The London Research Institute conducts comprehensive PhD and Postdoc training programmes, and are supported by highly trained scientific and administrative staff.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can international students apply?
- What are tuition fees?
- What is the stipend?
- How long are LRI PhD Studentships for?
- What degree will I receive?
- Are there any English language requirements?
- What are the academic requirements?
- When is the deadline for applications?
- Who should I name as a referees?
- What will happen with my references?
- When will I hear whether I will be invited to interview?
- When are the interviews?
- What will happen at the interviews?
- What happens if I select group leaders at both the Clare Hall and Lincoln's Inn Fields Laboratories on the application form?
- How will you contact me?
- If I am successful, when will I start my PhD?
If the question you have is not listed above, please email lristudentships@cancer.org.uk.
Can international students apply?
Yes, students from all countries are invited to apply for graduate studentships at the London Research Institute (LRI).
What are tuition fees?
Tuition fees are paid to University College London (UCL) by the LRI, and vary depending on which country you are from. You are not responsible for paying tuition fees (EU and non-EU), as these are included in the studentship award.
What is the stipend?
In addition to the tuition fees paid on a student's behalf, the LRI provides a non-taxable living stipend. Students starting in 2012 will recieve a non-taxable annual stipend of £21,000.
How long are LRI PhD studentships for?
Four years, though in some cases, students finish their PhD in less than four years.
What degree will I receive?
You will be registered at and awarded your PhD degree by University College London (UCL).
Are there any English language requirements?
There are English language requirements for students that are not native English-speakers. These do not need to be submitted during the application process. However, if you are awarded an LRI graduate studentship, we strongly advise you to sit the test as early as possible in order for this not to hold up your registration at UCL.
A full list of all the qualifications that are accepted can be found on the UCL website.
Note: you will be registered in the UCL Faculty of Life Sciences so the required level you will need to reach is ‘Good’.
What are the academic requirements?
You need to have or expect to gain a first or upper second-class honours degree or equivalent. Our grade restrictions are set by University College London, and are not flexible.
More information on degree requirements for international students can be found on the UCL website
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/international-students/country... (select your region > then select your country > then select entry requirements from the link on the right hand side)
When is the deadline for applications?
The deadline for applications for the 2012 LRI PhD Programme was midnight (GMT) on Thursday 17 November 2011.
Applications for the 2012 PhD programme have now closed.
Who should I name as referees?
Your referees should be 2 – 3 scientists who are familiar with your academic work and/or laboratory research experience and who can judge your potential as a PhD student.
Please select your referees carefully: one must be your current or most recent employer/supervisor, at least one must be able to comment on your University academic record, and at least one must be able to comment on your previous lab experience.
What will happen with my references?
When you submit your application your referees will be sent a database-generated email asking them to complete a reference form. It is therefore important that you enter your referees’ email addresses accurately and that you enter only one email address per referee on the application form.
The deadline for reference receipt is 12.00 noon (GMT) on Thursday 24 November 2011 - if we do not receive at least 2 references for you by then, your application will not be considered.
Please help us to ensure your referees meet this deadline by informing them of your application and contacting them when you have submitted your application to confirm that they have received the database-generated email asking them to complete the reference form.
You and your referee will receive an acknowledgement email once each reference has been submitted.
When will I hear whether I will be invited to interview?
Shortlisted candidates will receive an emailed invitation to interview by Friday 16 December 2011 - if you do not hear from us by this date, please assume your application has been unsuccessful.
When are the interviews?
The three day interviews for the LRI PhD Programme at our Clare Hall Laboratories will run from the afternoon of Sunday 22 January to the morning of Tuesday 24 January 2012 inclusive.
The three day interviews for the LRI PhD Programme at our Lincoln's Inn Fields Laboratories will run from the morning of Wednesday 25 January to the afternoon of Friday 27 January 2012 inclusive.
If you accept the invitation to interview you are expected to attend all 3 days of the process.
What will happen at the interviews?
You will be given more information on this if you are invited to interview.
Briefly, you will get to hear short presentations from recruiting group leaders and be told more about the PhD programme at the LRI. You will also have the opportunity to chat with our group leaders and current students to help you finalise your choice of supervisor.
You will be interviewed by a panel of group leaders, and you may be invited to visit individual laboratories to discuss the possibility of doing a PhD there.
What happens if I select group leaders at both the Clare Hall and Lincoln's Inn Fields laboratories on the application form?
On the application form, you can select group leaders at our Clare Hall laboratories, at our Lincoln's Inn Fields laboratories or at both.
A few applicants may be shortlisted for interview at both sites. These applicants will be invited to back-to-back interviews at Clare Hall (between 22-24 January 2012), then at Lincoln's Inn Fields (between 25-27 January 2012).
How will you contact me?
Throughout the application and interview process, we will contact you using the email address that you give on your application form; so please check it regularly. We may also use your telephone contacts.
If I am successful, when will I start my PhD?
In mid-September 2012.
