cancer phd studentships uk

Together we are beating cancer

About cancer

Cancer types

• Breast cancer
• Bowel cancer
• Lung cancer
• Prostate cancer

Cancers in general

• Clinical trials

Causes of cancer

Coping with cancer

• Managing symptoms and side effects
• Mental health and cancer
• Money and travel
• Death and dying
• Cancer Chat forum

Health Professionals

• Cancer Statistics
• Cancer Screening
• Learning and Support
• NICE suspected cancer referral guidelines

Get involved

• Make a donation

By cancer type

• Leave a legacy gift
• Donate in Memory

Find an event

• Race for Life
• Charity runs
• Charity walks
• Search events
• Relay For Life
• Volunteer in our shops
• Help at an event
• Help us raise money
• Campaign for us

Do your own fundraising

• Fundraising ideas
• Get a fundraising pack
• Return fundraising money
• Fundraise by cancer type
• Set up a Cancer Research UK Giving Page
• Find a shop or superstore
• Become a partner
• Cancer Research UK for Children & Young People
• Our We Are campaign

Our research

• Brain tumours
• Skin cancer
• All cancer types

By cancer topic

• New treatments
• Cancer biology
• Cancer drugs
• All cancer subjects
• All locations

By Researcher

• Professor Duncan Baird
• Professor Fran Balkwill
• Professor Andrew Biankin
• See all researchers
• Our achievements timeline
• Our research strategy
• Involving animals in research

Funding for researchers

Research opportunities

• For discovery researchers
• For clinical researchers
• For population researchers
• In drug discovery & development
• In early detection & diagnosis
• For students & postdocs

Our funding schemes

• Career Development Fellowship
• Discovery Programme Awards
• Clinical Trial Award
• Biology to Prevention Award
• View all schemes and deadlines

Applying for funding

• Start your application online
• How to make a successful application
• Funding committees
• Successful applicant case studies

How we deliver research

• Our research infrastructure
• Events and conferences
• Our research partnerships
• Facts & figures about our funding
• Develop your research career
• Recently funded awards
• Manage your research grant
• Notify us of new publications

Find a shop

• Volunteer in a shop
• Donate goods to a shop
• Our superstores

Shop online

• Wedding favours
• Cancer Care
• Flower Shop

Our eBay store

• Shoes and boots
• Bags and purses
• We beat cancer
• We fundraise
• We develop policy
• Our global role

Our organisation

• Our strategy
• Our Trustees
• CEO and Executive Board
• How we spend your money
• Early careers

Cancer news

• Cancer News
• For Researchers
• For Supporters
• Press office
• Publications
• Update your contact preferences

ABOUT CANCER

GET INVOLVED

NEWS & RESOURCES

FUNDING & RESEARCH

You are here

Opportunities for PhD students and postdoc researchers

We're committed to supporting the next generation of cancer researchers, and our community includes around 550 PhD students and 750 postdoctoral researchers. Our researchers benefit from support including networking groups and events, training, travel grants, and opportunities to begin developing their independent research careers.

Find a PhD or postdoc

Recruitment for PhD studentships and postdoc positions is usually managed independently by the institutes, centres and investigators that we fund around the UK. If you are interested in studying or working with us, we advise you to:

Browse our institutes and centres, and search for positions on their websites

Browse our recently funded awards to find potential supervisors

Search for projects on FindAPhD.com or   FindAPostdoc.com

If you already have postdoc experience, you may also be eligible to begin developing your independent research group with our career development fellowships and awards:

Browse our research career development opportunities

Benefits of studying and working with us

As a CRUK-funded student or researcher you will have access to our networking, training and other career development opportunities and benefits, including:

Networking meeting for new PhD students

"Communicating your research" training workshops

Careers day for students nearing the end of their PhD

Annual postdoctoral researchers networking meeting

Annual clinical researchers meeting

Flexible working policies

Disability and accessibility support

We want our research funding to be accessible for everyone. So we’ve developed guidance covering the support we offer grant applicants and grant holders who are disabled or have a long-term health condition.

We welcome researchers from all backgrounds and offer support for anyone needing adjustments in grant applications, interviews and award reporting. 

Entrepreneurial Programmes

Our entrepreneurial programmes will show you how to build a business, connect you to a network of like-minded people and help you find the right advice and support, when you need it.

Black Leaders in Cancer PhD Scholarship Programme

In partnership with Black in Cancer and the Windsor Fellowship, we’re offering a PhD programme for Black undergraduates. By providing funding and comprehensive wraparound support for these students, we can make an immediate and tangible impact on the diversity of our research community. 

Research opportunities for clinical trainees

Clinician scientists provide a valuable bridge between research and clinical practice. We have a number of opportunities to help clinical trainees get a taste of research and develop their careers in cancer research.

Pre-doctoral Research Bursary

Our Research Bursary provides short-term funding to allow clinicians and other health professionals to get involved in research projects early in their career.  

Clinical research training fellowship PhDs

We fund Clinical Research Training Fellowships at each of our translational research Centres. Clinical trainees seeking PhD opportunities should contact Centres directly.

Postdoctoral Research Bursary for Clinical Trainees

This award offers funding for clinical trainees to remain active in research after completion of a PhD.

More career development opportunities

We offer a range of fellowships, bursaries and other support to help outstanding scientists and clinicians develop their independent research careers.

Research career development opportunities

Subscribe to research updates

Stay up to date with research and career development opportunities at CRUK with our monthly  Research Update  email newsletter.

Rate this page:

• Schools & departments

Cancer Research UK PhD programme

Applications NOW CLOSED

Applications are invited from outstanding candidates to join a Cancer Research UK funded PhD programme. These are funded by the Cancer Research UK Scotland Centre, a joint initiative between Edinburgh and Glasgow which brings together cancer scientists and clinicians from across the Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow, delivering outstanding cancer research and improved patient care. The Cancer Research UK PhD programme is integrated into the research activities of the Centre with over 80 principal investigators contributing to this cross-disciplinary programme spanning from fundamental science to translational research. Research projects benefit from state-of-the art facilities for genomics, mass spectrometry, advanced microscopy, single cell technologies, and from advanced computational and informatics capabilities.

The Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre is committed to high quality training, mentorship and research excellence to prepare the next generation of scientists to tackle the most challenging questions underpinning oncology. This training will enable you to think critically, undertake mechanistic research and to make new discoveries. The Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre is situated within the Institute of Genetics and Cancer (IGC), embedded within the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine. The Institute provides an outstanding training environment, overseen by a well-established IGC Graduate School, with state-of-the-art facilities and a variety of opportunities for postgraduate research study. There is a great sense of community within the IGC, with over a hundred postgraduate students and a thriving postgraduate society (POGs) which runs career talks, social events and an annual scientific retreat.

Application procedure

Up to 2 studentships are available to start in September or October 2024 for outstanding applicants with a stipend of £21,000 p/a. These 2 studentships are funded by the CRUK Scotland Centre, a joint initiative between Edinburgh and Glasgow. Successful students for the Edinburgh lead projects will be registered for their degree in Edinburgh and will undertake their project in Edinburgh. 

Candidates should hold at least an upper second-class degree in a relevant subject and comply with University of Edinburgh English language requirements.

