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Medicine and Surgery MPhil, PhD, MD

Our MPhil, MD and PhD in Medicine and Surgery offers research in human health and disease. We apply our findings to improve patient care.

You are currently viewing course information for entry year:

Start date(s):

• September 2024
• January 2025

We offer supervision for the MPhil, MD and PhD in Medicine and Surgery in the following areas:

• anaesthesia
• care of the elderly
• child health
• critical care
• dermatology
• ENT (ear, nose and throat)
• musculoskeletal disease
• ophthalmology
• neuroscience
• primary care
• renal medicine/urology
• reproductive medicine
• respiratory and cardiac medicine
• transplantation

You'll work in one of our research institutes and have a dedicated supervisory team. This team includes a senior scientist and an academic clinician. The clinician treats patients as well as conducting research. This ensures your research centres around patient care.

Find out more about the work of our research institutes

Important information

We've highlighted important information about your course. Please take note of any deadlines.

Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our  Academic experience page , which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2023-24.

See our  terms and conditions and student complaints information , which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

Related courses

Qualifications explained.

Find out about the different qualification options for this course.

An MPhil is available in all subject areas. You receive research training and undertake original research leading to the completion of a 40,000 - 50,000 word thesis.

Find out about different types of postgraduate qualifications

A PhD is a doctorate or doctoral award. It involves original research that should make a significant contribution to the knowledge of a specific subject. To complete the PhD you will produce a substantial piece of work (80,000 – 100,000 words) in the form of a supervised thesis. A PhD usually takes three years full time.

An MD is a doctorate or doctoral award. It combines your research findings with clinical practice. To complete the MD you will produce a substantial piece of work (80,000 – 100,000 words) in the form of a supervised thesis. For professionally qualified doctors, an MD (Doctor of Medicine) is awarded. 

How you'll learn

Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:

We offer a wide range of projects for the thesis. These will be provided by our academics. You can also propose your own topic.

Our mission is to help you:

• stay healthy, positive and feeling well
• overcome any challenges you may face during your degree – academic or personal
• get the most out of your postgraduate research experience
• carry out admin and activities essential to progressing through your degree
• understand postgraduate research processes, standards and rules

We can offer you tailored wellbeing support, courses and activities.

You can also access a broad range of workshops covering:

• research and professional skills
• careers support
• health and safety
• public engagement
• academic development

Find out more about our postgraduate research student support

Your development

Faculty of medical sciences (fms) researcher development programme .

Each faculty offers a researcher development programme for its postgraduate research students. We have designed your programme to help you:

• perform better as a researcher
• boost your career prospects
• broaden your impact
• Through workshops and activities, it will build your transferable skills and increase your confidence.

You’ll cover:

• techniques for effective research
• methods for better collaborative working
• essential professional standards and requirements
• Your programme is flexible. You can adapt it to meet your changing needs as you progress through your doctorate.

Find out more about the FMS researcher development programme

Doctoral training and partnerships

There are opportunities to undertake your PhD at Newcastle within a:

• Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT)
• Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP)

Being part of a CDT or DTP has many benefits:

• they combine research expertise and training of a number of leading universities, academic schools and academics.
• you’ll study alongside a cohort of other PhD students
• they’re often interdisciplinary
• your PhD may be funded

Find out more about doctoral training and partnerships

If there are currently opportunities available in your subject area you’ll find them when you search for funding in the fees and funding section on this course.

The following centres/partnerships below may have PhD opportunities available in your subject area in the future:

• Newcastle Liverpool Durham BBSRC Doctoral Training Partnership
• Discovery Medicine North - MRC DiMeN Doctoral Training Partnership

Your future

Our careers service.

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

Quality and ranking

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Check the government’s website for more information .

Fees and funding

Tuition fees for 2024 entry (per year).

We are unable to give an exact fee, this is why the fee is shown as a range. This fee range takes into account your research topic and resource requirements.

Your research topic is unique so it will have unique resource requirements. Resources could include specialist equipment, such as laboratory/workshop access, or technical staff.

If your research involves accessing specialist resources then you're likely to pay a higher fee. You'll discuss the exact nature of your research project with your supervisor(s). You'll find out the fee in your offer letter.

Home fees for research degree students

For 2024-25 entry, we will be aligning our standard Home research fees with those set by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) . The standard fee will be confirmed in Spring 2024 by UKRI. The Home tuition fees for this course will be updated after this confirmation. 

If your studies last longer than one year, your tuition fee may increase in line with inflation.

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here .

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See  our   searchable postgraduate funding page  for more information.  

What you're paying for

Tuition fees include the costs of:

• matriculation
• registration
• tuition (or supervision)
• library access
• examination
• re-examination

Find out more about:

• living costs
• tuition fees

If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you may have to pay a deposit.

You can check this in the How to apply section .

If you're applying for funding, always check the funding application deadline. This deadline may be earlier than the application deadline for your course.

For some funding schemes, you need to have received an offer of a place on a course before you can apply for the funding.

Search for funding

Find funding available for your course

Entry requirements

The entrance requirements below apply to 2024 entry.

Qualifications from outside the UK

English language requirements, admissions policy.

This policy applies to all undergraduate and postgraduate admissions at Newcastle University. It is intended to provide information about our admissions policies and procedures to applicants and potential applicants, to their advisors and family members, and to staff of the University.

Download our admissions policy (PDF: 201KB) Other policies related to admissions

Credit transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can allow you to convert existing relevant university-level knowledge, skills and experience into credits towards a qualification. Find out more about the RPL policy which may apply to this course

• How to apply

Using the application portal

The application portal has instructions to guide you through your application. It will tell you what documents you need and how to upload them.

You can choose to start your application, save your details and come back to complete it later.

If you’re ready, you can select Apply Online and you’ll be taken directly to the application portal.

Alternatively you can find out more about applying on our applications and offers pages .

Open days and events

You'll have a number of opportunities to meet us throughout the year including:

• campus tours
• on-campus open days
• virtual open days

Find out about how you can visit Newcastle in person and virtually

Overseas events

We regularly travel overseas to meet with students interested in studying at Newcastle University.

Visit our events calendar for the latest events

• Get in touch

Questions about this course?

If you have specific questions about this course you can contact:

Medical Sciences Graduate School Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 7002 Email: [email protected]

For more general enquiries you could also complete our online enquiry form.

Fill in our enquiry form

Our Ncl chatbot might be able to give you an answer straight away. If not, it’ll direct you to someone who can help.

You'll find our Ncl chatbot in the bottom right of this page.

Keep updated

We regularly send email updates and extra information about the University.

Receive regular updates by email

Chat to a student

Chat online with current students with our Unibuddy platform.

