MRC PhD Funding

The Medical Research Council (MRC) is the main source of government funding to advance medical research in the UK. MRC PhD studentships ordinarily cover tuition fees, a monthly stipend set at £20,780 per year and additional support for research training.

Thinking about a PhD in biomedical or health sciences but worried about funding? The Medical Research Council (MRC) studentships are your scientific superhero! Covering tuition fees, maintenance and research training costs, they are one of the most comprehensive PhD funding out there.

However, they are competitive but not at all impossible if you have a plan in place. I’ve created this guide which explains how MRC funding works for PhD students, focusing on the different types of studentships, who is eligible and how to apply.

The MRC is one of seven Research Councils that make up UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). Each council manages its own UK Government budget for training and research, some of which is allocated to PhD studentships.

The MRC support research across all of the medical sciences. Like other research councils, this research is carried out in universities. However, the MRC also maintains its own research units, institutes and centres within universities where it takes a more immediate role in directing research .

The MRC funds PhDs in all medical subjects, such as:

• Cancer Research and Treatment
• Cardiovascular Science
• Endocrinology
• Genetics
• Immunology
• Molecular and Cellular Medicine
• Neuroscience and Mental Health
• Public Health

There are also some interdisciplinary funding opportunities offered by the MRC in partnership with the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) or the Biotechnology and biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).

The MRC Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTPs) are set up by individual research organisations or regional networks.

DTPs receive funding for certain number of PhD studentships from the MRC and use this to provide additional training and professional development opportunities.

MRC DTPs for 2025

Studying your PhD at an MRC DTP

The benefit of studying within a DTP is the focus on broader training and in most cases a partnership with other research organisations.

Although you will be studying primarily at the university you applied to, you will also have the option to spend time at other universities or institutions within the partnership. This will give you access to other facilities and widen your research opportunities.

Most studentships last 3.5-4 years full time, depending on the route you take. DTPs can either offer a 1+3 model with an incorporated MRes or a straight 3.5-4 year PhD.

Specifics on each programme can be found on the DTP websites, as they all offer slightly different structures.

Overall, you will be studying within a cohort of other PhD students, attending additional training, team building exercises and conferences together. Most DTPs have a student-led symposium programme where PhD researchers present their work in progress to the whole DTP.

MRC iCASE studentships are PhD projects developed in partnership between a university (within an MRC DTP) and an industry collaborator. These projects focus on commercial applications and offer access to additional training and resources.

Key features of an iCASE PhD

• Developed between a university and an industry partner
• At least three months spent working at the partner’s facilities
• Standard MRC funding, with potential extra support from the industry partner
• Full access to DTP training, workshops and events

The Integrative Toxicology Training Partnership (iTTP) focuses on developing expertise in toxicology and risk assessment for drugs, chemicals and environmental exposure. Funded by the MRC Toxicology Unit at the University of Cambridge, the programme brings together academia, industry and government to advance toxicology research.

In addition to the Toxicology Unit, the MRC funds over 40 institutes, units and centres, often within or partnered with universities. These focus on specific research areas set by the MRC. Some, like the Francis Crick Institute, are joint ventures with organisations such as the Wellcome Trust and Cancer Research UK.

Student eligibility for MRC PhD funding follows the same criteria as the other UKRI research councils.

Residency

• UK students who have been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least three years will be eligible for a full studentship covering fees and including the doctoral stipend.
• International students are eligible for tuition fees cover till the home amount. However, only 30% of the total number of awards available at a university may go to international students.
• EU students may be eligible for UKRI funding on the same terms as UK students if they have settled status in the UK or applied to the EU Settlement Scheme prior to 30 June 2021. EU students who arrive in the UK for a PhD from 2021-22 onwards may apply as international students.
• Irish students are eligible for UKRI finding on the same terms as UK students as part of the Common Travel Area.

Academic requirements

MRC studentships are highly competitive, requiring at least a 2.1 honours degree in a relevant subject. A Masters degree isn’t essential but can strengthen an application, especially with a 2.2 undergraduate result.

Applications are not made directly to the MRC but to the research organisations that will host your PhD. These can be found on specific DTP websites, on the university websites or here on FindAPhD.

To apply for an MRC scholarship, you first need to find an advertised opportunity at a DTP or other institute with funding. Once you have found one you would like to apply for, you should read the description and prepare the necessary application materials.

You will usually need to include a personal statement (providing information on your academic background, experience and research interests), covering letter (demonstrating your suitability and your interest in the project) and CV with appropriate referees.

If your application is successful, you will then be invited for a PhD interview and given the opportunity to discuss the PhD with you in more detail.

Frequently Asked Questions

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