ONLY APPLY HERE FOR EDINBURGH BASED PROJECTS - ANY APPLICATIONS RECEIVED FOR GLASGOW WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

All Edinburgh based applications will be administered centrally via the University of Edinburgh and applicants should apply on the link below: https://www.ed.ac.uk/studying/postgraduate/degrees/index.php?r=site/view&edition=2022&id=237

Please note that applicants are not required to submit a research proposal when completing the online application process and should enter details of the project(s) they are interested in applying for.  However, the CRUK Scotland Centre form is required to be uploaded to the system.    Please leave the application number field blank - administration team will complete this.

Closing date: 20th May 2024

Interviews are expected to be held week beginning 17 June.

Applications are open to all individuals irrespective of nationality or country of residence.

CRUK Manchester Institute 4-year PhD studentships

The Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute (CRUK MI) is a leading cancer research institute within The University of Manchester, and is supported by major core funding from Cancer Research UK, the largest independent cancer research organisation in the world.

About CRUK MI

The CRUK MI is at the heart of the  Manchester Cancer Research Centre , a partnership that brings together the expertise, vision and resources of its founding partners: The University of Manchester,  The Christie NHS Foundation Trust  and  Cancer Research UK,  all of whom have formidable individual reputations in the fields of cancer treatment and research.

Cancer research in Manchester is world-leading. Cancer is one of The University of Manchester's research beacons, showcasing pioneering discoveries, interdisciplinary collaboration and cross-sector partnerships that are tackling some of the biggest questions facing the planet.

About the studentships

We are committed to training the next generation of cancer research scientists, helping launch careers in basic, translational and clinical cancer research.

Postgraduate students enjoy a supportive environment, a challenging project and, together with tailored training in transferable and generic skills, development as independent scientists with excellent career prospects will ensue.

Each year we recruit students to join us on our four-year PhD programme through Cancer Research UK studentships within the Institute. We welcome applications from UK, EU and international students.

CRUK studentships are fully funded by Cancer Research UK and come with a generous tax-free stipend (living allowance) of £21,000/annum (outside of London), tuition fees and allocation of appropriate level of funding to ensure the project bench fees are fully supported.

Studentships are advertised on our webpages annually in October/November, with interviews taking place in January/February of the academic intake year.

We are flexible as to intake within University postgraduate semesters, with registrations in either April or September. Additional PhD studentships and vacancies may be advertised at various times throughout the year.

How to apply

Interested students can find full group and project details (when available), entry criteria and details on how to apply on the CRUK Manchester Institute website .

Postgraduate Funding Search

• Study at Cambridge
• About the University
• Research at Cambridge
• Funding Search

Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute Studentships

Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute (CRUK CI) offers a number of fully-funded postgraduate studentships for PhD study. The studentships are available to fund specific projects offered by supervisors aiming to recruit PhD students.

Applicants hoping to apply for one of our funded studentships should read through the following notes:

• We will be advertising a number of funded PhD projects from 1st October 2023 on our website .
• Funded PhD project information will only be available between 1st October 2023 and 13th November 2023 (the CRUK CI studentship application window).
• To apply for one of our projects, you will need to complete a standard application for the PhD in Medical Science (CRUK CI) . There is a button on the course page (‘Apply Now’) that takes you to the application form.
• On the application form, you should indicate your choice of project and supervisor in the Statement of Interest and Supervisor sections, respectively.
• All applicants applying for the PhD in Medical Science (CRUK CI) are eligible to apply for our funded projects, provided they apply within the CRUK CI studentship application window 1st October 2023 to 13th November 2023.
• All applicants for CRUK CI studentships should tick ‘Yes – I wish to apply for funding’ in the Funding section of their application.

Please note

• Applicants wishing to apply to us for PhD study outside the CRUK CI studentship application window will also need to apply for alternative funding and cannot be considered for CRUK CI studentships.
• From time to time, we will offer a longer application window for advertised CRUK CI studentships. Please check each individual advertisement carefully for closing date details, in addition to checking the information provided in the Postgraduate Funding Search.

Award details

In addition to the award value, your studentship will cover research consumables, training and conference travel.

To support an extension to study approved by the University.

Appropriate research experience.

Eligibility

Application process, 80 related courses found.

Imperial College London Imperial College London

Latest news.

Climate risks from exceeding 1.5° C reduced if warming swiftly reversed

New tool could transform study of cells and help find new drug targets

Weight-loss drug may slow Alzheimer’s decline

• Department of Surgery and Cancer
• Faculty of Medicine
• Departments
• Postgraduate research

PhD studentship opportunities

‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌The Department of Surgery and Cancer have a number of postgraduate research opportunities, which are listed in the table below when they become available. The Institute of Global Health Innovation  also offers a number of studentships each year affiliated to their associated centres. 

If you're looking for funding to undertake a PhD with a supervisor from the Department of Surgery and Cancer, please see the Imperial fees and funding page.

ACED PhD Studentships

ACED has the bold ambition to accelerate and revolutionise research in the early detection of cancers by uniting world leading researchers to bring together the best early detection science across the UK and US.

We are seeking candidates with an outstanding academic record with a minimum upper second class or Master’s degree or equivalent in a discipline relevant to early detection research, including but not limited to: biochemistry/molecular biology, biophysics, computer science, engineering, epidemiology, public health, physics, mathematics, medicine.

Applications for the ACED Non-Clinical PhD Studentships have now closed. Future opportunities will be published here, so please keep checking this page.

ACED PhD Programme

ACED is committed to training the next generation of early detection cancer scientists and leaders of tomorrow within a supportive and flexible training environment. As such, the ACED PhD Programme provides unique support by offering a multi-disciplinary and multi-institutional approach to training by offering a number of funded non-clinical four-year PhD studentships available to be recruited via a central ACED selection process across the UK ACED Centres in Manchester, Cambridge and UCL.

Projects will be published on the CRUK Manchester Centre Research Opportunities webpage and linked below.

Hear from current ACED students who are at various stages of study on the ACED-Funded PhD Students webpage .

Recruitment and Selection Process

Non-clinical four-year PhD studentships are to be recruited via a central ACED selection process. One studentship is available at each of the three UK ACED Centres to commence in the Autumn term following recruitment. Studentships are to be awarded through a competitive application process following agreement between the applicant and approved ACED PhD supervisors to co-create and develop a research project as part of the first year of the studentship. First year students are encouraged to undertake at least two rotations in different research groups either at their host or different ACED Centres to expand their exposure to different scientific disciplines relevant to early detection.

The ACED Skills Exchange and Development Travel Award scheme is available to apply for funding for rotations at other ACED Centres where these costs cannot be covered by the studentship funding.

Mon 25th September – Mon 6th November – Call for applicants

Fri 10th November – Mon 4th December – Shortlisting for interviews

Mon 11th December – Interview invitations sent to shortlisted candidates

w/c 8th January 2024 – Interviews

Before 1st March 2024 – Offer of studentship and GALs issued

Advertised across ACED Centre Members modified to each Centre. Interested supervisors should apply using a single online form capturing:

• Contact details
• Brief outline of research interests relevant to early detection (50 words max) plus relevant URL for further information.
• Research question to form the basis of a research project for the successful candidate.
• Eligibility to act as PhD Supervisor according to Centre specific institutional regulations (formatted to accommodate all Centres)
• Confirmation for contact details to be made available to shortlisted applicants.

Applications for the ACED Non-Clinical PhD Studentships are now open. Please follow this link to find out more about the opportunity . Deadline 6th November 2023.

