Fully funded PhD studentships starting in September 2026 is open, offering the MRC UCL Birkbeck Doctoral Training Programme (DTP). Under the Health of the Public theme, the programme seeks outstanding researchers committed to addressing the major population health challenges of the 21st century through data-driven, interdisciplinary research.
- Start Date: September 2026
- Location: University College London (UCL) and Birkbeck, University of London
- Funding: Fully funded PhD studentship, including stipend, research costs, and training
- Application Deadline: 5 January 2026 (5:00 PM UK time)
About the Programme
The Health of the Public theme focuses on understanding the complex drivers of public health issues and developing interventions that improve population wellbeing. Students will train within a world-class research environment spanning epidemiology, health informatics, data science, public health, behavioural science, and clinical research.
UCL and Birkbeck together host one of the UK’s strongest clusters of population health and data science expertise, including:
- Health Data Research UK (HDR-UK)
- The Alan Turing Institute
- UCL Partners
- CALIBER research platform with 10 million patient records
- The ECHILD and PICNIC linked population datasets
- Major longitudinal population studies (e.g., 1946, 1958, 1970, Millennium Cohorts)
- Leading programmes such as CLOSER, CUSSH, i-sense, and AHRI
The programme trains future leaders equipped with the data, analytical, and interdisciplinary skills needed for public health research and policy.
Who Should Apply
This opportunity is ideal for applicants who:
- Hold (or expect to receive) a strong undergraduate or master’s degree
- Are passionate about population health, epidemiology, data science, or interdisciplinary health research
- Want to work with large, complex datasets to address public health challenges
- Are UK applicants or one of the limited number of international candidates eligible for funding
Application Timeline
- Applications open: 7 October 2025
- Information sessions:
- 12 November 2025 (16:30–17:30 UK)
- 8 December 2025 (16:00–17:00 UK)
- Interviews (on Zoom/Teams): Dates to be confirmed
- All applicants will be notified after shortlisting is complete
How to Apply
Applicants must submit a full application—including academic transcripts, references, and research interests—through the official programme portal here.
Only applications submitted before the deadline will be reviewed.
The MRC UCL Birkbeck Doctoral Training Programme (DTP) is now recruiting candidates for its fully funded Health of the Public PhD studentships beginning in September 2026. This transdisciplinary programme trains future leaders in population health by equipping them with cutting-edge epidemiological, data science, and research skills. Students will work across UCL and Birkbeck’s world-class research environment, leveraging access to major population health datasets, computational resources, longitudinal studies, and global research collaborations. The programme is designed for talented graduates—UK-based or international—who are passionate about using quantitative and data-intensive approaches to address complex public health challenges. Applications open on 7 October 2025 and close on 5 January 2026 at 5 PM UK time.
For more opportunities, click here.
