Key information
Duration
- Full-time
- 36 months
Start dates & application deadlines
- Starting October 2027
- Apply before Jun 2027, International This is an estimated deadline. The deadline is applicable to students from outside the European Economic Area who want to study within the EEA, or to students who want to study outside the EEA but are not nationals of that country.
Language
English
TOEFL iBT: 93 OR 4.5 (New TOEFL iBT 1-6 score (CEFR-aligned). Equivalent to the 0-120 score.)
PTE Academic: 67
IELTS: 6.5
Delivered
On Campus
Campus Location
Birmingham, United Kingdom
Disciplines
Health Sciences
Overview
Ocular diseases such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy demand precise and sustained drug delivery for therapeutic efficacy. Traditional methods face significant challenges, including poor drug bioavailability due to tear dilution, blinking, and limited tissue permeability. These barriers highlight the need for innovative solutions that enhance therapeutic outcomes and patient compliance. Smart drug delivery systems have emerged as promising alternatives, enabling targeted and controlled release of drugs to specific ocular tissues.
Key approaches include using nanoparticles, hydrogels, and polymeric systems, with smart materials like pH-sensitive and temperature-responsive polymers offering tailored responses to ocular conditions. pH-sensitive polymers, such as poly(acrylic acid), chitosan, and methacrylic acid copolymers, react to pH changes caused by inflammation or infection, releasing drugs accordingly.
The Development of Smart Drug Delivery Systems for Targeted Ocular Administration course at Aston University will provide all the support and facilities you will need to develop into a leading researcher in your chosen field. You will be welcomed into a supportive community with a shared enthusiasm for original research, where diversity and multidisciplinary is championed.
Career prospects
Studying for a PhD is a great route into academia and industries that are centred on research and innovation. Areas with a demand for very high level and specialised research skills often demand PhDs.
In addition to this specialist knowledge, a PhD education will help you to develop a set of valuable transferable skills. The very nature of studying an intensive research degree will enable you to become a team player, develop problem-solving skills, analytical thinking, and advanced presentation and communication skills.
The variety of PhD project topics at Aston means that the destinations of our graduates vary substantially. Some choose to continue into academia, at either Aston or other leading institutions, while others go onto use their newly acquired skills in a range of research, healthcare, industry, or charitable fields. When selecting your chosen PhD path at Aston, your supervisor will be able to provide you with relevant career opportunities that could be available to you in your specialist area.
Programme Structure
To obtain additional information about the programme, we kindly suggest that you visit the programme website, where you can find further details and relevant resources.
Admission Requirements
Academic requirements
GPA: Upper Second Class
English requirements
- TOEFL iBT: 93 OR 4.5 (New TOEFL iBT 1-6 score (CEFR-aligned). Equivalent to the 0-120 score.)
- PTE Academic: 67
- IELTS: 6.5
Other requirements
General requirements
- A Bachelors degree in a relevant subject with an award of First Class or 2.1.
- OR A Bachelors degree in a relevant subject with an award of First Class or 2.1, and a Masters degree in a relevant subject with an award of Merit or higher.
Fees and Funding
Tuition Fees
International: 38,432 AUD / year (approx. 20,160 GBP / year)
Domestic: 9,985 AUD / year (approx. 5,238 GBP / year)
Living costs
Birmingham, United Kingdom: 1,458-2,162 AUD / month
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