Frequently Asked Questions

We offer various training opportunities to suit different academic backgrounds and research interests.

For undergraduates looking for postgraduate training programmes, our Master’s opportunities provide in-depth training in various cancer fields – from experimental medicine to molecular biomedicine. Further details can be found on the Master’s and Taught Opportunities webpage.

For non-clinical postgraduates looking for a postgraduate research opportunity, our PhD Studentships are ideal for you. You’ll take on a specific research project in fields such as early detection, radiotherapy and many more. Further details can be found on our Non-Clinical opportunities webpage.

For clinicians looking to undertake a field of research, our clinical training programmes are tailored to you. If you are an MBChB student studying at The University of Manchester or University of St Andrews, then you may be interested in our MB-PhD programme which allows you to intercalate PhD research into a medical degree. For post-registration clinicians, our Clinical (PhD) Research Training Fellowships allow you to undertake a period of full-time PhD training in a cancer-relevant field with a dedicated supervisory team.

For pre- and post-PhD clinicians, the University of Manchester’s Integrated Clinical Academic Training (ICAT) programme provides trainees at all stages of their career with opportunities to engage in research and academic training. This includes Academic Clinical Fellowships and Academic Clinical Lectureships. Find out more and contact the ICAT team at their website.

We host several public-facing events each year, which are often attended by academic staff and postgraduate researchers. Explore the upcoming seminars and events being organised or attended by the Manchester Cancer Research Centre.

You can also sign up to receive the MCRC Bulletin to find out about upcoming events, funding opportunities and much more.

Our opportunities are highly competitive and each have different application processes and criteria.

Our Cancer Research UK-funded PhD programmes are typically advertised from late September with a start date of Autumn the following year. MB-PhD projects have later timelines.

Supervisors begin working on their PhD proposals from Summer onwards and we encourage you to contact academics you’re interested in working with as early as possible.

Visit the Division of Cancer Sciences webpage and Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute website to find out more about our current research opportunities.

You can also contact the MCRC Training Office with any queries by emailing: MCRCTraining@manchester.ac.uk

Applications for cancer research PhD projects are open throughout the year, with the majority advertised from late September with a start date of Autumn the following year.

We advise regularly checking the MCRC, The University of Manchester Doctoral Academy, CRUK Manchester Centre and CRUK Manchester Institute websites for the latest opportunities.

The PhD projects managed by the MCRC are fully funded by  Postgraduate research opportunities including PhD Studentships and Clinical Research Training Fellowships available through the CRUK Manchester Centre and CRUK Manchester Institute are fully funded by Cancer Research UK.

Other PhD opportunities are subject to different funding criteria and we advise checking with the course administrators on the funding status or contacting MCRCTraining@manchester.ac.uk with additional queries.

The University of Manchester’s Biology, Medicine and Health ‘PGR Research: How to Apply’ webpage contains details about the supporting documents to include with your PhD application, as well as tips on how to structure your supporting statement.

Watch this short video from our Virtual Open Day session where we discuss what qualities and experience we look for in PhD applicants.

The MCRC does not offer undergraduate placements or internships, unless advertised via specific schemes, such as the Wellcome ICD.

Any placements or short-term internships are organised directly by individual supervisors and we encourage you to identify a lab you’d like to work in and contact the investigator directly to see what opportunities are available.

MB-PhD summer placements were offered formally for the first time in 2021. You can find contact information for MB-PhD academics on the Division of Cancer Sciences website.

Organisations such as the BBSRC also offer summer research placements.