Musculoskeletal Disease (Intercalated) PhD

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.

SRA TO CHECK ERs!!!

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.

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.)

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.

Find out more about our language requirements:

• English language requirements

Read our general information on tuition fees and studying costs:

• Fees and costs

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

• Search for funding