PhD applications are now closed.
Eligibility
- What are the student eligibility criteria?
- Can applicants apply from disciplines other than biomedical science?
- How many studentships are available?
- Can I apply in more than one year?
- Do I have to live near my host university?
- What is the likelihood of getting an offer?
How to apply
- How do I submit an application?
- When is the closing date for applications?
- Do I need to apply to the University as well as complete the GW4 application form?
- Can I submit more than one application in this round?
- Do I need to send a CV, references or transcripts?
- I haven’t completed my MSc yet, what do I put on the form?
International Applicants
- Are International students eligible to apply?
- Are EU applicants considered as home or international candidates?
- Do international students have to pay additional fees?
- Do international students have to pay any other additional costs?
- Will I get support in applying for a visa to study?
Accessibility
- What support do you offer students with disabilities?
- What support do you offer students who are part of the LGBTQ+ and/or Global Majority Background communities?
- Can I do a PhD part-time?
Leave
- Can I take family leave?
- What medical leave is available?
- What additional leave is available?
- What annual leave is available?
Selection process
- How will students be selected?
- How should my references be formatted?
- Who will students be registered with?
Funding
- What funding is available during the studentship?
- What funding is available for project costs?
- When students undertake research at different GW4 institutions, how will their research be funded?
Training
Further Questions
Eligibility
What are the eligibility criteria?
See our full eligibility criteria.
This includes guidance for international students containing:
- Information for EU students
- The international student recruitment cap
- Additional costs not covered by us
- English language requirements
Can applicants apply from disciplines other than biomedical science?
Yes, we welcome applicants from non-medical backgrounds, particularly:
- computing
- maths
- physical sciences
How many studentships are available?
Up to 18 studentships are available.
Can I apply in more than one year?
Yes, you can apply for a studentship once in each annual call.
Do I have to live near my host university?
Yes. You must be within reasonable commuting distance of your university. Remote learning cannot be accommodated.
What is the likelihood of gaining a studentship?
Our scheme is highly competitive, and success rates vary each year.
2025 success rates
In 2025 we received 2,421 applications for 18 studentships. Success rates were:
- International students: 0.28%
- Home students: 2.16%
2026 success rates
In 2026 we received 3,446 applications for 19 studentships. Success rates were:
- International students: 0.22%
- Home students: 1.93%
Why the difference?
Most applications come from international students. We can only recruit 30% international students, which is usually a maximum of 5 spaces per year. This means that competition is generally higher.
How to apply
How do I submit an application?
Applications must be submitted using our online form.
When is the closing date for applications?
Applications close on [date].
We reserve the right to close applications to home and/or international candidates before the deadline if applications surpass expected numbers. Please check our website for updates.
Applications will not be accepted after the closing date.
Can I submit more than one online application in this round?
No. Only one online application per candidate is allowed per call.
Only your first application will be considered by our shortlisting panels. Any additional submissions will be rejected.
Do I need to send in any additional documents?
No, further documents are not needed at application, and they will not be considered by the shortlisting panel.
If you are invited to interview, we will contact you to request additional documents.
I haven’t completed my MSc yet, what do I put on the form?
You can enter a predicted grade if available but offers may be conditional upon this. Alternatively, put ‘pending’ for your result.
Do I need to apply to the University as well as GW4 BioMed?
Not at this stage. You will need to apply from an ‘offer of study’ if you are offered a studentship. Further information will be provided if you at this time.
International applicants
Are international students eligible to apply?
Yes, international students can apply.
Are EU applicants considered as home or international candidates?
Following Brexit, the UKRI now classifies EU students as international unless they have rights under the EU Settlement Scheme.
Do international students have to pay additional tuition fees?
No. Our GW4 partners cover the difference between home and international tuition fees. International tuition fees will be fully funded.
Do international students have to pay any other additional costs?
Yes, but the amounts will vary depending on your circumstances. Our studentships do not cover:
- visa fees
- health surcharges
- moving costs
Will I get help with the visa application process?
Yes. If successful, your home university will guide you through the UK student visa application process.
Accessibility
What support do you offer students with disabilities?
Read our full guidance here.
- Institutional support: All four institutes offer student support services to:
- assist you
- help you apply for a disability support allowance (DSA)
- Implement any necessary adjustments
- GW4 BioMed support: Our Research Culture and Wellbeing Lead can guide you to support
- Interview support: Please inform us in advance if you have specific needs related to the interview process
If you accept a studentship, contact your host university promptly to organise additional support and reasonable adjustments to ensure your needs are met before beginning your studies.
