Skip to main content Skip to navigation

Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Partnership

Application

Students from a wide diversity of academic backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Projects are available for excellent students from both theoretical (computational, mathematical) and experimental bioscience backgrounds.

In order to apply for a Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Partnership PhD you must:

  1. Check your eligibility.
  2. Complete an Application form for your University of choice (Aston, Birmingham, Harper Adams, Leicester or Warwick University) applying for the PhD programme in the appropriate department for your interests by no later than 20 January 2023..
  3. Notify MIBTP of your application by completing the online notification formLink opens in a new window; ensuring that you upload a current CV to the form.
  4. Review the MIBTP Data Privacy PolicyLink opens in a new window to understand how we process your personal data.

Eligibility

25 studentships per year are funded by BBSRC and 25 by matched funds from the Universities.

Residence requirements for MIBTP studentships (including CASE):

From the 2021/22 academic year UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funding is open to both UK and International research students as detailed on the UKRI website. Specifically, up to 30% of awards may be made to international students.

Home / UK students 

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

  • Be a UK National (meeting residency requirements), or
  • Have settled status, or
  • Have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirement) or,
  • Have indefinite leave to remain or enter
  • See the full eligibility criteria for further information.

International students:

  • Anybody who does not meet the criteria for home / UK student, above, would be classed as an international student.
  • Awards for both UK residents and International applicants cover UK tuition fees and provide a stipend at the standard UKRI rate to support living costs. UKRI funding will not cover the difference between UK tuition fees and international tuition fees. There are institution-specific options which may be able to help cover the difference between UK and international tuition fees. See the institution specific information below and/or contact potential supervisors at the desired institution directly in order to understand if funding to cover international level tuition fees is available to them.
  • UKCISA provides information on tuition fees to help you assess your fee status.
  • International students will require a student visaLink opens in a new window in order to be able to study in the UK. There are costs associated with the visa application process, which must be met by the student; approx £2500 for the visa and healthcare surcharge. Please ensure you have the means to meet these costsLink opens in a new window before you apply to the programme.

Academic requirements:

  • Those who have a 1st or a 2.1 undergraduate degree in a relevant field are eligible.
  • Evidence of quantitative training is required. For example, AS or A level Maths, IB Standard or Higher Maths, or university level maths/statistics course.
  • Those who have a 2.2 and an additional Masters degree in a relevant field may be eligible.
  • Those who have a 2.2 and at least three years post-graduate experience in a relevant field may be eligible.
  • Those with degrees abroad (perhaps as well as postgraduate experience) may be eligible if their qualifications are deemed equivalent to any of the above

For further information please contact MIBTP@warwick.ac.uk.

Application

Applications at Aston University:

  • If you are interested in a PhD project at Aston University, please see the website, read the guidance, and complete the online application
  • When making your application, use the drop-down options and select Health and Life Sciences; October; Full Time; Postgraduate Research; Research Biomedical Sciences (Full Time October 2023).
  • Please also notify MIBTP of your application by completing the online notification form; ensuring that you upload a current CV to the form.
  • English language requirements for international students can be found on the Aston website.
  • For questions specific to the Aston application process, please contact the PGR Admissions team
  • International students - are welcome to apply but all applicants must be able to provide evidence of funding to cover the difference between the UK and international fees for the duration of the programme. Three scholarships of £7,000 per year to offset the fee difference are available.

Applications at the University of Birmingham:

  • If you are interested in a PhD project at the University of Birmingham, please take a look at the Birmingham MIBTP website and apply to the department / school relevant to your chosen project and supervisor. Please be sure to apply to the MIBTP-specific programme, i.e. ‘PhD Biosciences (MIBTP)’ , not to a general PhD programme, i.e. ‘PhD Biosciences’. If you are applying to the programme without selecting a project, please apply to the PhD Biosciences (MIBTP) programme here. Further guidance can be found at the Birmingham MIBTP website.

  • Please also notify MIBTP of your application by completing the online application notification form.
  • English language requirements for international students can be found on the Birmingham websiteLink opens in a new window.
  • For questions specific to the Birmingham application process, please contact the Birmingham team.Link opens in a new window
  • International students (including EU students) are welcome to apply. Studentships would be jointly funded covering international tuition fees in full.

