Website University of Bristol
Overview
Postgraduate research in the Bristol Veterinary School is largely based at the Langford campus, which houses a large number of research groups along with Langford Vets and the University farm.
The strength of the school’s research programme is greatly enhanced by its position within the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences. Our research extends from the fundamental to the applied and we collaborate with other research groups in the faculty and beyond, building on a policy of integration of basic science with veterinary activities.
Our postgraduate students are members of the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences and benefit from the training opportunities it provides. We welcome enquiries and applications from prospective MScR and PhD students.
Programme structure
This research degree is also available via distance learning.
You can find the names and contact details of potential supervisors within the different research communities at Bristol Veterinary School here
Entry requirements
An upper second-class degree (or equivalent qualification) in a relevant subject.
See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website.
Research groups
Research activities in the school are focused on two research themes and encompass both clinical excellence and strong basic science.
Our themes
This theme embodies a multidisciplinary approach to studying the health of populations, spanning molecules to communities of animals including the human animal through One Health approaches.
Research in this theme addresses major challenges to sustainable intensification of livestock production, including epidemiology, infectious disease, nutrition and management, ‘One Health’, parasitology, veterinary public health, animal behaviour and animal welfare.
Our underpinning research communities
Interdisciplinary and cross-theme/group research is encouraged and supported. There are five Research Communities underpinning our two main themes:
This spans fundamental studies of cognition and emotion – through validation of animal welfare assessment methodologies – identifying and quantifying welfare problems and their causes in farm, laboratory, companion and working animals, as well as to implementing research-based solutions in the real world.
Infection, Inflammation and Immunotherapy
The community brings together several research strengths ranging from the fundamental to more applied research with potential for impact, which all collectively benefit from being part of a university-wide infection and immunity research theme. The research areas include immunology, microbiology, epidemiology, mathematical modelling, infectious diseases, zoonoses, parasitology and social science approaches.
This community focuses on naturally-occurring diseases within the clinical caseload and is directed towards the prevention and treatment of animal and human diseases. This community brings together veterinary clinical specialists engaged in high-quality clinical research, working in new clinical and imaging facilities, with biomedical scientists who study fundamental physiological mechanisms and disease processes.
One Health Approaches to Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
Research is promoted and facilitated by the ‘AMR Force’, an active and inclusive group of enthusiastic researchers. Work is carried out in the South West, nationally and internationally, and the team are interested in decreasing antibiotic use while improving animal health through a plurality of approaches addressing differing styles and attitudes.
Research in veterinary education is a rapidly growing field at Bristol’s Veterinary School. This group aims to promote evidence-based teaching and assessment methods within a nurturing and supportive environment.
Data platforms and infrastructure
The school has a coordinated multidisciplinary approach to realising 21st century veterinary research and is developing platform technologies, data analytics and biobanking facilities to support cohort studies and high-quality clinical trials. With the completion of both the CIEL poultry research facility and the The John Oldacre Centre for Dairy Welfare & Sustainability, a highly instrumented dairy farm on site, a wide range of data-intensive studies are possible to tackle grand challenges in both animal and human health. These studies are supported by strong links to data-intensive research and facilities across the University.
Interdisciplinary research is a major strength of the school and is reflected by our participation in these University and UK initiatives:
- Food Security and Land Research Alliance
- South West Biosciences Doctoral Training Programme
- Elizabeth Blackwell Institute for Health Research
- Cabot Institute for the Environment
- Jean Golding Institute for Data Intensive Research
- The Alan Turing Institute, UK institute for data science and artificial intelligence
- Centre for Innovation Excellence in Livestock.
How to apply
Apply today via our online application system. For further information, please see the guidance for how to apply on our webpages.
Application deadlineWe welcome applications at any time of year.
Contact
Liz Hemmings, Postgraduate Admissions Administrator
Phone +44(0)
117-455-7759
fohs-pgadmissions@bristol.ac.uk
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