GW4 BioMed Candidate Support Webinar 2025

1. Candidate Support
Webinar
Professor Emma Kidd, Dr Giovanni Biglino
2025

2. • Overview of what a PhD is
• What is a DTP and how does the GW4
BioMed2 DTP work?
• The application process
• Hints and tips
• FAQs
Today

3. • Undertaking higher level academic study
• Answering a novel question, adding a novel
contribution to existing knowledge
• Becoming a specialist in a subject area
• Pursuing a coherent project for 4 years often in
phases
• Guided by a supervisory team
• Develop growing independence in research
• Confidence with experimental approach
• Create a thesis and defend it at viva
What is a
PhD and
what can
you gain
from it?

4. • A range of skills
• Practical
• Academic
• Confidence in writing up data/analysis
• In depth knowledge of a subject…
• A publication or 2…
• Experience of other labs and opportunities
• Awareness of other discipline areas and their
techniques
What is a
PhD and
what can
you gain
from it?

5. • A literature review of the background and the
research question
• What did you want to know and why?
• Your methodology
• What did you find out and what does it mean?
(results and discussion)
• Often several results chapters
• Final discussion to contextualise in a bigger
picture
• Discussed with two experts in an oral exam
What are a
thesis and
viva?

6. The PhD – a learning cycle
Read the
literature
Define first
hypothesis
Determine
methods
First
experiment
Analyse the
data
Plan the
next
experiment

7. • Doctoral training programme, funded by UKRI
• Provides a stipend for 4 years (to cover PhD up to
final submission)
• Pays your fees
• Provides training and support
• Provides a training grant
• Cohort to journey through a PhD with
• Provides maternity/paternity cover
• Provides sick pay
• Up to 40 days annual leave
• Bench fees (costs of the study) met by supervisory
team
What is a
DTP?

8. Collaborative Research Excellence

9. • If successful at interview you will be offered a project
• Successful candidates will start on 1st October 2026
• A 3-month prep period will allow you to review the project,
suggest changes and refinements, visit other labs
• You will undertake an annual orientation, core training,
annual congress, regular events with theme leads and
institutional leads.
• You will have a peer mentor
• You work on the PhD and then will undertake a 3-month
Broadening Horizons placements to gain experience of other
industries and career opportunities
• Continue working on the PhD, write your thesis (up to
80,000 words)
• Undertake a viva examination (2 examiners)
How does
the GW4
BioMed2
MRC DTP
work?

10. • Review the project list
• Select 1 or 2 projects
• Contact potential supervisors for clarification (if you wish)
• Complete one online application form following instructions
• You must answer all questions
• Please ensure you accurately use the table to convert
international qualifications, we will check these
• Top ranked candidates will be invited for an online panel
interview and to discuss the project with the supervisors
• Support will be offered ahead of the interview
• Successful candidates will be offered their first-choice
project, second choice if no longer available
• Please read the website– How to apply
What is the
application
process?

11. Proven academic quality:
• Excellent performance to first degree and/or Master’s level OR an
equivalent, high-quality provision of evidence related to professional practice;
required to meet the eligibility requirements of the institutions. Note: if you are
applying with a 2:2 undergraduate degree, you will only be considered if you
also have a master’s degree (at the University of Bath, the master’s must be at
least a Merit).
Independent Problem-Solving Ability:
• examples of achievement within academia/research related projects and
outside of academia, evidencing relevant skills.
Personal motivation & commitment:
• supporting statement of understanding, motivation and suitability for their first-
choice project and by a wider enthusiasm, interest and commitment to the MRC
DTP programme.
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.
What are
we looking
for in the
application
form?

12. Please outline 2 examples of your achievements in
research related activities (200 words in total).
• Please only mention 2 examples. Do not list a series of techniques / papers /
placements
• Think about what you have done, what demonstrates your relevant skills
• Provide a little explanation, what was the goal?
• Describe your role/contribution? How long did you do it for?
• What did you learn?
• Were there any outputs (e.g., papers) or did you learn some practical skills?
• What was the overall outcome?
• Focus on what is important, You only have 200 words in total to describe both examples,
not 200 words per example
• Keep it succinct but use the word count available

13. Please outline 2 examples of your achievements in
non-research related activities (e.g. outside of
academic study) (200 words in total)
• Try and illustrate complementary skills to those previously mentioned
• It could be in an academic context but outside of studies/research
• Do not just describe an achievement or activity but also what you gained
from it
• How do you think this achievement will be relevant to a PhD?

