Application guidelines

Please note that the online application system does not have a 4 year PhD option, so all applicants should choose the full-time PhD (3 years) option to apply for the 4 year programme.

• Before clicking the “apply” button, applicants should select the PhD Genetics and Molecular Medicine programme and the start date as 14 September 2026. Students on this programme will start their studies in September 2026, no alternative start dates are available.
• In the “Programme” page of the application
  • You do not need to provide a research proposal. Instead, in the “Research project” section, applicants should specify up to three projects they are interested in. Available projects are listed MRC four-year International PhD programme: Human Genetics, Genomics and Disease | IGC Graduate Research & Training | Institute of Genetics and Cancer and additional areas of research within MRC Human Genetics Unit can be found: Research Groups | Institute of Genetics and Cancer. Applications that do not identify any projects of interest may be rejected.
  • In the “Research topic” section, please outline why you have selected the projects you have listed in the “Research project” section.
• In the “Finance” page of the application
  • Select “No” for the question “Have you applied for funding”, and enter “UKRI-funded studentship” in the box asking “How will you finance your studies and living costs”. Successful applicants to this PhD programme will be awarded UKRI funding for their studies and living costs.
• In the “Referees” page of the application
  • Applicants should enter details of 2 academic referees to support their application and should ensure they select “yes” in the email reference request section.
• In the “Document upload” page of the application
  • Please upload any undergraduate/postgraduate degree certificates/transcripts and English language certificates where applicable.
  • You do not need to provide a research proposal. Instead, please upload a copy of your CV under "research proposal".

Any queries regarding the application process should be sent to student-admin@igc.ed.ac.uk

• Click the following link to apply for this studentship (Programme - PhD Genetics and Molecular Medicine (3 years); Start date – 14 September 2025):

THIS LINK WILL TAKE YOU TO THE UoE DEGREE FINDER: ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED VIA THE PhD GENETICS AND MOLECULAR MEDICINE LINK ON THE UoE DEGREE FINDER, WE CANNOT ACCEPT APPLICATIONS BY EMAIL