Biological Sciences (4) Engineering (12) Physics (29)

Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health

The University of Manchester
BBSRC North West Doctoral Programme in Bioscience

BBSRC North West Doctoral Programme in Bioscience

Become an interdisciplinary bioscientist of tomorrow with our BBSRC North West Doctoral Programme in Bioscience.

The BBSRC Northwest Doctoral Programme in Bioscience is a unique and highly regarded training programme for future bioscience leaders, providing world-class interdisciplinary research opportunities across biosciences to motivated and inquisitive postgraduate researchers.

The programme aims to prepare future bioscientists with the skills, knowledge, networks and experience needed to address critical challenges in 21st-century bioscience and begin successful research careers.

A brand new partnership between the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), The University of Manchester and the University of Liverpool, postgraduate researchers on the programme will benefit from cutting-edge technologies, state-of-the-art facilities, expert supervision, collaboration with industry and more.

BBSRC NWDP projects are now live and applications are open until Friday, 31 January 2025.

Find Out More

Why apply for the BBSRC NWDP in Bioscience?

  • Funding: Receive a fully funded studentship covering tuition fees and an annual stipend at the UKRI rate (2024/25: £19,237 per year) for four years as well as additional funding for workshops, training courses, and research visits to enhance your skills.
  • Comprehensive training: Gain access to comprehensive training tailored to your individual and project needs.
  • Community and Networking Join a cohort across both institutes and get the change to network with peers, institutions, and external experts.
  • Events am Training: Continue to improve your skills and knowledge via annual training that promote interdisciplinary skills and networking, including Enterprising Researcher training, regional and national conferences such as the NWDP BBSRC DTP Annual Conference and writing retreats to refine and enhance writing skills.
  • Industry Placement: Get the chance to undertake a three-month professional internship placement (PIP) and potentially work in industry during years 1-3.
  • Career Development Receive support to plan, develop and pursue future careers beyond research underpinned by innovative PhD-to-workforce programmes - PhD-PROSPER and BIOBRIDGE.

Find Out More

Who is eligible?

These studentships are available to home and international candidates that:

  • Hold, or are about to obtain, a First or Upper Second class UK honours deree (or international equivalent)in an appropriate area.

We actively encourage applications from a diverse range of backgrounds and have partnered with social mobility charity In2ScienceUK to create opportunities for those currently underrepresented in UK doctoral training.

We seek to create equality of opportunity for all our applicants and postgraduate researchers. Find out more about Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at Manchester.

Next Steps

  1. Check if you meet our eligibility criteria.
  2. Find a BBSRC NWDP project that matches your research interests.
  3. Get in contact with a listed project supervisor and discuss your suitability for the project.
  4. Prepare your supporting documents.
  5. Complete our online application form once you've checked you're eligible, found a project and spoken to the supervisor.

For further details about our BBSRC North West Doctoral Programme in Bioscience, including project listings, details on how to apply and full eligibility requirements, please visit our website.

Find Out More

Key Dates

Projects advertised: w/c 9 December 2024
Applications open: w/c 9 December 2024
Application deadline: w/c Friday, 31 January 2025
Interviews take place: w/c Monday, 24 March 2025


Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health

Tackle real world challenges, make a difference, and elevate your career with postgraduate research in the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health at Manchester. From biochemistry to neuroscience, cancer sciences to medicine, audiology to mental health and everything in between, we offer a wide range of postgraduate research projects, programmes and funding which will allow you to immerse yourself in an area of research you’re passionate about.

Why study at Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health?

Ranked the best place to live in the UK (The Economist Global Liveability Index, 2022), Manchester boasts world-class culture, iconic sports, a thriving music and food scene, and much more. It's not just a place to research, it's a place to call home.

Experience PhD life as part of a diverse postgraduate research community of more than 1,000 postgraduate researchers at the 29th most international university in the world (Times Higher Education, 2023).

With 93% of research activity at the University rated as 'world-leading' or 'internationally excellent' (Research Excellence Framework, 2021), you'll get the chance to have an impact on global health and science challenges.

1000+

postgraduate students

90

PhDs

6

ranked in UK - QS (2025)

Manchester  United Kingdom

main campus

About Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health

At Manchester, postgraduate researchers are at the heart of our mission to tackle pressing global challenges in biological, medical and healthcare sciences - and you could be too.

By choosing Manchester for your postgraduate research, you’ll be joining a university with an exceptional research reputation, where 93% of research is world-leading or internationally excellent (REF, 2021) and where your work will have real-world impact.

You’ll research in world-class facilities alongside leading experts at the forefront of innovation, collaborating across disciplines to pioneer new treatments, advance scientific knowledge, and improve healthcare globally.

Supported by our dedicated Doctoral Academy and strong industry links, you'll experience PhD life in a vibrant, welcoming and diverse postgraduate research community.

And you’ll leave with the specialist knowledge, research experience and transferable skills that will shape your future in academia, research or industry.


Main campus

The University of Manchester

Manchester

North West

United Kingdom

PhD saved sucessfully

(MB-PhD) Gene regulatory networks driving metastatic progression in oesophageal adenocarcinoma

Oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC) incidence is increasing and yet survival rates remain very poor. There are limited treatment options, especially for metastatic disease, which is especially problematic as patients usually present with late stage disease. Read more
More details

(MB-PhD) MYST Histone Acetyltransferases as Therapeutic Targets in Acute Myeloid Leukaemia

Cytotoxic chemotherapy has been the standard of care for treatment of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) for the last 50 years. Unfortunately, more often than not, it fails to cure patients, and the 5 years survival rate for all-comers with AML is only around 20%. Read more
More details

(MB-PhD)Immunomodulation in multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma is a devastating B-cell malignancy for which there is no cure. The development of immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs) has proved transformative to multiple myeloma care, however, their remain unanswered questions related to the mechanism of action of this important drug class. Read more
More details

A novel role in mitochondrial homeostasis for the anti-ageing factor RBBP5

The mitochondrion has evolved from the endosymbiotic interaction of an alpha-proteobacterium and an archaeon. One major event during this evolution was the transferring of genes from the symbiont to the host. Read more
More details