MB-PhD Programme

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: mcrctraining@manchester.ac.uk

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

1. Check you are eligible to apply
2. Register to apply using the Postgraduate Application Form. (You must register for an account).

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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).

6. 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.