4 Year PhD programme

4-Year PhD Programme in Epidemiology, Evolution and Control of Infectious Diseases (1+3 MRes and PhD)

Applications for the 2025/26 academic year are now open! 

Infectious diseases remain a major contributor to the global burden of disease, with HIV, malaria, measles, diarrhoeal disease and respiratory infections responsible for over 50% of premature deaths worldwide. However, the availability of resources for interventions is limited in comparison with the scale of the challenges faced. Over the last decade, there has been increasing recognition of the value of epidemiological analysis and mathematical modelling in aiding the design and interpretation of clinical trials from a population perspective and, downstream, to guide implementation, monitoring and evaluation of intervention effectiveness.

This 4-year PhD training programme provides unique inter-disciplinary training in infectious disease epidemiology, mathematical modelling and statistics, genetics and evolution, and computational methods.

Based within the MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis (MRC GIDA), Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology within the Faculty of Medicine's School of Public Health, the programme provides an opportunity to learn, in a supportive and stimulating environment, from leaders in the field who are actively engaged in research and advise leading public health professionals, policy-makers, governments, international organisations and pharmaceutical companies, both nationally and internationally, on a range of diseases include pandemic influenza, HIV, TB, malaria, polio and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).

The programme will begin at the start of the autumn term 2025. Closing date for applications is Sunday 12th of January 2025 with interviews in February (tbc) 2025. 

This opportunity is open to students eligible for the UK home fee rate only, providing a tax-free stipend to cover living expenses at the UKRI minimum rate, £21,237 (inc. London weighting) for the 2025/26 academic year.  Unfortunately, we are not able to consider applications from anyone not eligible for home fees in this round.  If you are an international student and would like to apply for a PhD in the department please refer to the international scholarship page and President’s scholarship.