How to apply

The programme has an intake of six or seven fully-funded studentships per year.

• Three studentships are available for UK-based students,
• Two studentships are available for UK based students or students from any other country;
• Two studentships are available specifically for applicants from the programme’s partner countries: Kenya, Malawi and Uganda. 

To be considered for a position linked to a partner country, applicants must be a citizen of Kenya, Malawi or Uganda, and must have been normally resident in one of the partner countries for the majority of the preceding three years. Applicants who apply to the two positions linked to partner countries will also be considered for the other five positions.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

All candidates MUST complete and upload a 2024 Recruitment Information Form. This is the only form that will be used to shortlist candidates, therefore if not uploaded, candidates cannot be put forward for shortlisting. For more information, please refer to our 2023-24 Application Checklist .

Please also view our 2023/24 Recruitment Guidance video which takes you through the recruitment process, answers any questions that might come up and gives candidates further information about what we are looking for. 

The reason for this is to reduce the impact of unconscious bias in recruitment. We therefore ask that when completing this, please only provide the information requested. Information not relevant at this stage includes:

• name,
• gender,
• ethnicity and/or nationality,
• names of Institutions where you trained.

You will be asked to provide this information when you upload your application. 

In order to ensure that Recruitment Form can be matched with your application, please ensure that you add your application number (generated when you start an online application) to the recruitment form. 

PLEASE NOTE THAT ONLY INFORMATION INCLUDED IN THIS FORM WILL BE USED TO SHORTLIST CANDIDATES FOR INTERVIEW. This form should be completed and uploaded with other supporting documents (can be uploaded to 'Cover Letter' section).  

All positions are fully funded which includes tuition fees, stipend and laboratory expenses. This is the case for all students recruited (home, international and match-funded). 

Annual stipend (2023/24 rates as set by Wellcome Trust): 

Qualifications criteria

Applicants must:

• have obtained, or be about to obtain, a degree in a relevant subject.
• Students must be able to demonstrate a capability to undertake and benefit from research training through to completion. This normally requires an upper second class honours, or a combination of qualifications and/or experience equivalent to that level. However, we will use our discretion in deciding whether candidates are suitable for research training. 

Please Note: Clinically qualified applicants (i.e. medics, dentists, vets and other health professionals) who are seeking to balance academic and clinical careers WILL NOT be considered for this programme. To view alternative opportunities, please follow this link: https://wellcome.ac.uk/funding/schemes/clinical-phd-programmes

When applications are open, we ask that you complete online application via the application portal and upload all requested supporting documentation. 

IMPORTANT ACTION REQUIRED

We require that all candidates complete and submit a 2024 Recruitment Information Form. This form will be used by the recruitment panel to shortlist applicants. We strongly recommend that you also review our 2023-24 Application Checklist .

Please also view our 2023/24 Recruitment Guidance video which takes you through the recruitment process, answers any questions that might come up and gives candidates further information about what we are looking for. 

PLEASE NOTE THAT ONLY INFORMATION INCLUDED IN THIS FORM WILL BE USED TO SHORTLIST CANDIDATES FOR INTERVIEW. This form should be completed and uploaded with other supporting documents (can be uploaded to 'Cover Letter' section).  

Additionally, please ensure the following supporting documents are uploaded at the point of application.

• CV/Resume,
• Degree certificate (if you have graduated prior to 1 July 2023),
• Academic transcript,
• Passport (a scan of the photo page),
• Details of referee 1 (should be from an academic who has a knowledge of your academic ability from your most recent study/programme),
• Details of referee 2 (should be from an academic who has a knowledge of your academic ability),
  Names of your academic referees should be indicated on the application form. You must ensure that your referees submit their references to the application portal or to pgadmissions@glasgow.ac.uk. Your referees should state your name and the Wellcome Trust 4-year PhD programme on the reference letter as well as:
  • how they know you,
  • how long they have known you, 
  • what characteristics do you have that they think would make you a good PhD student, and
  • are you in top 5/10% of programme.

References should be signed and on headed paper. References must be received by 8 January 2024.  

English language proficiency
All non-UK candidates whose first language is not English must provide a certificate of proficiency in the English Language before they are able to matriculate at the University of Glasgow: https://www.gla.ac.uk/international/englishlanguage/requirements/ (details in the section: College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences). Note: it is only necessary to provide evidence of English language proficiency if you are offered a place on the Programme, in order to meet University of Glasgow matriculation requirements. Evidence of English language proficiency is not required at the point of application.

Please note the University application system requests that you upload a Cover letter. This is not required and will not be assessed therefore you can upload your Recruitment Information Form to this section. 

Once you have all your supporting documentation outlined above, and meet the eligibility criteria, you can apply through our Online Application System.

PLEASE COMPLETE AND UPLOAD RECRUITMENT INFORMATION FORM (DOWNLOADABLE IN ELIGIBILITY). SHORTLISTING WILL BE BASED ON THIS INFORMATION ONLY.

Please also review our 2023-24 Application Checklist .

Please also view our 2023/24 Recruitment Guidance video which takes you through the recruitment process, answers any questions that might come up and gives candidates further information about what we are looking for. 

Note: you are not required to upload a research proposal for this programme, despite the online application requesting you to upload a copy as a supporting document. Within the section that requests supervisor and project information, please leave blank.