BBSRC Midlands Integrative Biosciences Training Partnership

Funding

All MIBTP students will be provided with a 4 year studentship available to UK applicants only

This includes:

• Tuition fees at the UK fee rate*
• a tax free stipend which for 2024/5 is £19,237 per year (2025/6 stipend to be confirmed)
• a travel allowance in year 1
• a travel/conference budget
• a generous consumables budget
• use of a laptop for the duration of the programme.

* International students are welcome to apply but applicants must be able to fund the cost of travel to the UK, their visa and associated costs, and the healthcare supplement. The University of Leicester will provide full overseas fee waivers for the duration of their study to all international students accepted at Leicester. The funder, UKRI, allows us to appoint up to 30% overseas students.  

Entry requirements

• Those who have a 1st or a 2.1 undergraduate degree in a relevant field are eligible.
• Evidence of quantitative training is required. For example, AS or A level Maths, IB Standard or Higher Maths, or university level maths/statistics course.
• Those who have a 2.2 and an additional Masters degree in a relevant field may be eligible.
• Those who have a 2.2 and at least three years post-graduate experience in a relevant field may be eligible.
• Those with degrees abroad (perhaps as well as postgraduate experience) may be eligible if their qualifications are deemed equivalent to any of the above.

For further information please contact MIBTP@warwick.ac.uk.

University English language requirements apply.

Informal enquiries

Project enquiries

• Please email the relevant supervisor. Email addresses are on the project descriptions.

Application enquiries

• mibtp-admin@leicester.ac.uk

You may find answers to your questions on the FAQs.

How to apply

Select the project you want to apply for from the project options. Alternatively you can simply apply to join the programme without choosing a project at the application stage.

Please apply using the guidelines below:

1. Check your eligibility.
2. Complete and submit your Leicester PhD application using the Apply Button at the bottom of the page. Select September 2025 in the drop down menu.
3. Please complete EDI form as an expression of interest in MIBTP. This helps us monitor our EDI commitments at every step of the application process.
4. Review the MIBTP Data Privacy Policy to understand how we process your personal data.

*In your Leicester PhD application please include:

• Your A levels (or equivalent) including Maths - if all of your A levels are on one certificate please only upload it once
• Degree level study including study not yet completed. Upload copies of all transcripts and degree certificates if available
• CV
• In the personal statement section explain why you would like to study for a PhD and why you are applying for MIBTP funding. Articulate your case in light of your academic and/or professional experience, including extracurricular courses, activities, placements, etc. you might have attended
• Please make sure you enter the name of the primary supervisor/s in the Supervisor Section and the title of the project (or projects) in the Proposed project title section* so we know which projects you are applying for ( you do not need to include a research proposal and you do not need to submit separate online applications for more than one project just include the details of the projects as above.)
• In the reference section please enter the contact details of your two academic referees in the boxes provided or upload letters of reference if already available. Project supervisors are not able to act as referees for applicants applying for their project.
• In the funding section of the application select STUDENTSHIP. In the drop down menu select BBSRC MIBTP
• If you are applying for an iCASE project please include iCASE with the project title. 

Interview dates to be confirmed.

Eligibility

Residence requirements for all MIBTP studentships

Awards for both UK residents and International applicants cover UK tuition fees and provide a stipend at the standard UKRI rate to support living costs.

MIBTP Funding covers UK tuition fees* and provide a stipend at the standard UKRI rate to support living costs.

Home/UK students

To be classed as a home student, candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Be a UK national (meeting residency requirements), or
• Have settled status*, or
• Have pre-settled status* (meeting residency requirement) or,
• Have indefinite leave to remain or enter

*for applicants holding EU settled and pre-settled status we will require a share code so that we can verify your status (the share code we require starts with S)  please email your share code together with your application ID to pgradmissions@le.ac.uk  once you have submitted your PhD application.

International students

• Students who do not meet the criteria for home / UK student, above, would be classed as an international student. 
• The University of Leicester will provide full overseas fee waivers for the duration of their study to all international students accepted at Leicester. International students will require a student visa in order to be able to study in the UK. There are costs associated with the visa application process, which must be met by the student; approx £2500 for the visa and healthcare surcharge. Please ensure you have the means to meet these costs before you apply to the programme.