Key information
- Duration: Full-time, 36 months
- Start dates & application deadlines: Starting October 2027; Apply before Jun 2027 (International estimated deadline. This 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.)
Overview
KMT2D, previously also known as MLL2 in humans, is a histone 3 lysine 4 (H3K4) methyltransferase. It has attracted attention as it is within the top 10 most mutated genes in cancer genomes, as well as the main reason behind the congenital disorder Kabuki syndrome. Importantly, in contrast to other cancer genes, the functions of KMT2D have not been clearly established yet. It is believed that KMT2D works through methylating H3K4 in chromatin, a mark of active transcription, and facilitating enhancer mediated transcriptional activation.
The Novel Functions of the Epigenetic Cancer Driver KMT2D programme 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. Visit the programme website for more information
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. (Your GPA, or Grade Point Average, is a number that indicates how well or how high you scored in your courses on average. Usually a GPA scales between 1.0 and 4.0, however different countries and universities can have different grading systems.)
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.
- A personal statement which outlines any further information which you think is relevant to your application, such as your personal suitability for research, career aspirations, possible future research interests, and further description of relevant employment experience.
- Two academic referees who can discuss your suitability for independent research. References must be on headed paper, signed and dated no more than 2 years old.
Make sure you meet all requirements
Fees and funding
Tuition Fees
Tuition fees are shown in AUD and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.
- International (applies to non-residents): 43,714 AUD / year (approx. 22,950 GBP / year)
- Domestic (applies to citizens or residents): 9,977 AUD / year (approx. 5,238 GBP / year)
Living costs
Birmingham, United Kingdom: 1,457-2,160 AUD / month. The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.
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