Biosystematics

This one-year research-based course is run jointly with the Natural History Museum, which is just a five-minute walk from Imperial's South Kensington Campus.

The course provides a broad perspective of taxonomy and systematics, together with relevant practical experience, and is aimed at students who wish to broaden their knowledge in this area.

The course is specifically designed to prepare students before undertaking a PhD or embarking on a career in systematics research, for which it provides excellent networking opportunities.

This is a one-year research-based postgraduate course, run jointly by Imperial College London and the Natural History Museum in South Kensington, a leading institute in systematics research, where the students will be based. It provides students with a broad perspective of taxonomy and systematics, together with relevant practical experience. The course is aimed at students who wish to broaden their knowledge in this area before undertaking a PhD or embarking on a career in systematics research. Applicants should have a first class or upper second class Honours degree in a biological or environmental subject.

The course comprises three 15-week research projects, providing training through research in a range of scientific methods and techniques. Students will participate as research group members in group discussions, specialist subject seminars, work-in-progress lab meetings and journal clubs, and will attend lectures on key topics in systematics.
Training includes theory and philosophy of phylogenetic reconstruction, morphological character analysis, microscopy and image analysis, molecular systematics, taxonomic revisions, phylogenetics computing, statistical approaches to biodiversity, conservation genetics, and specimen handling and collection management. Workshops and seminars in transferable skills are organised by the Graduate School of Life Sciences and Medicine. 

At least an upper second class honours (2:1) degree in a biological or environmental subject is required, or an equivalent overseas qualification.

If your first degree is from a country other than the UK, you may find the guidelines within our Country Index helpful. Please note that these guidelines indicate the College minimum. Our requirement is usually higher.

Tuition fees (2015–2016):

• Home/EU Full-time — £9,200
• Overseas Full-time — £18,800