Four-year Wellcome Trust PhD studentships in Public Health, Economics and Decision Science are now available to the UK and international applicants.

Establish the world’s first Doctoral Training Centre in Public Health, Economics and Decision Science capitalizing on existing infrastructure and research excellence. The Wellcome Trust DTC programme will meet an identified training gap in interdisciplinary and quantitative skills in the biomedical postdoctoral workforce.

The University of Sheffield is a public research university in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. It received its royal charter in 1905 as the successor to the University College of Sheffield, which was established in 1897 by the merger of Sheffield Medical School, Firth College, and Sheffield Technical School.

Brief Description

• Application Deadline: Open
• Course Level: PhD programme
• Study Subject: Studentships are awarded in Public Health, Economics and Decision Science. This PhD programme is unique in its focus on interdisciplinary public health, health economics, mathematical modelling, and statistics. To equip students with relevant skills, the first year combines multi-disciplinary methods training tailored to each student’s background, cohort-based learning activities and exposure to public health decision-making practice. This is followed by PhD research on a topic that is agreed between the student, our pool of expert supervisors and the programme directors.
• Awards: Varies
• Number of Scholarships: Not Known
• Nationality: the UK and international applicants
• Scholarship can be taken in the UK

Eligibility

• Eligible Countries: The programme is open to the UK and international applicants.
• Entrance Requirements: Please check the criteria carefully. Do not submit an application if you do not meet the criteria as it will be rejected before reaching academic assessors.
  

  You will need to provide evidence of the following

  • A first or upper second class honours (2:1) degree from a UK university or a non-UK equivalent in a relevant discipline (e.g. mathematics, statistics, epidemiology, public health, psychology, nutrition, quantitative sociology, politics, economics, systems engineering, business studies, geography). Medically qualified applicants should refer to the special rules set out below
  • A completed master’s degree at merit or distinction or a non-UK equivalent in a relevant subject or more than one year of formal employment in either a relevant scientific environment or in public health decision making (by the application closing date)
  • Quantitative maths skills equivalent to A at A-Level (can be evidenced through degree-level courses)
    • Ability and enthusiasm for collaborative work in an interdisciplinary environment, assessed through a written application and, if shortlisted, interview
    • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, and excellent problem-solving skills assessed through a written application and, if shortlisted, interview

    The programme is open to the UK and international applicants. The Wellcome Trust provides tuition fees at UK/EU rates. ScHARR will provide up to two international fee waivers per year for exceptional candidates. Non-EU candidates must be able to comply with UK immigration regulations.

    IELTS: An overall score of 7.5 and a score of at least 7.0 in each testing area (speaking, listening, reading and writing)

    TOEFL: Overall score of 103, with at least
    22 in listening
    24 in reading
    25 in speaking
    24 in writing

    Pearson test: Overall score of 72 with at least 67 in each of the listening, reading, writing and speaking components.

Application Procedure:

How to Apply

The mode of application is online. Complete an online application and upload the following mandatory documents:

• Degree certificate(s) and academic transcripts listing courses/modules and marks awarded
• A level certificate or high school leaving certificates
• evidence of maths skills (see eligibility criteria)
• two academic references, or one academic and one employment reference (relating to a contract of more than one year)
• CV – maximum 3 sides A4, font size 10 or larger, pdf or MS Word format.
• personal statement explaining why you are the right person for the programme and why this is the right programme for you at this time – maximum 800 words, font size 10 or larger, MS Word
• evidence of English language skills, if you are an EU or overseas candidate from a country other than a majority English-speaking country (see eligibility criteria)

Optional supporting documents:

• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) test results, which we can consider as additional evidence of academic ability
• evidence of academic publications or academic prizes (after age 16)

You should not submit a research proposal

References

Choose referees who know you well and can comment on your skills, ability and ‘fit’ with the programme.

References should either be provided on University/company headed paper, signed, scanned and uploaded on the application system or by providing their professional email address in the application system and generating reference requests. Ensure your referees are available to respond quickly as applications without references cannot be considered.

Choosing the correct options in the online admissions system

In ‘Part 2: Course Applications’ select ‘Add new research course’.

Then choose:

• Qualification applying for – Doctoral Training Course. A further drop-down menu will appear with a list of possible courses. Select the Wellcome Trust programme from the list.
• How do you want to study: Full time
• When do you wish to start your research: September 2021
• English Language Requirements: All EU (except ROI) and overseas candidates from countries not classed as majority native English speaking countries must submit a valid IELTS Academic, TOEFL or Pearson test score as evidence of fluency in English. This must have been taken no earlier than two years before the course start date. Required scores are:

Application Form

Benefits

Each four-year studentship provides:
• A generous stipend at Wellcome Trust rates
• Tuition fees for 4 years
• A training and travel fund to support cohort events, internships, courses, data collection, conferences and research travel

Scholarship Link