Interdisciplinary Medical Research (MRC Doctoral Training Partnership)

The MRC Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) is a postgraduate research training programme, led by the University’s Medical Sciences Division and the Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences Division, including several MRC Centres and Units, with external associated partners MRC Harwell and Diamond Light Source.

MRC DTP students undertake DPhil study in any area within the remit of the MRC. Approximately 25 new students are funded each year through the partnership, undertaking projects across the medical sciences, with a particular focus on four areas:

• Infection and Immunology
• Neuroscience (incorporating Psychology and Psychiatry)
• Cancer
• Population health, genomics and genes.

You will be admitted directly onto a research project with one of the University’s world-leading scientists, who will act as your supervisor. You will either choose a project or design your own project in collaboration with your proposed supervisor. In either case, you will be expected to play an active role in shaping your project over the course of the DPhil. Graduate students play a valuable part in life of the department in which they are based and are encouraged to be involved with the scientific and social life of the department at all levels. In addition, as part of a wider MRC DTP cohort, you will have access to a wide range of DTP training and activities.

Your DPhil studies will be guided by a specialised team led by an academic supervisor. DTP students also have one or more formal co-supervisors, who can provide additional scientific advice on their specialist areas and who will offer another viewpoint on the student’s project. As well as your supervisor, you will have the support of a Graduate Advisor, a departmental Director of Graduate Studies and the Director of the MRC DTP.

Your training will be tailored to your particular needs, drawing from the vast range of training available at Oxford and covering both specialist scientific methods and techniques and transferable skills. Much of your scientific training will take place in the lab, where you will be trained by your supervisor and members of the lab team in a variety of techniques and protocols. As a member of the Medical Sciences Graduate School you will have access to a comprehensive programme of Medical Sciences Skills Training. You will attend training sessions specifically for DTP cohorts, including induction events and termly discussion forums. You will have access to supplementary funding for high-cost training and to support your research and career progression. You will have the opportunity to apply for internships and to contribute to shaping the MRC’s future strategic plans through student engagement in the leadership of the Oxford-MRC DTP and in MRC-led activities.

Supervision

The allocation of graduate supervision is the responsibility of the Medical Sciences Graduate School and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. Under exceptional circumstances a supervisor may be found outside the department leading the course.

Graduate destinations

It is anticipated that MRC DTP students follow a wide variety of career paths, including all branches of biomedical research, clinical medicine, teaching, health administration and commerce.

Changes to this course and your supervision

The University will seek to deliver this course in accordance with the description set out in this course page. However, there may be situations in which it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, either before or after registration. In certain circumstances, for example due to visa difficulties or because the health needs of students cannot be met, it may be necessary to make adjustments to course requirements for international study.

Where possible your academic supervisor will not change for the duration of your course. However, it may be necessary to assign a new academic supervisor during the course of study or before registration for reasons which might include sabbatical leave, parental leave or change in employment.

For further information, please see our page on changes to courses.

Other courses you may wish to consider

Applicants are strongly advised to visit the Medical Sciences Graduate School website to help them identify the most suitable course and supervisors.

If you're thinking about applying for this course, you may also wish to consider the courses listed below. These courses may have been suggested due to their similarity with this course, or because they are offered by the same department or faculty.

Courses closely related to the MRC DTP

Biochemistry DPhil
Clinical Medicine DPhil
Clinical Neurosciences DPhil
Experimental Psychology DPhil
Ion Channels and Membrane Transport in Health and Disease DPhil
Medical Sciences DPhil
Molecular and Cellular Medicine DPhil
Molecular Cell Biology in Health and Disease DPhil
Musculoskeletal Sciences DPhil
Neuroscience combined MSc and DPhil
Oncology DPhil
Paediatrics DPhil
Pharmacology DPhil
Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics DPhil
Population Health DPhil
Primary Health Care DPhil
Psychiatry DPhil
Women's and Reproductive Health DPhil

All graduate courses offered by the Medical Sciences Divsion

Biochemistry DPhil

Biochemistry MSc by Research

Biochemistry (Skaggs-Oxford Programme) DPhil

Biomedical and Clinical Sciences DPhil

Biomedical Sciences (NIH OxCam) DPhil

Cancer Science DPhil

Cardiovascular Science DPhil

Cellular Structural Biology DPhil

Chemistry in Cells: New Technologies to Probe Complex Biology and Medicine DPhil

Clinical and Therapeutic Neuroscience MSc

Clinical Embryology MSc

Clinical Medicine DPhil

Clinical Neurosciences DPhil

Clinical Neurosciences MSc by Research

Clinical Psychology DClinPsych

Clinical Trials MSc

Computational Discovery DPhil

Evidence Based Health Care (Medical Statistics) MSc

Evidence Based Health Care (Systematic Reviews) MSc

Evidence-Based Health Care DPhil

Evidence-Based Health Care MSc

Experimental and Translational Therapeutics MSc

Experimental Psychology DPhil

Experimental Psychology MSc by Research

Genomic Medicine and Statistics DPhil

Global Health Science and Epidemiology MSc

Health Research PGDip

Health Research PGCert

Integrated Immunology MSc

Interdisciplinary Medical Research (MRC Doctoral Training Partnership) DPhil

International Health and Tropical Medicine MSc

Ion Channels and Membrane Transport in Health and Disease (OXION) DPhil

Medical Sciences DPhil

Medicine BM BCh (Graduate entry)

Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy MSt

Molecular and Cellular Medicine DPhil

Molecular and Cellular Medicine MSc by Research

Molecular Cell Biology in Health and Disease DPhil

Musculoskeletal Sciences DPhil

Musculoskeletal Sciences MSc by Research

Musculoskeletal Sciences MSc

Neuroscience MSc

Neuroscience combined MSc and DPhil

Oncology DPhil

Oncology MSc by Research

Paediatric Infectious Diseases MSc

Paediatric Infectious Diseases PGDip

Paediatrics DPhil

Patient Safety PGCert

Pharmacology DPhil

Pharmacology MSc by Research

Pharmacology MSc

Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics MSc by Research

Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics DPhil

Population Health DPhil

Precision Cancer Medicine MSc

Primary Health Care DPhil

Psychiatry DPhil

Psychiatry MSc by Research

Psychological Research MSc

Qualitative Health Research Methods PGCert

Radiation Biology MSc

Radiation Oncology combined MSc and DPhil

Sleep Medicine PGDip

Sleep Medicine MSc

Surgical Science and Practice MSc

Surgical Sciences DPhil

Surgical Sciences MSc by Research

Teaching Evidence-Based Health Care PGCert

Translational Health Sciences MSc

Women's and Reproductive Health DPhil

Women's and Reproductive Health MSc by Research

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Entry requirements