A-Z

About the project

Postgraduate research

Animal Ecology PhD/MSc (Research)

We aim to predict the consequences of rapid environmental change such as that due to climate, habitat loss, renewable energy growth, pollution and over-exploitation of natural resources on biodiversity and human and animal health.

Our Online Application Form and Applicant Self Service will be unavailable from 08:00-14:00 (GMT) on Thursday 29 October for essential maintenance. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

• PhD: 3-4 years full-time; 5 years part-time; MSc (Research): 1 year full-time; 2 years part-time;
• MSc (Research): 1 year full-time; 2 years part-time;

Research projects

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Novel approaches to understand the relationship between environmental change and biodiversity in space and time

Supervisors : Davide Dominoni , Sofie Spatharis , Jason Matthiopoulos , Rebecca Mancy

Outline : Preventing the irreversible loss of biodiversity while supporting human livelihoods is one of the greatest contemporary challenges. Anthropogenic changes, such as agricultural intensification, urbanisation and climate warming, are recognised as a major driving force of species extinctions, threatening up to 85% of all species included in the IUCN's Red List. Our current understanding of the relationship between anthropogenic habitat change and biodiversity change is often constrained by spatially and temporally limited datasets. Moreover, temporal delays in the response of biodiversity to environmental change are often neglected when defining environmental policies such as setting biodiversity targets.

This project will aim to construct spatial models of biodiversity, explicitly accounting for the temporal structure of the data, to assess the relationship between environmental variables and species abundance/diversity. This will allow us to quantify the temporal delays in the response of populations and biodiversity to environmental changes, and to examine the ecological mechanisms governing these delays, such as generational turnover and natural succession.

The candidate will analyse multi-taxa time-series of species diversity and abundance at large geographical scales, by applying state-of-the-art statistical techniques, such as the Integrated Nested Laplace Approximation (INLA). Furthermore, the student will gain experience in the management and processing of large datasets, the use of Geographical Information Systems and mathematical modelling. The student will be supervised by an interdisciplinary team of researchers with expertise in applying statistical techniques to better understand fundamental ecological processes.

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Overview

The environment is changing faster than at any time in recorded history due to a range of factors including climate change, habitat loss, renewable energy developments, pollution and over-exploitation of natural resources. These changes are having profound effects on biodiversity and human and animal health, and we need to be able to predict the consequences.

Our School integrates studies of the effects of environmental change operating at all levels of biological organisation. For instance, at the cellular level we are investigating how environmental conditions influence physiological and molecular processes including metabolism, oxidative damage, telomere loss and the rate of ageing. This is linked to studies of how individual animals and plants cope with environmental fluctuations, and how in turn this influences population dynamics, species interactions (including those between parasites, vectors and their hosts) and community structure. We conduct both short-term experiments and long-term monitoring of wild populations (at a range of field sites including loch and woodland research programmes at SCENE, our field station on the banks of Loch Lomond).

We have many links to other research being undertaken both within the School and the wider university. For example:

A variety of approaches are used, including collection of experimental and observational data, epidemiological, mathematical, computational and statistical modelling, bioinformatics, physiology, parasitology, immunology and polyomics (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics). Individual research projects are tailored around the expertise of principal investigators within our Schools. Basic and applied science projects are available involving field, laboratory and in silico approaches within research programs underway in both the UK and overseas.

Specific areas of interest include:

