Wellcome Trust PhD Programme 2027

Overview

The Wellcome Trust funds four-year PhD programmes in biomedical and health research at UK partner universities including Cambridge, Oxford, UCL, Imperial, Edinburgh, and Glasgow. The first year is a structured rotation across labs before the student chooses their thesis topic. Open to applicants of any nationality. Around 70 to 100 PhD positions per cycle across all partner programmes. Cycles close between November and January depending on the host programme; most close around 4 December 2026.

Benefits

• Full tuition fees at the partner UK university for four years.
• Annual stipend (currently around GBP 25,000 for London programmes, slightly lower outside).
• First-year rotation budget covering three to four lab placements before thesis selection.
• Research consumables and conference travel budget.
• Wellcome Trust convenings and PhD cohort events.
• No teaching obligation (research-focused).

Eligibility

• Citizen of any country.
• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant biological or biomedical discipline with first-class or strong upper-second honours.
• Completion of the bachelor’s by the September 2027 programme start.
• Strong scientific motivation; some programmes prefer applicants with prior research experience (summer project, lab internship, or publication).
• English language requirement: IELTS 7.0 or equivalent for non-native speakers.
• Open to non-EU applicants, who are not disadvantaged by funding restrictions (Wellcome covers international fees in full).

How to apply

1. Open the Wellcome Trust funding page at the source link to identify the partner programmes you are interested in.
2. Apply to each partner programme directly through its own application portal (Wellcome does not run admissions centrally).
3. Submit: academic transcripts, CV, statement of research interests, two academic references, and English language scores if required.
4. Most programmes close around 4 December 2026 for September 2027 entry; check the specific programme’s deadline.
5. Shortlisted candidates are interviewed in January or February 2027. Offers are made in March or April 2027.