What support do you offer students who are part of the LGBTQ+ and/or Global Majority Background communities?
All GW4 institutions have support groups, and we are keen to ensure everyone can access the GW4 BioMed, particularly those from marginalised groups.
Can I do a PhD part-time?
Some of our PhDs can be done at a minimum of 50% full-time equivalent (FTE). Check the description of your chosen projects to see if this option may be available to you.
Part-time studentships are usually arranged between 50-80% FTE, taking between 6 and 7 years.
Part-time study is visa-dependant and may not be possible for international applicants.
Leave
Can I take family leave?
Yes, you can read our family leave guidance here.
What medical leave is available?
Read our medical leave guidance here.
What additional leave is available?
Read our additional leave guidance here.
What annual leave is available?
For detailed information, please consult your home institution’s guidance.
Supervisors should allow a minimum of 30 days to a maximum of 8 weeks’ holiday per year, including public holidays (pro rata for part-time students).
Students collaborating with non-academic partners must consider their obligations when planning leave.
Selection process
How will students be selected?
Read a full breakdown of the recruitment process on our “How to apply” page.
All studentships are awarded competitively.
Shortlisting
- Theme-specific panels will score all applications
- a ranked shortlist of approximately 60 applicants will be invited to interview
- 20% of places will be reserved for students from under-represented groups
Pre-interview
- Interviewees will meet informally with their potential lead supervisor
- This can be done in-person or virtually
- It should not take the form of an interview
- We cannot cover costs for in-person meetings
- If selected for interview candidates will need to provide us with:
- academic transcripts
- certificates
- details of two references
- at least one must be an academic reference
Interviews
- Candidates will be interviewed by a theme-based panel with representatives from each GW4 university
- Each interview will last 30 minutes and will include:
- a set of pre-determined questions
- discussion of a data research project you were involved in
- The panel will also consider your:
- supervisor report
- interview feedback
- academic transcripts
- references
- and application form
Offers
- Offers will be given based on interview scoring
- Students whose first-choice project has been allocated to a higher-ranked candidate will be offered their second choice
- If no second-choice project is selected, we cannot offer a studentship.
How should my references be formatted?
References should be sent directly to GW4 BioMed from the referee via their professional email address. While there is no set format for reference letters, they should:
- contain official branding of the referee’s organisation
- describe the context in which they know the candidate
- provide comment on their suitability as a PhD candidate
- at least one must be an academic reference
Who will students be registered with?
Students will register with their lead supervisor’s university.
Students will also be registered as visiting students across the other GW4 universities to access shared resources, training, and facilities.
Funding
What funding is available during the studentship?
Read the full page on what we offer.
The funding elements of the studentship are:
- Full tuition fees: For home and international students
- Your stipend: UKRI national minimum stipend
- Research Training Support Grant: Valued at £2,000-£5,000 per year
- A conference/travel allowance: Of £300 per year
Amounts will be adjusted pro-rata for part-time students. Additional funding can be applied for through flexible funding calls.
What funding is available for project costs?
Funding for projects costs can come from:
- Research Training Support Grant (RTSG)
- A contribution towards basic consumables to support training on a technique
- Not for ongoing project costs
- Can be used to fund training or conference attendance when presenting
- Wet-lab and dry-lab projects receive different amounts of funding
- Flexible Funding
- Students can apply for up to £5,000 during their studentship
- Funding can support specific training or placements
- Allocation is decided by the Flexible Funding Committee
- Calls for funding will be held twice a year
- Your supervisory team
- Ongoing consumables and equipment are expected to be funded by grants held by the supervisory team
When students undertake research at different GW4 institutions, how will their research be funded?
This will be funded through the RTSG, accessible to the lead supervisor through the host institution.
Training
What training will the DTP provide?
Training Needs Analysis
All students must document their training plans and progress in a Training Needs Analysis, which will be shared annually with supervisors and GW4 BioMed.
Online Core Training
Core Training is a compulsory online course completed in the first year. The three modules are:
- Research skills and data handling
- Biomedical lab techniques
- Epidemiology and innovation
Skills Training
We will coordinate specialised training, including:
- orientation days
- an annual congress
- cohort events
- theme training
- thesis bootcamp
- careers day
Does the studentship include a placement?
Yes, all students must complete a mandatory 3-month Broadening Horizons placement, typically in years two or three.
Further questions
If you have any further questions, please contact us at GW4BioMed@Cardiff.ac.uk
