There are many reasons why one would want to do a PhD in Dundee and below we have tried to outline some of these. You can visit the College of Life Sciences PhD Programme for more information and fill out an Application Form.
The College of Life Sciences also has its own Postdoc Association.
Academic performance
The University of Dundee is riding a wave of success and is one of the finest institutions in Britain where researchers routinely push back the boundaries of knowledge, according to The Sunday Times. Also, a recent poll in The Scientist magazine found Dundee University to be the second best place to work in Europe. In addition, three of the UK's 20 most cited scientists are based here and four serving members of staff have been knighted for their services to world health. The university is among an elite band to have won two Queen's Awards for excellence in higher education, for pioneering research into keyhole surgery and drug discovery. The University of Dundee is also home to the Wellcome Trust Centre for Gene Regulation and Expression as well as the MRC protein phosphorylation unit.
Research Environment
If you enjoy working in an international setting, then a PhD in the College of Life Sciences (CLS) at the University of Dundee should be at the top of your list. Being one of the finest institutions in Europe, the CLS has attracted PhD students and Postdocs from over 57 countries around the world, which is one of the reasons why doing research here is so rewarding.
Another benefit of doing a PhD in an institute such as the CLS is that it supports many active research groups. Hence, there may be people nearby who are using technology (e.g. OMX microscopy or mass spectrometry) that can be usefully applied to your research project. There may be other people who can suggest some new angle on interpreting your results. There will also be people who can give advice and moral support in dealing with the inevitable frustrations and problems that arise during the course of a typical PhD.
Last but not least, with more than 800 staff and research students and external funding in excess of some £50 million per year, the College of Life Sciences is larger and more productive than the National Institute for Medical Research in London. Dundee's reputation is genuinely global and this is reflected in the added value of having acquired your PhD degree from the University of Dundee.
Lifestyle
Many PhD students enjoy an active lifestyle, which is not surprising considering the new multimillion pound sports complex is literally only a 15 second walk away from the front door of the MSI/WTB/JBC complex (CLS). Extended opening hours mean that even the most demanding scientific schedule can be accommodated.
Furthermore, PhD students are spoilt for choice in terms of outdoor activities such as sailing, hill walking, and climbing to name but a few.
In addition there is quite a range of restaurants, theatres, pubs and clubs to ensure that the above active lifestyle does not have to be a trade-off in terms of nightlife. In order to make sure that you take full advantage of these facilities, a pubcrawl with first year PhD students is organised around September, introducing the newcomers to the best bars in town.
Getting a place to stay
You can rent accommodation on a short-term basis, so you'll have time to get to know Dundee and find an area you'd like to live in. This can be arranged through the University (on request), so you don't have to worry about paying for it in advance.
House prices in Dundee have increased dramatically over the last 4-5 years, but are still lower than properties in bigger cities like Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen. Renting prices have followed a similar trend. Lettingweb Dundee is a directory of all properties for rent, compiled from numerous different residential letting agencies.
In the UK, in addition to your rent, full-time workers pay Council tax. This tax varies in price, dependent on which 'band' the property you are renting falls under (band 'A' is the cheapest). In Scotland, water rates are included in your Council Tax (this is not the case in England and Wales). Luckily, PhD students do not have to pay council tax.
Getting a Bank Account
Lloyds TSB main branch (Perth Road, very near the University) will open an account for you and provide a debit card on the day, providing you have a passport and a written UK address (a utility bill is accepted, but not required). A temporary address is permitted, such as a "care of" address, as is the use of University Halls of Residence. A hotel address is not sufficient. Additionally, take your PhD contract with you. Try and book an appointment with the bank as soon as possible, as it can take a couple of days to arrange to see someone. Otherwise, the process should run smoothly!
Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) branches are run independently and therefore each branch has different requirements. If using RBS, we would advise using a main branch in the city centre. They will also open an account for you on the day. They require proof of ID and address (as for Lloyds TSB), but require additional proof of salary before issuing a debit card (in addition to your contract) The College Human Resources Office will provide a letter verifying your employment details on receipt of your formal request. It is advisable to take this along to the bank.
NB: before you leave for the UK, it is advisable to organise your current bank to send you a letter to your new UK address, or change your address in your current credit card account, so that the bills are send to you in the UK.
Cars - required documentation
In the UK, if you own a car it must be registered with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). Cars are registered to the individual.
You are required, by law, to insure your vehicle. The cost of insurance is dependent on both the value of your car and your driving history (number of years driving, "no claims" bonuses, convictions). It is advisable to bring proof of any overseas "no claims" discounts with you. Insurance can be:
- third party / third party, fire and theft
- fully comprehensive
If your car is over 3 years old, it will require an annual MOT. You are also required to purchase vehicle tax and display a current tax disc on the windscreen of your car. Tax discs can be purchased annually or biannually either online, or from larger branches of the Post Office (locally, these are Perth Road and Meadowside). The price varies on the engine size of your car (it's lower for smaller, more environmentally-friendly cars). To purchase vehicle tax, you must have:
- a valid insurance certificate
- a valid MOT certificate (see below)
Any vehicle older than three years must also pass an annual MOT (Ministry of Transport) test. This is to ensure that it complies with at least the minimum road safety and environmental standards and does not imply that it is in good working order. At present MOT tests cost £50.35 for cars with up to 8 passenger seats and can be performed at most garages.
Medical and Dental advice
In the UK, the National Health Service (NHS) covers the costs of any hospital treatment you might require. Visits to the Doctors are also free of charge, though if you require medication, you will need to pay a (current) prescription charge of £6.85 per item. It is advisable to register with a Health Centre as soon as possible: a list of local Health Centres is provided on the CLSPA website.
Registering with a Dentist is difficult in the UK. Dental treatment is provided under the NHS, but most dental practices are now run privately, which means you will need to pay for any dental treatment you require. If you do see an NHS dentist there will still be some procedures that you must pay for. Due to demand outweighing supply, many surgeries have waiting lists for registration: as with Health Centres, it is advisable to find and register with a dentist as soon as possible.