MRC National Institute for Medical Research, London

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PhDs and Studentships

Guidance notes

Please read the guidance notes carefully before completing your application.

Points to remember:

Applications should be made via our online application system.
Failure to give accurate, true and complete information in the application form could lead to delays in processing your application and possible rejection.
Your referees will be contacted shortly after receipt of your application. Applications will not be considered without references, therefore please ensure that your referees are available to provide a reference.
If you experience any problems please contact us: studentships@nimr.mrc.ac.uk or +44 (0)20 8816 2479

General entrance requirements

Applicants should have obtained or be due to obtain a UK Bachelor's degree in an appropriate subject, awarded with a first or upper second-class Honours, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard from a recognised higher education institute.

Where an applicant's Bachelor's degree is not of the required classification, applicants will need to hold a taught or research based Master's degree (e.g. MRes, MSc), or be nearing the completion of a taught or research based Master's degree.

Please note that your Bachelor's or Master's degree must be awarded before the proposed start date of your PhD.

International qualifications

Details of qualification equivalencies are available on the country pages of the UCL International Students website.

Please note that if you are applying from outside the UK for a PhD at NIMR, you will need to send translated and certified copies of your transcripts and degree certificate as well as the original transcripts and degree certificate if you are offered a Studentship. You do not need to send these at the time of application. Translation services are offered by the British Council in various countries.

MRC NIMR English language proficiency requirement

All students whose first language is not English will be required to provide recent evidence, prior to interview, that shows that their spoken and written command of the English language is adequate for the programmes for which they have applied.

This requirement is specified in order to ensure that the academic progress of students is not hindered by language difficulties and that students are able to integrate socially whilst studying at NIMR and living in the UK. The required evidence may take the form of either:

Substantial education (minimum twelve months) or work experience (minimum eighteen months) conducted in English and undertaken no more than three years prior to the proposed date of enrolment, OR
A recently obtained acceptable English language qualification or test result. The qualification or test result must have been awarded no more than three years prior to the proposed date of enrolment.

The online application form

General guidance

To use our secure online application form you will first step need to create an account, and for this we will require your name and a valid email address.
A password will be generated and emailed to you which you can then use to log into the application form.
There are ten sections within the application. You do not have to complete them all at once, but you must ensure that you save any changes or updates you make.
The deadline for application submission is 12:00 GMT on 30 November 2011. The online application site will automatically close at that time and no further applications will be accepted. Please ensure you submit your application as completed applications that have not been submitted will not be entered into the database for consideration.
You will be able to view your application once submitted, even after the deadline, although you will not be able to amend it.
If you forget your password, please go to the applicant login page and select 'Recall password'.

Section 1: Personal details

Please enter which country you normally live in. If you usually live between two or more locations, please write the country in which you spend more time.

English language skills

Please see the MRC NIMR English language proficiency requirement section for more details.

Section 2: Group leader choice

You may select up to three supervisors whose research/project you are interested in. You may rank the supervisors in order of preference (1 being the most preferred), equal rankings are accepted. If you do not have any preference all rankings should be left as 1.

Section 5: Supporting statement

Outline here your current research interests, career objectives and aspirations, relevant academic and non-academic achievements, publications and reasons for applying to NIMR. You should also outline any other relevant experience including attendance at workshops or short courses, and the success in any prizes, scholarships and awards.

Section 6: Funding

Please ensure you have read the notes on funding and eligibility before completing this section. You may apply simultaneously for MRC/NIMR funding (if eligible) and external funding, although normally students may only be in receipt of funding from one source at any one time.

Section 9: Referees

Please ensure that your referees are aware that you have named them to provide you with a reference. Once you have submitted your application an email will be sent to your referee. It is your responsibility to ensure that your referee returns your reference before the deadline.

Section 10: Review application

Please ensure that all sections of the application have been completed. You will not be able to submit your application until all of the mandatory information has been entered. Once you have submitted your application you will be sent an email confirming receipt. If you do not receive this email please contact us. Once you have submitted your application you will not be able to make further changes.