MRC Scholarships
The Medical Research Council (MRC) promotes research into all areas of medical and related science with the aims of improving the health and quality of life of the UK public and contributing to the wealth of the nation.
The MRC funds the majority of its postgraduate scholarships through Doctoral Training Accounts (DTA). This is a quota system of large awards made directly to individual universities for us to administer, allowing us greater flexibility over the duration of the award and the level of stipend. The MRC does not make awards directly to students. The University is responsible for advertising and selecting students who meet the MRC eligibility criteria. These pages provide information on how prospective postgraduate students can apply.
Students can apply for two types of award:
- Doctoral Awards – funding for full or part-time study leading to a doctoral degree (PhD).
- Advanced Course Masters Scheme – funding for full and part-time study on specific Masters courses that meet a national need for early research training in advanced biomedical and health research skills.
Award details
There are two types of scholarship awards:
- A full scholarship award – this covers the cost of the UK/EU tuition fees and provides an annual, tax-free maintenance stipend at the standard UK Research rate, which for 2012-13 was £13,590.
- A fees-only scholarship award – this covers the cost of the UK/EU tuition fees only.
The type of scholarship awarded is based on an applicant's residency status. UK applicants and EU applicants who have been resident in the UK for at least 3 years immediately preceding the start of their course are eligible for the full scholarship award. EU applicants that have not been resident in the UK for 3 years immediately preceding the start of their course are eligible for a fees-only award. International applicants are not normally eligible.
Awards are tenable for a maximum of 3-4 years full-time and seven years part-time subject to satisfactory progress.
Eligibility
Eligibility is determined the MRC's eligibility criteria as set out on their website. Applicants should review the MRC guidance in the first instance.
MRC student eligibility requirements
The general eligibility requirements are:
- You should have, or expect to achieve, a first or upper second class UK honours degree or equivalent qualifications gained outside the UK in an appropriate area of study.
- You should be applying to start your first year of study with the University in 2012-13 on a full-time or part-time programme of eligible postgraduate study, within the MRC's subject domain.
- Awards are open to UK and EU applicants. The type of studentship awarded is based on an applicant’s residency status. International applicants are not normally eligible.
How to apply
Individual departments are responsible for directly recruiting to the Research Council scholarships that they have available. Projects will be advertised on departmental website and in the PhD Projects Directory.
Further information
Should you have any questions about MRC scholarships, please do not hesitate to contact either the relevant academic department or email pgr-scholarships@sheffield.ac.uk.
Information is also available on the MRC website.