MRC CoRE Exposome Immunology PhD Scholarship 2027 in UK

Applications are open for the MRC CoRE Exposome Immunology PhD Scholarship 2027 in the United Kingdom. This fully funded 4-year PhD programme is run through the Medical Research Council Centre of Research Excellence (MRC CoRE) in Exposome Immunology, with students based at the University of Manchester or University o f Oxford.

The programme studies how environmental exposures affect the immune system and contribute to chronic inflammatory diseases. For the 2027/28 intake, 5 fully funded PhD studentships are available. Three are based at Manchester and 2 at Oxford.

UK and international applicants can apply. The Manchester application deadline is 23 November 2026, while applicants choosing Oxford have until 1 December 2026.

MRC CoRE Exposome Immunology PhD Scholarship 2027 overview

Details	Information
Scholarship	MRC CoRE in Exposome Immunology PhD Studentships
Country	United Kingdom
Study level	PhD
Host institutions	University of Manchester and University of Oxford
Academic year	2027/28
Duration	4 years
Funding	Fully funded
Annual stipend	Approximately £24,000 tax-free
Number of studentships	5
Manchester places	3
Oxford places	2
Eligibility	UK and international applicants
Manchester deadline	23 November 2026
Oxford deadline	1 December 2026

About the MRC CoRE in Exposome Immunology

The MRC Centre of Research Excellence in Exposome Immunology studies the relationship between environmental exposures, immune responses, and chronic inflammatory diseases.

A person’s “exposome” includes the environmental exposures they experience during their lifetime. These can include pollutants, infections, biological exposures, physical factors, and other environmental influences.

The Centre initially focuses on airborne pollutants including diesel, woodfire smoke, and smoking, together with common viral infections. Researchers study how these exposures affect immunity and contribute to inflammatory diseases.

The programme brings together researchers from the University of Manchester and University of Oxford. Its work covers areas including exposome science, lung and gut barrier immunity, immunological mechanisms, environmental science, and computational research.

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MRC CoRE PhD scholarship benefits

Successful candidates receive funding for the full 4-year programme.

The studentship covers:

• Full tuition fees
• Approximately £24,000 tax-free annual stipend
• Laboratory expenses
• Research training
• Conference travel
• Specialist training in environmental science and barrier immunology
• Training in wet-lab and dry-lab research methods
• MRC training in leadership, careers, and entrepreneurship
• Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement training

Students can also take an optional Silo Switch placement. Possible placement settings include industry, local government, policy organisations, and medical communications.

Number of PhD studentships

There are 5 MRC CoRE Exposome Immunology PhD studentships for 2027/28.

The places are divided between the 2 universities:

• University of Manchester: 3 studentships
• University of Oxford: 2 studentships

Applicants must choose which university they want to apply to. An applicant cannot apply through both Manchester and Oxford for this programme.

Students will be registered at their chosen university while working with researchers across the wider Manchester-Oxford partnership.

Research areas

PhD projects can cover one or more research areas within the Centre’s programme. The work examines how environmental exposures interact with the immune system, particularly at mucosal barriers such as the lungs and gut.

Research can involve areas connected with:

• Exposome science
• Immunology
• Environmental exposures
• Lung and gut barrier immunity
• Chronic inflammatory diseases
• Computational research
• Biological models
• Microbiome research
• Human experimental medicine

The programme has particular relevance to diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Applicants indicate their preferred research topics and select 3 potential supervisors when applying.

The supervisor choices are an expression of interest. They do not guarantee placement with a particular supervisor.

Can international students apply?

Yes. The MRC CoRE Exposome Immunology studentships are open to UK and international applicants. Applicants with qualifications obtained outside the UK can apply if their academic qualifications are considered equivalent to the programme’s entry requirements.

International applicants should check the specific academic and English language requirements of their chosen university before submitting an application.

Eligibility criteria

Applicants should have obtained, or be about to obtain:

• A First Class or Upper Second Class UK honours degree, or
• An equivalent international qualification
• The degree should be in an appropriate subject area related to the proposed PhD study

A master’s degree is not required for admission to this PhD programme.

The programme is competitive, so applicants should clearly explain their academic preparation, research interests, and connection to the Centre’s research themes in their application.

English language requirements

Applicants who need to demonstrate English proficiency do not have to meet the English language requirement at the initial application stage.

If selected, an offer may be conditional on completing an approved English language test, such as IELTS, and meeting the required score set by the university.

Applicants should check the current English language requirements for Manchester or Oxford according to the institution they select.

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Do you need a research proposal?

A research statement is not required for the Manchester MRC CoRE Exposome Immunology PhD application. Applicants choose research interests and potential supervisors during the application process. Students then spend their first term developing their project and meeting potential supervisors.

The final supervisory team and project proposal are expected to be confirmed during the programme. Applicants therefore do not need to contact potential supervisors before applying.

Required documents

Manchester applicants should prepare the required supporting documents before starting the online application.

These include:

• Supporting statement
• Reference details
• Degree certificate
• Final or interim academic transcripts
• Proof of current master’s enrolment where applicable
• Official English language certificate, if available and applicable
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)

References are important because referees receive an automatic request after the application is submitted.

All required supporting documents must be uploaded with the application. An incomplete application will not be processed.

How to apply for the MRC CoRE Exposome Immunology PhD Scholarship 2027

Step 1: Check your eligibility

Confirm that your academic background meets the entry requirements of your chosen university.

Step 2: Choose Manchester or Oxford

Select 1 host institution. Applicants cannot submit applications to both universities for this programme.

Step 3: Review research themes and supervisors

Check the available research areas and supervisor profiles. Select the research topics that interest you and identify 3 supervisors you would be interested in working with.

You do not need to contact these supervisors before applying.

Step 4: Prepare your documents

Prepare your supporting statement, CV, academic documents, referee details, and any applicable English language evidence.

Step 5: Submit the university application

Manchester applicants should select:

• Level of study: Postgraduate Research
• Entry year: 2027/28
• Academic programme: MRC CoRE in Exposome Immunology
• Intake: September

For the Manchester funding section, applicants should select Research Council funding, MRC as the awarding body, and Fully Funded as the funding coverage.

Oxford applicants should follow the separate application instructions published by the University of Oxford.

Step 6: Complete the application before the relevant deadline

Upload all required documents and submit the complete application through your selected university.

Selection and interview process

Applications and selected supervisors will be reviewed after submission.

The selection panel will assess eligible applications and invite shortlisted candidates for an interview.

For Manchester, interviews are scheduled for the week beginning 25 January 2027.

Oxford interviews are scheduled for 14 January 2027.

MRC CoRE Exposome Immunology Scholarship deadline

Applicants need to follow the deadline for their selected university.

University of Manchester deadline: 23 November 2026

University of Oxford deadline: 1 December 2026

The 23 November deadline therefore applies specifically to applicants choosing Manchester.

Conclusion

The MRC CoRE Exposome Immunology PhD Scholarship 2027 provides 5 fully funded PhD places at the University of Manchester and University of Oxford. Funding covers tuition fees, an annual tax-free stipend of approximately £24,000 for 4 years, laboratory expenses, training, and conference travel.

UK and international applicants can apply. A master’s degree is not required, and Manchester applicants do not need to submit a research statement or contact supervisors before applying.

Applicants choosing Manchester must submit their application by 23 November 2026. The Oxford deadline is 1 December 2026.