GW4 BioMed MRC Doctoral Training Partnership 2020-21 Recruitment

The Student Application Process

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs for Students

Contents

The GW4 BioMed MRC DTP ...... 3 Who We Are ...... 3 What We Offer ...... 3 Eligibility ...... 4 Residency Requirements ...... 4 Academic Requirements ...... 4 English Language Requirements ...... 5 Funding ...... 5 The Application Process ...... 5 Stage 1: Applying for an Offer of Funding ...... 6 Stage 2: Applying for an Offer of a Place ...... 7 Data Protection ...... 8 Application Process ...... 8 If you become a student on one of the Programmes ...... 9 Accessing your personal data ...... 9 Contacts ...... 10 Appendices ...... 13 Key Dates ...... 12 Selection Criteria ...... 15 Application Form Template ...... 16

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The GW4 BioMed MRC DTP

Who We Are The GW4 BioMed MRC DTP is an exciting and dynamic PhD project, which aims to develop the next generation of medical researchers.

The DTP operates across four research-intensive universities (Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter), providing students within our programme access to the combined research strengths, training expertise and resources of each institution. As such, many DTP projects are co-supervised across two or more of these universities, allowing students to join existing and emerging research partnerships.

What We Offer The GW4 BioMed MRC DTP offer competitive, fully-funded studentships in one of our three research themes: • Infection, Immunity and Repair. • Neuroscience and Mental Health. • Population Health.

All projects within our programme reflect on the collective strengths of the DTP: • Quantitative skills (including mathematical modelling). • Using data for discovery. • Interdisciplinary skills and approaches (including physics, engineering, chemistry and health economics).

Students in the GW4 BioMed MRC DTP have access to a broad range of training opportunities across all four universities in addition to bespoke training specific to students within the programme that spans the three strands of our training programme: • Research skills (e.g. Poster Presentations, Advanced R and Statistics and Small Group Teaching). • Professional and career development skills (e.g. Project Management and Science Entrepreneurship). • Opportunities to broaden horizons (e.g. placements, research visits, public engagement internships and clinical exposure).

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Eligibility GW4 BioMed MRC DTP studentships are available to UK and EU applicants. Please note that international students are not eligible to apply.

Residency Requirements To be eligible for a full award (fees and stipend) from a Research Council, a UK or EU student must have no restrictions on how long they can stay in the UK and have been ordinarily resident in the UK for at least 3 years prior to the start of the studentship.

EU students who have been resident in the UK for at least three years will still be eligible for funding even in the event of a no-deal Brexit (please see Universities UK for more information).

The DTP has additional funding from the partner universities to support a limited number of EU students who do not meet the UK residency requirements, providing they meet the criteria for a fees-only award.

For full details on eligibility, please refer to the Terms and Conditions of Research Council Training Grants.

Academic Requirements In addition to those with traditional biomedical or psychology backgrounds, the DTP welcomes students from non-medical backgrounds, especially in areas of computing, mathematics and the physical sciences. Further training can be provided to assist with discipline conversion for students from non-medical backgrounds.

UK applicants for a studentship must have obtained, or be about to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class UK Honours degree. EU students will need to have gained the equivalent qualifications outside the UK in an area appropriate to the skills requirements of the project.

Applicants with a Lower Second Class degree will be considered if they also have a Master’s degree or have significant relevant non-academic experience.

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English Language Requirements If English is not your first language, you will need to have achieved at least 6.5 in IELTS (and no less than 6.0 (Bath) or 6.5 (Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter) in any section) by the start of the programme.

Please refer to the relevant university for further information:

• English Language Requirements. • English Language Requirements. • English Language Requirements. • English Language Requirements.

Funding A studentship with the GW4 BioMed MRC DTP comes with the following funding:

• Full UK/EU tuition fees. • A stipend in line with UKRI recommendations. • A Research and Training Support Grant (RTSG) of between £2-5k to support your research and training needs. • A £300 annual travel and conference grant.

The Application Process There are two stages to the GW4 BioMed MRC DTP application process and both stages of this process will need to be completed prior to starting your project.

Stage 1: Apply to the GW4 BioMed MRC DTP for an Offer of Funding. Stage 2: Apply at the university where your project’s lead supervisor is based for an Offer to Study.

