The Department of Life Sciences offers research programmes leading to the award of the MPhil and PhD degrees in Botany, Zoology, Experimental Biology, Environmental Biology or Oceanography. Registration for the research degrees may be on a part-time or full-time basis.

Programme Objectives

• students will possess advanced knowledge and training in one or more areas of biology with more specific subject-related skills in one of these.
• the subject-related skills developed will be in an area of applied biology.
• students will develop significant information gathering and analytical skills.
• students will be able to take a critical approach to any biological/environmental problems which they may encounter.

Entry Requirements

• Entry to the MPhil degree program requires a First or Upper Second Class BSc (Honours) degree in the Life Sciences. 
• Candidates having a Lower Second Class Honours BSc degree may be considered for acceptance into an MPhil programme on special recommendation by the Department.
• Applications for transfer to a PhD program from MPhil are encouraged where students display exceptional promise.

Areas of Research

Biodiversity and conservation, Biotechnology, Coastal Zone Management, Coral reef ecology, Entomology, Pest Management, Fish Biology, Freshwater Ecology Fisheries and Aquaculture, Forest Ecology, Horticulture, Marine Ecology, Molecular Biology, Parasitology, Animal Physiology, Plant Breeding, Plant Pathology, Plant Physiology, Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology, Tissue culture and Virology.

Duration of Programme

The MPhil degree normally takes two to three years of intensive research on a full-time basis, while a PhD degree usually takes three to four years. Registration can be part-time or full-time.

An MSc degree will normally take between 18 and 24 months, with sessions taking place evenings and weekends. Candidates across the MSc. programmes are registered part time as the programmes are geared to facilitate working professionals who desire academic improvement or practical, hands on application of the desk operation of their employment.