Frequently Asked Questions

Chemistry, physics, mathematics and engineering graduates who wish to learn how to apply their physical sciences skills to biological problems. Students from biological or medicinal backgrounds are usually not eligible. If in doubt, please contact us. The entry requirement is a Bachelor's degree in the physical sciences with a minimum 2.1 or above (or equivalent), or subsequent further study at Master's level.

Please make your application via My Imperial. We do not accept applications via e-mail. Once you have applied, please  notify Emma Pallett e.pallett@imperial.ac.uk via email of your project choice(s). For further instructions, please see our application flowchart.

Please make your application on My Imperial. You will be asked to provide your personal details, details of your higher education and relevant work experience. You will then submit your application BEFORE adding any attachments to your application. Once your application is submitted, you will need to attach a CV, 'personal statement' (also referred to as 'supporting statement' or 'letter of support'), degree transcript(s), English language qualifications (if required), Visa (if required). Your references will be contacted separately via Gateway, you do not need to attach any reference letters yourself.

Candidates usually talk about what has attracted them to the project, why they are a good fit, drawing upon relevant knowledge and scientific experience, and why they want to study as part of that particular research group.

Once you have made your application on My Imperial and after you have submitted this, you will be directed to a page where you can attach your relevant documents.

The entry requirement is a Bachelor's degree in the physical sciences with a minimum 2.1 or above (or equivalent), or subsequent further study at Master's level. This includes Chemistry, physics, mathematics and engineering graduates who wish to learn how to apply their physical sciences skills to biological problems. Students from biological or medicinal backgrounds are usually not eligible. If in doubt, please contact us.

We usually require applicants to be graduates with a physical sciences background; the ICB EPSRC CDT is about training physical sciences graduates to work at the life-sciences interface. However, should you have experience working in the physical sciences etc. the please do consider applying. Should any of our projects hold particular interest for you, please consider contacting the project supervisors directly to discuss your suitability.

Chemistry, physics, mathematics and engineering graduates.

We do accept students who are studying Natural Sciences if their focus is at least 50% physical sciences or perhaps their laboratory placement or experience is within the physical sciences. Many of our successful applicants have studied Natural Sciences at either Bachelors' or Masters' level.

Yes, we accept applicants with a BSc in the physical sciences with a 2.1 or better onto our 1+3 MRes and PhD programme.

Applicants must hold an MRes qualification in order to undertake a PhD with the ICB EPSRC CDT, even if they already have achieved an MSc, MSci, MChem or similar.

Yes. However, we do require all of our students to undertake the same training as our MRes students as part of the cohort. The only difference will be 'straight-to-PhD' students will be exempt from the examinations and MRes assessments of the classes they have attended and will not receive the MRes qualification at the end of the year.

Yes, we would welcome this! We require all of our students to undertake the same training as our MRes students as part of the cohort.

We do not have a fixed deadline for our applications; places are extremely competitive and we encourage early applications. Supervisors will make offers as soon as a suitable candidate is found and the project will be indicated as 'filled' on our webpages.

Applicants can apply to up to three projects.

There is no requirement to write more than one 'tailored' personal statement for each project being applied to. However, if this is your preference, please attach one of the statements on My Imperial and send Emma Pallett e.pallett@imperial.ac.uk an email, stating that you have applied, the project titles applied to, and attach the statements to the email, clearly indicating which statement is for which project. These statements will be passed to the appropriate supervisory teams who will consider your application for shortlisting.

Please visit Imperial's English Language Requirement pages to check if you are exempt from proving your knowledge of English. Please indicate 'I think I am exempt' on your application. However, if you wish to do so you may provide a copy of your GCSE English qualification.

Please visit Imperial's English Language Requirement pages to check our English language requirements.

Your application will be received by the CDT Management. This will then be redacted to remove identifying information and protected characteristics. The application will then passed to the project supervisors for the studentship project(s) applied to, who will decide if they wish to shortlist you. Supervisors are passed several applications at once for shortlisting prior to our interview day and so there may be a lag time between applying and finding out if you have been shortlisted for interview.

Supervisors are passed several applications at once for shortlisting prior to our interview day and so there may be a lag time between applying and finding out if you have been shortlisted for interview. Our interview day will be published on our website once it has been set.

The ICB CDT Management will receive your application. This will then be redacted to remove identifying information and protected characteristics i.e. your name, age, gender, personal pronouns, and whether you have a disability will be removed from your whole application, including references. This is done to ensure a fair review process for all applicants. If you have any questions about this, please send Emma Pallett e.pallett@imperial.ac.uk an email.

Your application will then passed to the project supervisors for the studentship project(s) applied to, who will decide if they wish to shortlist you. Supervisors will then receive the unredacted version of your application. Supervisors are passed several applications at once for shortlisting prior to our interview day and so there may be a lag time between applying and finding out if you have been shortlisted for interview. Our interview day will be published on our website once it has been set.

Irish applicants will be assessed as 'Home' for fee purposes provided they meet the residency requirements. For more information, please visit Fee status | Study | Imperial College London or for detailed information: england_he_who_pays__home_fees_public_version6_21.12.21.pdf (ukcisa.org.uk)

EU applicants with settled or pre-settled status prior to 30 June 2021 will be classified as 'Home' for fee purposes. For more information, please visit Fee status | Study | Imperial College London or for detailed information: england_he_who_pays__home_fees_public_version6_21.12.21.pdf (ukcisa.org.uk)

The ICB EPSRC CDT has a limited number of International student scholarships to award. Successful applicants will be awarded an annual stipend at UKRI rate, Tuition fees in full, consumables funding, and a conference and travel allowance.