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Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Partnership

Frequently Asked Questions

This page will attempt to answer commonly asked questions about the MIBTP Doctoral Training Partnership. If you do not find an answer to your question on this page, please do not hesitate to email the MIBTP team at .

What does the studentship include?

The studentship includes payment of fees, a tax-free stipend in line with the UKRI rate (£19,237 in the 2024/25 academic year), a travel/conference budget, a generous consumables budget, and use of a laptop computer for the duration of the programme.

What undergraduate degree do I need to be eligible?

Students from a wide range of academic backgrounds are encouraged to apply. MIBTP welcomes those with creative drive in theoretical (maths, physics, or computer science) and experimental (biology, biomedicine, chemistry, or biotechnology) research.

Can international students apply?

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. Awards for 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 international fees. Funding for this may be available from other sources and varies at each university, therefore, please check the MIBTP Application page for more details.

I have a disability, would this course be suitable for me?

We are here to support you. Disabled students recruited to UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) or Research Council studentships can apply for additional financial support towards expenditures arising from their postgraduate studies incurred solely because of their disability. This additional financial support is called Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSA).

MIBTP is unusual in that it requires training at all six partner universities. Our scheme requires students to do a fair amount of training and a 3-month research project at one of the partner Universities (away from your 'home' university) during the training year. Students must also undertake a 3-month industry placement, a 3-month technical mini project, and attend masterclasses and cohort events at each of the six partner institutions over the 4-year programme. This scheme might present additional challenges for people with some disabilities, however, we are committed to supporting all our students in the best way possible. We will work with you and your home university disability team to ensure you are adequately supported.

Can I apply for more than one project?

We have no rule. However many projects you apply for, each will be considered one application. The student/applicant is awarded the scholarship, not the project.

Can I apply to more than one University?

You can apply for one, two or all six Universities; however, if you are shortlisted, it may not be for your preferred university, depending on the availability of projects at each university. If you are invited to interview, this will occur at the university you have been shortlisted at.

Do I need to provide any supporting documentation with my application?

We need only what you supply to the online system, so please include references, a CV, and a cover letter.

You must complete the ED&I form on the MIBTP website so that we know you have applied to our programme. The information in the EDI form is NOT available to anyone involved in assessing your application.

Am I responsible for arranging the Professional Internship Placements (PIPs), or is support offered?

We provide potential options for internships (PIPs) for students to explore. However, we also encourage you to make your arrangements because it offers you the opportunity to develop ideas and plan your agenda. We provide support and resources as needed.

Can I organise my mini-project or choose from a set list?

You can approach supervisors who have listed PhD projects with MIBTP. Your mini-project topic is for you to choose. You can discuss this with your PhD supervisor, although this is not a requirement. Most students discuss and agree on their own projects with academics, but the MIBTP can offer assistance if required. All projects need to fall within the remit of BBSRC.

Can I self-fund?

Self-funders may apply to take a four-year degree course and participate in MIBTP training. The PhD thesis must be submitted before the end of year four.

Note: The supervisor must accept the costs of any experimental work. MIBTP students have a consumable budget of approximately £4500 pa, which will not be available to self-funders.

There are no other costs due to the University other than fees.

How do I apply?

Please complete the relevant application form depending on where you want to study (Aston, Birmingham, Coventry, Harper Adams, Leicester, or Warwick).

Please also complete the ED&I formLink opens in a new window on the MIBTP website (regardless of which University you wish to study at) so we can track your application. The information within the EDI form is NOT available to anyone involved in assessing your application.

Guidance on completing a PhD application

FindaPhD has some useful guidance on its website with regard to the PhD application process.

Data privacy policy

Please review the MIBTP Data Privacy Policy to understand how we process your data during the application process and beyond.

Contact us

You can contact the MIBTP team by emailing MIBTP@warwick.ac.uk; we will endeavour to answer any queries promptly.