Eligibility

Eligibility

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

LSTM and Lancaster University are committed to promoting shared values of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI). We celebrate diversity within our DTP and aim to maximise students' potential by prioritising equality of treatment and opportunity. We pledge to:

• Provide a progressive, collaborative and healthy environment for our students;
• Offer an accessible admissions pathway for candidates from diverse career pathways and communities;
• Appoint candidates irrespective of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation and transgender status;
• Provide equality of opportunity by removing barriers to development;
• Engage with our community;
• Ring-fence one studentship per year for a candidate who is a national of a low–middle–income country;
• Use data and consultation to monitor, evaluate and address the impact of EDI approaches.

Academic eligibility

• Applicants must hold at least a first class or high upper second-class Honours degree, or an equivalent international qualification.
• A Master’s degree (merit or distinction preferred) is welcomed but not required.
• If predicted grades are not available for ongoing Honours or Master’s studies, a partial transcript showing Years 1 and 2 may be provided. Studentships awarded on predicted grades will be conditional upon final results.
• Applicants who do not meet the Honours degree requirement may be eligible if they hold a Master’s degree with distinction relevant to the MRC DTP (the Master’s must already be awarded).

Residence eligibility

Following a UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) announcement, candidates of all nationalities are eligible to apply for an MRC DTP studentship. Limited places are available for those who cannot demonstrate ‘Home’ status. One studentship per intake will be ring-fenced for an overseas candidate who is a national of a low–middle–income country.

Fee status as ‘Home’ or ‘Overseas’ is determined by UK government regulations. In some cases we may request a Fee Status Questionnaire. For students starting courses from 1 August 2021, Non‑Irish EU nationals, EEA and Swiss nationals and their family members generally no longer qualify for Home fee status except where they have protected rights under specific agreements.

What is my fee status?

To be classified as having ‘Home’ fee status, applicants usually must demonstrate ordinary residence in the UK and hold one of:

• UK nationality;
• Settled status;
• Pre‑settled status;
• Indefinite leave to remain/enter.

If you are unsure of your fee status we recommend consulting UKCISA guidance or contacting pgr@lstmed.ac.uk.

The DTP funding package

• Payment of tuition/programme fees at ‘Home’ level. For successful ‘Overseas’ candidates, top-up funding or a fee waiver is available to cover the difference between Home and Overseas fees. No additional funding is available for visa or travel support.
• A tax-free maintenance/stipend award at the UKRI national doctoral rate (for 2025/26 the annual rate was set at £20,780).
• A research training support grant/bench fee of £5,000 per annum, managed by your supervisor(s).
• Opportunity to apply to the ‘Flexible Funding Supplement’ to support individual researcher training and development needs.