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The School of Life Course & Population Health Sciences encompasses four research and teaching units in the Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine which span and link landmark life-stages with the origins and understanding of common diseases, treating life and disease as a continuum, a fundamental approach to maintaining and maximising a healthy life
Occupying facilities across Guy’s, St Thomas’, Waterloo and Denmark Hill campuses, the School is headed by Professor Lucilla Poston, Tommy’s Professor of Maternal & Fetal Health. Clinicians, scientists and health professionals work together in a multidisciplinary partnership to enhance research and teaching in the life-course of health and disease. To achieve our ‘life course’ ambition, the School brings together a unique and interactive team of experts in women and children’s health, diabetes, nutritional sciences and the molecular genetics of human disease (twins research and ophthalmology).
The School’s mission is to approach the origins of disease from the earliest stages in life and understanding the life-course of disease and the interactions between cause and effect - such as those which link early life nutrition to development of diabetes and allergy - underpins early detection, treatment and prevention, and can provide us with important research and training opportunities.
The research degree programme within the School is delivered by a multidisciplinary group of clinicians, research scientists and academics. By exploring the life course of health and disease, we approach medicine in a different way. We unite more than 400 experts in women and children’s health, diabetes, nutritional sciences and the molecular genetics of human disease. Our research links the causes of common health problems to life’s landmark stages treating life, disease and healthcare as a continuum.
Based across King’s Denmark Hill, Guy’s, St Thomas’ and Waterloo campuses, our academic programme of teaching, research and clinical practice is embedded across five Departments:
Research Degree students applying to The School of Life Course & Population Health Sciences will be registered at one of these departments and will have access to a wide range of research facilities. For details of each department please see below.
We believe that the basis of human health begins before birth and that variation at each life stage has consequences for the next.
Many people carry genes associated with common disorders but whether they develop symptoms or not is often more complex. Which genes are expressed can be shaped by maternal health and later-life nutrition and developing one condition can cause changes that lead to others.
By taking this holistic approach, linking traditionally distinct disciplines and exploring the interactions between environment, genetics, cause and effect, we can find new ways to detect, treat and prevent disease.
For further information about the research within the School, please refer to the School website.
Our studentships are regularly advertised on Find A PhD and Funding Opportunities webpages.
UK Tuition Fees 2024/25
Full time tuition fees:
£6,936 per year (MPhil/PhD)
£6,936 per year (MPhil/PhD Clinical)
£6,936 per year (MDRes Clinical)
Part time tuition fees:
£3,468 per year (MPhil/PhD)
£3,468 per year (MPhil/PhD Clinical)
£3,468 per year (MDRes Clinical)
International Tuition Fees 2024/25
Full time tuition fees:
£30,240 per year (MPhil/PhD)
£58,470 per year (MPhil/PhD Clinical)
£58,470 per year (MDRes Clinical)
Part time tuition fees:
£15,120 per year (MPhil/PhD)
£29,235 per year (MPhil/PhD Clinical)
£29,235 per year (MDRes Clinical)
UK Tuition Fees 2025/26
Full time tuition fees:
£7,500 per year (MPhil/PhD)
£7,500 per year (MPhil/PhD Clinical)
£7,500 per year (MDRes Clinical)
Part time tuition fees:
£3,750 per year (MPhil/PhD)
£3,750 per year (MPhil/PhD Clinical)
£3,750 per year (MDRes Clinical)
International Tuition Fees 2025/26
Full time tuition fees:
£32,400 per year (MPhil/PhD)
£62,600 per year (MPhil/PhD Clinical)
£62,600 per year (MDRes Clinical)
Part time tuition fees:
£16,200 per year (MPhil/PhD)
£31,300 per year (MPhil/PhD Clinical)
£31,300 per year (MDRes Clinical)
These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King's terms and conditions.
Home to the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience
The Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, and the Institute of Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience are based at the riverside Guy's Campus, next to the Shard.
Located near Waterloo Campus and home of continuing medical and dental teaching, as well as a museum dedicated to Florence Nightingale.
Waterloo campus is home of the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery and facilities for other faculties
Our research degree students get the opportunity to work in an active and vibrant research environment. Students work alongside staff researchers and are supervised by two members of academic staff. Each student has a dedicated Thesis Progression Committee that monitors students' progress and gives advice and support.
The student will be based at one of the research departments within The School of Life Course & Population Health Sciences which span and link landmark life-stages with the origins and understanding of common diseases, treating life and disease as a continuum, a fundamental approach to maintaining and maximising a healthy life. To achieve our ‘life course’ ambition, the School brings together a unique and interactive team of experts in women and children’s health, diabetes, nutritional sciences and the molecular genetics of human disease (twins research and ophthalmology). The student will therefore be a member of an active and diverse research community with excellent opportunities for networking.
