The Centre for Doctoral Studies at King's works with a range of Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTPs) and Doctoral Training Centres (DTCs). These deliver studentship funding and training for postgraduate researchers and are primarily supported by UK Research & Innovation (UKRI).
Furthermore, DTPs and DTCs often provide funded doctoral places in the form of studentships, primarily for Home/EU students.
The Centre for Doctoral Studies is pleased to announce three new Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs) funded by King’s.
This investment is a key component of King’s postgraduate research (PGR) strategy, which aims to develop the next generation of research leaders, trained to tackle research and innovation challenges. The strategy outlines focused growth in PGR numbers in the health faculties and natural, mathematical & engineering sciences (NMES). The new CDTs join a vibrant community of Doctoral Training Centres and partnerships at King’s, including three other CDTs funded by King’s in 2019.
36 new PGR studentships, based in these CDTs, will be funded by King’s over the next three years. This investment will leverage matched funding from external partners, generating additional PGR studentships in these CDTs, and therefore more opportunities for a cohort-based PhD experience at King’s.
King's College London is part of a number of DTPs and DTCs, either as a member of a consortium with other institutions or as the main host for the centre.
If you have a question about King's Doctoral Training Partnerships, please contact the DTP/CDTs listed below.
To find out more about the training available to postgraduate research students at King's please see our Doctoral Training pages.
London Arts & Humanities Partnership (LAHP)
The London Arts and Humanities Partnership is an AHRC-funded doctoral training partnership supporting PhD studies in arts & humanities. LAHP brings together three global leading UK Research Organisations: Kings College, London (King’s), University College London (UCL), the School of Advanced Study, University of London (SAS).
Click here for further information & to apply for an LAHP PhD studentship
Please send general enquiries to: info.lahp@london.ac.uk or ukri-studentships@kcl.ac.uk
London Interdisciplinary Social Sciences Doctoral Training Centre (LISS-DTP)
The London Interdisciplinary Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership invites applications for four year (1+3) studentships for candidates for a Masters’ degree leading directly to a PhD, and for three year (+3) doctoral studentships (PhD only) at one of the LISS DTP partner institutions: King’s College London, Queen Mary University of London or Imperial College London.
We welcome applications from candidates with UK or EU residency whose research is situated within any of LISS DTP’s 13 Thematic Pathways. These cover a range of social science disciplines, including business and management, economics, education, epidemiology, geography, international relations, law, linguistics, politics, psychology, sociology, war and security studies. The DTP particularly welcomes project proposals utilising advanced quantitative methods and interdisciplinary approaches and has dedicated awards in these areas to offer.
Click here for further information & to apply for a LISS DTP studentship.
Please send general enquiries to: liss-dtp@kcl.ac.uk
Medical Research Council Doctoral Training Partnership (MRC-DTP)
Located in the heart of London, King’s College London and our associated NHS partner hospitals provide a vibrant and globally renowned biomedical research community. Our integrated and multi-disciplinary approach to medical research offers a wealth of cutting edge training opportunities in fundamental discovery science, translational research and experimental medicine. Our students undertake projects drawn from across all our Health Faculties in areas as diverse as: structural biology, stem cells, cancer, HIV/AIDS, mental health, population genetics and bioinformatics, therapeutic development, as well as interventional clinical trials. The cohort-focused philosophy of our programme ensures that our graduates experience the full diversity of our scientific endeavour, learn how to collaborate, communicate and think creatively, and leave King’s equipped to tackle key biomedical challenges in a rapidly changing world.
Click here for further information & to apply for an MRC DTP studentship
Please send general enquiries to: mrc-dtp@kcl.ac.uk
Health Sciences Doctoral Training Centre (HSDTC)
The Health Sciences Doctoral Training Centre (HSDTC) was established in October 2017 and provides training and development support for all doctoral research students in the four Health Faculties at King’s College London, irrespective of funding stream. The HSDTC:
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Is structured around seven interdisciplinary research themes;
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Delivers a bespoke doctoral training programme in research methods and skills, communication and impact, and careers and employability;
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Offers a framework that encourages collaboration and cohort building across the Health Faculties, via networking events, funding opportunities, and peer mentoring.
