Funded programmes

Our fully funded flagship PhD programmes.

These programmes and studentships offer specialist interdisciplinary projects and cover tuition fees, research costs and an annual stipend.

Many of them are linked to research councils and industry partners, and offer bespoke training and development, placements and international collaborations that enhance and enrich your research experience.

Explore each of our funded programmes to find out more.

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• Funded PhD programmes
• Funding and fees
• Understanding funding
• Fees and costs
• Other funding support
• British Heart Foundation Multidisciplinary PhD Programme Drive innovation for the prevention and treatment of heart and brain disease with our fully funded British Heart Foundation PhD programme. Applications now open for 27/28 entry. More about the BHF Multidisciplinary PhD Programme

British Heart Foundation Multidisciplinary PhD Programme

• Cancer Research UK Manchester Centre MB-PhD Combine the vocational training of a medical degree with the research expertise of a PhD through our fully funded Cancer Research UK (CRUK) Manchester Centre MB-PhD. Applications now open for 2027/28 entry. More about the Cancer Research UK Manchester Centre MB-PhD

Cancer Research UK Manchester Centre MB-PhD

• Cancer Research UK Manchester Centre PhD Training Scheme Develop a career in world-leading cancer research through our fully funded clinical and non-clinical Cancer Research UK (CRUK) Manchester Centre PhD Training Scheme. Applications are now open for 27/28 entry. More about the Cancer Research UK Manchester Centre PhD Training Scheme

Cancer Research UK Manchester Centre PhD Training Scheme

• Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute PhD Studentships Launch your career in basic, translational and clinical cancer research with our Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute PhD Studentships. Applications now open for 27/28 entry. More about the Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute 4-year PhD studentships

Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute PhD Studentships

• EPSRC Doctoral Training Partnership Tackle scientific and technological healthcare challenges with our fully funded Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP). Applications now open for 27/28 entry. More about the EPSRC DTP programme

EPSRC Doctoral Training Partnership

• ESRC North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) North West Social Science (NWSS) Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) provides fully funded studentships across psychology, health and wellbeing, and social studies of science, technology and medicine. Applications now open for 2027/28 entry. More about the ESRC North West Social Science DTP

ESRC North West Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership

• Excellence in Diversity PhD Scholarships Fully funded scholarships for UK candidates from groups under-represented in postgraduate research. Applications now open for 27/28 entry. More about the Excellence in Diversity scholarships

Excellence in Diversity PhD Scholarships

• Joint scholarships with the China Scholarship Council (CSC) Scholarships for Chinese PhD students through a joint scheme between the University and the CSC. Applications now open for 2027/28 entry. More about joint scholarships with the CSC

Joint scholarships with the China Scholarship Council (CSC)

• MRC CoRE in Exposome Immunology PhD Studentships Explore how environmental exposures influence immune responses with our fully funded Medical Research Council (MRC) Centre of Research Excellence (CoRE) in Exposome Immunology PhD studentships. Applications now open for 2027/28 entry. More about the MRC CoRE in Exposome Immunology PhD Studentships

MRC CoRE in Exposome Immunology PhD Studentships

• MRC North West Doctoral Programme in Medical Sciences Tackle some of the biggest challenges in health with our fully funded Medical Research Council (MRC) North West Doctoral Programme in Medical Sciences. Applications are now open for 2027/28 entry. More about the MRC North West Doctoral Programme in Medical Sciences

MRC North West Doctoral Programme in Medical Sciences

• President's Doctoral Scholar Award The University's flagship funding initiative giving outstanding home and international students the opportunity to undertake innovative interdisciplinary research across the University's faculties. Applications open for 27/28 entry during week commencing 2 November 2026. More about the President's Doctoral Scholar awards

President's Doctoral Scholar Award

• BBSRC North West Doctoral Programme in Bioscience Become an interdisciplinary bioscientist of tomorrow with our fully funded Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) Northwest Doctoral (NWD) Programme in Bioscience. Applications open for 27/28 entry from 2 November 2026. More about our BBSRC NWDP in Bioscience studentships

