MRC DTP Flexible Supplement

The MRC have allocated a supplement to the Cambridge MRC DTP to support skills and partnership training. All MRC-funded students covered by the University’s Doctoral Training Partnership Agreement are eligible to apply for these funds. To include:

• Core MRC DTP students
• Students working within an MRC Institute, Unit, Centre or Partnership students
• MRC Industrial CASE students
• MRC Clinical Research Training Fellows

Supported use of this flexible supplement falls broadly into the following areas: (but does not exclusively cover)

High cost training, which could include::

• advanced in vivo training
• imaging training
• skills priority training
• bioinformatics training
• modelling training
• clinical training

Exceptional training opportunities, which could include:

• overseas fieldwork
• internships/placements
• laboratory visits/training
• training in new advanced research skills
• industrial collaborations

Opportunities to provide training in partnership working with industry or at the interdisciplinary interface, which could include:

• internships/placements (such as the RCUK policy internships for MRC students)
• collaborative training
• travel/logistical support for cohort building activities in this area
• attracting individuals from another discipline into MRC studentships

Transitions from PhD for outstanding candidates to increase competitiveness in applying to positions within and beyond academia, following thesis submission, which could include:

• travel to potential laboratories for visits
• internships/placements

The funds cannot be used to provide funding for standard experimental costs such as consumables or equipment.

For details on how to apply, and application deadlines, please refer to: Flexible Supplement Applications

There are approximately 250 MRC-funded PhD students currently on the University of Cambridge register and the supplement awarded totals ~£120,000.  It is therefore proposed that only in exceptional cases will individual applications in excess of £5,000 be considered, with an absolute upper limit of £10,000 per person.

Students should apply at least six weeks before funds are required.