Social media

Get involved with the Medical Sciences Graduate School social media. 

• How You'll Learn
• Your Development
• Your Future
• Quality and Ranking
• Fees and Funding
• Entry Requirements
• Open days & events

Alternatively, use our A–Z index

Attend an open day

MD Medicine / Overview

Year of entry: 2024

• View full page

Applicants for admission must hold an MBChB degree or equivalent medical degree.

The nature of the research project must require the candidate to have specialist clinical knowledge and/or skills in order to complete at least one aspect (e.g. recruitment/assessment of patients, acquisition of experimental samples, experimental procedures, interpretation of findings) of the study. Consequently, it is expected that all MD candidates will have a clinician as part of the supervisory team.

Applicants (including international students) will need to be working in the NHS already and have identified a supervisor and project in order to apply.

Full entry requirements

See full guidance on how to choose a project and submit an application on our websi te . You should then complete the online admissions application form to apply for this programme. Ensure you include all required supporting documents at the time of submission, or this may delay the processing of your application.

Application deadlines

You must submit your application for a postgraduate research programme before the relevant deadline to be considered. You will not be able to apply after these deadlines have passed.

• January entry: 15 October (of the year prior entry)
• April entry: 15 January (year of entry)
• September entry: 15 June (year of entry)

Programme options

Programme overview.

• Learn from some of Europe's leading researchers while undertaking your own project.
• Access some of the best research facilities in the world at both the University and in hospitals around Greater Manchester.
• Undergo training in transferable skills critical to developing early-stage researchers and professionals through the Doctoral Academy's training programme.
• Conduct research at a university ranked 6th in the UK (QS World University Rankings 2023).

For entry in the academic year beginning September 2024, the tuition fees are as follows:

• (full-time) UK students (per annum): Standard £4,786, Low £11,000, Medium £17,500, High £23,000 International, including EU, students (per annum): Standard £27,000, Low £28,500, Medium £34,500, High £40,500
• (part-time) UK students (per annum): Standard £2393, Low £5,500, Medium £8,750, High £11,500 International, including EU, students (per annum): Standard £13,500, Low £14,250, Medium £17,250, High £20,250

Further information for EU students can be found on our dedicated EU page.

Contact details

Programmes in related subject areas.

Use the links below to view lists of programmes in related subject areas.

Regulated by the Office for Students

The University of Manchester is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS aims to help students succeed in Higher Education by ensuring they receive excellent information and guidance, get high quality education that prepares them for the future and by protecting their interests. More information can be found at the OfS website .

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website .

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MD(Res) Programmes

The MD(Res) programme is a postgraduate research degree for medically qualified professionals. It is 2/3 the length of a PhD and can serve as a basis for a research career, for academic and clinical promotion and for personal development in clinical practice. The MD(Res) is usually taken part time and allows the candidate to conduct a substantial piece of research over 4-5 years part time (or 2-3 full time). 

The typical entrant is a psychiatrist, neurologist or GP at higher training level, who has identified research supervisors based in the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN). The candidate must be able to devote time to research (at least a day a week for part time students).

The MD(Res) is available to doctors at other stages of their career, including consultants, so long as the candidate can demonstrate he or she will have sufficient time to complete their studies.

As with other postgraduate research degrees, candidates are not only expected to conduct a significant study, but also to gain a broader research training, and a number of courses in research methodology, academic writing etc, run through KCL, are available to MD(Res) candidates.

The usual topic of MD(Res) studies is an empirical scientific project of relevance to clinical practice. But the programme can also involve medical humanities (including philosophy, history, law, arts and social science). Candidates will have a first supervisor at the IoPPN.  Additional supervisors can be at other departments at KCL or elsewhere.

The usual topic of MD(Res) studies is an empirical scientific project of relevance to clinical practice. But the programme also has a medical humanities option (including philosophy, history, law, arts and social science) that is unique to the UK. For the MD(Res) medical humanities, candidates will have a first supervisor at the IoPPN and additional supervisors in humanities departments at KCL or elsewhere.

Is a MD(Res) for me?

Although all MD(Res) students are clinicians, they come from a range of backgrounds, with a variety of experience. Take a look at the information below and some recent student profiles, to find out whether a MD(Res) is right for you:

Students must have:

• The MB BS degree or some other registered primary qualification in Medicine recognized in the UK.
• Preferably registration with the General Medical Council (GMC)

Entry requirements vary for department, and the minimum requirements for entry are included within each programme listing on our  online prospectus .

If you wish to study full time:

• You will be expected to submit your thesis within 2 years.

If you wish to study part time

• You will be expected to submit your thesis within 4 years. 

For more information, please see the Fees webpage.

Students can start in either October (when most students start), February or June.

Students who are being funded by an external source should check whether there are any limitations on start dates. 

If you are not able to self fund your studies, browse through these links. Please be aware that there is less funding available for MD(Res) programmes, than PhDs.

• Centre for Doctoral Studies Funding Database
• Research & Development Office
• Research grants office
• Medical Research Council
• Economic and Social Research Council
• British Council
• Government Loans
• Mental Health Research UK

Individual academics and departments occasionally offer full time fully funded studentships, on an ad hoc basis, if they receive funding themselves, however these tend to be for PhDs. MD(Res) applicants are therefore encouraged to contact academics regarding funding on a case by case basis.

For more information on funding at Kings, please see the Funding webpage.

Student Profiles

I had previously completed the MSc in Philosophy of Mental Disorder run by IoPPN/ KCL, which was a brilliantly taught and rigorous exploration of the theories and models that underlie psychiatry. I knew that I wanted to pursue further research in this area but it was not clear to me how or where, until I learned of the MD (Res) programme in Medical Humanities under the aegis of the Department of Psychological Medicine.

The supervision really is world class with students given clear direction and aims but with the flexibility and encouragement to investigate other avenues along the way. All research students must accumulate transferable skills over the course of their study and the range of courses available is very wide. Some are invaluable, such as speed reading, while many others are fascinating even if not directly related to one's research topic: a five day course on Gramsci springs to mind.

I have been surprised by the opportunities afforded to research students here, whether that be seminars and conferences, courses on applying for funding or presenting skills, co-writing book chapters and papers, and establishing links internationally with researchers. My inbox is inundated daily with opportunities and activities.

I am unsure what the future holds but I do feel sure I will benefit professionally and personally from my time studying here.

My chosen project means that I am based at the Health Service and Population Research (HSPR) Department and I make extensive use of resources within the Biomedical Research Centre Nucleus, particularly the Clinical Record Interactive Search (CRIS) System.

