Programmes at the MRC Centre offer the opportunity to learn in a supportive and stimulating environment from leaders in the field. The experts are actively engaged in research and advise leading public health professionals, policymakers, governments, international organisations and pharmaceutical companies. Both national and internationally focussed, their work includes real-time analsis of infectious disease outbreaks and focus on emerging and endemic diseases including pandemic influenza, HIV, TB, malaria, polio and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).
There are multiple opportunities across Imperial College in which the MRC Centre may be allocated successful students according to research areas. You are encouraged to get in touch with potential supervisors within the MRC Centre to discuss your ideas in advance of application. Questions and applications should be via the relevant scheme processes which are not administered by the MRC Centre. Please see individual programme pages for further information and details on how to apply.
Find out from previous students how their student experience was doing their placement at the MRC Centre through the 4-year PhD programme in Epidemiology, Evolution and Control of Infectious Diseases.
4-Year PhD Programme in Epidemiology, Evolution and Control of Infectious Diseases (1+3 MRes and PhD)
Find out more
Applications are now open for the 2025/2026 academic year. This 4-year PhD training programme provides unique inter-disciplinary training in infectious disease epidemiology, mathematical modelling and statistics, genetics and evolution, and computational methods.
This opportunity is open to students eligible for the UK home fee rate only, providing a tax-free stipend to cover living expenses at the UKRI minimum rate, £21,237 (inc. London weighting) for the 2024/25 academic year. Unfortunately, we are not able to consider applications from anyone not eligible for home fees in this round. If you are an international student and would like to apply for a PhD in the department please refer to the international scholarship page and President’s scholarship.
MRC MultiSci DTP
Applications for scholarships for the 2024-25 academic year are now closed. All MultiSci studentship holders need to complete the MRes Biomedical Research programme in the first year of this 4.5 years programme. Three research themes combine to create an integrated programme for MultiSci studentships: The battle against infections; Understanding disease mechanisms in humans; Realising the power of big data to improve health. Please see the FAQs for further information.
President's PhD Scholarships
Applications for this scholarship scheme will be considered at three points throughout the academic year. If you are a high performing undergraduate or Master's student and have a strong desire to undertake a PhD programme at a world-class research institution, you could be selected to receive full tuition fees and a generous stipend for a PhD place at Imperial College London. The President’s PhD Scholarships provides up to 50 research students the opportunity to work within their chosen research field with the support of an excellent supervisor. Both full-time and part-time study on the scholarship is available.
Science and Solutions for a Changing Planet (SSCP) DTP (NERC)
The call for applications for 2024 is now closed. The Science and Solutions for a Changing Planet Doctoral Training Partnership (SSCP DTP) is a unique and prestigious doctoral training opportunity, funded by NERC and based at the Grantham Institute. This innovative programme integrates six Host Partners and a number of other private and public sector partners to train and inspire a new generation of environmental experts and leaders to tackle some of the toughest challenges of our time.
EPSRC Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP)
The 2023 EPSRC Doctoral Prize Fellowship competition is now closed. EPSRC DTP training grants provide investments in doctoral training. This scheme is intended to attract and retain the very best newly qualified PhDs who received EPSRC studentship funding and help them to launch a career in research. Funds are primarily for the provision of salary expenses. Funding to support DTP studentships is allocated via Faculties.
ESRC LISS DTP Studentships
CASE doctoral projects are now closed. Information on how to apply for future projects will be added on the page. Please contact the project supervisor for any queries about the project. LISS DTP’s Collaborative (CASE) Studentships promote partnerships between social scientists at King’s College London, Queen Mary University of London and Imperial College and end-user, non-academic organisations (public or private or third sector ‘partner institutions’). A CASE studentship is a PhD studentship in which the student enhances their training by working closely with the non-academic partner in the development of their research project.
EPSRC Cooperative Awards in Science and Technology (iCASE)
EPSRC iCASE training grants provide funding for doctoral studentships where businesses and related organisations take the lead in arranging projects with an academic partner of their choice. The aim of these awards is to provide doctoral students with a research training experience, within the context of a mutually beneficial research collaboration between academic and partner organisations for example industry and policy making bodies. Funding to support iCASE studentships is allocated via industry partner.
Contact us
For any enquiries related to the MRC Centre please contact:
Scientific Manager
Susannah Fisher
mrc.gida@imperial.ac.uk
External Relationships and Communications Manager
Dr Sabine van Elsland
s.van-elsland@imperial.ac.uk