The University is very strong in life sciences; by national measures, it’s certainly in the top three in the UK. It’s all integrated, with fabulous new buildings and fantastic equipment. Our students benefit from modern facilities, innovative teaching techniques, and the opportunity to be taught by leading experts from across the breadth of the life sciences. The exceptional educational experience we offer is demonstrated by our success in the latest National Student Survey.The Faculty of Life Sciences is a world-class research establishment, recognised as an international site of excellence in terms of research power and importance in the latest Research Assessment Exercise.
We are currently accepting applications for funding for entry in 2015/16. If you wish to apply for funding to support your studies (international students) then please see the information below regarding Faculty Research Scholarships and President’s Doctoral Scholar Awards. The Faculty of Life Sciences provide a range of funding options (from internal and external sources) for applicants for our PhD programmes.
1) International Funding Opportunities
We are able to support the most outstanding applicants through our bursary scheme. In general we offer partial scholarships to help with tuition fees or living costs, or on occasion, a full scholarship can be awarded for candidates with an exceptional academic and research background.
A) Faculty of Life Sciences Research Scholarships
The Faculty of Life Sciences have a number of Research Scholarships available for PhD study within the Faculty. They are awarded based on outstanding academic achievement and vary in value, depending on candidate requirements and background. Applicants for a Research Scholarship should generally be able to fund a proportion of the required tuition fees and living expenses and clearly outline other sources of secured funding in their application.
How to Apply
Applicants must first submit an online PhD application for a self-funded PhD project in the Faculty of Life Sciences. Search for projects on the Projects Available page.
Faculty of Life Sciences Research Scholarship and President’s Doctoral Award Application form
You can also request to be considered for a President’s Doctoral Scholar Award on this form, see criteria below (note that there is an annual deadline). The Research Scholarship application form should be submitted to the Faculty of Life Sciences Postgraduate Research Office: pgresearch.lifesciences@manchester.ac.uk.
B) President’s Doctoral Scholar Awards
We are no longer accepting applications for entry in September 2015 for these Awards. However, we will shortly be launching the scheme again for 2016 entry. Please read the information below carefully, and if you feel you meet the criteria, submit an online PhD application followed by a Scholarship/PDS application form. We make awards around March each year for the following September.
Awards are made to exceptional individuals who are able to partially fund their studies through other routes (personal funds, scholarship etc). These prestigious awards are open to all nationalities and research areas.
Within the Faculty of Life Sciences, PDS Awards will be allocated to our most outstanding applicants seeking PhD opportunities. We aim to award 10-15 scholarships per year. In general these awards will be made to partially cover fees and/or living expenses. However, should an applicant with exceptional academic/research skills be identified, then we may be able to offer a full scholarship.
Successful PDS Award holders will have the opportunity to:
- Be invited to attend a series of exclusive events where you’ll have the opportunity to meet the University of Manchester President and Vice Chancellor, interact closely with our academic community and network with other PDS Awards students
- Benefit from international research leadership under distinguished scholars
- Become a PDS Awards ambassador for the University
- Receive a President’s Doctoral Scholar medal at graduation
- Benefit from our extensive transferable skills training for PhD researchers
Criteria:
Applicants must have obtained (or expect to obtain) a minimum first-class honours degree (or equivalent), and ideally hold a Masters-level qualification at merit or distinction. They should ideally have a track-record of engaging with research. This may include contributions to publications/articles, promoting their research to a wider audience, prizes for previous research or project work.
How to apply:
Applicants must hold an offer of a place on a PhD programme in the Faculty of Life Sciences before submitting their funding application, and will be required to have a funding interview with our International PG Tutor, Dr Liz Fitzgerald.
Please also complete a Scholarship/PDS application form:
Faculty of Life Sciences Research Scholarship and President’s Doctoral Award Application form
The Research Scholarship application form should be submitted to the Faculty of Life Sciences Postgraduate Research Office: pgresearch.lifesciences@manchester.ac.uk as soon as possible. You can apply for both awards if you meet the criteria, but please note that we do not normally offer full scholarships and you must be able to provide information on other sources of funding you may have.
Enquiries on PDS Awards within the Faculty of Life Sciences should be directed to the scheme co-ordinator, Jessica Bowler at jessica.bowler@manchester.ac.uk.
C) Other Scholarship Programmes
- CONACyT Mexico Scholarships
The Faculty of Life Sciences is able to consider applications from Mexican students applying for CONACyT scholarships. The deadline for applications to CONACyT is 19th June 2015 for students intending to start their programme in January 2016.
