Musculoskeletal Disease (Intercalated) PhD
Awards: PhD
Study modes: Full-time
Funding opportunities
The PhD programme will be undertaken within research centres and institutes associated with College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine in Edinburgh or the College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences in Glasgow.
Students could also have the opportunity of undertaking collaborative projects involving supervisors from both Edinburgh and Glasgow. It will also offer students the opportunity to participate in scientific meetings and other activities organised by students, academic staff and supervisors based in from both cities. Additionally, students will have the opportunity of networking with students from other Kennedy Trust funded UK centres in Birmingham, Manchester, and Oxford.
This programme is funded by the Kennedy Trust and allows Medical and Dental students to pursue a 3-year PhD during their medical or dental degree. Students have the opportunity to research areas relevant to musculoskeletal disease, encouraging them to consider academic careers in this field.
The aim of the programme is to develop academic leaders in musculoskeletal disease. Students will be trained in cutting-edge scientific and analytical skills and understand the strict discipline needed for translational research. It is expected that the research projects may generate material that will form the basis of publications in high profile medical and scientific journals.
Students will be mentored by their supervisors and other staff on the programme, right from the PhD selection process, through the PhD project, to completion of the Medical degree and beyond into the postgraduate phase, to maximise the chance of sustaining a successful academic career.
These entry requirements are for the 2025/26 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2026/27 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2025.
The programme is tailored specifically for intercalating medical or dental students and is only available to students who are currently undertaking an intercalated medical degree, a MBChB, MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery), BDS.
Students studying in Scotland can enter the programme at the end of year 4 following their first clinical year.
International qualifications
Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:
English language requirements
Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which 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 65 with at least 59 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
- Oxford ELLT: 7 overall with at least 6 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:
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).
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.
Find out more about our language requirements:
| Award | Title | Duration | Study mode | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PhD | Musculoskeletal Disease | 3 Years | Full-time | Tuition fees |
Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.
Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:
borrowing money
taking out a loan
family support
personal savings
income from work
employer sponsorship
- scholarships
Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study
Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:
- Postgraduate Administrator , Alana Johnson
- Phone: +44 (0)131 651 5771
- Contact: student-admin@igc.ed.ac.uk
- Programme Director , Stuart Ralston
- Contact: stuart.ralston@ed.ac.uk
- Institute of Genetics and Cancer
- Western General Hospital
- Edinburgh
- EH4 2XU
Applying
Select your programme and preferred start date to begin your application.
PhD Musculoskeletal Disease (Intercalated) (UoE Lead with Glasgow) - 3 Years (Full-time)
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. We may consider late applications if we have places available, but you should contact the relevant Admissions Office for advice first.
You must submit two references with your application.
Personal statements will be considered a key criterion in the assessment of your application. Your personal statement should demonstrate your knowledge and experience of research and the research process and should address several specific areas.
What experience of scientific research have you already had? Describe the broad area of biological or medical sciences you may wish to investigate, this need not necessarily directly involve cancer or rheumatology, although skills learned should be relevant.
You are required to submit 3 references, one of which should be a letter of Good Standing from your Undergraduate Student Adviser.
Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:
Further information
- Postgraduate Administrator , Alana Johnson
- Phone: +44 (0)131 651 5771
- Contact: student-admin@igc.ed.ac.uk
- Programme Director , Stuart Ralston
- Contact: stuart.ralston@ed.ac.uk
- Institute of Genetics and Cancer
- Western General Hospital
- Edinburgh
- EH4 2XU