How to apply

** Projects now available to apply to for fully-funded 4 year PhD studentships starting in Sept 2026 **

Application deadline: Midday (11.59am GMT), Wednesday 3 December 2025

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Your application

Please submit an application through our SWBio DTP centralised application system (known as Good Grants).  Note: The application system is not yet live.  A link will be provided here shortly when we are able to start accepting applications.  You can join our mailing list to be notified directly when you can submit an application.  

Only applications submitted through this online form and by the application deadline will be accepted.

Submitting multiple applications?

  • You can submit more than one application but only a maximum of 2 applications to the same hosting institution within the 3 types of studentships. 
  • Applications for an individual project will be considered separately by the project supervisors.
  • If you are successfully nominated for more than 1 project within this 2 application maximum, the DTP Hub will be in contact to confirm your preferred project choice to be interviewed for.

Our 3 studentship pools are: 

  • Standard studentship
  • CASE studentship
  • Standard with Associate Partner studentship

This is within the 2 application maximum to a single institution – there are not more than 2 applications within a studentship pool to a single hosting institution

Example 1:

  • Standard studentship: 2 Bristol, 1 Bath
  • CASE studentship: 2 Bristol, 1 Bath, 1 Cardiff
  • Standard with Associate Partner studentship: 2 Bristol

Example 2:

  • Standard studentship: 1 Bristol, 2 Bath
  • CASE studentship: 2 Bristol, 1 Bath, 2 Cardiff
  • Standard with Associate Partner studentship: 2 Bristol

Example 3:

  • Standard studentship: 0
  • CASE studentship: 2 Bristol
  • Standard with Associate Partner studentship: 0

Example 4:

  • Standard studentship: 0
  • CASE studentship: 1 Bristol
  • Standard with Associate Partner studentship: 0

This exceeds the 2 application maximum to a single institution - there are more than 2 applications within a studentship pool to a single hosting institution

Example 1:

  • Standard studentship: 3 Bristol, 1 Bath
  • CASE studentship: 2 Bristol, 1 Bath, 1 Cardiff
  • Standard with Associate Partner studentship: 2 Bristol

Example 2:

  • Standard studentship: 2 Bristol, 1 Bath
  • CASE studentship: 3 Bristol, 1 Bath, 1 Cardiff
  • Standard with Associate Partner studentship: 2 Bristol

Example 3:

  • Standard studentship: 0
  • CASE studentship: 3 Bristol, 1 Bath, 3 Cardiff
  • Standard with Associate Partner studentship: 0

Please do contact swbio-dtp@bristol.ac.uk if you are ensure on the applications you can submit, and we will happily provide further guidance.

 

Alongside, please do read through our ‘Selection Process‘ information.  This is full of really useful information including what we are looking for in a SWBio DTP student, the selection process and when our virtual DTP interview days will be taking place.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

We want to support diverse and inclusive work environments. We therefore welcome applications from individuals regardless of their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, age, gender, or disability status. We welcome applications from individuals who have previously studied at any recognised Higher Education Institute and from a range of career paths (please refer to the SWBio DTP academic criteria for eligibility), including individuals who have previously trained in the sciences and are wanting to return to scientific research.

To enable greater access to a PhD, we will work with you to take into consideration reasonable project adaptations (for example to support caring responsibilities, disabilities, other significant personal circumstances) as well as flexible working and part‐time study requests. All our supervisors support us with this, so please feel comfortable in discussing further with the listed PhD project supervisor to see what is feasible. Further information >>

Institution information

Please click on the name of the institution for further information.  This will guide you to:

  • institutional programme information
  • information about the institution
  • a contact if you have any institutional-specific queries – if the query is in relation to your application, please contact swbio-dtp@bristol.ac.uk

 

Application requirements

As part of your application you will be asked to include:

  • Information related to yourself
  • Project details
  • Names of references
  • Information about your motivation, your experience and your academic qualifications.  These are a series of guided questions which replace a CV and personal statement.
  • To support Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: Anonymous EDI information, interview support, a contextual statement and the opportunity to submit an application to our Recognising Researcher Potential (RRP) scheme
  • Documents: Academic transcripts / degree certificate(s), visa/passport (where applicable for applicants that would meet international fees status)

Further guidance and how your data will be shared will be included in the online application form.

Further application information

Programme expectations

  • This is an in-person PhD programme, and you are expected to attend in person from the start of the programme and based at the listed host institution (exception is for standard studentships with associate partner where you will spend time at each of the listed supervisor’s institutions).
  • As a cohort based programme with an integrated taught first year, there is one formal programme start date at your institution (this will either be September or October depending on your institution).
  • To support access to bioscience PhDs, we do not accept applications from applicants who have previously been awarded a PhD (or equivalent).
  • This is a 4 year PhD programme, and you are expected to submit your thesis within 4 years (4 years based on a full-time equivalent).
  • A range of part-time options are available (minimum of 50%) for the majority of our projects. Only home students are eligible for part-time study due to visa complexities for international students. Please discuss further with the listed project supervisor ahead of submitting your application. Further information >>