Further details available here: www.conacyt.mx
- CONICYT Chile Scholarships
The Faculty of Life Sciences is able to consider applications from students applying for CONICYT scholarships. If you hold or are applying for a CONICYT scholarship and require more information please email for more details.
Further details available here: www.conicyt.cl
- Royal Thai Government Scholarships
The Royal Thai Government offers Thai students the opportunity to apply for a Thai Government Scholarship. The scholarships are normally available for students in their last year of their bachelor degree or who are currently studying a masters or a PhD. The Faculty of Life Sciences are able to consider such students applying for these scholarships.
- Commonwealth Scholarship Commission
The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the United Kingdom (CSC) has scholarships opportunities to study in the UK. The Faculty of Life Sciences supports applications from this source.
Please ensure you submit your online application in plenty of time ahead of the CSC deadline to enable us to process it; we cannot send offer letters until your PhD application has been fully assessed and a formal interview has taken place.
Further information can be found at: http://cscuk.dfid.gov.uk/
- Iraqi scholarships
The Faculty of Life Sciences is able to consider applicants from Iraq that have secured funding from (or are applying to) the Iraq Government for a scholarship. We are able to tailor a study programme that may include pre-sessional English courses, depending upon your level of proficiency in English. For more details see:
- Science without Borders
The Faculty of Life Sciences are keen to support applicants looking to undertake full PhD programmes or short-term PhD visits. There is more information on how to apply on the University Brazil pages Science without Borders (Brazil) / Ciência sem Fronteiras. In addition, Dr Liz Fitzgerald , the Faculty Postgraduate Tutor, would be happy to offer any advice on finding a suitable supervisor.
2) UK/EU Funding Opportunities
A) Studentships
Each year the Faculty of Life Sciences has a number of studentships on offer to eligible UK/EU applicants. These studentships are funded by awards from UK research councils (i.e. BBSRC, EPSRC, MRC, NERC, ESRC, AHRC), plus some charities. Studentships are linked to specific PhD projects and are available for applicants to work in the laboratories of named Principal Investigators (PIs). Each year the list of funded PhD projects varies. We also offer CASE studentships (backed by an industrial sponsor). To view a profile of an existing CASE student, see What is a PhD?.
To view the list of funded PhD projects currently on offer within the Faculty of Life Sciences, search:
Wellcome Trust Four Year PhD studentships: The Faculty of Life Sciences also has up to 5 Wellcome Trust Four Year PhD studentships to award each year to start in September. For more information on these studentships, visit:
- Wellcome Trust Four Year PhD– Admission and Funding
BBSRC Doctoral Training Programme (DTP): In addition, PIs in the Faculty of Life Sciences also have projects available as part of the University-wide BBSRC Doctoral Training Programme (DTP). Projects are available in a range of research disciplines, visit:
Studentships funded by UK Research Councils and the Wellcome Trust carry support for tuition fees and living expenses (stipend). There may be specific conditions related to full eligibility of EU applicants who are not UK nationals and, hence, awards may be for fees only. Funding body awards are subject to academic and residential eligibility criteria (as defined on their websites - BBSRC, EPSRC, MRC, NERC, ESRC, AHRC, Wellcome Trust).
The Faculty of Life Sciences can occasionally provide a stipend bursary for excellent EU students that do not meet the full eligibility criteria set by the Research Councils. This will be discussed at interview.
B) President’s Doctoral Scholar Awards
Awards will be made to exceptional individuals that have secured a fully-funded PhD studentship in the Faculty of Life Sciences.
UK/EU students that have been offered a studentship in the Faculty of Life Sciences (BBSRC DTP, Resarch Council, Wellcome Trust), will be automatically considered for a PDS Award. There is no need for UK/EU students to complete an application.
Successful PDS Award holders will have the opportunity to:
- Be invited to attend a series of exclusive events where you’ll have the opportunity to meet the University of Manchester President and Vice Chancellor, interact closely with our academic community and network with other PDS Awards students
- Benefit from international research leadership under distinguished scholars
- Become a PDS Awards ambassador for the University
- Receive a President’s Doctoral Scholar medal at graduation
- Benefit from our extensive transferable skills training for PhD researchers
Criteria:
Applicants must have obtained (or expect to obtain) a minimum first-class honours degree (or equivalent), and ideally hold a Masters-level qualification at merit or distinction. They should ideally have a track-record of engaging with research. This may include contributions to publications/articles, promoting their research to a wider audience, prizes for previous research or project work.
Enquiries on PDS Awards within the Faculty of Life Sciences should be directed to the scheme co-ordinator, Jessica Bowler at jessica.bowler@manchester.ac.uk.
For more information, see: President's Doctoral Scholar Award website.
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