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.

Eligibility

Application

Applications at Aston University:

• Complete our ED&I form as an expression of interest in MIBTP.
• If you are interested in a PhD project at Aston University, please see the websiteLink opens in a new window, 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 2026).

  • Please note you must include a personal statement when prompted but you are not required to include a research proposal unless you wish to apply for more than one project. In which case, please upload a Word document with all the titles of the projects for which you wish to apply.

• 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 (including EU students) are welcome to apply. UKRI funding will provide an annual stipend for living costs and tuition fees at the UK rate. Scholarships may be available at the time of appointment to cover the difference between UK and international fees.

Applications at the University of Birmingham:

MIBTP 2027-28 Applicants: Please note that we are experiencing delays in updating the UoB website with project listings for this recruitment round, which opened 12 October 2026. Until this is resolved, you can still view UoB's available projects on the University of Warwick's MIBTP page here: PhD Opportunities.

• Complete our ED&I form as an expression of interest in MIBTP.

• 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’. Further guidance can be found at the Birmingham MIBTP website.

• 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 visit the UoB MIBTP webpage in the first instance. If you still have questions, please contact the Birmingham team ( ).
• 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 Coventry University:

• Complete our ED&I form as an expression of interest in MIBTP.
• If you are interested in a PhD project at Coventry University, please see this table and click on your chosen project; this will take you to the Coventry MIBTP website to complete the online application.
• English language requirements for international students can be found on the Coventry website.
• International students (including EU students) are welcome to apply. Studentships would be jointly funded, covering international fees in full. UKRI funding provides an annual stipend for living costs and tuition fees at the UK rate. Coventry University will fund the difference between the UK tuition fee rate and the international tuition fee rate.
• International student applicants must be able to fund the cost of travel to the UK, their visa and associated costs, and the healthcare supplement.

• Please email aa4080@coventry.ac.uk if you require further information on applying for a PhD project at Coventry University.

Applications at Harper Adams University:

• Complete our ED&I form as an expression of interest in MIBTP.
• If you are interested in a PhD project at Harper Adams University, please see the websiteLink opens in a new window for further information and complete the appropriate online application form.
• For questions about the HAU application process, please contact the HAU Postgraduate Research team ( ).
• When completing the Harper Adams application, you are required to include a personal statement in lieu of a research proposal when applying for an MIBTP studentship.
• English language requirements for international students can be found via this link: English Language Policy.
• An IELTS certificate or equivalent evidence of English language skills is only required for those students who require Visa sponsorship.
• Harper Adams University is unfortunately unable to offer a fee waiver for international students applying to the MIBTP standard programme. Evidence of funding will be required for International fee-paying students to show they can cover the difference between the UK and international fees for the full four years - please see this link for further details: HA University Fees 2026-27.

Applications at the University of Leicester:

• Complete our ED&I form as an expression of interest in MIBTP
• All MIBTP students will be provided with a 4 years studentship.

• * International students are welcome to apply, but applicants must be able to fund the cost of travel to the UK, their visa and associated costs, and the healthcare supplement. The University of Leicester will provide full overseas fee waivers for the duration of their study to all international students accepted at Leicester. UKRI allows us to appoint up to 30% of overseas students.

• If you are interested in studying at the University of Leicester, the university's website has a list of projects and guidance on completing the application process.
• English language requirements for international students can be found on the Leicester website.
• For questions specific to the Leicester application process, please contact the Leicester admissions team ( ).

Applications at the University of Warwick:

• Complete our ED&I form as an expression of interest in MIBTP.
• 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 and the MIBTP DTP (P-C1PBB) course as a postgraduate researcher.
  • Please make sure to input the proposed supervisor and full project title for one advertised MIBTP Warwick project in the "Research Proposal" section of the form. If you wish to express interest in further projects at Warwick, you may do so during the interview phase. Please do not submit multiple copies of the application form.
  • You will be asked to upload a research proposal as part of your application; this is not an MIBTP requirement. You are welcome to upload a CV or personal statement instead of a research proposal.
  • In the funding section of the form, please enter the following: Source of funding: Studentship; Percentage: 100%; Amount from source: £5258; Name of award: BBSRC Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Partnership; 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.
  • Once you've submitted your application, an email will be send to your referees asking them to fill in the reference. If you anticipate that it will take them more than a few days to respond, please ensure that you submit your application well in advance of the application deadline, so that your reference can be reviewed during shortlisting.
• 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 an annual stipend for living costs and tuition fees at the UK rate. The difference between the UK tuition fee rate and the international tuition fee rate will be covered by University of Warwick funding.

Shortlisting process

• Candidates applying to the MIBTP will be shortlisted using these criteria: MIBTP Candidate Scoring 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 competency-based questions asked at the interview.

Interviews

• To take place in late January/early February. Dates will be confirmed here when finalised.

Questions

Our frequently asked questionsLink opens in a new window webpage contains answers to common queries about the application process and our training programme. If the answer to your query can't be found in the FAQs, please email , but be aware that replies may be delayed in busy periods.

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