Pharmaceutical Sciences
Potential supervisors
Potential supervisors can be found in:
Scholarships
1) Apply for a scholarship for a funded PhD project
Applicants may apply for predefined funded PhD projects supported by the University or external funding bodies. Research topics and supervisory teams for these projects are established in advance.
There is no fixed deadline for many funded projects, and applications remain open until positions are filled. Typical enrolment periods are March, June, September, and December. Applicants are encouraged to refer to the University’s Postgraduate Research Scholarships page or contact potential supervisors directly regarding available opportunities.
2) Apply for a PhD merit-based scholarship
Merit-based scholarships are available to outstanding applicants demonstrating excellent academic achievement and strong research potential.
Applicants interested in merit-based scholarships may indicate this during the doctoral programme application process. Scholarship decisions are based on comprehensive evaluations of academic performance, research experience, publications, and overall research potential.
Further details can be found on the University’s How to Apply webpage.
Scholarship applications are open only to full-time PhD applicants.
Overview
The PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences offers suitably qualified graduates the opportunity to undertake advanced research in drug discovery, pharmaceutical development, translational medicine, and related biomedical sciences. At Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) you will have access to state-of-the-art research facilities and supervision from internationally trained academic staff with expertise across pharmaceutical and biomedical disciplines. The programme also equips graduates with transferable skills to support careers in academia, healthcare, and the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.
A full-time PhD programme typically involves three years of original research and one year of thesis writing, supported by subject-specific training and professional development activities. Full-time PhD students are expected to submit their theses within four years; part-time students submit their theses within six years.
Why should I do my PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences at XJTLU?
Key benefits of this PhD programme include:
Career prospects
Suzhou is one of China’s leading biomedical and pharmaceutical innovation hubs. XJTLU is located near BioBay and other major biotechnology and pharmaceutical research centres, offering strong connections with pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, research institutes, and biotechnology enterprises. Graduates of the programme will be well prepared for careers in:
XJTLU academic staff maintain active collaborations with national-level Chinese and international pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, creating opportunities for industrial engagement and translational research and supporting career development.
Research areas
Research within the Pharmaceutical Sciences PhD programme may include study areas such as:
Research environment and facilities
Research undertaken within the PhD programme focuses on major challenges in healthcare and pharmaceutical innovation through interdisciplinary approaches integrating chemistry, biology, pharmacy, and computational sciences.
XJTLU provides a world-class research environment with 19 floors of international-standard laboratories and high-end equipment, including qPCR (quantitative PCR), LC‑MS/MS (liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry), NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance), confocal microscopy, and a high-performance computing platform. The University offers strong technical support, an international academic atmosphere, and interdisciplinary collaboration platforms to support high-quality pharmaceutical research and innovation.
Industry-sponsored and jointly supervised PhD projects
The University maintains extensive collaborations with leading pharmaceutical and biotech enterprises and clinical partners. Opportunities are available for students to undertake Enterprise Entrusted PhD Projects, which are PhD projects funded by industrial collaborators, are available in areas such as:
These projects are jointly supervised by academic staff from XJTLU and the University of Liverpool, together with industrial or clinical collaborators who provide additional expertise and career guidance.