Medical Research Council (MRC) - Medical Research Council (MRC) PhD studentships

MRC PhD studentship at the University of Edinburgh

You will receive tax-free living allowance of about EUR 24,000 per year (£20,780, rising to £21,805 from October 2026) as well as a grant to cover your tuition fees. This will fund a full PhD programme in medical or biological research. The funding will run for 4 years, or 3.5 years if you already hold a Master’s degree. In addition, you will receive approximately 5,800 (£5,000) euros for laboratory equipment and materials, as well as around 350 (£300) euros per year for conference travel. The funding comes from the Medical Research Council, one of the UK’s national research funding organisations. Payments are made through the University of Edinburgh’s ‘Precision Medicine’ training programme, which is run in collaboration with the University of Glasgow.

Who can apply

• Degree: You must hold at least a second-class upper bachelor’s degree (2:1) in a relevant subject. A master’s degree is not required, but is an advantage, particularly if your bachelor’s degree grade is lower.
• Field of study: Your research falls within the field of biomedicine or a related biological discipline, such as cancer research, cardiovascular research, genetics, immunology, neuroscience or public health.
• Where you study: She is doing her PhD at the University of Edinburgh.
• Nationality: Applicants of all nationalities are eligible to apply. Those resident in the United Kingdom and Ireland (as well as EU citizens with permanent right of residence) will receive the full scholarship package, including tuition fees and a living allowance. International students will have their tuition fees covered up to the level of the UK home rate; where applicable, they will be required to cover the difference themselves. Each university may award a maximum of 30% of its scholarships to international students.

How to apply

You do not apply directly to the MRC. The positions are advertised on FindaPhD.com, and you apply for the specific project that interests you. Places are allocated following a selection interview.

How realistic are your chances?

The field is narrowly defined, and each position requires in-depth knowledge of 2:1 as well as a good fit for a specific project. You are therefore competing against a focused group rather than the general public. If your background is a good fit for the project and you can demonstrate a genuine interest in research during the interview, your prospects are good. It is an advantage if you are based in the UK or Ireland, as the number of fully funded places for international applicants is limited.