• the effect of environmental conditions on disease transmission or food production
• investigation of how animals evolve in the face of changing environments
• links with geographers, statisticians and mathematicians in the College of Science and Engineering
• conservation management of African ecosystems
• protected area management
• measuring biodiversity and abundance (this presumably overlaps with other themes)
• human dimensions of conservationAquatic ecosystem connectivity
• sustainable aquaculture
• behavioural and physiological approaches to improved production and welfare of farmed fish
• evolutionary ecology, life-history trade-offs and phenotypic evolution
• long-term effects of early environments on adult performance
• phenotypic plasticity and flexibility in variable environments
• ecology and physiology of marine animals
• effects of Marine Protected Areas
• effects of climate change on the abundance, body size, physiology and behaviour of aquatic organisms
• fisheries-induced evolution
• applied poultry science
• evolutionary processes within rare fish populations
• conservation strategies for rare and endangered fish and bird species
• control of invasive non-native species
• impact of freshwater and marine renewable technologies on fish
• evolutionary and ecological impacts on parasite life cycles
• avian behaviour and ecology, including both marine and terrestrial birds
• changes in phenology and in daily rhythms
• migration and movement of birds, mammals and fish
• understanding how biological clocks affect organisms' response to environmental change
• effects of urbanisation on health of individuals, populations and ecosystems
• effects of light pollution
• understanding how biological clocks help or hinder organisms' adjustment to environmental change
• cold adaptation in marine mammals and birds
• the effect of environmental stress on the physiology, behaviour and life histories
• applied poultry science
• ecology of neotropical rainforest birds
• the effect of fishing practices on the evolution of wild fish populations (fisheries induced evolution)
• the effects of animal physiology and environmental change on animal social behaviour and collective decision-making
• effects of exposure to pollutants on physiological systems
• possible transmission of antimicrobial resistance between species through environmental pollution
• effect of climate change and deforestation on vector-borne disease
• data-driven modelling of population dynamics and epidemics
• developing new methods for species distribution modelling

PhD

Individual research projects are tailored around the expertise of principal investigators.

• Duration: 3/4 years full-time; 5 years part-time

MSc (Research)

• Duration : 1 year full-time; 2 years part-time

Entry requirements

Our regular standard of admission is usually a 2.1 honours degree. Candidates will also usually be expected to have completed or be undertaking a Master’s qualification.

Required documents Applicants should submit: Academic Transcripts and Degree Certificates CV MVLS Cover Letter Two References

Required documents

• Academic Transcripts and Degree Certificates
• CV
• MVLS Cover Letter
• Two References

English language requirements

For applicants from non-English speaking countries, as defined by the UK Government , the University sets a minimum English language proficiency level.

Accepted English language tests

We accept a wide range of English language tests for entry to this programme. Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of programme start date, and requirements must be met using a single test.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic and Academic Online (not General Training)

• 6.5 with no subtests under 6.0
• IELTS One Skill Retake Accepted
• We do not accept General Training

TOEFL iBT (including MyBest and Home Edition)

Tests taken up to 20 January 2026

Tests taken from 21 January 2026

• 90 Overall , no subtest lower than Reading 20; Listening 19; Speaking 19; Writing 21
• 92 Overall , no subtest lower than 4.5

Pearsons PTE Academic (test centre only)

• 65 overall with no subtest less than Reading 60; Listening 60; Speaking 65; Writing 60

Cambridge C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency

• 176 overall, no subtest less than 169

Oxford ELLT

• 7 overall with no subtest less than 6

LanguageCert Academic SELT/Academic/Academic Online

• 70 overall with no subtest less than 60

Password Skills Plus

• 6.5 overall with no subtest less than 6.0

Trinity College Integrated Skills in English II

• 96 overall with no subtest less than 90

Kaplan Test of English

• Any two subtests at 480 or higher, and any two subtests at 450 or higher

PSI Skills for English

• B2 Pass with Merit

Duolingo English Test

• 120 overall with Writing at 120 and no subtest less than 110

Oxford Test of English Advanced

• 140 Overall with any two subtests at 126 or higher, and any two subtests at 136 or higher

Alternatives to English Language qualification

Degree from majority-English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English)

TNE degree for UK University taught at a campus outside of the UK.

• Students must have studied for a minimum of their final year at Undergraduate level, or 9 months at Master's level, and must have completed their degree in that majority-English speaking country within 6 years of programme start.
• Students must be awarded the degree by the UK university and must have completed the degree within 6 years of programme start.

