Wellcome PhD Programme for Clinicians
How to Apply
The most important criteria we are looking for in applicants for this programme are academic excellence and the potential to pursue a career in academic clinical or veterinary medicine.
Who Can Apply?
Applicants must be qualified in clinical or veterinary medicine. It is anticipated that many will have already commenced their higher specialist clinical training, but this is not essential. It is important to note that the eight fellowships supported by the Universities of Cambridge and East Anglia are only open to citizens of the European Economic Area (EEA). The two Sanger Institute funded fellowships are open to overseas applicants. However, all successful candidates must be registered with either the General Medical Council or the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. Further details can be found at http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/Funding/Biomedical-science/Funding-schemes/PhD-funding-and-undergraduate-opportunities/WTD037337.htm
When should I apply?
The Universities of Cambridge and East Anglia together with the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute invite applications for 10 fellowships in the PhD Programme for Clinicians, to be taken up by the end of 2018. The fellowships provide funding for: clinical salary, University and College fees and research consumables for 3 years*. Prior to commencement, the Programme provides up to three months of additional salary support, enabling successful applicants to experience different research groups before choosing their project and PhD supervisor. Candidates who are interested in computational biology, epidemiology or public health can be funded for an additional 1-year MPhil in order to obtain the appropriate skills before starting their PhD.
Fellowships, based in campuses in Cambridge or Norwich, offer diverse research training opportunities in Departments and Institutes throughout the University of Cambridge Schools of Clinical Medicine and Biological Sciences and the Biomedical campus of the University of East Anglia and associated institutes on the Norwich Research Park.
In addition, the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute is a world-leading centre at the forefront of experimental, computational and translational genomic research. Faculty members use large-scale genomic tools to investigate important global health problems such as cancer, malaria, diabetes and infectious disease. Examples of potential Sanger-based projects can be found at http://www.sanger.ac.uk/about/study/phd-programmes/clinical-phd-programme
It is anticipated that many candidates will have already commenced their higher specialist clinical medical or veterinary training, but this is not essential. The most important criteria we are looking for are academic excellence and the potential to pursue a career in academic clinical or veterinary medicine. Further details are available from http://www.mrl.ims.cam.ac.uk/postgraduate-study-at-the-mrl/wellcome-trust-clinical-phd-programme/ and https://www.uea.ac.uk/medicine-health-sciences/graduate-school/studentships or by contacting Teresa Wallman (tdw30@medschl.cam.ac.uk) or Professor Alastair Watson for the University of East Anglia (alastair.watson@uea.ac.uk).
* Limit of tenure applies: 3 years
What funding does the programme provide?
The Wellcome Trust Programme provides:
- A clinical salary
- University and College fees at the ‘Home/EU’ rate
- Research expenses
- Contribution towards travel
- Contribution towards general training costs
An allowance for animal costs is also available if required (on a case by case basis), subject to approval by the Wellcome Trust.
Home and Overseas Fees at the University of Cambridge and University of East Anglia
There are two tiers of fees: home and overseas. The home rate is applicable to all students from EU countries plus one or two others. The overseas rate is applicable to those who do not qualify for home fees. However, the terms home and overseas are complex and you should see http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/students/studentregistry/fees/costs/index.html for a definition of ‘overseas’. The fees payable for any candidates to be registered with the University of East Anglia can be confirmed with the UEA Postgraduate Research Service and Fees Office, see https://portal.uea.ac.uk/postgraduate-research.
When will interviews be held?
The interview panel will comprise the Programme Director, Deputy Programme Director, representatives from the University of East Anglia, University of Cambridge Department of Veterinary Medicine, the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, and also a selection of Theme Leads and Principal Investigators from the Programme. We will also invite a Director of another ‘Wellcome Trust PhD Programme for Clinicians’ to join the panel.
Applications will open from 4th September 2018 and must be via the University of Cambridge Graduate Admissions on-line portal http://www.graduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/directory/cvcbpdwtc.
Closing date for applications: Monday 12th November 2018 (midday UK time).
Interviews will be held in the week commencing 10th or 17th December 2018.
Following the conclusion of the selection process, any successful candidates who will be registered at the University of East Anglia on the Norwich Research Park will be supported in making a formal application on the UEA online system by the Postgraduate Research Service at UEA. Please contact Phil Hearsey at fmh.gradschool@uea.ac.uk for guidance and support in doing this.
