Black Leaders in Cancer PhD Scholarship programme
A unique programme for students from Black heritage backgrounds to pursue a PhD in cancer research
Cancer Research UK Black Leaders in Cancer PhD Scholarship programme
The Cancer Research UK Manchester Centre is participating in CRUK’s new Black Leaders in Cancer PhD Scholarship Programme, which is run in collaboration with Black in Cancer and the Windsor Fellowship.
This programme provides a unique opportunity for students from Black heritage backgrounds to pursue a four year fully-funded PhD in cancer research. Students will benefit from being part of our CRUK Manchester Centre training programme, and from a comprehensive programme of mentoring, career support, leadership training and networking led by the Windsor Fellowship and Black in Cancer.
By helping candidates from Black heritage backgrounds build their career in cancer research-related fields, this exciting programme is designed to make an immediate and tangible impact on the diversity of the research workforce.
Students will enrol on a four-year fully-funded PhD training programme based in their primary supervisor’s research group. Students will work across the Centre, for example when carrying out their research placements or accessing the Centre’s infrastructure cores.
Find out more about the CRUK Black Leaders in Cancer programme.
About the programme
The programme begins with an induction programme introducing students to the Centre, the training programme, their university of registration and how to carry out a PhD.
Trainees will submit reports, give talks and meet with their thesis committees at specific points on the programme and be able to access a vast range of scientific and transferable skills training via the Centre partners and beyond.
Key information
Find out more about the CRUK Black Leaders in Cancer PhD Scholarship programme.
This programme is aimed at students from Black heritage backgrounds pursuing a PhD in cancer-related fields. This scheme is open to people who self-identify as being from a Black heritage background, including a mixed background, for example: Black African, Black Caribbean, Black Other, Mixed background (to include Black African, Black Caribbean or other Black backgrounds). You will need to summit an initial application to the Windsor Fellowship.
The funding for this studentship covers students with UK Home tuition fee status only. However, the CRUK Manchester Centre are able to offer a number of overseas fee scholarships to candidates deemed appointable at interview. These scholarships cover fees only and do not cover health/visa surcharge costs.
The standard CRUK Manchester Centre PhD programme and studentship academic eligibility criteria are:
- A first or upper second-class honours degree (or equivalent from a non-UK university) in a relevant subject.
- Appropriate research experience as part of, or outside of, an undergraduate or masters degree course in a relevant subject.
- Appropriate English language skills.
Successful candidates will receive a £21,000 tax-free student stipend (living allowance) per year for 4 years plus payment of university tuition fees and project costs (to enable the running of their PhD project and research developmental opportunities, such as travel to international conferences/workshops).
Step 1. Join an Insight Session
The Windsor Fellowship is running two insight sessions this year:
- 2 October 2024 at 12:30 – 14:00 (GMT)
- 8 October 2024 at 12:30 – 14:00 (GMT)
The sessions are an opportunity for candidates interested in the PhD programme to find out more information and ask questions to our panel from the training centres, Cancer Research and Black in Cancer.
Learn more about the insight sessions on the Windsor Fellowships website.
Step 2. Apply to the CRUK Black Leaders in Cancer PhD Scholarship programme
Submit a formal application to the Windsor Fellowship, who will confirm with us that you are eligible for the programme
Step 3. Apply for your PhD studentship and a position on the CRUK Manchester Centre programme (open soon)
You need to complete step 2 before step 3.
You can explore all of our current Non-Clinical PhD Studentship projects on our website.
If your research interests fall outside of the projects offered as part of the CRUK Manchester Centre programme, please contact our Postgraduate Programme Manager, using the subject line Black Leaders in Cancer PhD Programme, to discuss how we can help you onto a PhD programme trailed to your interests.
Applicants will need to submit various supporting documents, including a CV, which forms part of our PhD interview process. Guidance on writing your CV can be found in the CV guidance section of our Non-Clinical programme page.
If you are shortlisted, we will email you with an invite to attend an interview at the CRUK Manchester Centre on Friday 17th January 2025
The CRUK Manchester Centre has a dedicated Training Office with in-person/hybrid support offered by our Postgraduate Programme Manager and Outreach and Engagement Manager. As well as having an academic supervisory team, mentor and academic cohort advisor, our Training Office is there to provide you with support throughout your PhD programme and beyond.
You will also be supported by our CRUK Manchester Centre Postgraduate Reps (Clinical, Non-Clinical and MB-PhD), who are there to provide a voice to and advocate for students throughout their PhD journey.
Students enrol on the CRUK Manchester Centre’s bespoke curriculum providing tailored training across six pillars designed to train cancer leaders of the future: health data sciences; research in healthcare systems; EDI; clinical trials of the future; commercialisation and entrepreneurship; leadership. Training sessions can be completed at any point during the PhD.
The CRUK Manchester Centre also hosts an annual Postgraduate Researcher Showcase in collaboration with the Manchester Cancer Research Centre and UoM Division of Cancer Sciences designed to showcase our PGRs featuring additional talks from international keynotes and workshops on career support, funding and mental health/wellbeing.
A Day in the Life of a Radiotherapy PhD researcher
Annet is a second year Non-Clinical PhD student exploring the effects of brain tissue damage after brain irradiation. In this video Annet takes her through her typical day, including taking us on a tour of her lab facilities in the Stopford Building and carrying out an immunofluorescence experiment on brain tissue sections.
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Want to know more about our Non-Clinical Studentships? Melville Nyatondo is a Non-Clinical student and is on hand to answer any questions you may have.
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Read first-hand experiences of from cancer scientists from across Manchester.
Get in touch
Got a question? Get in touch with Georgina Binnie-Wright, Postgraduate Programme Manager.