At KCL/IoPPN there is a clear framework of supervision, educational support and oversight for graduate students, which is very important for keeping us on track! There is free access for students to a wide range of training and development opportunities. The IoPPN also organises events such as the Graduate Student Showcase, which facilitates exposure and interest in the work of research students here.

I think being a researcher has expanded my horizons intellectually and helped me as a psychiatrist to have a broader perspective in my day-to-day clinical work. I very much hope to continue working in research beyond my MD, possibly as a clinical academic.

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Medical Sciences

The MD (Doctor of Medicine) is a higher research degree awarded to medical professionals.

Research projects

Entry requirements.

Fees and funding

Introduction

About the MD

The MD (Doctor of Medicine) gives you the opportunity to conduct a substantial independent research project which will lead to an original contribution to knowledge. You can work in a wide range of areas – our current students are researching topics as diverse as treatment of lower limb varicose veins, HIV microbicides, and outcomes of bariatric surgery. Throughout your degree, you will be supervised by a leading expert in the field and supported by a Thesis Advisory Panel.

An MD project will draw upon your clinical experience and expertise and addresses issues of diagnosis or management in a clinical environment. If you have an idea for a research project that doesn't address these areas, you should consider doing a PhD instead.

The MD can be studied full-time or part-time. Many MD students have existing clinical commitments alongside their studies. The full-time MD is suitable if you can devote a significant amount of study time per week (at least 35 hours) alongside your clinical work.

If your clinical work is demanding or you have limited study time, you should consider studying part-time. If you have full-time clinical commitments, you must study part-time. Part-time study is at least 17.5 hours per week.

You will register at the university where your principal supervisor works, and you will have access to facilities and support at both our parent universities – Hull and York. All of our degrees are awarded by both the University of Hull and University of York.

Previously awarded research theses are available on the HYDRA digital repository .

Your research

Research project and supervisor

Before making your MD application, you need to find a member of our academic staff to supervise your research project.

To find your principal academic supervisor, visit our  research pages in your field of interest, and link to their academic staff pages .

Once you find an academic staff whose research specialism matches your interest and proposal, contact them directly to determine if your proposal can be supported.

Ethical requirements

All research with us is conducted within strict ethical guidelines. Before you start your research, you will need ethical approval from the appropriate university and NHS ethics committees. You need to take this into account when planning your project and writing your proposal.

For enquiries regarding ethical approval, please email [email protected]

For entry to our MD programme, applicants must:

• have obtained either an MB or BS degree from a UK medical school or equivalent or hold a medical degree from any other university that is recognised for registration by the General Medical Council of the United Kingdom
• have been practising medicine for a minimum of two years after graduation

English language requirements

If you're a non-native English speaking applicant you must provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept any of the following:

• IELTS: 6.5, with no less than 6.0 in each component
• PTE Academic: 61, with no less than 55 in each component
• CAE and CPE (from January 2015): 176, with no less than 169 in each component
• TOEFL: 87, with no less than 21 in each component
• Trinity ISE: level 3 with Merit in all components

You do not need to provide evidence of your English language abilities if certain conditions apply. Check English language exceptions on the University of York website .

Tuition fees

Visit our tuition fees page .

Doctoral Loan

A Postgraduate Doctoral Loan can help with course fees and living costs while you study a postgraduate doctoral course.

How to apply

You might already have a specific supervisor or project in mind, or maybe you're thinking more about an area of study rather than a specific project. Whichever route you're considering, here are some starting points:

• Find a supervisor:  search our research centres and groups to find a supervisor who works in your field
• Contact your potential supervisor: if you’re generating your own research project, seek guidance on its suitability

Applications are made on the University of York website:

Apply for the MD in Medical Sciences

We advise to apply at least 8 weeks before your intended start date (or earlier if you are an international student to allow for visa applications).

We recommend all prospective students to visit the University of York website for full details of how to apply .

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Epidemiology and Public Health MPhil/PhD

London, Bloomsbury

Our PhD programme aims to equip the next generation of experts with the necessary tools to address major 21st-century health challenges and deliver real-world impact.

UK tuition fees (2024/25)

Overseas tuition fees (2024/25), programme starts, applications accepted.

Prospective students should apply at least four months before their intended start date. If you require a visa we recommend allowing for more time.

• Entry requirements

A minimum of an upper second-class UK Bachelor’s degree and/or a Master’s degree (preferably with a merit or distinction) in a relevant discipline, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 2

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website .

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

The Epidemiology and Public Health research degree programme is based within UCL's Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care.

You will join an extremely engaging PhD programme, which currently supports a vibrant community of over 100 students from all over the world.

This programme offers you the opportunity to join a multidisciplinary research department with experts who focus on a wide range of public health concerns such as:

• Infectious disease monitoring, prevention and control
• Social determinants of health 
• Dental public health
• Disability across the globe
• Health and life expectancy in socially excluded groups
• Health surveys and longitudinal cohort studies

You will be supported to gain a wealth of skills, experience and networking opportunities that are relevant for a wide range of future careers, both within academia and more widely in the healthcare, industry and governmental sector.

You will receive direct supervision from world-leading academics based on UCL's campus in the heart of London. All PhD students are supported by supervisory panels of multidisciplinary staff, as well as student mentors, and departmental graduate tutors.

Who this course is for

This programme provides training for those looking for a career in epidemiology, public health and health care policy, either in academia, industry or public health practice. It is offered full time or part time, the latter option being suitable for those who continue in employment while gaining a research qualification.

What this course will give you

This programme will provide you with access to a wide range of supporting opportunities that will increase your ability to develop transferable skills, that are sought after by national and international employers.

Skills Development programme

UCL's DocSkills Development Programme is open to all PhD students at UCL and it offers an extensive list of development opportunities. The purpose of the programme is to give you the opportunity to expand your research and transferable skills in order to support your research, professional development and employability. Find out more about UCL's DocSkills Development programme .

Mentoring programme

We offer a Peer-Level Research Student Mentoring Scheme and provide all new research degree students with a peer-mentor upon arrival. The mentor you are allocated will generally be a 2nd or 3rd year PhD student.

We take career support very seriously at UCL and you can find out more within the programmes Careers and Employability section .

Early Career Researchers Forum

The Institutes’s Early Career Researcher Forum (ECF) is an ongoing and expanding programme of regular seminars for postdoctoral researchers and PhD students. Previous events focused on how to apply for jobs in academia, authorship and publishing, patient and public involvement in research, using social media in research (including film), how PhD students can best prepare for their viva, and oral and poster presentations.