Adverts of projects will be posted on individual Centre webpages with Centre specific information on prospective projects including:

• Background information
• Details of the studentship
• Supervisor arrangements
• Funding – specifying requirement for eligibility for “home fee” status
• Eligibility – include Centre specific text/links where appropriate
• Details for application

Applicants must state in their application which Centre they are applying to and can only submit one application to the ACED PhD Programme. Candidates will be expected to apply using a single MS Forms application for all three Centres, including the following details:

• Candidate Details
• ACED Centre being applied to
• Work Experience
• Educational Distinctions, Scholarships or Awards
• Research outputs
• Technical skills
• Other relevant skills and information on why applying
• Chosen supervisor from relevant ACED Centre – include links to individual Centre supervisors
• Research question intend to address as part of PhD research project – as posed by chosen supervisor
• Reserve choice of supervisor
• Brief outline of research project to address this question (max 500 words)
• Statement on funding eligibility – include links to requirements for each Centre

Interview/selection panel composed of 5 members, selected to give a broad range of clinical and non-clinical expertise and matched where possible with disease/technology specific experts relevant to the applications being interviewed.

Each interview comprises 35 minutes with candidates asked to give a 5 minute presentation focussing on “What aspect of early detection research you would like to address during your studentship based on the research question from your preferred principal supervisor” considering why they have chosen their preferred supervisor and area of research, how they would approach addressing the research question, what methodologies they would use and why this research is important for cancer early detection.

Questions from the panel

Follow up questions from the presentation, explore in more detail what area of early detection research they want to work on and why. Example questions to expect during the interview will include:

• What made you want to do a PhD? What is your perception of life as a PhD student? What do you aim to get from doing a PhD?
• Why this PhD programme in particular? What are your future research plans immediately after completing your PhD?
• Explain what technical skills you have that make you suitable for a PhD. The first year of this programme involves a training element; what particular skills would you hope to acquire?
• What are the main challenges in detecting cancers earlier? What type of research could overcome these challenges?
• Imagine you had realised you had made an error processing data for your project that was being used by another group as part of a collaboration, what would you do? – or other to assess their approach to collaborative research.

Training and Development

A core goal at ACED Manchester is to enable the next-generation of early detection research scientists to become future leaders.

Research Themes

ACED Manchester's research is prioritised across three key research themes and several disease sites.

Why Manchester?

Your guide to why Manchester is the place to study or work

WORLD CLASS BASIC, TRANSLATIONAL AND CLINICAL RESEARCH

Phd studentships - autumn 2024 , cancer research uk manchester institute, cruk 4 year phd studentships 2024, we are pleased to announce these two exciting postgraduate opportunities within the leukaemia, immunology and transplantation group and  leukaemia  biology group.

Application Deadline:      FRIDAY 17 MAY 2024, 1700hrs (GMT)

Interview:                             MONDAY 17 JUNE 2024, NEW PATERSON BUILDING, MANCHESTER, M20 4BX, UK               

Project Title:  "T Cell Responses in Acute Myeloid Leukaemia"

Group leader:  mark williams.

Recent advances in cancer immunotherapy have yet to benefit patients with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML), despite allogeneic stem cell transplantation demonstrating the curative potential of leukaemia-reactive T cells. Whilst there is evidence that autologous T-cell responses occur in patients with AML, we do not know whether these are common or robust enough to allow therapeutic manipulation. Overall, the immunology of AML remains understudied and poorly understood. Contributing factors include the complexity of bone marrow, where large numbers of developing, circulating and resting T cells complicate identification of those relevant to disease pathogenesis. Additionally, contemporary approaches such as single-cell sequencing are expensive and generally not powered to identify rare populations that may constitute <1% of T cells.  Full project details can also be found here .

Project Title: "Making use of protein degraders as a novel approach to treat blood cancer"

Group Leader: Tim Somervaille

While there has been substantial progress in the treatment of blood cancers, there remains so much more to do. Many of our patients continue to present with incurable disease and so there is a substantial unmet need for better and less toxic therapies. This PhD project, based in Manchester at the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, will run jointly with colleagues at Dark Blue Therapeutics, a biotech company based in Oxford. The goal will be to evaluate the functional consequences and mechanistic basis of a new drug currently in development which blocks a critical protein involved in the transformation of normal stem and progenitor cells into leukaemia cells.  Full project details can also be found here .

We would welcome applications from individuals with a strong academic track record and Masters-level and/or other laboratory research experience in leukaemia, cancer biology or immunology.   Applicants should hold or expected to graduate with a first or minimum upper-second class undergraduate honours degree (or equivalent from a non-UK university) as part of a university degree course.  

Successful applicants will receive a non-taxable annual stipend (living allowance) of £21,000 GBP per annum, bench and tuition fees (home and international) covering the full 4 years.  Registration and graduation will be affiliated to the University of Manchester, UK.  PhD University registration entry 1-30 September 2024, PhD Commencement 1 October 2024.

The Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute is proud to be a diverse, open, and global Institute.  Our priority, and that of the University of Manchester, is to support our current students and welcome new ones from Europe and other continents, we therefore encourage students of all nationalities to apply for the programme.  All applications will be considered equally irrespective of ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender, religion/belief, age and nationality.  To help the CRUK Manchester Institute monitor equality, diversity and inclusion, you will be asked to complete and submit an EDI monitoring form during the application process.  Equal opportunities information will not be shared and will not form any part of the selection process or divulged to members of the selecting, recruiting or interview panels.

Studentships will be based in the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, New Paterson Building, Withington, Manchester, UK

The CRUK Manchester Institute is located over two adjacent sites; the Oglesby Cancer Research Building,  Manchester Cancer Research Centre and our new research facilities in the Paterson Building, Withington, South Manchester next to the The Christie NHS Foundation Trust

  We plan to hold in-person interviews on site; however, we will take into consideration any change in circumstances at the time to ensure the safety of all concerned and in amending the interview format to virtual if deemed appropriate.

Brexit & EU Students

Guidance on the University of Manchester's position on Brexit and how this affects student fee status can be found here .

For further information on your residency and tuition fee status, please visit the following UK CISA page here.

Our funded PhD studentships are inclusive of home/international tuition fees and stipend for the duration of the 4-year programme.  If you are successful and offered a PhD studentship at the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, you are not expected to fund any part of the programme.

Informal enquiries should be addressed to the Postgraduate Tutor at:  [email protected] .

Related Items

Education Home

PhD: About the Programme

Completing Your Application

Application Deadlines and Processes

Related Links

Cancer Research UK Manchester Centre

Manchester Cancer Research Centre

CRUK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence

Download our Annual Report

Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute The University of Manchester Wilmslow Road Manchester M20 4BX

Telephone 0161 306 0871 Email [email protected]

Non-Clinical PhD Studentships

Develop a career in cancer research through our fully-funded non-clinical studentships

Our Non-Clinical PhD Studentships are open to recent graduates or final year undergraduates who have, or expect to achieve, a First or Upper Second-class honours degree in a relevant subject. A related Master’s degree is also an advantage.

Our studentships are highly interdisciplinary and so we welcome applicants whose background isn’t necessarily in an area of science but who have the ambition and motivation to develop a career in cancer-related research.

You’ll have the freedom to explore a wide range of opportunities in basic and discovery research and will gain the necessary skills and expertise to develop your academic career.

Fees and funding

Our Non-Clinical PhD Studentships are usually funded for three years, with funding covering:

• Project running costs
• University tuition fees university tuition fees (at the UK rate, with some scholarships available for high-performing EU/International candidates)
• An annual stipend to help with living costs

Studentships are highly competitive and so we encourage you to contact any supervisors who you are interested in working with before applying for our Non- Clinical PhD Studentships.

