The MB-PhD training route enables aspiring clinician scientists to undertake the vocational training of a medical degree in tandem with the research expertise of a PhD in Cancer Sciences, leading to the awards of MBChB and PhD. We aim to recruit the best candidates who are seeking to drive new innovations in clinical care and research. Our first cohort of students began their studies in late 2020.
Application Process and Timelines
Applications for our MB-PhD programme (September 2023 start) are now open.Â
Further information about the individual projects available through the CRUK Manchester Centre is available on our Researcher Opportunities webpage.
Why Do An MB-PhD?
- Graduate with PhD and MBChB degrees
- Have your PhD and undergraduate MBChB fees paid*, along with an annual stipend/lab costs
- Begin the pathway to becoming an academic clinician in a cancer-related speciality
- Receive mentorship and training from world-leading academic clinicians and cancer scientists
PhD studentships are tenable for three years in duration, or four years in exceptional circumstances with prior agreement of MB-PhD Committee and supervisory team.
The Studentship covers:
- A stipend of £21,000 per annum for living costs.
- An undergraduate Student Loans Company payment up to a maximum of four years of MBChB study (at the UK rate), including interest accrued to SLC if appropriate, subject to successful completion of key years of study.
- Full funding for your PhD tuition fees (up to the UK rate). International/EU candidates should contact MCRCtraining@manchester.ac.uk to discuss PhD fee bursaries available to the highest-performing international/EU applicants. These bursaries cover fees only and not visa/health surcharge costs.
- Project consumables, including costs for researcher development such as conferences and travel.
To apply to intercalate onto the PhD in Cancer Sciences component of the MB-PhD, you must be:
A University of Manchester MBChB student currently:
- studying in Year 3; or
- studying in Year 2 and already holding a BA/BSc (Hons) degree classification of an Upper Second or above in a relevant subject; or
- intercalating after Year 2 or Year 3 of the MBChB.
A University of St Andrews Medicine BSc (Hons) student on the Manchester course pathway currently:
- studying in Year 3 at the University of St Andrews and on target to achieve a 2.1 or above at BSc; or
- studying in Year 3 of the Manchester MBChB, having already obtained a BSc at 2.1 or above from the University of St Andrews
International applicants (including EU nationals) must ensure they meet the academic eligibility criteria (including English Language).
Key Dates
Applications open: 1 November 2022
Initial intercalation deadline: 12 December 2022 (see below Applying to intercalate)
Application deadline: 3 February 2023
Interviews: 7 March 2023
Interview outcomes: By WB 13 March 2023
You are strongly encouraged to contact the Lead Supervisor of the project ahead of making an application. We recommend that you read the below information carefully and prepare your supporting documents ahead of making an application.
Any queries can be directed to Simon Reeds, MCRC-CRUK Manchester Centre Postgraduate Programme Manager:Â mcrctraining@manchester.ac.uk
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Applying to intercalate
For permission to intercalate, you must fill in the electronic online Permission to Intercalate 2022/23 form. This form is available on 1MedForms via the following link: https://www.onemedforms.manchester.ac.uk/
St Andrews-Manchester pathway students can contact mcrctraining@manchester.ac.uk for guidance.
UoM operates an initial deadline for external applicants of 12 December 2022 for external applicants, so please ensure you complete the Application for Permission to Intercalate 2022/23 form before then.
MB-PhD application instructions
- Check you are eligible to apply
- Register to apply using the Postgraduate Application Form. (You must register for an account).
- Create a new application
When creating a new application, select the following:
- Academic Career – Postgraduate Research.
- Mode of Attendance – Full-time.
- Program Description – search for MB-PhD and then select the MB-PhD Programme
List your project preference/s under ‘Research Title’, starting with the number 1, e.g. 1. ‘PhD Project Title’. List your second choice/s in the box titled Further Information, e.g. 2. ‘PhD Project Title’.
Choose Step 9 – for funding sources, please include the information below.
-
- Select ‘Yes’ from the drop-down.
- Type of Funding: University of Manchester Scholarship.
- Awarding Body: Cancer Research UK MB-PhD.
- Status of Funding – Awarded.
- Funding Covers – Fully Funded.
- Leave the remaining boxes blank.
- Supporting documents
Your application form must be accompanied by several supporting documents:
- CV
This should include:
- qualifications (GCSE, A-level or equivalent, and any higher education qualifications [including grades] and your current programme)
- academic prizes, research projects, and academics interests
- extracurricular interests, and activities and positions of responsibility relevant to your application.
These will be considered in relation to widening participation and/or university access policies, to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly.
- Supporting statements
1,000 words maximum. It should include your reason for applying to the MB-PhD programme and a statement outlining your interest and suitability for the project.
- References
You will need to list two referees, one of which must be an academic referee from your University of Manchester or St Andrews-Manchester pathway MBChB programme. This could be a:
- Clinical debrief tutor
- PEP tutor
- Literature research project supervisor
- PPD tutor
References cannot be submitted by a supervisor named on the project you are applying for.
Supporting documents can be uploaded and submitted with the online application form. If you have any issues, your supporting documents can be sent directly to the Doctoral Academy Admissions Team at admissions.doctoralacademy@manchester.ac.uk, CC’ing in mcrctraining@manchester.ac.uk.
- Acknowledgement and review process
Once you have submitted your application form, you will receive an acknowledgement. Your application will be reviewed after the application deadline, following the receipt of all your supporting documents, and circulated to your preferred supervisor(s).
- Interviews
We will contact you directly if you are invited to interview. Interviews will be held at the Oglesby Cancer Research Building in Withington on Tuesday 7th March 2023.
MB-PhD student: Nadin HawwashÂ
PhD project: Adolescent and adulthood BMI And Cancer risk using obese-year metrics (ABACus 2)
Lead supervisor:Â Professor Andrew Renehan
Learn more about Nadin’s research.
MB-PhD student: Hadiyat OgunlayiÂ
PhD project: Investigating the relationship between a stromal wound healing phenotype and breast density
Lead supervisor:Â Professor Cliona Kirwan
Read about Hadiyat’s research.
Enquiries
If you have any queries about the funding, eligibility or application process, please contact:
Simon Reeds
Postgraduate Programme Manager
Email:Â MCRCtraining@manchester.ac.uk
Navigation
Research Opportunities
Explore the MB-PhD projects currently available for researchers.
Why Manchester?
Your guide to show why Manchester is the place to work or study.
Researcher Stories
Experiences from our postgraduate researchers talking about their PhD projects and experiences in the laboratories.
Clinical Research Training Fellowships
Our Clinical Research Training Fellowships are open to clinicians who wish to undertake a period of full-time training in a cancer relevant field, leading to the completion of a PhD.
Training
Navigate back to the Training homepage.
Get in Touch
Contact Simon Reeds, Postgraduate Programme Manager who manages our postgraduate training programmes