All doctoral research students in the four Health Faculties at King's are automatically registered with the HSDTC, and receive a monthly newsletter which highlights upcoming workshops, courses and events, and funding and other opportunities.
Please send general enquiries to: hs-dtc@kcl.ac.uk
London Interdisciplinary Doctoral Programme in Biosciences (LIDo)
The London Interdisciplinary Biosciences Consortium is one of the largest BBSRC funded Doctoral Training Partnerships in the UK. Representing an exciting collaboration between six of London's world-class universities and specialist institutions, the consortium provides students with a unique opportunity to pursue innovative interdisciplinary research projects in the heart of one of the world's most vibrant cities.
This 4-year programme is aimed at graduates with a strong interest in multi-disciplinary research. We invite applications from highly motivated students from a wide range of academic backgrounds including biological, biomedical, veterinary, physical, computational, engineering or mathematical disciplines.
Click here for further information & to apply for a LIDo studentship.
Please send enquiries to ukri-studentships@kcl.ac.uk.
Medical Imaging Centre for Doctoral Training (ICDT)
The Centre for Doctoral Training in Medical Imaging provides a comprehensive interdisciplinary PhD programme in Medical Imaging, specifically designed to meet the challenges in healthcare and medical imaging.
King's College London and Imperial College London, two world leading research-focused universities, collaborate to create an interdisciplinary training approach specifically designed to provide a unique PhD experience. The Centre builds on strong existing collaborations between King's and Imperial, including substantial joint grant funding, joint publications and current joint supervision. The CDT is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.
Click here for further information & to apply for a ICDT studentship
Please send enquiries to: imaging-cdt@kcl.ac.uk
Cross-Disciplinary Approaches To Non-Equilibrium Systems Centre for Doctoral Training (CANES)
The mission of CANES is to train future research leaders in the understanding, control and design of systems far from equilibrium, based on rigorous training in theoretical modelling, simulation and data-driven analysis, and a breadth of awareness of common themes across disciplines.
Additionally, CANES functions as a UK Centre of Excellence for the research and research user community, and a national and international hub in the area of non-equilibrium systems.
The CANES training programme consists of a first year combining taught courses and research projects, leading to the award of an MSc. In years two to four, leading to a PhD, the programme will include open question sandpits, master classes, journal clubs and an annual retreat.
Students will also be able to undertake internships at a broad range of industrial and international academic partners.
Click here for further information. (Please note CANES CDT is currently not accepting new applications for the programme.)
Please send enquiries to ukri-studentships@kcl.ac.uk.
London School of Geometry & Number Theory (LSGNT)
The LSGNT is made up of 53 mathematicians in three London Universities, with interests in different aspects of number theory, geometry and topology. We already work together in many ways, which include research collaborations and joint seminars and working groups.
The training that we offer as the LSGNT differs from a traditional UK PhD in pure mathematics in a number of respects, and is closer to the US graduate school model (though you will not have to do anything like as much teaching as a typical US graduate TA). In the first year, we offer a broad mathematical training, with an emphasis on topics in geometry and number theory. We also establish an ethos of working and learning together in a friendly and supportive environment. Towards the end of the first year, you will have to agree on projects and supervisors and before the start of year 2, enrol at an agreed College out of the three: UCL, King's and Imperial. The collaborative spirit established in the first year will be maintained by a number of mechanisms including cross-College supervision teams, junior seminars and working groups. Students are encouraged to organise other activities, such as an LSGNT colloquium, an annual retreat and an annual conference.