Entry criteria and information on the application processes differ depending on the research programme, so we advise checking with the programme provider.

Explore the Non-Clinical PhD Studentships available in Manchester

You can find most of the PhD studentship opportunities available in Manchester through  The University of Manchester’s Doctoral Academy . These include both self-funded and fully-funded opportunities.

Additional opportunities available through our various partner organisations are also listed below:

The Manchester Cancer Research Centre’s  Training and Education Team administers programmes offered through the Cancer Research UK (CRUK) Manchester Centre .

Every year, the CRUK Manchester Centre offers MBChB students, recent graduates, post-registration clinicians and Allied Health Professionals the chance to further develop their academic career. These opportunities may be fully funded through grants from the Cancer Research UK Manchester Centre , Cancer Research UK RadNet Manchester , ACED Manchester , or through the CRUK Clinical Academic Training (CAT) award.

We also administer ad-hoc PhD and training opportunities, such as those associated with CRUK Accelerator Awards.

Please visit  Cancer Research UK Manchester Centre Research Opportunities  to find out more.

The CRUK Manchester Institute (CRUK MI) is a leading cancer research institute within The University of Manchester and one of only four Cancer Research UK core-funded institutes across the country.

The institute has an active postgraduate programme, designed to train the next generation of cancer-related scientists and clinical scientists, and offers students and clinical research fellows the opportunity to study a cancer-related PhD.

Further details about the CRUK MI programme, including details about funding, available projects, and how to apply can be found on the  Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute website .

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Manchester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) is driving health improvements and lasting change for all through creative, inclusive and proactive research that identifies and bridges gaps between new discoveries and individualised care.

Manchester BRC offers a range of clinical and non-clinical PhD studentships to develop the next generation of cancer researchers with the knowledge and skills to undertake high-quality experimental medicine and translational research.

Entry requirements vary for non-clinical and clinical projects and eligibility criteria apply for studentships for non-UK applicants.

For the latest programme information, please visit the Manchester BRC website .

The Wellcome Trust 4-year PhD in Immuno-Matrix in Complex Disease is a basic science programme at the interface of immunology and matrix biology research. This programme will help you gain experience at the interface of matrix biology, immunology and complex disease.

For more information, including how to submit an application and the projects available, visit the Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health website .

The  Medical Research Council (MRC) Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) , available through The University of Manchester, offers studentships for postgraduate researchers undertaking PhDs in biomedical, clinical and health service areas.

MRC DTP projects focus on the themes of Early Detection and Diagnosis, Understanding the Mechanisms of Disease and Therapeutic Interventions.

Studentships are fully funded at the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) rate.

For more information on available projects, visit the Doctoral Academy website .

A Day in the Life of an MCRC Non-Clinical PhD Student

Melanie is a non-clinical PhD student in cancer research. This 'Day in the Life' video gives us a glimpse into what it is like to be a PhD student in Manchester.

Why study in Manchester?

Manchester is the ideal place to start the next phase of your cancer research academic career. Study with us and you’ll learn from world-leading researchers, have access to cutting edge facilities, and pioneer your own research discoveries to help in our fight against cancer.

Basic and discovery PhD research is vital in order to test new ideas and theories about how tumours grow, invade, spread and evolve. That’s why we support non-clinical researchers by providing a range of opportunities at every stage of your PhD and help empower you develop your future academic career.

Read more about why our students choose to study in Manchester

Adesewa Adebisi

Adesewa Adebisi is undertaking a Non-Clinical PhD, funded through the MCRC-CRUK Manchester Centre PhD training scheme. The aim of her PhD is to investigate how radiotherapy affects immune cells and their ability to fight off cancer cells in the body. Read more about her experience of studying a Non-Clinical PhD Studentship.

Danielle Love

Danielle Love is doing a Non-Clinical PhD, funded by Cancer Research UK. The aim of her project is to investigate the biological effects of proton therapy in lung cancer. Find out more about Danielle’s experience.

Dr Ben Abbott

Dr Ben Abbott completing his Non-Clinical PhD in December 2020 and is now an Associate Editor at Springer Nature publishing content across the entire spectrum of clinical and translational medicine. Read Ben’s story.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Manchester?

Nursing and allied health professional academic pathways.

• Our Partners
• Our Patient & Public Involvement
• Colorectal Cancer Theme
• Hepatobiliary Cancer Theme
• Mesothelioma Theme
• Pancreatic Cancer Theme
• Brain Tumours Theme
• Gynaecological Cancer Theme
• TRACC Programme MB-PhD or BDS-PhD
• TRACC Programme CRTF-PhD
• Research Training Environment
• Ryan Devlin
• Tian En Lim
• Mairi Treanor-Taylor
• Lorna Stillie
• Other useful information
• Current PhD students
• Training //

PhD Studentships

Research training for life science graduates.

The Centre offers a number of 4-year PhD studentships, funded by Cancer Research UK, that are designed to give students an opportunity to complete a PhD in one of its wide range of excellent research labs. These provide students with a stipend of £21,000 per year (to cover their living expenses) plus their university matriculation fees and some lab running expenses. Studentships are open to graduates with a very good degree in a life sciences subject, who have an aptitude for experimental work. Studentships typically start in September or October each year with the call for applications opening 7-8 months before.

Applications are invited from outstanding candidates to join a Cancer Research UK funded PhD programme at the Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre, CRUK Scotland Institute and the School of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow. These are funded by the Cancer Research UK Scotland Centre, which brings together cancer scientists and clinicians from across the Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow, delivering outstanding cancer research and improved patient care. The Cancer Research UK PhD programme is integrated into the research activities of the Centre with over 80 principal investigators contributing to this cross-disciplinary programme spanning from fundamental science to translational research. Research projects benefit from state-of-the art facilities for genomics, mass spectrometry, advanced microscopy, single cell technologies, and from advanced computational and informatics capabilities.

Application procedure

Up to 2 studentships are available to start in September or October 2024 for outstanding applicants with a stipend of £21,000 p/a. Successful students will be registered for their degree in either Glasgow or Edinburgh, depending on the project they apply for.

We are looking for students with a very good degree in a Life Sciences subject and an aptitude for experimental work, who are also highly committed to pursuing a PhD and a career in cancer research. You should hold at least an upper second-class degree in a relevant subject and comply with English language requirements. This scheme is open to both UK and international applicants.

All applications will be administered centrally via the University of Edinburgh or University of Glasgow, please apply using the links below:

When submitting your application please upload the completed recruitment form .

Closing date: 20th May 2024

Interviews: w/c 17th june 2024, revealing vulnerabilities of the microtube network and inter-cellular communication in gliomas through mechanistic computational modelling, dr xiao fu, dr dirk sieger, prof steven pollard, targeting the epitranscriptome in brain tumours, dr vicky cowling, prof steven pollard, dr joanna birch, using a zebrafish tumour initiation model, single cell transcriptomics and in vivo live imaging to dissect mechanisms driving the development of tumour promoting neutrophils from the inception of cancer, dr yi feng, dr ava khamseh, dr leo carlin, dr xiao fu, long-term care use among individuals diagnosed with cancer: a scottish population level linked data study, dr elizabeth lemmon, prof peter hall, dr jenni burton, leveraging the microbiome to target ibd and ibd-associated colorectal cancer, dr johan vande voorde, dr kevin myant, prof konstantinos gerasimidis, dr shahida din, prof owen sansom, investigating ubiquitin signalling in the radiotherapy response of glioblastoma, prof vincenzo d'angiolella, dr conchita vens, prof anthony chalmers, unveiling the circadian code – tools for deciphering the spatiotemporal dynamics of colorectal cancer metastasis, dr zoi diamantopoulou, prof crispin miller, prof colin semple, understanding the role of the tumour microenvironment in promoting metastasis following radiotherapy, dr joanna birch, prof david chang, prof vincenzo d'angiolella, dr mathias tesson.

