We have a range of exciting and diverse PhD projects at our 3 partner University institutions of Birmingham, Leicester and Nottingham which are now open for application for a September 2025 start.

Projects with an industry partner (iCASE projects) offer a unique opportunity to undertake translational research.

How to apply

Please complete the AIM DTP application form, including a 2 page CV and 1 page screenshot confirming you have submitted the anonymous Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I) form before the deadline of midday (GMT) Friday 10 January 2025.

Complete applications should not exceed 7 pages and should include the following to be submitted as 1 document totalling no more than 7 pages:

A completed application form of no more than 4 pages. Application forms should be formatted as follows: Arial font, point 11, single space, “normal” margins (2.54cm all round)

a CV consisting of no more than 2 sides of A4 and formatted as above

A 1 page screenshot of the thank you message confirming that you have completed the ED&I form

Applicants can apply for a maximum of 3 projects although there is no expectation to apply for more than 1. Please ensure you complete a separate application for each project and submit it to the host institution where the project lead supervisor is based.

We strongly encourage you to contact the supervisor(s) of the project(s) you are interested in before applying. Supervisor(s) are aware that applicants may approach them about their project and welcome the opportunity of discussing the project with applicants.  

Please ensure you complete the online ED&I form. The form is anonymous and responses on the form have no reflection on whether an applicant will be shortlisted for interview. Applicants only need to complete the ED&I form once regardless of how many applications they submit. Applicants will need to take a screenshot of the thank you message once the form has been completed and submit the screenshot with the rest of the application documentation.

You will need to submit your application to the host institution of the project lead supervisor.

Birmingham applications to be submitted to mrc-aim@contacts.bham.ac.uk

Leicester applications to be submitted to aimphd@leicester.ac.uk

Nottingham applications to be submitted to br-mrc-aim-dtp@nottingham.ac.uk

The application deadline is midday (GMT) Friday 10 January 2025. Applications which exceed 7 pages or are submitted late will not be considered and will not be responded to.

Questions?
Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions document or contact the host institution of the project which you are applying to.

Residency requirement

We welcome applications from home and international applicants. Due to stipulations from the funders, recruitment for international applicants to the DTP is capped at 30% of the whole cohort.

To be classed as a home student, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be a UK National (meeting residency requirements), or

• Have settled status, or 

• Have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), or  

• Have indefinite leave to remain or enter  

If you do not meet one of the above criteria, you would most likely be classed as an international student.

Further information can be found online 

Academic requirement

Applicants must hold, or be about to obtain, a First or Upper Second class UK honours degree, or the equivalent qualifications gained outside the UK, in a relevant subject. A master’s qualification in a related area could be beneficial, as could additional relevant research experience.

More details can be found on the MRC website

Applicant webinars

We recently held two applicant webinars for prospective applicants interested in applying to the DTP where the leadership team presented about the DTP and the application process as well as answering questions. The presentation slides are available here

You can view the Zoom webinar held on Friday 6 December here with the passcode *WA@k9uM

You can view the Zoom webinar held on Monday 9 December here with the passcode 1.v.icgW

What happens after you have submitted your application?

After the closing date, midday (GMT) Friday 10 January 2025, the project supervisors will review all applications submitted for their project and shortlist a maximum of two applicants for interview.

Shortlisted applicants will be contacted by 14 February 2025 via email. Please do not email to check the status of your application. If you don’t receive an email by 14 February 2025 then we are afraid that your application has not been shortlisted and you will not be invited for interview. Unfortunately, due to the number of applications the DTP receives, we will not be able to provide feedback on unsuccessful applications. For those applicants who aren’t shortlisted, we would like to thank you for your interest in the DTP and wish you well for your future career.

We will be holding an online information session for candidates who are invited for interview/reserve candidates 12:00 – 13:00 (GMT) Wednesday 19 February 2025 to help demystify the interview process and provide some information on what to expect at interview.

Shortlisted applicants will then be invited for interview during the week commencing 24 February 2025. Please ensure you are available for the whole week as if you are invited for interview, we are unable to offer any alternative interview dates/times.

Applicants who are ranked highest at interview will be offered a place on the DTP and will be recommended for the PhD position. Successful applicants will then be sent details of how to make the formal application at the project host institution and will be subject to standard admissions checks which is standard procedure. The host institution admissions team will then send out formal offer letters and details of how to complete the online registration process.