We expect to recruit students with a wide variety of mathematical backgrounds: some will already have clear ideas about a research project and the necessary knowledge to start right away, while others will not yet have decided where their interests lie. The first-year training will be flexible enough to accommodate and support everyone in the transition from undergraduate to research-level mathematics.
Click here for further information & to apply for a LSGNT studentship.
Please send enquiries to n.townsend@ucl.ac.uk
London NERC Doctoral Training Partnership (NERC-DTP)
The London NERC DTP is a partnership of nine prestigious research organisations across London, funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). Our aim is to attain new standards of excellence in environmental science research training, and deliver a transformative inter-disciplinary experience for PhD students in the heart of London. We currently fund 142 PhD students in the natural sciences.
Our students are trained at World-leading research centres, which cover a the breadth of environmental science research, from those driven by contemporary environmental challenges to those exploring complex questions about the evolution of planet Earth. Our PhD programme is focussed on eight key research themes: Biodiversity & Ecology, Earth, Atmosphere & Ocean Processes, Evolution & Adaptation, Past Life & Environments, Solid Earth Dynamics and Pan-disciplinary research.
Click here for further information & to apply for a NERC studentship
Please send enquiries to admin@london-nerc-dtp.org
Wellcome Trust 4-Year PhD Programmes
Wellcome Trust Advanced Therapies for Regenerative Medicine MRes and PhD.
This programme aims at training a new generation of researchers in advanced therapies for regenerative medicine. As cell and gene therapies enter the clinic in increasing numbers, there is a need to foster the basic science that underpin new therapies and introduce PhD scientists to the challenges and opportunities involved in translation and commercialisation. Our programme is designed for students, who wish to carry out high quality lab-based fundamental research and find solutions to challenging medical problems.
For full details, please visit the KCL prospectus page.
Wellcome Trust Neuro-Immune Interactions in Health and Disease MRes and PhD.
Cross-talk between the nervous and immune systems is critical for survival, and disrupted neuro-immune communication is observed in many debilitating conditions, including chronic inflammatory, neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases.
To better understand these conditions, we urgently need a new generation of interdisciplinary researchers that can work across the neuro-immune spectrum. The Wellcome Trust ‘Neuro-Immune Interactions in Health & Disease’ PhD Training Programme is designed to provide the requisite training, using state-of-the-art technologies, cutting-edge science and supervision methods.
For full details, please visit the KCL prospectus page.
UKRI Centre for Doctoral Training in Safe and Trusted Artificial Intelligence (STAI CDT)
The UKRI Centre for Doctoral Training in Safe and Trusted Artificial Intelligence brings together world leading experts from King’s College London and Imperial College London to train a new generation of researchers in safe and trusted artificial intelligence (AI).
The STAI CDT offers a unique four-year programme, focussed on the use of model-based AI techniques for ensuring the safety and trustworthiness of AI systems. Students will engage in various training activities, alongside their individual PhD project, ensuring that not only are they trained in state-of-the-art AI techniques, but also that they acquire a deep understanding of ethical, societal, and legal implications of AI in a research and industrial setting. Through engagement with the CDT’s diverse range of industrial partners, students will be exposed to the different experiences, challenges, and technical problems involved in both startups and large corporations.
Click here for further information & to apply for a STAI CDT studentship.
Please send general enquiries to: stai-cdt@kcl.ac.uk
Centre for Doctoral Training in Data-Driven Health
Led by Professor Richard Dobson and Dr Vasa Curcin. This Centre will incorporate additional students funded by both the Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) and the Guy’s and St Thomas’ Trust BRC.
For more information please visit the Data-Driven Health site.
Please send general enquiries to: drivecdt@kcl.ac.uk.
Centre for Doctoral Training in Surgical and Interventional Engineering
Led by Professor Seb Ourselin and Dr Christos Bergeles. This Centre also incorporates additional students funded by the Guy’s and St Thomas’ Trust BRC.
For more information please visit the website.