14. Please describe why you have chosen your first-
choice project (200 words).
• Tell us why the subject of your first-choice project is so interesting to you,
what will keep you motivated to study it for 4 years?
• Do you have any background academic, workplace or personal experience
that makes this relevant to you?
• Have you got any skills that this project needs or you would like to gain?

15. What do you hope to gain from doing a PhD with
the GW4 BioMed2 MRC DTP? (200 words).
• Think about what you know of the DTP
• What is your personal goal?
• What do you need to get there?
• Are there specific skills/experiences/opportunities you hope to gain?
• What will getting a PhD enable you to do in the future?
• How can the DTP help you get to where you want to be?
• Don’t copy and paste from our website/AI – use your own words – we want to
know about your ambitions.

16. • Please provide any additional information
relating to extenuating circumstances or special
considerations that you would like to make the
panel aware of (maximum of 150 words). Please
note that completion of this section is not
compulsory.
Extenuating
Circumstances

17. • Think about your written communication skills – how you write is
important, take time to craft it
• Get someone else to read it through for you
• You can only apply through the website form, please do not email a
CV to the GW4, this will not be accepted
• Read the website information and FAQs carefully
• Choose projects you are passionate about, if that is only one, leave it
at one.
• Complete all sections as fully as you can
• Use the word count to its fullest
• Provide different examples in each box
• Think about the structure of your questions, consider STAR
(situation, task, action, result)
• Please check English language eligibility criteria on the University
website
• You will need to meet these requirements to have an offer,
not to apply
Hints and
tips for the
application

18. Do you want transcripts or references with the application
form?
• No, we only ask for these at the interview stage, not for initial
application.
Can I submit more than one application?
• No, we will only accept one application per candidate and
additional or duplicate applications will be removed without
consideration
What happens if someone else is offered my first-choice
project?
• you are offered your second choice if you put one. If you did
not select a second-choice project, we will be unable to offer
you a studentship
FAQ:
Applying

19. Should I speak to the potential supervisor about the project?
• You may approach them informally, but you will be contacted
about meeting them formally if you are invited to the
interview stage (but remember that first email approach is
important)
I haven’t completed my MSc yet, what do I put?
• You can enter a predicted grade, your offer may be
conditional on this grade, or put ‘pending’
Do I need to apply to the University as well as complete the
GW4 form?
• Not at this stage, but you will need apply for an ‘offer to
study’ if you are successful at interview, more info will be
provided to you then.
FAQ:
Applying

20. I have international qualifications; do you accept these?
• Yes, but please ensure you have converted your
qualifications to the UK equivalent using the international
equivalency table on our website
I am an international student; will I have to pay more in fees?
• No, the DTP will cover this
Will I get help with other costs?
• No, our funding cannot cover visa application fees,
relocation costs, NHS surcharges or any other costs
associated with moving to the UK. You will need to fund
these yourself.
FAQ:
International

21. I have disabilities and need support to complete a PhD
• If you have specific needs around the interview process, please let
us know
• All 4 institutions have student support services who can support
you and apply for disability support allowance to fund any
adjustments that are required
Can I do a PhD part-time?
• Yes, if the project is suitable, for the same % stipend and this
extends the time commensurate with the reduced hours.
International students may be restricted by their visa requirements
Is there support for students from LGBTQ+ or minority ethnic
backgrounds?
• Yes, all institutions have support groups, and we are keen to
ensure everyone has the opportunity to access the DTP,
particularly those from minoritized groups.
FAQ:
Accessibility

22. What is the likelihood of gaining a studentship offer?
• Our scheme is very competitive and last year we received a
record number of 2,421 applications for just 18
studentships. International students had a 0.275% chance
of being successful and home students had a 2.16%
chance.
Why the difference?
• 75% (1,818) of the applications that we received last year
came from international students, but the MRC only permits
us to offer a maximum of 30% of our available studentships
to international students, that’s a maximum of 5 for 18
studentships.
FAQ: Stats

23. What is the closing date?
• We close to applications on 20th October 2025 at 5pm.
However, we reserve the right to close to either home or
international candidates before that date if we receive an
unprecedented number of applications. Check our website
for regular updates on this.
FAQ:
Deadline

24. • Reminder: Applications close on Monday, 20th
October 2025 at 5pm, but this could be sooner.
• This webinar is repeated on Tuesday 16th
September and Thursday 18th September. The
slides and a recording of this session will
shortly be available on our website.
• Please read the information on our website
carefully before applying using the online
application form.
Thank you