About Advanced Biological Sciences (mres) in University of Southampton

Develop specialist knowledge and practical skills on this MRes Advanced Biological Sciences degree. You’ll build in-depth understanding of your chosen specialism as you conduct a piece of original research, supported by the University of Southampton’s expert academics. This degree is great preparation for future PhD research, or for a career in a wide range of industries.

Our flexible, research-focused MRes biological sciences course lets you focus on a particular research interest. You can choose to specialise in one of the following: 

• biodiversity, ecology and ecosystem services 
• biotechnology 
• developmental biology 
• microbiology 
• neuroscience 
• molecular and cellular bioscience
• plant biology 
• zoology 

An MRes differs from a standard MSc in the balance between teaching and research. As an MRes student you’ll spend more time on the research project and less on the taught part of the course. 

The taught part of the course will allow you to increase your scientific knowledge in your chosen area and enhance your skills in research, presentation and scientific communication. 

You'll use your learning as the basis for an original piece of research, with the support of a leading academic in your specialism. You’ll also benefit from a wide range of facilities, including a dedicated life sciences laboratory. 

Your research project will be laboratory or fieldwork-based, depending on the specialism you choose.

When you apply, we'll ask you to choose a supervisor for your research project. You can explore our list of potential supervisors to learn more about their research areas.

Course lead

The course leader is Dr Lorraine Williams, Associate Professor in Plant Biology. Her research focuses on the role of membrane proteins in plant nutrition. Read Dr Williams’ profile to find out more about her work. 

University of Southampton Highlights

University of Southampton Cost of Attendance

For international candidates aspiring to study in the UK, it is mandatory to have an estimate of the cost of living at the university on-campus/ off-campus. The list of basic expenses to be considered for applying for admission at the institute is as detailed below.