflammation

The Centre for Inflammation Research (CIR) aims to promote the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory diseases through interdisciplinary study of the initiation, regulation and resolution of inflammatory responses and provision of an outstanding environment for research training in the field.

CIR investigators aim to characterise and manipulate key control points in inflammation. We focus on:

  • inhibiting the initiation of inflammation by blocking immunologically specific triggers and by modulating cellular and tissue responses to injurious stimuli
  • finding new approaches to promote beneficial regulation of established inflammatory responses so as to limit tissue injury
  • promoting safe resolution of inflammation and restoration of the structure and function of the perturbed tissue

We have particular interest in inflammatory diseases of the lung and kidney but the principles derived will have ready application to inflammatory responses in the liver, bowel, bone/joint and skin. There is also increasing development of research in the CIR into the links between inflammation and cancer.

The Centre was formally established in 1998.

Generic training in presentation skills, project management and writing skills is delivered through the University of Edinburgh's transferable skills programme.

The CIR is a multidisciplinary team of research groups under the directorship of Professor Chris Gregory. The CIR consists of more than 180 researchers, is equipped with state-of-the-art apparatus and is supported by external grant funding. The CIR is now located in the purpose-built Queen's Medical Research Institute along with the centres for Reproductive Biology and Cardiovascular Sciences.

These entry requirements are for the 2024/25 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2025/26 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2024.

A UK 2:1 honours degree or its international equivalent.

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

English language requirements

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

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. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
  • 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:

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).

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old* at the beginning of your programme of study. (*Revised 05 March 2024 to extend degree validity to five years.)

Find out more about our language requirements:

Additional programme costs

Most laboratories require a bench fee of up to £5,000 for PhD and £4,000 for MScR. This cost can be covered in Research Council Studentships.

Living costs

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

Tuition fees

AwardTitleDurationStudy mode
PhDInflammation3 YearsFull-timeTuition fees
PhDInflammation6 YearsPart-timeTuition fees
MScRInflammation1 YearFull-timeTuition fees
MScRInflammation2 YearsPart-timeTuition fees

Featured funding

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.

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

  • Centre for Inflammation Research
  • Queen's Medical Research Institute
  • 47 Little France Crescent
  • Little France
  • Edinburgh
  • EH16 4TJ

We encourage you to apply at least one month prior to entry so that we have enough time to process your application. If you are also applying for funding or will require a visa then we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible.

You must submit two references with your application.

Applicants may discuss possible projects with potential supervisors in advance, however, initial applicant enquiries should be made by email to Amy Ma:

Further information on making a research degree application can be found on the College website:

You will be formally interviewed (in person, by video-conferencing or Skype).

Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:

Further information

  • Centre for Inflammation Research
  • Queen's Medical Research Institute
  • 47 Little France Crescent
  • Little France
  • Edinburgh
  • EH16 4TJ