Non-Clinical PhD Studentships

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

A microscope in the laboratory

Non-Clinical PhD 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.

Two researchers in a lab using a microscope

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:

 

Cancer Research UK Manchester Centre Schemes
Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute PhD Studentships
NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) PhD studentships
Wellcome Trust Immuno-Matrix in Complex Disease
Medical Research Council (MRC) Doctoral Training Partnership

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.

Melanie Seaton Non-clinical PhD student

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

Manchester Cancer Research Centre - Non-Clinical PhD Studentships

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.

Manchester Cancer Research Centre - Non-Clinical PhD Studentships

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.

Manchester Cancer Research Centre - Non-Clinical PhD Studentships

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.

Study

Discover the postgraduate cancer research training opportunities available in Manchester.

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to some of our most frequently asked questions about studying a PhD

Why Manchester?

See why our students choose to study in Manchester

Nursing and Allied Health Professional Academic Pathways

This pathway allows nursing and allied health professionals (AHPs) to develop academic careers alongside their current clinical and managerial responsibilities.