For the Key Dates for this year’s recruitment round, please see the Appendices.

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Stage 1: Applying for an Offer of Funding

•You will need to read through the project descriptions carefully on our website (https://www.gw4biomed.ac.uk/available-projects-2/) and select up to three projects to Selecting Your apply to, ranking them in your order of preference. Project/s

•You will then need to submit an application via our online form. Please note that the online application does not allow for drafts to be saved. As such, to help you with your application, a copy of the application questions and the selection criteria can be found in Submitting an Application the appendices.

•After the closing date, all applications to the DTP will be anonymised and reviewed by a theme-specific panel, which will represent all four institutions. Following this review Student process, up to 60 candidates will be invited to interview. Shortlisting

•Shortlisted students will need to arrange an informal interview with the lead supervisor of each project they have applied to in order to determine a suitable match between applicant and project. These interviews can be in person, via telephone or by Skype but Informal Meeting will need to take place by 9am on Wednesday 15th January 2020.

•Shortlisted students will then be invited to interview, which will take place in Cardiff towards the end of January. These interviews will be run by a theme-specific panel and will include representatives from across all four institutions. Skype interviews can be arranged for those Formal students unable to attend in person. Interview

•Following the interviews, panel members will meet to select approximately 18 applicants to award with a GW4 BioMed MRC DTP studentship. Projects will be allocated based on the rank order of students. Therefore, if your first choice project has already been taken by a higher- Student ranked applicant, you will be offered your second or third choice project. Selection

•There will be a brief clearing period after all studentships have been offered with the DTP intending to have all applicants in place by mid-March 2020. Clearing

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Stage 2: Applying for an Offer of a Place Once you have been offered a studentship with the GW4 BioMed MRC DTP, you will need to apply for an Offer of a Place at the home institution of your lead supervisor. Please note that each institution has different application processes. Please see below for the steps to take for each university.

•Applicants to projects based at the University of Bath should apply to the DTP in the first instance. If you are successful in obtaining an offer of funding from the DTP you will need to complete the University of Bath PhD online application form. •You should select the Bath application form specific to the PhD project of your choice (e.g. PhD in Biology, PhD in Biochemistry, PhD in Chemistry, PhD in Pharmacy & Bath Pharmacology or PhD in Psychology), stating in the ‘Finance’ section of the application form that you have been awarded a GW4 BioMed MRC studentship and quoting the project title and supervisor’s name in the ‘Your research interests’ section. •More information on how to apply to Bath can be found here: https://www.bath.ac.uk/guides/how-to-apply-for-doctoral-study/

•Applicants to projects based at Bristol University should first apply to the DTP, and once they have an offer of funding from the DTP, they should apply to the relevant Bristol Faculty and Programme at Bristol. Please state in the funding section of the application form that you have been awarded a GW4 BioMed MRC studentship.

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•Applicants for Cardiff University projects should submit an application for postgraduate study via the Cardiff University Online Application Service (sims) at the same time as applying to the DTP. The closing date of 25th November applies only to the application for the offer of funding – if your application to Cardiff follows a few days thereafter this is no cause for concern. •Details of how to apply for admission to Cardiff University is on the dedicated Cardiff University MRC GW4 BioMed DTP web pages. An application via this process (called SIMS) is in addition to our own application form. •You should apply to the eligible research programme at Cardiff University for your chosen Cardiff project, with qualification Doctor of Philosophy and with start date of October 2020. •In the research proposal section of your application, please specify the project title and supervisors of this project and copy the project description in the text box provided. In the funding section, please select “I will be applying for a scholarship / grant” and specify that you are applying for advertised funding from GW4 BioMed MRC DTP. •If you are applying for more than one Cardiff University project please note this in the research proposal section as the form only allows you to enter one title. •If you have any difficulties with this application please email the School Research Admission Tutors. You can find their contact details on the relevant MRC GW4 BioMed DTP website page.

•Students should first apply to the DTP, and then if they are successful in gaining a place, Exeter will then apply to study at Exeter. Information on how to apply will be included in the financial offer letter from the University of Exeter.

Data Protection

If you are applying for a place on a collaborative programme of doctoral training provided by Cardiff University and other universities, research organisations and/or partners, please be aware that your personal data will be used and disclosed for the purposes set out below.