Journal Club

A PhD and junior researcher journal club group which meets in an informal setting. With the aim of improving student's critical analysis and methodology skills, the Journal Club discusses papers from a broad range of topics on health promotion and disease prevention. The club is run by students and facilitated by a senior member of academic staff within the Institute.

Lunchtime Seminar Series

The Lunchtime Seminar series is delivered by the department's research groups and PhD students. The seminars typically take place once a month.

PhD Poster Competition

Every year we run a PhD student poster competition which is an opportunity to share students work with members of staff, outsiders who will be visiting for our Open Day and fellow students.

3-minute thesis competition (3MT)

The Institute runs an annual 3-minute thesis competition which is an academic competition that challenges PhD students to describe their research within three minutes to a general audience. 3MT celebrates the discoveries made by research students and encourages them to communicate the importance of their research to the broader community. It's a great opportunity for students to practice their presentation skills, meet other candidates and have a chance to win prize money.

Teaching Opportunities for PhD Students

The Institute is committed and recognises the importance of providing postgraduate teaching assistant opportunities for PhD students, so they can gain valuable experience during their studies at UCL. Formal is provided and a wide range of teaching opportunities are offered each term.

The foundation of your career

We produce graduates with the skills and knowledge sought after by government departments and public sector organisations worldwide, as well as leading academic institutions.

Employability

This research degree programme aims to provide excellent and challenging training for exceptional students, so that they may successfully pursue careers in:

• Local and central government
• Public health organisations
• Hospitals and clinical trial units
• Academic researchers and university lecturers
• Policy management
• Government advisors
• Charity and non-governmental sectors

This degree can be varied and may have an international dimension, including fieldwork carried out abroad, setting up a study within the UK or other countries, or using secondary data from some of the UK’s largest, most comprehensive longitudinal datasets many of which are housed within the institute.

You will also have access to UCL's Doctoral Skills Development programme, which will enable you to expand your research and transferable skills in order to support your research, professional development and employability.

The Institute’s research departments collaborate with third sector and governmental organisations, as well as members of the media, both nationally and internationally to ensure the highest possible impact of their work beyond the academic community. Students are encouraged to take up internships with relevant organisations where funding permits. Members of staff also collaborate closely with academics from leading institutions globally.

Teaching and learning

Learning is mostly self-directed with input from PhD supervisors. The training and development programme for each student is overseen and supported by a Thesis Committee panel, appointed by the supervisory team.

PhD final assessment is by means of a thesis, which should demonstrate your ability to pursue original research based upon a good understanding of the research techniques and concepts appropriate to the discipline.

Your thesis must also represent your distinct and significant contribution to the subject, either through the discovery of new knowledge, through the connection of previously unrelated facts, the development of a new theory, or the revision of older views.

Your thesis should reflect the exercise of critical judgement with regard to both your own work and that of other scholars in the field.

You are required to register initially for the MPhil degree with the expectation of transfer to PhD after successful completion of an upgrade viva. For a successful upgrade to PhD, you prepare a written report, give an oral presentation and pass an oral examination.

For a PhD award, you will be examined on your submitted thesis, this involves a viva (an oral exam) with two independent examiners.

Contact hours and hours of self-study are agreed between the student and the supervisor at the beginning of their research degree and should be reviewed on a regular basis. Full-time postgraduate research students are expected to work a minimum of 36.5 hours per week on their project. With agreement of their supervisors, contact time can be on-site or remote working depending upon the nature and stage of the project. PGR students can have the opportunity to access UCL facilities ‘out of hours’ including weekends and holidays during their period of registration. Students will have research meetings with their supervisors at least once per month. Full-time Research students can take 27 days of annual leave, plus eight days of Bank holidays and six UCL closure days.

Research areas and structure

Our research focuses on a wide range of public health concerns such as heart disease; dental public health; mental health and well-being; and child development and ageing. Our research has significant real-world impact, informing policy both in the United Kingdom and around the world, and the wider public understanding of health inequalities.

Find out more.

Research environment

UCL is among the world's top ten universities (QS World University Rankings 2024) with a reputation for high-quality research. Located in the heart of London, it is a stimulating and exciting environment in which to study.

• UCL is rated No.1 for research power and impact in medicine, health, and life sciences (REF 2021)
• UCL is ranked 6th in the world for public health (ShanghaiRanking's 2023 Global Ranking of Academic Subjects)
• UCL is ranked 9th in the world as a university (QS World Rankings 2024)

UCL can bring the full power of a multi-faculty university to bear on discussions of population health, involving academics from the wide range of disciplines necessary to tackle some of the most difficult issues in public health.

More specifically, the UCL's Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care brings together four research departments, whose interests span the life course from childhood to old age, and research from the origins of disease to the development of innovative interventions.

The four research Departments are:

• Applied Health Research
• Behavioural Science and Health
• Epidemiology and Public Health
• Primary Care and Population Health

Full-time students are normally registered for a minimum of 3 years. 

All students initially register for the MPhil degree before being upgraded (typically early in the 2nd year) to the PhD degree. For a successful upgrade to a PhD, students must prepare a written report, give an oral presentation and pass an oral examination. 

Students are regularly monitored to ensure that they are making good progress and that supervisory arrangements are satisfactory to both the student and supervisor. Once the student has completed their research and submitted their thesis, they have a viva (an oral exam) with two examiners.

Part-time students are required to register for a minimum of 5 years.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk . Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing team .

Fees and funding

Fees for this course.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees .

Additional costs

There may be additional costs related to participating in scientific meetings, conferences, short courses, or data collection/access, but these are all optional.

The students can apply for financial support provided by the Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care to participate in conferences.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs .

Funding your studies

View the Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care's Studentship and Funding webpage for opportunities.  

The following studentships have been received in previous years: ESRC, MRC, MRC/ESRC, NIHR, Cancer Research UK, Diabetes UK, Wellcome Trust, European Union and British Heart Foundation.

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website .

We accept research degree applications throughout the year. Please note: essential information about the application process can be found on the website .

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2024-2025

Got questions get in touch.

Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care

[email protected]

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Cardiovascular Science PhD, MScR

Awards: PhD, MScR

Study modes: Full-time, Part-time

Funding opportunities

Programme website: Cardiovascular Science

Discovery Day

Join us online on 18th April to learn more about postgraduate study at Edinburgh

View sessions and register

Research profile

The Centre for Cardiovascular Science aims to foster and deliver research into the causes, consequences and therapy of the cardiovascular diseases.

We offer postgraduates the opportunity to work within internationally leading research programmes addressing fundamental development and control of the cardiovascular system and the origins and consequences of cardiovascular disease. The work extends from basic laboratory research through to clinical studies.