• Edinburgh Cancer Research
• CRUK Scotland Institute
• Scottish Genomes Partnership
• CRUK Centres
• ECMC Network
• Terms and Conditions
• Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2024 Cancer Research UK Scotland Centre. All rights reserved.

Contact our breast care nurses

0808 800 6000

• Breast cancer research
• Information for researchers
• Apply for funding

PhD studentships

We only accept applications from the proposed supervisor. Students who are interested in becoming a Breast Cancer Now PhD student should contact the supervisors directly.

Opening:  Monday 26 February 2024

Closing:  Tuesday 30 April 2024

Outcome:  We'll inform applicants of their application outcomes in December 2024.

Read our full PhD studentship guidelines .

Please note, applications for project grants and PhD studentships are considered in the same funding round and discussed at the same Grants Committee meeting. You may only apply for either 1 project grant or 1 PhD studentship as lead applicant but may apply as co-applicant or collaborator on more than 1 application in either scheme.

1. About our PhD studentships

The scope of the scheme.

We design our PhD studentships to propel new and highly qualified science graduates into a career of breast cancer research. Our Grants Committee (GC) will assess your application based on:

• The research plan
• Clear relevance to breast cancer research
• The perceived outcomes that will lead to a significant advance in understanding of breast cancer and its impact
• The quality of the environment in which the award is to be held
• The support provided by the supervisor and the host institution to help develop the student's career in research 

It is the expectation that the awards will enrich scientific understanding and expertise in breast cancer research. Applicants should have conducted independent research in the field of breast cancer or be an experienced researcher in a related field, and should wish to build on their history and reputation in the breast cancer area, deepening their knowledge and experience.  

PhD grant awards can be for 3 or 4-year studentships and can cover student stipend, student fees, college fees (where applicable), research expenses and essential equipment. Named academic/clinical co-applicants and collaborators are permitted from outside the UK and Ireland.

Applications should be made by the principal investigator whose position and salary will be guaranteed by the host institution. Our PhD grants are available to researchers working in an institution in the UK or Ireland. Co-applicants may be based elsewhere, but the PhD studentship and its principal investigator must be based at an institution in the UK or Ireland in order to be eligible for funding.

Collaborative applications from within UK and Ireland are welcome, although the contracted grant (and associated funding arrangements) will be with the lead applicant's institution. Applicants must have a strong track record in their field.

What areas of research will Breast Cancer Now support?

Applicants should indicate how their proposal meets one or more of Breast Cancer Now’s key strategic objectives as outlined in our strategy :

• Improving treatments, care and services for those affected by secondary breast cancer.
• Improving support for the physical and mental health, and the emotional wellbeing of people affected by breast cancer.
• Developing kinder, smarter treatments for people with breast cancer and improving access to treatments for those affected.
• Improving detection and diagnosis of breast cancer.
• Furthering our understanding of why breast cancer occurs and spreads and using our knowledge to help prevent breast cancer developing.

The funding available

The total amount requested must not exceed £170,000 and will include £2,500 for conference costs.

2. Eligibility

Please note the following:

• Applicants and PhD studentships must be based at a recognised university, research institution or NHS trust in the UK or Ireland
• If researchers require a visa to work in the UK, they may qualify for the accelerated Global Talent visa route. This is open for promising and talented individuals in specific sectors wishing to work in the UK
• We welcome applications from lead investigators who have conducted independent research in the field of breast cancer or are experienced researchers in a related field
• Applicants may be new to breast cancer research, but the proposed team must include people with relevant breast cancer expertise
• Applicants should have a track record of identifying and maximising potential in others (e.g. through managing and mentoring their own staff and early career researchers, as primary supervisor of PhD students
• We are committed to supporting young investigators in breast cancer research and encourage applications from talented early career researchers
• Lead applicants should hold employment or honorary (if a clinical academic) contracts that extend beyond the period of the grant.
• Lead applicants with a fixed-term position may apply, but they must include a letter from the head of department to indicate that their salary will be covered for the duration of the PhD
• Applicants may not apply for more than 1 grant in the same funding round as lead applicant but may apply as co-applicant or collaborator on more than 1 application
• Applicants may have spent time away from research (e.g. a career break, maternity leave, long-term sick leave). Our reviewers will allow for this when the application is considered
• Co-applicants and collaborators may be based at institutions outside the UK/Ireland and/or at pharmaceutical or biotech companies • We will consider applications for research that will take place within the NHS. Should the research become part of a clinical trial, we will fund the research but will not act as a sponsor
• We will consider applications for students undertaking a part-time PhD to facilitate flexible working arrangements
• Group leaders based at the Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre who are already funded by Breast Cancer Now may not apply as lead applicant but may apply as co-applicant or collaborator

The following will not be accepted:

• Applications from commercial entities
• Applications from prospective PhD students themselves
• Applications from clinicians taking time out of programme to undertake a PhD
• Research proposals into conditions other than breast cancer
• Applications for equipment only. We will accept requests for small pieces of equipment as part of your proposal, but you must include a clear justification for this request
• Applications which request funding for consumables or running costs only
• Applications from an individual who is not employed by an eligible institution
• Applications for methods or service development
• Projects part-funded with other funders

3. Accelerated UK work visa

If researchers require a visa to work in the UK, they may qualify for the accelerated g lobal talent visa route . This is open to promising and talented individuals in specific sectors wishing to work in the UK.

4. How to apply

Applications should be made using our online Grant Tracker system . You must complete all sections of the application form. The lead applicant, co-applicants, head of department and institution’s research grants (or finance) office must complete the declarations at the end of the application form in order to submit the application. Co-applicants must confirm their involvement and provide a full CV online. Each collaborator must confirm their involvement in the PhD online and provide a letter detailing their role in the PhD.

If you have any queries about filling in this application form, please contact the research team at  [email protected] .

Please read our full PhD studentship guidelines   before applying.

5. Application review process

Our Grants Committee will assess your application based on importance and relevance of the research question, originality, methodology, preliminary data, justification for animal use and severity of procedures, applicant track record and the suitability of the project and research environment for a PhD student.

We use a preliminary screening step in our review process. The Grants Committee members carry out an initial review of all the applications and identify those they think will not be competitive. These applications will not be sent out for external peer review and will not be considered for funding.

If we are not going to take your application any further, we will let you know within 12 weeks of the application deadline, and we will send you feedback from the Grants Committee.

Please see  Our Funding Processes   section for more information.

6. Useful links and documents

Please visit our research projects section for recent projects awarded.

View research grants success rates .  

A list of our grants committee members. 

7. Contact us

If you are unsure about the eligibility and remit of your PhD, please contact the research team at [email protected] before you submit your application. Once the deadline has passed there will be no opportunity to consider individual circumstances and applications not meeting the requirements will be rejected without peer review.

8. Have a question?

Try our  frequently asked questions .

Stay in touch

Sign up to receive our bi-monthly newsletter that includes research news, funding opportunities and the latest research findings.

