EU applicants

Eligibility

Candidates should have (or be about to receive) an upper second class degree (or higher) in Biochemistry or a related subject.

Non-native English speaking candidates must be able to demonstrate English language proficiency with a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent TOEFL score.

EU applicants are eligible for all of our listed projects. Tuition fees will be paid for all successful EU candidates applying for a funded PhD studentship; however, some programmes have restrictions regarding the payment of maintenance stipends. In the case of MRC- and BBSRC-funded PhD studentships, tuition fees will be paid for EU applicants, but current regulations mean that we can only pay a maintenance stipend to students who have been resident in the UK for at least 3 years before starting their PhD. This can include time spent in full-time education. You are advised to check specific eligibility requirements associated with funded PhD studentships and to contact the supervisor offering the project if you require further clarification of funding details.

For outstanding applicants who are not eligible to receive a maintenance stipend, a small number of University of Bristol Home UK/EU Postgraduate Research Scholarships are available. These Scholarships cover tuition fees and provide a maintenance stipend, which is based on the minimum UK research council rate (currently £13,290) for a period of 3 years. There is an annual competition for these studentships with a deadline for applications in March. Further details are listed on the University's student finance site, although the details for the 2011 competition have not been published. Please indicate on your postgraduate application form if you are interested in applying for this Scholarship.

Informal enquiries

If you are simply interested in obtaining more information about our research programmes and project supervisors at this time, please go to:

http://www.findaphd.com/search/viewall.asp?inst=BRIS-UBio&searchtype=l

If you would like to obtain additional information about a project being offered by a specific PhD supervisor before making an application, please send your question (indicating the name of the project supervisor) with your contact information to pg-enq-bch@bristol.ac.uk. We will then forward your request to the appropriate supervisor.

How to apply

If you are ready to apply, then we strongly encourage you to make your application ONLINE (see below).

Online application

You can apply to study for a PhD at the School of Biochemistry online at:
http://www.bristol.ac.uk/prospectus/postgraduate/2011/dept/MVSF/x

Please be sure to indicate the name of the Supervisor (max 3) who is sponsoring the project that is of interest to you. We will then forward your application to the individual(s) that you have specifically named.

Your application will be given careful consideration. You can expect to hear back within two-three weeks with a decision as to whether your potential supervisor wants to proceed further with your application. If the project supervisor is interested in your application, then it is likely that s/he will invite you to attend an interview in the Department. However, if your travel costs are likely to exceed £50, then alternative interview arrangements may be arranged.
After the interview, your potential supervisor might not be able to provide an immediate decision about your application, but s/he should let you know when you should expect a decision. If you are applying early in the cycle, then the supervisor might wish to have the opportunity to interview other candidates. In addition, the supervisor might not yet know about the availability of funding to support your PhD Studentship. If you feel unsure about the status of your application, please contact Ruth Batterham (E-mail: R.Batterham@bristol.ac.uk) and she will make enquiries on your behalf.

Applications are accepted throughout the year. Please be aware that different PhD programmes will have different deadlines, and you are advised to check the School of Biochemistry website http://www.bris.ac.uk/biochemistry/postgrad/ and FindPhD.com regularly for this information.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or problems.

Professor Patty Kuwabara, Postgraduate Tutor