Four PhD studentships are available in September 2023, funded by the British Heart Foundation*. The studentships have a 1+3 format, the first year being a Masters in Cardiovascular Science that includes a taught element and 3 laboratory/project rotations followed by a 3 year PhD. These studentships are aimed at highly motivated candidates with research experience and a strong interest in the cardiovascular research performed within our Centre.

The Centre will also consider self-funded candidates for the PhD in Cardiovascular Science. Such candidates will be expected to have an agreement with one of our Centre’s Principal Investigators to supervise a PhD project before application and will be interviewed by the Postgraduate Director and members of the Postgraduate Committee.

In 2019, the Centre was designated as one of four British Heart Foundation Research Excellence Award (REA) and was awarded £3M over a four-year period, building upon 3 successive major REA investments since 2008.

Major research efforts are directed at:

• the metabolic syndrome and risk factors for cardiovascular disease
• mechanisms of atheromatous plaque formation and systemic and brain vascular dysfunction
• renal dysfunction and hypertension
• development and application of imaging in heart, systemic - and neurovascular diseases
• exploitation of "Big Data" and e-health science in diabetes and cardiovascular diseases

Training and support

The Centre has an excellent track record for training provision to basic scientists and clinicians. Trainees on our programmes receive direct support from at least two academic advisors during their studies and a dedicated thesis committee provides guidance throughout the programme of research. In addition to research training, the Centre hosts an active seminar series for distinguished external speakers and a them-based forum for presentation of internal research at all levels (PhD, post-doctoral, principal investigators).

The Centre offers training to clinicians and basic scientists from biomedical and non-biomedical backgrounds. Several training schemes are offered, covering full- and part-time study.

In addition, there are three distinct 4-year PhD programmes, applications for which should be made directly to the Centre.

The CVS is situated in the £50 million, purpose-built Queen's Medical Research Institute adjacent to the new Medical School and Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Little France. Trainees can access the BHF Biomedical Magnetic Resonance Imaging and the Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facilities. In addition, the Centre supports a high quality suite for in vivo physiological studies.

Entry requirements

These entry requirements are for the 2024/25 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2025/26 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2024.

A UK 2:1 honours degree or its international equivalent.

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country
• English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced ( CAE ) / C2 Proficiency ( CPE ): total 176 with at least 169 in each component.
• Trinity ISE : ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 62 with at least 59 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS , TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE , in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

• Approved universities in non-MESC

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old* at the beginning of your programme of study. (*Revised 05 March 2024 to extend degree validity to five years.)

Find out more about our language requirements:

Fees and costs

Additional costs.

The Centre will consider self-funded candidates for the PhD in Cardiovascular Science.

As a self-funding student you will be responsible for securing funding to cover your tuition fees and living costs for the duration of your studies. You would also be expected to cover the project research costs. These are defined by the project supervisor and are typically in excess of £10,000 per year.

Tuition fees

Scholarships and funding, featured funding.

• Centre for Cardiovascular Science funding
• College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine funding opportunities
• Research scholarships for international students
• Principal's Career Development PhD Scholarships

UK government postgraduate loans

If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.

The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:

• your programme
• the duration of your studies
• your tuition fee status

Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.

• UK government and other external funding

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

• Search for funding

Further information

• CVS Postgraduate Administrator, Lynn Meikle
• Phone: +44 (0)131 242 6724
• Contact: [email protected]
• CVS Postgraduate Director, Dr Sari Pennings
• Phone: +44 (0)131 242 6195
• Contact: [email protected]
• Centre for Cardiovascular Science
• Queen's Medical Research Institute
• 47 Little France Crescent
• Little France
• Programme: Cardiovascular Science
• School: Edinburgh Medical School: Clinical Sciences
• College: Medicine & Veterinary Medicine

Select your programme and preferred start date to begin your application.

PhD Cardiovascular Science - 3 Years (Full-time)

Phd cardiovascular science - 6 years (part-time), msc by research cardiovascular science - 1 year (full-time), msc by research cardiovascular science - 2 years (part-time), application deadlines.

We encourage you to apply at least one month prior to entry so that we have enough time to process your application. If you are also applying for funding or will require a visa then we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible.

• How to apply

You must submit two references with your application.

Before making your application, you must make contact with a potential supervisor to discuss your research proposal. Further information on making a research degree application can be found on the College website:

• How to apply for a research degree

You will be formally interviewed (in person, by video-conferencing or Skype).

Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:

Applications for fall 2025 admission will open in August. Visit the How to Apply webpage for more details.

Welcome to the NIH Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program is a highly individualized and accelerated doctoral training program for outstanding students committed to biomedical research careers. NIH Oxford-Cambridge (OxCam) students partner with two Investigators - one at the NIH and another at the University of Oxford or University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom - to perform a single, collaborative dissertation project. Since the program is based on the British system, OxCam Scholars perform doctoral research without required formal courses other than those students choose to take in relationship to their own scientific interests. As a result, OxCam students are able to complete the doctoral degree in approximately four years. Students are expected to divide the time evenly between the two laboratories, with two years in the NIH laboratory and two years in the UK laboratory.

Applications for the NIH OxCam Program are available online between August and December. Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident and possess a Bachelor's degree by the start of the program. Students selected for admission typically demonstrate a sincere passion for science through previous participation in summer, job-related, or undergraduate/post-baccalaureate research opportunities. 

• Prospective Student
• Current Student
• Principal Investigators

The Student

• Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• Receives tuition support and stipend for the duration of the program 
• May partner OxCam with other scholarship programs, such as Rhodes, Marshall, or Gates Cambridge

Two Mentors

• One mentor at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) intramural campus
• One mentor at either the University of Oxford OR the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom

The Doctoral Research

• In any area of biomedical research
• Self-derived and self-driven
• Conducted in the NIH and U.K. laboratories (time split evenly between both labs)
• No formal coursework required. Courses are available, if desired
• Earns a doctoral degree from Oxford or Cambridge
• Average time to completion is just over four years 

Now in its 20th year, the  NIH Oxford-Cambridge (OxCam) Scholars Program has grown from the first class of two students to a population of well over 100 aspiring young scientists whose interests find them involved in some of the most cutting edge biomedical research endeavors being conducted in the world.

As an NIH OxCam Scholar, there are resources available to help you navigate through your doctoral training. Outlines for the expectations of each year and basic timelines will help guide you through your four years with us; From tips and tricks for selecting a mentor, to guidelines for writing your research proposal and yearly progress reports, to timelines for research and thesis writing, we want to ensure that you have a place to get the information that you need.

