Get a fully funded four-year PhD at Manchester or Oxford, with tuition, a ~£24,000 annual tax-free stipend and research support.
Overview
The MRC Centre of Research Excellence in Exposome Immunology is offering five fully funded PhD studentships for 2027/28 — three at the University of Manchester and two at the University of Oxford.
The research programme combines environmental science, immunology, computational biology and biomedical research to investigate how environmental exposures affect the immune system and contribute to chronic inflammatory diseases.
Applications opened on 14 September 2026 and are currently open.
Quick Facts
- Opportunity Type: Fully Funded PhD Studentship
- Programme: MRC CoRE in Exposome Immunology
- Institutions: University of Manchester + University of Oxford
- Funding Body: Medical Research Council (MRC)
- Location: Manchester or Oxford, UK
- Academic Year: 2027/28
- Studentships: 5
- Manchester Places: 3
- Oxford Places: 2
- Nationality: UK and international applicants
- Degree: PhD
- Age: None
- Work Experience: Not specified
- Duration: 4 years
- Stipend: Approximately £24,000 tax-free per year
- Tuition: Fully covered
- Research Expenses: Covered
- Training: Covered
- Conference Travel: Covered
- Manchester Deadline: 23 November 2026
- Oxford Deadline: 1 December 2026
Funding
The official programme page explicitly describes this as a fully funded four-year PhD.
Funding includes:
- Full tuition fees
- Approximately £24,000 tax-free annual stipend
- Laboratory expenses
- Training
- Conference travel.
The programme also provides interdisciplinary supervision, leadership and entrepreneurship training and opportunities for professional placements.
Research Areas
The programme includes research involving:
- Machine learning and artificial intelligence
- Computational biology
- Bioinformatics
- Multi-omics
- Single-cell analysis
- Spatial analysis
- Microbiota
- TCR/BCR sequencing
- Tissue imaging
- Environmental exposures
- Barrier immunology
- Experimental medicine.
This makes the opportunity particularly interesting for applicants combining AI/computation with biomedical or environmental research.
Eligibility
The studentships are open to UK and international applicants.
Applicants must have obtained, or be about to obtain:
- A First or Upper Second Class UK honours degree, or equivalent international qualification
- In an appropriate subject area.
A master’s degree is not required for admission to this PhD programme.
Duration
4 years.
Deadline
There are two application routes:
- University of Manchester: 23 November 2026
- University of Oxford: 1 December 2026.
Applicants can apply through only one of the two institutions.
Application Process
- Review the research themes and supervisors.
- Choose either Manchester or Oxford.
- Select the research topics that interest you.
- Select three potential supervisors.
- Prepare your supporting statement.
- Prepare degree certificates/transcripts and CV.
- Arrange your references.
- Upload the required documentation.
- Submit the PhD application.
- Select the MRC funding option where required.
For Manchester applicants, the official instructions say to select Research Council → MRC → Awarded → Fully Funded in the funding section.
If you’re looking for a PhD where AI, data science and biomedical research meet, this is one to put on your shortlist. Potenue makes the funding and application requirements easier to understand before you commit hours to an application.