Please send general enquiries to: sie-phd@kcl.ac.uk.
Centre for Doctoral Training in Biological Physics Across Scales (BiPAS CDT)
The Biological Physics Across Scales Centre for Doctoral Training (BiPAS CDT) is a multi-disciplinary doctoral training programme in biological physics based at King's College London.
Led by Professor Sergi Garcia-Manyes.
For more information, please visit the BiPAS CDT website.
Please send general enquiries to: bipas-cdt@kcl.ac.uk
King's British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence
4-year MRes+PhD Studentships
This research-intensive 4-year programme for core cardiovascular training includes an initial MRes year with multiple laboratory rotations and practical workshops that precedes a 3-year PhD project (see 4-year MRes/PhD programme for details). The programme aims to impart a broad understanding of the fundamental biology of the cardiovascular system, the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying disorders of this system, and multi-disciplinary approaches towards the development of novel interventions for the amelioration of such disorders. These objectives are achieved through a combination of research mini-projects, workshops and a library project in Year 1, leading to the award of an MRes in Cardiovascular Sciences, followed by a specialised 3-year PhD project complemented by additional graduate training activities with in our King’s BHF Centre of Research Excellence.
For more information about the King's BHF Centre of Research Excellence, please contact silvia.pedroni@kcl.ac.uk
Leverhulme Doctoral Scholarship Programme on 'Understanding the mechanics of Life'
The Leverhulme Doctoral Scholarship Programme on 'Understanding the mechanics of Life' aims to train future research leaders to develop new techniques, methodologies and analytical tools required to resolve outstanding challenges underpinning Mechanobiology across a broad range of biological themes. The programme builds upon current research and supervisory strengths at King’s College London, encompassing three faculties and eight Departments, and is a hub of postgraduate training in Mechanobiology in the UK. Through a 3.5-year PhD project and intensive training through a mechanobiology bootcamp in Year 1, dedicated workshops and seminar series, and possibilities to carry out international research placements in partner institutions, students will be trained to work confidently and seamlessly across the Physical Sciences-Biology interface to revolutionise the life sciences with breakthrough understanding, disruptive technologies and ambitious innovation.
For more information, please visit the website.
Please send general enquiries to: mechanicsoflife@kcl.ac.uk
PhD programme in Mental Health Research for Health Professionals
This Wellcome Trust PhD training programme will train the next generation of clinical academics in mental health research in a richly interdisciplinary training environment.
Training fellowships will be available to doctors, nurses, clinical psychologists and allied healthcare practitioners across a diverse range of topics relevant to mental health science.
To enable mental health science to flourish, this new PhD programme will encourage clinicians both from within and outside disciplines traditionally involved in mental health to apply. Supervisory teams will combine clinical and non-clinical academics to ensure PhD fellows gain expertise in technical and scientific skills necessary for mental health science.
Three programmes of research will be available, representing emerging opportunities in mental health science:
PhD Fellows will be trained in key topics to equip them to negotiate their future careers with an emphasis on generating impactful research. The training will enhance a culture which values diversity and inclusion, open and reproducible science and the critical importance of patient and public voices in research.
For full details, please visit the website.
Please direct all programme enquiries to kcato@kcl.ac.uk.
Global Health Research in Africa Doctoral Training Programme 2022-2027
This Wellcome Trust funded programme is focussing on funding up to five (5) PhD Fellowships per year, for five years and runs from 2022 to 2027, funding five (5) Fellowships in total. It is open to early career healthcare professionals that have a focus on improving health and wellbeing in Africa. Applications from nurses, midwives, and allied health professionals (NMAHPs) are actively encouraged.
In addition, the Programme will provide 25 Fellowships for Africans based in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Ethiopia, The Gambia and Uganda and affliliated to the African Partner Institutions over the course of the Programme, Fellows will have the choice of registering for their PhD in their home country or at one of the UK partner institutions.
For more information please visit the programme website.