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Our flagship RDM Scholars Programme provides a number of fully funded four-year scholarships for basic science students.

Two women in a lab

The programme is open to outstanding candidates of any nationality who wish to pursue a career in experimental and/or computational biology in a range of areas including cardiovascular sciences, diabetes and endocrinology, immunology, haematology, and developmental biology. 

An RDM Scholarship covers University and College fees and a stipend of the current UKRI rate plus £2,500 per annum. The RDM Scholars Programme combines funding from a variety of sources, including departmental funding, the Medical Research Council and the Clarendon Fund.

Procedure

We advertise the RDM Scholars Programme, along with supervisor profiles, each September for admission the following October.

You can select up to three supervisors and should list these in order of preference on the application form. You should contact your prospective supervisors before you apply in order to discuss the research opportunities available. If you do not manage to contact your prospective supervisor you can still make your application and, if shortlisted, you will be able to make contact with them prior to the interview. Contact with the prospective supervisor is an integral part of the admissions process in order to ensure that there is a good fit between the student and the lab

To be considered for the RDM Scholars Programme you must submit an application online using the University application form. Please see our how to apply page for information on how to complete the application form.

Applicants will be shortlisted by a minimum of four academically qualified assessors and shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview. Interviews for this current cycle of admissions will be held virtually.

At interview you will be asked to give a five minute presentation on a research project you have conducted. This will be followed by an interview of approximately 20 minutes, which will focus on your scientific background and your motivation for your chosen DPhil project. It is important that you have discussed your preferred project with the proposed supervisor in advance of the interview.

See more about making an application