The Department of Biosciences at Durham fosters an active, lively and welcoming environment for postgraduates. Research activities are based on the Durham campus, in modern, purpose-built accomodation. The Department has always maintained a research-driven environment, and in the latest Research Assessment Exercise (RAE 2008), 90% of the research carried out in the Department was rated as international quality or better. A policy of recruiting leading researchers to strengthen the Department has been in place, which has resulted in strength in depth in areas such as stem cells, plant science and climate change. Interdisciplinary collaborations, such as Chemical Biology (with Chemistry), the Biophysical Sciences Institute (with Physics), and the Institute of Hazard and Risk Research (with Geography and Earth Sciences) are actively encouraged