• Student Profiles

Student Timeline and Benchmarks

The NIH Oxford-Cambridge (OxCam) Scholars Program is a highly individualized doctoral program for outstanding students seeking to pursue a career in biomedical research. OxCam Scholars partner with two Investigators - one at the NIH and another at either the University of Oxford or University of Cambridge - to perform a single, collaborative dissertation project. Since the program is based on the British system, students are not required to take formal coursework. As a result, OxCam students typically complete the doctoral degree in approximately four years. While in the program, OxCam Scholars are enrolled at Oxford or Cambridge in the UK as well as appointed as a predoctoral IRTA at the NIH. Each student divides the time evenly between the two laboratories, with approximately two years at the NIH and two years in the UK. 

Students interested in pursuing a career as a physician-scientist may pair the NIH OxCam Program with a U.S. medical school or Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) via the NIH MD/PhD Partnership Training Program . NIH MD/PhD Program students partner with the medical school for the M.D. phase of training, and participate in the OxCam Program for the PhD phase of training. Funding for the medical school portion of the MD/PhD Program is provided through extramural MSTP funding from the participating medical school. 

If you are interested in mentoring an OxCam PhD or MD/PhD Scholar or would like to submit a potential research collaboration, please contact Dr. Kristi Porter. 

• NIH OxCam Program online booklet
• Student Timeline and Benchmarks

Imperial College London Imperial College London

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Looking for funding?

Use our scholarships search tool to look for available scholarships. Also explore our latest funded PhD vacancies .

A PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) is the most common type of doctoral degree and the highest level of academic qualification you can achieve. 

It normally takes between three and four years of full-time work to complete. It is also possible to undertake a PhD part time, over five to six years.

The main activity of a PhD is to carry out an original research project under the direction of one or more supervisors, to be written up as a thesis.

Different routes to achieving a PhD

There are a number of ways to achieving a PhD at Imperial:

• by undertaking a course of study based on your own research proposal
• by joining a research project that comes with funding attached (known as a studentship)
• by combining it with Master's study in an integrated route that typically lasts four years

Pursuing your own research idea

To search for PhD opportunities based on your own research proposal you first need to identify a research group within Imperial whose area of expertise best matches your idea.

Use the links below to search the different PhD opportunities within our academic departments, centres and institutes. This includes information about current studentships and often guidance on finding a supervisor.

Our interdisciplinary approach means our expertise often spans departmental boundaries – and so do our courses – so you may find opportunities in an unexpected area of the university.

Faculty of Engineering

• Aeronautics
• Bioengineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Civil and Environmental Engineering
• School of Design Engineering
• Earth Science and Engineering
• Electrical and Electronic Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering

Faculty of Medicine

• Department of Brain Sciences
• Department of Immunology and Inflammation
• Department of Infectious Disease
• Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction
• Department of Surgery and Cancer
• National Heart and Lung Institute
• School of Public Health

Faculty of Natural Sciences

• Life Sciences
• Mathematics
• Centre for Environmental Policy

Imperial College Business School

• Doctoral programme

Centre for Languages, Culture and Communication

• PhD in Arabic, German, Italian, Russian and Spanish Studies
• PhD in science communication studies

Global Challenge institutes

We have six Global Challenge institutes, which were created to address some of society's biggest challenges.

If you have an idea for a PhD that falls within the remit of one of our Global Challenge institutes please contact them directly to discuss before making a formal application.

• Data Science Institute
• Grantham Institute – Climate Change and the Environment
• Institute for Molecular Science and Engineering
• Institute for Security Science and Technology
• Institute of Global Health Innovation

Energy Futures Lab  does not offer PhD programmes, but does deliver the  MSc in Sustainable Energy Futures .

Joint Academy of Doctoral Studies | Imperial College London-Technical University of Munich

We have recently formed  a strategic partnership in education, research and innovation  with the Technical University of Munich, one of Germany’s most international and entrepreneurial universities, producing highly ranked research, like Imperial, in science, engineering and medicine.

As part of the partnership, Imperial and TUM have launched a 'Joint Academy of Doctoral Studies' with the aim of co-developing cross-disciplinary clusters of PhD students who will have access to world-leading academic supervisors and state-of-the art facilities at both institutions.

The first round of the programme will focus on the theme of 'Artificial Intelligence, Healthcare and Robotics'.

Find out more about the Joint Academy of Doctoral Studies and apply

NIH Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program

Students interested in pursuing a career as a physician-scientist via the NIH MD/PhD Partnership Training Program may pursue the PhD phase of training through the NIH Oxford-Cambridge (OxCam) Scholars Program. The NIH OxCam Program is an accelerated, individualized doctoral training program for outstanding science students committed to biomedical research careers. Most students accepted into the NIH MD/PhD Partnership Training Program elect to participate in the NIH Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program for the PhD portion of their training.

NIH Oxford-Cambridge (OxCam) students partner with two Investigators - one at the NIH and another at the University of Oxford or University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom - to perform a single, collaborative dissertation project. Since the program is based on the British system, OxCam Scholars perform doctoral research without required formal courses other than those students choose to take to specifically develop or advance their research project. As a result, OxCam students are able to complete the doctoral degree in approximately four years. Students are expected to divide the time evenly between the two laboratories, with two years in the NIH laboratory and two years in the UK laboratory. For more information about the NIH OxCam Program, please visit the  program website .

What is the Real Difference between an MD and PhD?

Phds advance knowledge, whereas mds merely apply existing knowledge..

Posted March 7, 2011 | Reviewed by Kaja Perina

If you ask someone in the psychology world how people with PhDs (Doctor of Philosophy ) differ from those with MD (Doctor of Medicine) you may get an answer like "MDs can prescribe medication , whereas PhDs cannot." That is true. Another difference is that MDs generally make more money in the United States.

MDs are consider by many to be the "real doctors" because they can help with physiological medical problems. That too is true. I certainly don't refer to myself as "Dr. Kelly" in any context other than an academic setting, because people might get the false impression that I could jump in and help in the event of a broken foot or migraine headache.

All that sounds pretty bad for the PhD. But here's the most essential difference between the two degrees: PhDs advance knowledge, whereas MDs merely apply existing knowledge. Unlike the MD who does not need to produce any original research, the person earning a PhD must produce original research and write it up in a thesis or dissertation. Then a committee of experts must deem that thesis as offering an acceptable advancement of knowledge before the PhD is conferred. It typically takes a couple of years longer to earn a PhD than an MD. Part of the reason it takes so long is that the person earning the PhD is being trained on how to think critically about existing knowledge, and it can take a while to find one's niche and fill a gap in the knowledge base.

If you yourself want to make important scientific discoveries and then tell the world about them, you will be much better prepared by getting a PhD than an MD. You also will be much better prepared to criticize studies you read about in virtually any field because you will be trained in critical thinking and writing.

