Eligibility &
How to Apply
Eligibility
Nationality
These studentships are OPEN to candidates of ANY NATIONALITY.
Prior Education
Candidates must have a UK: lower second, upper second or first class undergraduate degree (predicted / previously obtained) or an international equivalent.
Medically qualified applicants (including dentistry and veterinary) are NOT eligible for the programme and are encouraged to instead seek opportunities through a Wellcome Trust PhD Training Fellowship for Clinicians.
Candidates who already hold a masters degree are not exempt from the first year of the programme.
English Language Proficiency Entry Requirements
EU and International students may be required to pass an English language proficiency test to Band D standard as described on the King’s English language entry requirements webpage.
Please note that we only evaluate and advise on the English language entry requirements for candidates who are short-listed. Conditional offers to the programme can be made contingent on successful candidates obtaining the appropriate certification during the spring prior to admission.
How to Apply
Key Dates for Cohort 2024 Applicants
October 2023: Start working on your ATRM Application Document Cohort 2024.xlsx and contacting your referees.
18 October 2023: King’s admissions portal will be OPEN for application submission.
16 November 2023: Application DEADLINE at 23:59
23 November 2023: We must be in receipt of all letters of recommendation.
Please give your referees plenty of advance warning of this deadline, two-weeks absolute minimum.
12 January 2024: Online Information Session from 14:00 -15:00 GMT for ALL Candidates invited to interview.
15, 17, 19 January 2024: Interview days – please keep these days free.
We will work with all shortlisted candidates to ensure that interviews are accessible for all ideally in-person (for those in the UK or Europe) or online (for those further abroad). You will be notified as soon as possible if you have been shortlisted.
Further Information
If you haven’t heard from us by 10th of January, then unfortunately your application has been unsuccessful. We will update your status on the admissions portal to reflect this in due course - however there may be a delay (of up to eight weeks) due to administrative constraints.
In the highly unlikely scenario that we re-open in the spring or summer to further applications for Cohort 2024, it will be announced on this webpage with clear directions regarding how to apply.
Ideal Candidate
Selection criterion
We receive 200-300 applications/year for this programme. Please see the current student web profiles to get an idea of the range of their previous experiences. In selecting students to interview we consider the following criterion.
Excellent grades throughout your academic history.
Undergraduate university degrees in a biological/ biochemical/life science discipline are most common, but candidates who have undertaken any STEM degree will be considered.
Research experience in at least one laboratory.
Outstanding reference letters. Referees should comment favourably on your academic attributes and your potential to carry out a successful PhD.
Supporting statement in the application that answers the question posed.
Widening Participation
We welcome applicants from communities underrepresented in academia
We recognise that privilege currently plays an important part in who succeeds in a career in academia. Inequality in outcomes is particularly evident for students who come from black minority ethnic or low-income backgrounds, or who are living with a disability. This is something that our PhD programme and King’s College London are keen to help change. If you are part of a community that is historically under-represented in research, please be encouraged to apply.