BHF Centre of Research Excellence 3-year PhD studentships

In spite of considerable advances in diagnosis and management, cardiovascular disease remains a major burden to global populations. Additionally, the challenges presented by cardiovascular disease have changed with an ageing population, and a greater appreciation of the impact of ethnicity, sex and the socioeconomic dimensions of health is required. New developments in cardiovascular science, socioeconomic research, data science and engineering have the potential to significantly reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease. However, true progress will only be made through multidisciplinary collaborations. At UCL, the BHF Centre of Research Excellence is offering a 3-year PhD programme with interdisciplinary cardiovascular research at its core. 

This three-year full-time PhD programme provides an exciting opportunity for outstanding graduates with an interest in cardiovascular disease, and previous experience in one of a wide range of disciplines, including fundamental and laboratory sciences, genomics, engineering, mathematics or physics, medical imaging, computing, data science, epidemiology, and social sciences. 

At UCL, we have an excellent track record across these disciplines. We have also strong partnerships with some of the largest providers of specialised cardiovascular care in the UK (St Bartholomew’s, University College London Hospital, Moorfields, Royal Free and Great Ormond Street hospitals). Thus, we are ideally placed to offer a truly interdisciplinary 3-year PhD programme, with multiple opportunities for rapid translation into the clinical environment. As a postgraduate research student at UCL, you will have the opportunity to connect with cardiovascular scientists, to form links with researchers in a wide range of disciplines, and to access postgraduate-level tuition in selected relevant topics and training in transferable research skills. During your PhD thesis research, you will be encouraged to present your work at national and international meetings, and funds will be made available for this. A generous consumables allowance will be provided across the studentship. 

Throughout this programme, you will gain skills suitable for a career in research, the pharmaceutical and medical devices industry, policy making, and other related fields. 

Research areas

The programme focuses around 4 key cardiovascular research themes: 

• Therapeutic Innovation in rare and inherited cardiovascular diseases  
• Engineered solutions for structural and congenital heart disease  
• Heart and Brain science  
• Ethnicity and cardiometabolic health  

A number of cutting-edge PhD projects and supervisors will be available for your consideration during the application process, before interview if you are shortlisted. The programme is led by UCL Institute of Cardiovascular Science, but students can undertake PhDs in other UCL Institutes, Departments and Faculties. 

Eligibility & Funding

Applicant entry requirement 

A minimum of an upper second-class UK Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate subject (or overseas equivalent), or a recognised taught Master’s degree. Good spoken and written English is expected.

Stipend

This programme is funded by the British Heart Foundation. Studentships cover full Home tuition fees (UK rate set by UCL), a maintenance stipend which increases each year (estimated £22,278 in year 1), a consumables allowance and a travel fund. 

Tuition fees (2025/26)

• UK: £6,215 (FT)
• Overseas: £33,000 (FT) 

Note on fees: Non-UK applicants must show evidence of their ability to cover the difference between home fees and overseas fees for the duration of study. The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees. Non-UK applicants will also need to satisfy UKBA visa requirements. For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

Why study this degree at UCL?

Outstanding research opportunities

University College London (UCL) offers unrivalled opportunities for PhD research in all aspects of Cardiovascular Biomedicine. The Institute of Cardiovascular Science was set up in 2011 and is a centre of excellence in preventative and therapeutic cardiovascular medicine. Our academic staff have international reputation, and the Institute provides a stimulating academic setting. Research groups are well-funded and equipped, so that PhD students have the best chance of getting off to a productive start straightaway. The BHF Centre of Research Excellence (CRE) is a brand new BHF-funded research centre that will combine rich platforms for genomic, imaging and socioeconomic research, building on collaborations with engineering and data science, to enable the development of a multidisciplinary workforce tackling cardiovascular diseases from cell to society. 

Cultural and social opportunities provided by London

UCL is located in Bloomsbury, close to the entertainment areas of the West End and South Bank which offer an enormous range of music, art, theatre and film, and a vast number of restaurants and bars. London is extremely socially diverse: most PhD students rapidly establish a thriving social life.

Careers

As well as post-doctoral fellowships (UK and abroad) at prestigious institutions, UCL British Heart Foundation PhD students have gone on to form start-up companies, work for national and international research and policy maker organisations, Research Councils and in the pharmaceutical/biotechnology industry, and teach at large colleges/universities.

Employability

The breadth of our programme allows engagement with colleagues with professional experience in fundamental science, imaging, regenerative medicine, genetics, epidemiology and translational cardiovascular genomics, prevention and outcomes, engineering and computer scientists, and cardiology and cardiovascular surgery. A PhD at the UCL/BHF Centre of Research Excellence provides the student with an opportunity to consider cardiovascular disease from the bench to the bedside. 

Networking

Our academics have numerous national and international collaborations with academic and commercial organisations, which provides students with broad opportunities for networking and career development.

How to apply

To apply, please complete the online application form.  

Deadline: 5pm (GMT), Friday 10th January 2025. 

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend an online interview at UCL in February 2025. Individuals who have not received an invitation to interview must consider their application unsuccessful. This is a highly competitive programme – approximately 10% of applicants are shortlisted, and 5% of applicants are successful. In the 2025 intake we will be offering 3 places on the programme.

Enquires – Dr Alisia Carnemolla, CRE manager,  [email protected]