    UKRI funding will provide annual stipend for living costs and tuition fees at the UK rate. The difference between UK tuition fee rate and international tuition fee rate will be covered by University of Birmingham funding.

    Applications at Harper Adams University:

    • If you are interested in a PhD project at Harper Adams University, please see the website Link opens in a new windowfor further information and complete the appropriate online application form.
    • Please also notify MIBTP of your application by completing the online application notification formLink opens in a new window.
    • For questions specific to the HAU application process, please contact the HAU admissions team.
    • When completing the Harper Adams application , there is no requirement to include a research proposal when applying for an MIBTP studentship but you will be requested to upload a document – please upload a blank word doc.
    • English language requirements for international students can be found on the Harper Adams websiteLink opens in a new window.
    • An IELTS certificate or equivalent evidence of English language skills is only required for those students who require Visa sponsorship.
    • International students are welcome to apply but all applicants must be able to fund the difference between UK and International fees for the duration of their studies. International students need to provide evidence of funding to cover the difference between the UK and international fees for the duration of the programme. In the first year the amount is £10,890.

    Applications at the University of Leicester:

    • All MIBTP students will be provided with a 4 years studentship.

    Studentships include:

    • Tuition fees at UK rate*
    • a tax free stipend which for 2022/3 will be £17,668 (2023/24 stipend to be confirmed)
    • a travel allowance in year 1, a travel / conference budget, a generous consumables budget, use of a laptop for the duration of the programme.

    * International students are welcome to apply but all applicants must be able to fund the difference between UK and International fees for the duration of their studies. The difference in fees for 2022/23 entry was £16,404 (2023/24 fees to be confirmed). The University of Leicester will provide one full overseas fee waiver.

    Applications at the University of Warwick:

    • If you are interested in a PhD project at the University of Warwick, please apply via the online application formLink opens in a new window selecting the School of Life Sciences (screen 1) and the course MIBTP-DTP (P-C1PBB) (screen 2).
    • You will be asked to upload a research proposal as part of your application; this is not an MIBTP requirement so feel free to upload a CV or personal statement here instead.
    • In the funding section of the form please enter the following: Source of funding: Studentship; Percentage: 100%; Amount from source: £4596; Name of award: MIBTP; Have you submitted an application for funding: Yes; Has the studentship been awarded: No; Contact name: MIBTP; Email address MIBTP@warwick.ac.uk;Telephone: 02476 528243.
    • Please also notify MIBTP of your application by completing the online application notification formLink opens in a new window; ensuring that you upload a current CV to the form.
    • English language requirements for international students can be found on the Warwick websiteLink opens in a new window
    • International students (including EU students) are welcome to apply. Studentships would be jointly funded covering international tuition fees in full.

      UKRI funding will provide annual stipend for living costs and tuition fees at the UK rate. The difference between UK tuition fee rate and international tuition fee rate will be covered by University of Warwick funding.

    Application Notification - All Universities

    • Please notify MIBTP of your application by completing the online application notification form, ensuring that you upload a current CV to the form. This ensures that all applications are processed, especially if applying through a different department.

    Shortlisting process

    • Candidates applying to the MIBTP will be shortlisted using these criteria.
    • Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview, during which their academic aptitude, motivation for research, communication ability and interest in quantitative, interdisciplinary bioscience will be assessed. Each candidate will also be scored on a set of competency based questions asked at interview.

    Interviews

    • To be confirmed
    Frequently asked questions

    The answers to commonly asked questions with regards to this training programme have been answered on the frequently asked questionsLink opens in a new window page.

    Alternatively please email MIBTP@warwick.ac.uk with your query.

     

    Applications for CASE studentships:

    • CASE studentships are currently being advertisedLink opens in a new window. Interview dates for these studentships vary - please see the individual project descriptions for the exact date.
    • Initial enquires can be made to the MIBTP DTP Officer or by contacting supervisors of specific PhD projects directly.
    • Applications must be made to the university where the PhD project is listed, as per the instructions above. Please ensure that you clearly state you are applying for a CASE project and stipulate the project title.
    • Please also notify MIBTP of your application by completing the online application notification formLink opens in a new window; ensuring that you upload a current CV to the form.