If you are deciding which degree is right for you, ask yourself if you will be content with applying the knowledge you learn (MD) from other people, or if you would like to get in on the action of making the discoveries yourself (PhD). For instance, would you like to be one of the scientists who are figuring out how to reverse the aging process (PhD)? Would you like to see if giving aging mice a particular the enzyme (one that you discover) makes their hair shiny again and restores their fertility (PhD)? Or would you be content giving your future medical patients the proper dose of the medications that arise from this research and then seeing the signs of youth return in your patients (MD)? These are the kinds of questions that college students everywhere should be asking themselves, and yet I have never seen them do so.

This difference in training also means that if you want to know what the cutting -edge knowledge is in a given field, you have to ask a PhD in that field, not an MD. So for instance, let's say you or your mate is having trouble getting pregnant . If you just ask your local obstetrician or gynecologist what the cutting edge discoveries are regarding fertility, that MD is not likely to know. That MD can give you fertility treatments that he or she has learned about and tried with other patients. It should be noted, however, that many MDs make an effort to remain abreast of scientific research long after their degree has been conferred.

The upshot of my message is this: We need both kinds of people, those who apply existing knowledge (such as the MD does in the medical field) and those who advance it (PhDs). But if you think a PhD is less qualified than an MD when it comes to having cutting-edge knowledge, you have that backwards.

Anita E. Kelly, Ph.D., is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Notre Dame. She is author of The Clever Student and The Psychology of Secrets.

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My research interests focus on improving the care of women with breast cancer through clinical trials. I lead a spectrum of clinical studies spanning the spectrum of the disease and ranging from phase I to randomised phase III. The majority of these studies are translational phase II studies investigating novel targeted and immune therapies. Our current interests include cancer immune therapy combinations across all stages and subtypes of breast cancer, novel targeted agents and antibody-drug conjugates - alone or in combination - to overcome resistance, and innovative biomarker-driven trial concepts (including a preoperative window of opportunity platform to evaluate novel immunotherapy combinations in breast cancer).

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Pembrolizumab for Early Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. N Engl J Med (2020) 382(9):810-821. PMID:  32101663

Pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy versus placebo plus chemotherapy for previously untreated locally recurrent inoperable or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (KEYNOTE-355): a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind, phase 3 clinical trial. Lancet (2020) 396(10265):1817-1828. PMID:  33278935

Atezolizumab plus nab-paclitaxel as first-line treatment for unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (IMpassion130): updated efficacy results from a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial. Lancet Oncol (2020) 21(1):44-59. PMID:  31786121

Atezolizumab and Nab-Paclitaxel in Advanced Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. N Engl J Med (2018) 379(22):2108-2121. PMID:  30345906

• BARBICAN: A randomised, open-label Phase II study to determine the contribution of ipatasertib to neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus atezolizumab in women with TNBC (CI). Roche, 2018-2022
• ECLIPSE: A phase II trial investigating preoperative combination strategies for immunotherapy in patients with operable, ER-positive, HER2-negative primary breast cancer (CI). Roche, 2017-2022
• Barts Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (PI). Cancer Research UK and NIHR. 2017-2022, £2M
• Comprehensive Analysis of Circulating Biomarkers in breast cancer patients (CI). Barts Charity, 2015-2022, £499,652
• Clinical director, Barts Breast Cancer Centre, St Bartholomew's Hospital
• Chair, European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) breast cancer faculty
• Scientific committee/faculty for the major global oncology meetings
• ECMC strategy group and ECMC Intelligence Steering Committee
• Clinical Expert for the UK National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), nominated by the Royal College of Physicians
• International guidelines for breast cancer

Themes/Keywords

Professor Schmid’s research is focused on improving the care of women with breast cancer through clinical trials. He is investigating a variety of novel agents that target specific pathways within cancer cells and the surrounding tissue. Professor Schmid runs an international clinical and translational research programme spanning the spectrum of the disease and ranging from phase I to randomised phase III. The majority of the studies incorporate translational research endpoints to improve our understanding of molecular factors that may elucidate mechanisms of action and predictors of treatment effect; this includes a programme on the impact of the microbiome on patient outcomes.

His current research interests include cancer immune therapy combinations across all stages and subtypes of breast cancer, novel targeted agents and antibody-drug conjugates - alone or in combination - to overcome resistance, and innovative biomarker-driven trial concepts (including a preoperative window of opportunity platform to evaluate novel immunotherapy combinations in breast cancer).

Professor Schmid is the lead investigator of several international, pivotal breast cancer studies on novel targeted therapeutics to improve the treatment of both early and late stage breast cancer. He was the lead investigator of the Impassion130 trial that evaluated atezolizumab for advanced triple-negative breast cancer and lead to the approval of the first immunotherapy strategy for patients with breast cancer, establishing a new standard of care for this disease. He was also the lead investigator of the KEYNOTE-522 trial which established the addition of the immune-checkpoint inhibitor Pembrolizumab to preoperative chemotherapy as a new standard for patients with stage II or III triple-negative breast cancer based on a 37% reduction in recurrences of this aggressive subtype of breast cancer.

Professor Schmid’s work has published over 100 peer-reviewed papers in medical journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine , Lancet , Lancet Oncology , JAMA Oncology, Nature Communications and the Journal of Clinical Oncology . He has grant income from national and international funding bodies.

Prof Schmid is a member of several national and international cancer organisations and research groups. He has been involved in international consensus meetings and is co-author of international guidelines on the management of breast cancer. Professor Peter Schmid is Chair of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) breast cancer faculty and he is part of the faculty for the major global oncology meetings.