Pre-sessional courses

The University of Glasgow accepts evidence of the required language level from the English for Academic Study Unit Pre-sessional courses. We would strongly encourage you to consider the pre-sessional courses at the University of Glasgow's English for Academic Study (EAS) Unit. Our Pre-sessional courses are the best way to bring your English up to entry level for University study. Our courses give you:

For more detail on our pre-sessional courses please see:

We can also consider the pre-sessional courses accredited by the below BALEAP approved institutions to meet the language requirements for admission to our postgraduate taught degrees:

• direct entry to your University programme for successful students (no need to take IELTS)
• essential academic skills to help you study effectively at University
• flexible entry dates so you can join the right course for your level.
• Pre-sessional courses
• Heriot Watt
• Kingston Upon Thames
• Middlesex University
• Manchester University
• Reading University
• Edinburgh University
• ST Andrews University
• UCL
• Durham

2027/28

Prices are based on the annual fee for full-time study. Fees for part-time study are half the full-time fee.

Irish nationals who are living in the Common Travel Area of the UK, EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status, and Internationals with Indefinite Leave to remain status can also qualify for home fee status.

• UK: To be confirmed [26/27 fee was £5,238]
• International & EU: £33,708
• Fee status and policies

Alumni discount

We offer a 15% tuition fee discount to eligible self-funded alumni starting a Postgraduate Taught (PGT) Masters or Postgraduate Research (PGR) programme in the 2027/28 academic year.

This includes University of Glasgow graduates and those who have completed a Study Abroad programme, Exchange programme, International Summer School or Erasmus programme with us. This discount can be awarded alongside most University scholarships. No additional application is required.

• Full details of our Alumni Discount

Possible additional fees

Depending on the nature of the research project, some students will be expected to pay a bench fee (also known as research support costs) to cover additional costs. The exact amount will be provided in the offer letter.

• Re-submission by a research student £540
• Submission for a higher degree by published work £1,355
• Submission of thesis after deadline lapsed £350
• Submission by staff in receipt of staff scholarship £790

Resources

We have excellent facilities for lab, field and farm-based research. This includes aquaria, aviaries, insectaries and labs for conducting analyses in:

We also have:

• bioinformatics
• cellular physiology
• developmental biology
• evolutionary biology
• endocrinology
• molecular ecology
• physiological ecology
• a state of the art field research centre on Loch Lomond ( SCENE )
• a university farm ( Cochno ) and research centre north of Glasgow
• excellent computing facilities
• a vibrant and supportive community of researchers
• access to additional specialist facilities through our wide network of collaborators in NGOs, communities, government agencies and research institutes worldwide

Graduate School

The College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences Graduate School provides a vibrant, supportive and stimulating environment for all our postgraduate students. We aim to provide excellent support for our postgraduates through dedicated postgraduate convenors, highly trained supervisors and pastoral support for each student. Our overarching aim is to provide a research training environment that includes:

Our excellent facilities and dedicated staff will equip you with training complementary to a range of career options, and you can tailor your study pathway to the precise aspects that suit your objectives.

• provision of excellent facilities and cutting edge techniques
• training in essential research and generic skills
• excellence in supervision and mentoring
• interactive discussion groups and seminars
• an atmosphere that fosters critical cultural policy and research analysis
• synergy between research groups and areas
• extensive multidisciplinary and collaborative research
• extensive external collaborations both within and beyond the UK
• a robust generic skills programme including opportunities in social and commercial training

Identify potential supervisors

All postgraduate research students are allocated a supervisor who will act as the main source of academic support and research mentoring. You must identify a potential supervisor supervisor from the College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences and contact them to discuss your research proposal before you apply. Please note, even if you have spoken to an academic staff member about your proposal you still need to submit an online application form.

Supervisor search

Research projects

If you are interested in a research project listed above, please include the title on your application.

Required documents

Our Online Application Form and Applicant Self Service will be unavailable from 08:00-14:00 (GMT) on Thursday 29 October for essential maintenance. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

• Academic Transcripts and Degree Certificates
• CV
• MVLS Cover Letter
• Two References

Contact us

If you require assistance before you apply: mvls-gradschool@glasgow.ac.uk

After you have submitted your application: Admissions Enquiries form

Our research environment

• Discover how we support and develop postgraduate researchers

Induction

• Getting started with PGR development: how postgraduate researchers are welcomed into our community

Postgraduate researcher blogs

• A community blog, written by and for postgraduate researchers at the University of Glasgow

Research areas