KCL offers a large number of training and skills development opportunities. Participation in the annual Postgraduate Research Symposium is compulsory for all students and provides an opportunity to improve science communication and presentation skills. Opportunities are available and actively encouraged for postgraduate students to present their work at national and international scientific meetings and students can apply for faculty funding to attend conferences. Our postgraduate students have the opportunity to assist with teaching of undergraduates, as demonstrators in practical classes or by leading tutorials, thereby gaining teaching skills. Teaching hours can also be exchanged for conference funding.
Professor Lucilla Poston
Departmental Postgraduate Research Coordinators:
Department |
PGC Name |
Diabetes |
Afshan Malik |
Nutrition |
Chris Corpe |
Ophthalmology |
Pirro Hysi |
Twins |
Pirro Hysi |
Women’s and children’s health clinical |
Lisa Story |
Women’s and children’s health scientific |
Peter Dixon |
Women’s Health (Denmark Hill) |
Nick Kametas |
Children’s Health and Paediatric Allergy (Clinical) |
Michael Carter |
UK Tuition Fees 2024/25
Full time tuition fees:
£6,936 per year (MPhil/PhD)
£6,936 per year (MPhil/PhD Clinical)
£6,936 per year (MDRes Clinical)
Part time tuition fees:
£3,468 per year (MPhil/PhD)
£3,468 per year (MPhil/PhD Clinical)
£3,468 per year (MDRes Clinical)
International Tuition Fees 2024/25
Full time tuition fees:
£30,240 per year (MPhil/PhD)
£58,470 per year (MPhil/PhD Clinical)
£58,470 per year (MDRes Clinical)
Part time tuition fees:
£15,120 per year (MPhil/PhD)
£29,235 per year (MPhil/PhD Clinical)
£29,235 per year (MDRes Clinical)
UK Tuition Fees 2025/26
Full time tuition fees:
£7,500 per year (MPhil/PhD)
£7,500 per year (MPhil/PhD Clinical)
£7,500 per year (MDRes Clinical)
Part time tuition fees:
£3,750 per year (MPhil/PhD)
£3,750 per year (MPhil/PhD Clinical)
£3,750 per year (MDRes Clinical)
International Tuition Fees 2025/26
Full time tuition fees:
£32,400 per year (MPhil/PhD)
£62,600 per year (MPhil/PhD Clinical)
£62,600 per year (MDRes Clinical)
Part time tuition fees:
£16,200 per year (MPhil/PhD)
£31,300 per year (MPhil/PhD Clinical)
£31,300 per year (MDRes Clinical)
These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King's terms and conditions.
Home to the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience
The Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, and the Institute of Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience are based at the riverside Guy's Campus, next to the Shard.
Located near Waterloo Campus and home of continuing medical and dental teaching, as well as a museum dedicated to Florence Nightingale.
Waterloo campus is home of the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery and facilities for other faculties
Our research degree students get the opportunity to work in an active and vibrant research environment. Students work alongside staff researchers and are supervised by two members of academic staff. Each student has a dedicated Thesis Progression Committee that monitors students' progress and gives advice and support.
The student will be based at one of the research departments within The School of Life Course & Population Health Sciences which span and link landmark life-stages with the origins and understanding of common diseases, treating life and disease as a continuum, a fundamental approach to maintaining and maximising a healthy life. To achieve our ‘life course’ ambition, the School brings together a unique and interactive team of experts in women and children’s health, diabetes, nutritional sciences and the molecular genetics of human disease (twins research and ophthalmology). The student will therefore be a member of an active and diverse research community with excellent opportunities for networking.
KCL offers a large number of training and skills development opportunities. Participation in the annual Postgraduate Research Symposium is compulsory for all students and provides an opportunity to improve science communication and presentation skills. Opportunities are available and actively encouraged for postgraduate students to present their work at national and international scientific meetings and students can apply for faculty funding to attend conferences. Our postgraduate students have the opportunity to assist with teaching of undergraduates, as demonstrators in practical classes or by leading tutorials, thereby gaining teaching skills. Teaching hours can also be exchanged for conference funding.
Professor Lucilla Poston
Departmental Postgraduate Research Coordinators:
Department |
PGC Name |
Diabetes |
Afshan Malik |
Nutrition |
Chris Corpe |
Ophthalmology |
Pirro Hysi |
Twins |
Pirro Hysi |
Women’s and children’s health clinical |
Lisa Story |
Women’s and children’s health scientific |
Peter Dixon |
Women’s Health (Denmark Hill) |
Nick Kametas |
Children’s Health and Paediatric Allergy (Clinical) |
Michael Carter |
Search through a list of available supervisors.
For enquiries please contact
Research and Impact at the School of Life Course & Population Sciences
View funded studentships currently available
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