• ARB-ER - Randomized Phase II window study of short-term preoperative treatment with enzalutamide plus exemestane versus exemestane in ER-positive breast cancer (CI). Astellas, 2014-2017
• ARB-TNBC - Phase II window study of short-term preoperative treatment with enzalutamide in patients with triple negative breast cancer (CI). Astellas, 2014-2017
• MANTA - Randomized Phase II study of Fulvestrant in combination with AZD2014 or Everolimus or Fulvestrant alone in ER-positive metastatic breast cancer (CI). Astra Zeneca, 2013-2018
• CRUKE/12/051: PAKT - Phase II, randomized, placebo-controlled study of paclitaxel +/- the AKT inhibitor AZD5363 in triple-negative breast cancer (CI). CRUK/Astra Zeneca, 2013-2018

Recent Publications

Neoadjuvant immunotherapy and chemotherapy regimens for the treatment of high-risk, early-stage triple-negative breast cancer: a systematic review and network meta-analysis Cortes J, Haiderali A, Huang M et al. BMC Cancer (2023) 23(7)

XENERA-1: a randomised double-blind Phase II trial of xentuzumab in combination with everolimus and exemestane versus everolimus and exemestane in patients with hormone receptor-positive/HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer and non-visceral disease Schmid P, Cortes J, Joaquim A et al. Breast Cancer Research (2023) 25(7)

Overall survival with sacituzumab govitecan in hormone receptor-positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative metastatic breast cancer (TROPiCS-02): a randomised, open-label, multicentre, phase 3 trial Rugo HS, Bardia A, Marmé F et al. The Lancet (2023) 402(7) 1423-1433

ESMO Expert Consensus Statements on the management of breast cancer during pregnancy (PrBC) Loibl S, Azim HA, Bachelot T et al. Annals of Oncology (2023) 34(7) 849-866

ESMO expert consensus statements (ECS) on the definition, diagnosis, and management of HER2-low breast cancer Tarantino P, Viale G, Press MF et al. Annals of Oncology (2023) 34(7) 645-659

Prognostic and predictive impact of gene expression in node-positive early breast cancer patients receiving dose-dense versus standard-dose adjuvant chemotherapy Reinisch M, Bruzas S, Gluz O et al. Molecular Oncology (2023) 17(7) 1060-1075

Aromatase inhibition plus/minus Src inhibitor saracatinib (AZD0530) in advanced breast cancer therapy (ARISTACAT): a randomised phase II study Oswald AJ, Symeonides SN, Wheatley D et al. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment (2023) 199(7) 35-46

Safety and clinical activity of atezolizumab plus erlotinib in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer Rudin CM, Cervantes A, Dowlati A et al. ESMO Open (2023) 8(7)

Results of the c-TRAK TN trial: a clinical trial utilising ctDNA mutation tracking to detect molecular residual disease and trigger intervention in patients with moderate- and high-risk early-stage triple-negative breast cancer Turner NC, Swift C, Jenkins B et al. Annals of Oncology (2023) 34(7) 200-211

Palbociclib with Fulvestrant or Letrozole in Endocrine-Sensitive Patients with HR-Positive/HER2-Negative Advanced Breast Cancer: A Detailed Safety Analysis of the Randomized PARSIFAL Trial Di Cosimo S, Pérez-García JM, Bellet M et al. The oncologist (2023) 28(7) 23-32

Professor Schmid is the clinical director of the Breast Cancer Centre and an honorary consultant medical oncologist at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital. He was appointed in 2013 as Chair in Cancer Medicine at Barts Cancer Institute (BCI), Queen Mary University London. Professor Schmid is the Lead of the Centre of Experimental Cancer Medicine at BCI, overseeing the conduct of early phase trials at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital and BCI. He leads the academic breast cancer programme at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital and BCI.

Professor Schmid trained in medicine in Munich and Aberdeen. He was awarded scholarships by the 'Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes' (German Academic Scholarship Foundation), the 'Hanns-Seidel-Foundation', and the 'Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst' (German Academic Exchange Service). He graduated from the Technical University of Munich medical school in 1997, gaining a MD in Clinical Chemistry in 1998 from the University of Munich and a Clinical Research PhD in 2005 from Charité University in Berlin.

Prof Schmid trained at the University Hospital Charité in Berlin in internal medicine, haematology, and oncology, before he became a Senior Clinical Lecturer and Director of the Hammersmith Early Clinical Trials Unit at Imperial College London in 2005. Professor Schmid was appointed as Foundation Chair in Cancer Medicine at the University of Sussex in 2010, before taking on his current role at BCI in 2013.

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PhD Medicine

Queen's university belfast.

• Belfast, United Kingdom

The School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences trains ~250 postgraduate research students undertaking PhD, MD and MPhil degrees in Cancer Research, Experimental Medicine, Public Health and Medical Education. Its diverse postgraduate student population comprises both basic and clinical scientists from across the globe engaged in wide-ranging research projects spanning the breadth of the School’s research portfolio from bioinformatics through molecular and cell biology to clinical trials.

PhD in Experimental Medicine

Queen's university of belfast - medical faculty.

Full time, Part time

The School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Biomedical Sciences trains ~250 postgraduate research students undertaking Ph.D., MD, and MPhil degrees in Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Experimental Medicine, Public Health, Medical Education, and Dentistry. Its diverse postgraduate student population comprises both basic and clinical scientists from across the globe engaged in wide-ranging research projects spanning the breadth of the School’s research portfolio from traditional epidemiology to 'big data science and bioinformatics, through molecular and cell biology to clinical trials.

PhD in Medicine

The School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences trains ~250 postgraduate research students undertaking PhD, MD and MPhil degrees in Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Experimental Medicine, Public Health and Medical Education. Its diverse postgraduate student population comprises both basic and clinical scientists from across the globe engaged in wide-ranging research projects spanning the breadth of the School’s research portfolio from bioinformatics through molecular and cell biology to clinical trials.

PhD in Regenerative Medicine and Devices

University of brighton- doctoral college.

• Brighton, United Kingdom

The Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Devices focuses its medical research expertise on major clinical conditions and developing treatments. Our research brings deep scientific knowledge, allowing breakthrough innovation across clinical applications and key enabling technologies, as well as developing the role of public and patient participation.

Professional Doctorate in General Internal Medicine (Clinical MD; MPhil)

University of hertfordshire.

• Hatfield, United Kingdom

The Clinical MD programme is specially designed for overseas, early-career medical practitioners who wish to undertake a substantial course of individual research and develop clinical skills related to general internal medicine. It will provide you with the recognition required to become a specialist in general internal medicine in your home country. You'll undertake an individual research project on novel medical or healthcare delivery combined with related studies in general internal medicine supported by clinical placements at local NHS hospital sites. The duration of the programme is of 27 months, with a flexible starting date with two intakes per year. All applicants have the option to be considered by the General Medical Council (GMC) for full registration with sponsorship. To be eligible for this option, applicants will undertake a two-week foundation training programme at an NHS hospital that provides clinical placement for the programme. Additional entry requirements and fees apply.

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PhD Degrees in Medicine

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom and Britain, is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe. The two most famous (and oldest) universities are Oxford and Cambridge (often referred to as Oxbridge by many Britons). England also has several other world-class institutions, including several in London (notably Imperial College, the London School of Economics, University College London and King's College London, all are part of London University).

Requirements for the PhD program often involve the student having already obtained a Master’s degree. Additionally, a thesis or dissertation primarily consisting of original academic research must be submitted. In some countries, this work may even need to be defended in front of a panel.