Connect with us

We have 11 Cancer Biology (fully funded) PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships for UK Students

Biological Sciences

All locations

Institution

All Institutions

All PhD Types

I am a UK student

Cancer Biology (fully funded) PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships for UK Students

Fully funded phd studentship in mechanisms of cancer heterogeneity and drug sensitivity, phd research project.

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

This project has funding attached, subject to eligibility criteria. Applications for the project are welcome from all suitably qualified candidates, but its funding may be restricted to a limited set of nationalities. You should check the project and department details for more information.

15 fully funded PhD positions in molecular technologies and systems medicine

Funded phd programme (students worldwide).

Some or all of the PhD opportunities in this programme have funding attached. Applications for this programme are welcome from suitably qualified candidates worldwide. Funding may only be available to a limited set of nationalities and you should read the full programme details for further information.

Austria PhD Programme

An Austrian PhD usually takes 3-4 years. Most students complete their projects within broader PhD programmes incorporating a curriculum of courses and training worth a certain number of ECTS credits as well as research towards an original thesis. This will be presented for a public examination by two academic experts. Most programmes are delivered in German, but some universities offer English-language teaching.

PhD Student Positions at International Max Planck Research School for Molecules of Life, Munich

Germany phd programme.

A German PhD usually takes 3-4 years. Traditional programmes focus on independent research, but more structured PhDs involve additional training units (worth 180-240 ECTS credits) as well as placement opportunities. Both options require you to produce a thesis and present it for examination. Many programmes are delivered in English.

Max Planck Research Programme

Max Planck Research Programmes are structured PhD opportunities set up by the Max Planck Society, an independent non-profit German research organisation. Max Planck Institutes and universities collaborate to offer interdisciplinary and international PhD opportunities providing high standards of training and support as well as generous funding.

Cancer-coagulation crosstalk: an investigation into dysregulated coagulation pathways in multiple myeloma.

Development of novel miniaturized device technologies for point-of-need diagnostics, funded phd project (european/uk students only).

This project has funding attached for UK and EU students, though the amount may depend on your nationality. Non-EU students may still be able to apply for the project provided they can find separate funding. You should check the project and department details for more information.

Sustainable Approaches to Biomedical Science: Responsible and Reproducible Research (Centre for Doctoral Training)

Funded phd programme (uk students only).

Some or all of the PhD opportunities in this programme have funding attached. It is only available to UK citizens or those who have been resident in the UK for a period of 3 years or more. Some projects, which are funded by charities or by the universities themselves may have more stringent restrictions.

4 Year PhD Programme

4 Year PhD Programmes are extended PhD opportunities that involve more training and preparation. You will usually complete taught courses in your first year (sometimes equivalent to a Masters in your subject) before choosing and proposing your research project. You will then research and submit your thesis in the normal way.

Fully-funded PhD Positions in the Life Sciences/Molecular Biosciences

International phd programme.

International PhD programs are often designed for international students. Your PhD will usually be delivered in English, though some opportunities to gain and use additional language skills might also be available. Students may propose their own PhD topics or apply for advertised projects.

Investigating the Phase separation underlying the transcriptional regulation and 3D chromatin organisation in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) pathogenesis.

Funded phd project (uk students only).

This research project has funding attached. It is only available to UK citizens or those who have been resident in the UK for a period of 3 years or more. Some projects, which are funded by charities or by the universities themselves may have more stringent restrictions.

Combination of cellular and metabolic therapy for meningioma treatment

Evaluating the role of immune microenvironment on cancer progression using spatial and imaging approaches, competition funded phd project (students worldwide).

This project is in competition for funding with other projects. Usually the project which receives the best applicant will be successful. Unsuccessful projects may still go ahead as self-funded opportunities. Applications for the project are welcome from all suitably qualified candidates, but potential funding may be restricted to a limited set of nationalities. You should check the project and department details for more information.

FindAPhD. Copyright 2005-2024 All rights reserved.

Unknown    ( change )

Have you got time to answer some quick questions about PhD study?

Select your nearest city

You haven’t completed your profile yet. To get the most out of FindAPhD, finish your profile and receive these benefits:

• Monthly chance to win one of ten £10 Amazon vouchers ; winners will be notified every month.*
• The latest PhD projects delivered straight to your inbox
• Access to our £6,000 scholarship competition
• Weekly newsletter with funding opportunities, research proposal tips and much more
• Early access to our physical and virtual postgraduate study fairs

Or begin browsing FindAPhD.com

or begin browsing FindAPhD.com

*Offer only available for the duration of your active subscription, and subject to change. You MUST claim your prize within 72 hours, if not we will redraw.

Do you want hassle-free information and advice?

Create your FindAPhD account and sign up to our newsletter:

• Find out about funding opportunities and application tips
• Receive weekly advice, student stories and the latest PhD news
• Hear about our upcoming study fairs
• Save your favourite projects, track enquiries and get personalised subject updates

Create your account

Looking to list your PhD opportunities? Log in here .

Filtering Results

Together we are beating cancer

• Cancer types
• Breast cancer
• Bowel cancer
• Lung cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Cancers in general
• Clinical trials
• Causes of cancer
• Coping with cancer
• Managing symptoms and side effects
• Mental health and cancer
• Money and travel
• Death and dying
• Cancer Chat forum
• Health Professionals
• Cancer Statistics
• Cancer Screening
• Learning and Support
• NICE suspected cancer referral guidelines
• Make a donation
• By cancer type
• Leave a legacy gift
• Donate in Memory
• Find an event
• Race for Life
• Charity runs
• Charity walks
• Search events
• Relay for Life
• Volunteer in our shops
• Help at an event
• Help us raise money
• Campaign for us
• Do your own fundraising
• Fundraising ideas
• Get a fundraising pack
• Return fundraising money
• Fundraise by cancer type
• Set up a Cancer Research UK Giving Page
• Find a shop or superstore
• Become a partner
• Cancer Research UK for Children & Young People
• Our Play Your Part campaign
• Brain tumours
• Skin cancer
• All cancer types
• By cancer topic
• New treatments
• Cancer biology
• Cancer drugs
• All cancer subjects
• All locations
• By Researcher
• Professor Duncan Baird
• Professor Fran Balkwill
• Professor Andrew Biankin
• See all researchers
• Our achievements timeline
• Our research strategy
• Involving animals in research
• Research opportunities
• For discovery researchers
• For clinical researchers
• For population researchers
• In drug discovery & development
• In early detection & diagnosis
• For students & postdocs
• Our funding schemes
• Career Development Fellowship
• Discovery Programme Awards
• Clinical Trial Award
• Biology to Prevention Award
• View all schemes and deadlines
• Applying for funding
• Start your application online
• How to make a successful applicant
• Funding committees
• Successful applicant case studies
• How we deliver research
• Our research infrastructure
• Events and conferences
• Our research partnerships
• Facts & figures about our funding
• Develop your research career
• Recently funded awards
• Manage your research grant
• Notify us of new publications
• Find a shop
• Volunteer in a shop
• Donate goods to a shop
• Our superstores
• Shop online
• Wedding favours
• Cancer Care
• Flower Shop
• Our eBay store
• Shoes and boots
• Bags and purses
• We beat cancer
• We fundraise
• We develop policy
• Our global role
• Our organisation
• Our strategy
• Our Trustees
• CEO and Executive Board
• How we spend your money
• Early careers
• Your development

Cancer News

• For Researchers
• For Supporters
• Press office
• Publications
• Update your contact preferences
• About cancer
• Get involved
• Our research
• Funding for researchers

The latest news, analysis and opinion from Cancer Research UK

• Science & Technology
• Health & Medicine
• Personal Stories
• Policy & Insight
• Charity News
• Policy & Insight

The UK immigration system is holding us back in the fight to beat cancer

25 July 2024

The UK immigration system is making it much harder for Cancer Research UK’s four institutes to compete for international talent . W ith their annual visa costs projected to rise by 44% this year , we’re calling on the new UK Government to reverse the increases and focus on attracting the  world-leading scientists we need to deliver life- saving , economy- boosting research .  