Your personal data will always be processed in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulations of 2018. Cardiff University (“University”) will remain a data controller for the personal data it holds, and other universities, research organisations and/or partners (“HEIs”) may also become data controllers for the relevant personal data they receive as a result of their participation in the collaborative programme of doctoral training (“Programme”).

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Application Process During the application process, the University may need to share some of your personal data with third parties to be able to administer your application, carry out interviews and select candidates. These are not limited to, but may include disclosures to: o the selection panel and/or management board or equivalent of the relevant Programme, which is likely to include staff from one or more other HEIs; o administrative staff at one or more other HEIs participating in the relevant Programme.

Such disclosures will always be kept to the minimum amount of personal data required for the specific purpose. Your sensitive personal data may need to be shared in certain circumstances, but only where strictly necessary. By applying for a place you hereby consent to your data being processed and shared in this way.

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If you become a student on one of the Programmes If your application is successful and you register on a Programme, the University may need to make further disclosures of your personal data throughout your time on the programme to ensure the effective management of your studies and comply with its obligations to funders. These disclosures may include, but are not limited to, disclosures: o within the group of HEIs to the Programme; o to other collaborative parties to the relevant Programme, e.g. industrial sponsors and/or collaborators, supervisors from other HEIs, Research Councils (as funders of the Programme); o to external examiners.

Other disclosures may be made where it is necessary for the administration of your studies.

Accessing your personal data If you wish to have access to any of your personal data as held by the University, please contact [email protected]. There may be a fee of £10 associated with such requests.

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Contacts

If you have any queries about the GW4 BioMed MRC DTP or about applying for an Offer of Funding, you can get in touch with the administrative team by emailing [email protected].

If you have any questions about applying for an Offer to Study, you can get in touch with the administrative team at your home institution: • Bath: Simon Gane ([email protected]) or John Brice ([email protected]). • Bristol: Hannah Quinn ([email protected]). • Cardiff: Sian Steen ([email protected]). • Exeter: PGR Admissions Team ([email protected]).

All other information about the GW4 BioMed MRC DTP and the projects on offer for this year’s recruitment round can be found on our website.

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GW4 BioMed MRC Doctoral Training Partnership 2020-21 Recruitment

The Student Application Process

Appendices

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Key Dates

Date Deadline

Sunday 22nd September – Saturday 23rd Projects advertised for student applications on the GW4 November 2019 BioMed MRC DTP website

By 5pm on Monday 25th November 2019 Deadline for student applications

Wednesday 27th November – Friday 13th Student applications shortlisted by theme panels December 2019

Wednesday 18th December 2019 Student shortlisting panel meeting

By 5pm on Thursday 19th December Students and supervisors notified of the outcome of the 2018 shortlisting panel

Friday 20th December 2019 – 9am on Supervisors to interview all shortlisted applicants to their Wednesday 15th January 2020 project

Shortlisted applicants send references and transcripts to By 9am on Friday 17th January 2020 the DTP

Tuesday 21st – Wednesday 22nd January Studentship interviews 2020

Wednesday 22nd January 2020 Student shortlisting panel meeting

By 5pm Friday 31st January 2020 Studentship allocations announced

Monday 3rd February – Monday 2nd March Clearing period for declined studentships 2020

Thursday 1st October 2020 Official funding start date

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Selection Criteria

Application Form •Proven academic quality: normally evidenced by an excellent performance to first degree and/or Master’s level but may also be demonstrated by a record of relevant professional practice. •Research potential: evidenced through their supporting statement and supported by performance in research projects at first degree and/or Master’s level, or another form of dedicated preparation for research. •Personal motivation and commitment: evidenced through their supporting statement, by their enthusiasm for the project area and how they see it relating to their career goals. •Non-biomedical disciplines: In line with supporting interdisciplinary and quantitative skills, special consideration will be given by the interview panels to non-biomedical applicants. Such candidates should not feel the selection criteria are biased towards biomedical applicants as their unique skills will be taken into account.

Interview •Critical thinking (discussion of a student selected piece of data) •Fit with project (why did they chose the project and their understanding of the key issues in the project) •Personal commitment/motivation

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