BBSRC North West Doctoral Programme in Bioscience

• International Partnership PhD Studentships Expand your horizons with a global research opportunity through our fully funded International Partnership PhD Studentships and spend time researching at one of our international partner institutions. Applications open for 27/28 entry from 9 November 2026. More about our International Partnership PhD studentships

International Partnership PhD Studentships

• Alzheimer's Society Doctoral Training Centre Join the next generation of dementia researchers with our fully funded Alzheimer's Society Doctoral Training Centre (DTC). Applications open for 27/28 entry from 23 November 2026. More about the Alzheimer's Society Doctoral Training Centre

Alzheimer's Society Doctoral Training Centre

• CODE-M PhD Programme Train to become a microbial bioengineer of the future with our fully funded CODE-M PhD Programme for home-fee eligible applicants. Applications open for 27/28 entry from 21 December 2026. More about the CODE-M PhD programme

CODE-M PhD Programme

• PhD by Enterprise Address global challenges such as climate change, health and inequality with our four‑year doctoral programme that combines world‑class research with structured entrepreneurship training. More about the PhD by Enterprise

PhD by Enterprise

• 4Ward North PhD Programme for Health Professionals Advance your clinical academic career with the fully funded 4WardNorth Clinical PhD Academy. This prestigious programme supports outstanding nurses, midwives, pharmacists, allied healthcare professionals and healthcare scientists to develop as future leaders in clinical research. More about the 4Ward North PhD Programme for Health Professionals

4Ward North PhD Programme for Health Professionals

• AI CDT in Decision Making for Complex Systems Led by our Faculty of Science and Engineering, the AI Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Decision Making for Complex Systems is training the next generation of AI researchers. Specialise in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and complex systems, and develop AI methods designed to accelerate new scientific discoveries. More about the AI CDT in Decision Making for Complex Systems

AI CDT in Decision Making for Complex Systems

• British Heart Foundation 4-year PhD programme Contribute to pioneering research in heart disease and cardiology with our fully funded British Heart Foundation (BHF) PhD programme. Programme closed for recruitment and future applications. More about the BHF 4-year PhD programme

British Heart Foundation 4-year PhD programme

• British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence Studentships Train to be a competitive scientist in highly challenging and uniquely exciting interdisciplinary cardiovascular research environments through our fully funded British Heart Foundation (BHF) Centre of Research Excellence Studentships. Programme closed for recruitment and future applications. More about the BHF CRE programme

British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence Studentships

• Bicentenary PhD Studentships and Fellowships Pioneer the future of innovation and discovery at Manchester with our prestigious, fully funded Bicentenary PhD Studentships and Fellowships. Programme closed for recruitment and future applications. More about Bicentenary PhD Studentships and Fellowships

Bicentenary PhD Studentships and Fellowships

• Kennedy Trust IMPACT Inflammation MB-PhD Combine the vocational training of a medical degree with the research expertise of a PhD with our fully funded Kennedy Trust IMPACT Inflammation MB-PhD. Specialise in inflammation sciences and immunology research, and prepare for a future career in clinical research. Programme closed for recruitment and future applications. More about the Kennedy Trust IMPACT Inflammation MB-PhD

Kennedy Trust IMPACT Inflammation MB-PhD

• MRC Doctoral Training Partnership Shape the future of medical and healthcare sciences with our fully funded Medical Research Council (MRC) Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP). Programme closed for recruitment and future applications. More about MRC DTP studentships

MRC Doctoral Training Partnership

• Dual-award with the University of Melbourne Broaden your horizons and gain a global perspective on your field with our fully funded Dual-award with the University of Melbourne. Programme closed for recruitment and future applications. More about the Dual award with the University of Melbourne

Dual-award with the University of Melbourne

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