Through 2023 and early 2024, the last UK Government implemented changes to the immigration system to make it harder to come to the UK. Early data from the Home Office suggests that these changes are already having an impact, with fewer visas being issued in early 2024.  

This has big implications for UK science. Analysis by the Royal Society has revealed that UK visas are now considerably more expensive than visas for other top research nations, like the US, Germany and Japan. The Global Talent visa, which is designed to help exceptional researchers come to the UK, now costs 1,583% more than the average for dedicated researcher visas in leading science destinations.  

The new Government has set itself missions to improve the UK’s health and kickstart sustainable economic growth – and it has acknowledged that life sciences are key to both . Helpfully, the UK is already renowned for spearheading world-leading life science research, but, to achieve its goals, the Government needs to ensure we can continue to attract world-leading researchers. That means addressing the growing issues around immigration.  

To better understand those, we’ve collected evidence from the four Cancer Research UK institutes on their experience with international recruitment. The findings are stark :  

• Our modelling suggests that immigration costs will increase by 44% to £700,000 annually. In terms of total cost, that’s the equivalent of training 17 new Cancer Research UK PhD students every year.  
• The challenges of navigating the immigration system mean fewer talented researchers from across the world are applying to work at our institutes.  

To stop these developments damaging UK research, we’re urging the new Government to reverse the recent visa fee increases and initiate a full-scale review of the impact of the immigration system on the country’s ability to recruit international researchers. This review should look at the visa systems of all countries and examine further options to cut fees and attract scientific talent.

You can read our recommendations in full in our report . This article will introduce them and put them in context.

Inflation-busting increases to visa fees are putting off some of the world’s most talented scientists from coming to the UK. We need to compete for the world’s best scientists to deliver more world-class research, which will boost the economy, reduce pressure on the NHS and deliver better treatment for patients.

Why do we need international researchers to beat cancer?

As we set out in Longer, better lives , and our research workforce policy paper , we need to fill important roles across all stages of the career pipeline, including PhD students, managers, technicians and field leaders. To do that, we need to increase our capacity to train UK researchers and attract more talent from other countries.  

But it’s not just about filling workforce gaps. Step into any lab and you’ll find researchers from across the world. Why? Because they’re taking on a challenge bigger than any single country. Cancer is global, diverse and fast-moving. Isolated research groups can’t do as much about it as connected ones .  

There is g ood evidence that moving around the world is beneficial for researchers, their research and the places they work. When they come to the UK, international researchers bring knowledge and skills honed in different places, which they can even use to help train their UK colleagues. They also create connections between their old and new labs, giving us opportunities to set up cross-border collaborations. All of this helps our institutes answer the toughest questions around cancer, leading to discoveries that support longer, better lives across the country and around the world.  

So, what does this mean for our research ?  

Our institutes are world-leading places to conduct cancer research, and they’re affiliated with some of the top u niversities in the UK . They ’re respected internationally and value international talent , so a high proportion of their research staff come from other countries .  But all four of them reported that visa costs are making it harder to recruit the global talent they rely on . Because the barriers to working in the UK are so high , they’ re all seeing a drop off in high quality applications from across the world.  

Changes made by the previous Government have increased the costs of:  

• a 5-year Skilled Worker visa by 22% to £11,933  
• a 5-year Global Talent visa by 58% to £5,891  
• the Immigration Health Surcharge by 66% to £1,035 per year (this must be paid for all years upfront)  

In the financial year before the increases (2022/23), immigration costs were already nearly £480,000 across our four institutes. Modelling shows that obtaining the same visas this year would cost £210,000 more – a 44% increase to nearly £700,000. For us, that’s the equivalent of funding 17 PhD students every year. It’s not the same pot of money, so it’s only an illustrative comparison, but that training sets people up for entire careers contributing to life-saving cancer research.

These costs are covered by institute core funding, lab group research grants, the host universities and individual researchers. Visa cost increases are therefore reducing the money going towards cancer research projects and institute core functions that support it. The effect is clearest on the Francis Crick Institute, which is now projected to spend half a million pounds on visas every year. 

The impact on researchers and other international staff is also significant. Typically, they need to pay their visa fees upfront to move to the UK. They’re then partially or fully reimbursed once they start work. We heard from one prostate cancer researcher at the CRUK Manchester Institute who had to borrow over £2,100 from their family to meet upfront costs.  

Scientists are having to fork out thousands of pounds upfront to have their visa applications considered, while the research institutes that want them here are having to move vital funds away from labs to support scientists to meet these increased costs. When lab budgets have been impacted by high inflation, the last thing we need is more costs heaped on top.

Meanwhile, other leading science nations can offer international talent similarly fantastic opportunities for much less money. To take one example, the CRUK Cambridge Institute is struggling to compete for specialists with computational cancer centres in Germany, where a researcher visa costs only £172, less than 3% of the UK price.  

This situation is unsustainable for UK science. As the new Minister for Science, Patrick Vallance , recently highlighted, costs need to come down for the UK to attract the talent we need. Making it cheaper for researchers to come to the UK would also ensure more of the money raised by our supporters goes towards beating cancer.  

Challenges in navigating the visa system

The Government increased the minimum salary threshold for the Skilled Worker visa in April this year. This is the main route used by our institutes , and until then they were using it to hire international talent for important roles like technicians, whos e salaries are now below the threshold . These people may not be able to apply to work in the UK through other routes, so UK labs could now struggle to find all the staff they need to function optimally .  

Importantly, d ifferent UK research organisations also have different levels of understanding of   t he UK’s   immigration route for outstanding individuals in research and other fields, the Global Talent visa . Th e evidence from our institutes suggests this is due to an absence of clear informatio n about how the Global Talent visa works and confusion caused by the language used to explain it . That’s despite the fact the route was expressly designed to attract specialists who can work in vital sectors like research . T o make the most of t he Global Talent visa , the Government needs to do more to help research organisations use it.    

What cancer research needs from the UK Government  

We’re publishing this data today to demonstrate that the UK Government needs to act as soon as possible to make sure the immigration system doesn’t thwart its ambitions for the country’s health and economy. Its stated missions depend on bringing the brightest and best to the UK, but the costs and challenges of coming here are stopping that happening. In fact, we’ve found that the immigration system is directly taking money away from our work to better prevent, diagnose and treat cancer. These impacts are mirrored across the research sector.  

As such, we’re urging the UK Government to:

• reverse the increases to immigration costs (including upfront costs) so that we can compete with other leading research nations  
• assess whether UK research organisations can access visas for all the vital roles they need to recruit, and take action to cover any gaps
• take a comprehensive approach to improving awareness and understanding of the Global Talent visa  

Read our full evidence paper and recommendations.  

This work has built on our existing recommendations for the new UK Government in Longer, better lives: our programme for UK Government and our policy paper: Strengthening the UK research workforce to beat cancer .  

It is absolutely crucial to raise awareness and highlight as much as possible the urgency in addressing the immigration situation for cancer researchers in the UK. I, myself, have been experiencing many financial difficulties caused by the high costs related to visa applications in the UK. The Immigration Health Insurance, in particular, is outrageously expensive and I believe we are also deducted from our salaries to cover NHS costs (to pay for National Insurance), so in fact we might be paying twice for NHS costs. This is appalling. In summary, I am very happy to see CRUK getting involved alongside the Royal Society, this makes me a tad more hopeful for the future in this country as a International cancer researcher myself.

Tell us what you think

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Read our comment policy .

Highlighted content

Cancer waiting times: who are the long waiters , hpv self-sampling could help screen one million more women for cervical cancer, breast cancer and smoking: what is the link, 70 years of progress in cervical cancer research, cancers caused by smoking reach all time high, thousands of nhs patients to access trials of personalised cancer 'vaccines', an animal's guide to staying safe in the sun, related topics.

• Research policy
• CRUK Manchester Institute
• CRUK Cambridge Institute
• CRUK Scotland Institute
• Francis Crick Institute
• Cancer Research UK service

UCL Faculty of Medical Sciences

• Student experience
• Our divisions
• Innovation and enterprise
• Staff Intranet

UCL scientists deliver laboratory work experience week

31 July 2024

PhD students at UCL have delivered seminars and taught key research techniques to aspiring young scientists as part of a project funded by the Cancer Research UK City of London Centre.

UCL scientists have volunteered their skills for a project to support A-level students selected from London schools with historically low rates of university admissions.

The Science Training for Aspiring Research Scientists (STARS) programme, which ran from 15-19 July, sees teenagers gain hands-on experience in a working laboratory and gives them the opportunity to meet researchers and find out about their career paths.  

Thirteen PhD students at UCL volunteered to deliver the programme, teaching participants how to carry out techniques being used in real-life cancer research projects. The volunteers were supported by supervising post docs and principal investigators.

Gonzalo Mercado , a PhD student in immuno-oncology at the UCL Cancer Institute, said:

“Participating as a volunteer in the STARS programme has been very rewarding, providing me with a unique perspective on the importance of education and mentorship in science. It's inspiring to see these young minds engage with cutting-edge techniques, potentially sparking their interest in a future scientific career.”

The volunteers are members of the Cancer Research UK City of London Centre, which exists to support ground-breaking research into new cancer therapies, and foster collaboration among scientists at UCL, Queen Mary, KCL and the Francis Crick Institute.

The STARS programme was developed at the Barts Cancer Institute at Queen Mary, University of London in 2013. This year is the first time that STARS has come to UCL, thanks to £20,000 funding from the City of London Centre to expand the programme.

Veronica Dominguez , Cancer Research UK City of London Centre Coordinator, said:

“STARS has an extraordinary impact on the future of its participants, many of whom go on to study science and medicine at Russell Group universities. The City of London Centre is proud to fund the programme, and so grateful to all the volunteers who made it possible by giving their time, expertise and enthusiasm.”

Among the supervisors was  Dr Simone Zaccaria , Group Leader of the UCL Computational Cancer Genomics Research Group, who taught a session on bioinformatics.  Dr Ivana Bjedov , a Principal Research Fellow in the Research Department of Oncology, presented a masterclass on researching with flies as a model organism.  Dr Priyanka Tibarewal , a senior postdoctoral research fellow in Bart Vanhaesebroeck’s lab, played an instrumental role in designing many of the program activities.  Dr Lucia Cottone  and  Professor Richard Jenner  led the UCL STARS programme.

Gina Stavrou , a PhD student in oncology at the UCL Cancer Institute, said:

“It was such a highlight to see STARS students evolve during the week, from being brand new to the lab to having complex discussions with the City of London Centre’s Director. I also really enjoyed using examples from my work to help them address their own questions.”

This year, nearly 50 A-level students took part, ten of whom were hosted by UCL. Previous participants have highlighted how valuable it is to undertake practical laboratory work, giving them a deeper understanding of research as a career.   For the volunteers, STARS is a chance to improve their teaching and science communication skills, and to see their work from a new perspective. 

Further information

Cancer Research UK City of London news: Aspiring young scientists get stuck in at cancer research laboratories

Related News

Student News

News, information, and events for your student life.

PhDiaries: Lessons from my first year: What I wished I had prioritised

Throughout my time doing a PhD, I have figured out there is a lot of learning through failure and mistakes…like a lot of things! I wanted to put together a few things I thought would have been helpful to have known as a first year PhD researcher. I really believe that had I known some of these, I might have been more active in my decision making and saved energy too!

Hopefully some of these will be helpful for you to think about whatever stage of research you are at in your project.

Conferences

I would highly recommend saving conferences until second year and after, unless there is one you feel is particularly relevant and you want to submit work to. Doctoral seminars are often part of conferences where you have the opportunity to share your work with fellow PhD researchers and can be very helpful. But if you feel this too much for you, never think you have to jump into these opportunities straight away. They are great, but more of a priority for second and third year from my experience. Attending other events for networking purposes can be a helpful alternative in the first year to connect with others.  

A gap in knowledge

Focus on getting your research problem defined. Although you may have this pretty much set during the PhD application process, the earlier you can evidence this through literature, the sooner you can get working on the gaps you have identified to research based on the problem. There can be a struggle finding ‘gap’ and maintaining this.

With research being a continuous and every changing process and new ideas emerging that are not always in our control, having the research problem as the anchor keeps the root of the gaps clear to be able to change direction if needed. If the problem were to change or be somewhat ‘resolved’ during your research, the gaps can then be used as different visions and angles for exploration.

Keeping in contact

As early as you can, gather a list of useful contacts internally within university teams. This could include finance for your consumables budget, PhD admission enquiries and disability related teams. Having this information somewhere quick and easy to access that works for you will be very helpful for those busier times in your PhD journey when taking a while to find the right person to speak to may add overwhelm.

This is something I started to learn after the first 6 months once I was fortunate to get to know more people in our department. Booking in time with friends to do something you enjoy regularly can be super helpful making sure you still enjoy fun times and provides good memories during the ups and downs of PhD life.

Similarly, now is the ideal time to take up a hobby you have always wanted to or have put to one side. I fell out of love with music a while ago, despite it being the best thing for my mental health as a teenager. I found that I started to focus and make time for it bit by bit during my PhD. I didn’t force myself to do lots, but just enough to train my brain into having a proper break doing something else that I love. Equally, I have been fortunate enough to find some fiction books to get hooked onto, which has been a real gem of a hobby given how much I know from myself and others, reading academically can very easily put people off reading for pleasure. This has allowed me to enjoy books while keeping my brain motivated and stimulated to practice reading in a different way to the constant critical reading we do as academics.

Challenge your supervisors

The more I learnt to do this, the more I felt each part of my PhD continued to settle into place, and I understood my work more and more, even if things changed. At first, it feels like challenging superiors, and to an extent, you are. But you are also challenging academic peers, your equals. This is not being rude, your voice is important in your work as that is a key part of your PhD. This does not mean ignoring their ideas and not listening to what they have to say. You might just be questioning the perspective they put onto your work. Questioning their thoughts and suggestions will not only help you to think about your work in a deeper sense but it will really help with solidifying your knowledge and understanding of the decision making in the PhD project. It is also really good practice for defense in your viva and transfer reports.

Looking back, there are plenty of things that I wish I had done differently in my PhD journey – like anything – but these are the few that really come to mind. Your PhD journey is yours and you will come across situations that you may not handle exactly how you would want to, but you can reflect on these times and use this to your advantage for the remainder of your PhD.

Share this: