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United Kingdom PhD Fully Funded

British Heart Foundation Multidisciplinary PhD Programme 2027/28: CHAIN Consortium Studentships

The British Heart Foundation Multidisciplinary PhD Programme offers ten fully funded four-year studentships through the CHAIN consortium, training researchers in integrated heart-brain disease research across Manchester, Bristol, and Liverpool.

October 13, 2026 ⏰ Deadline: Nov 9, 2026

Quick Overview

Host CountryUnited Kingdom
University/OrgUniversity of Manchester, University of Bristol, University of Liverpool
Degree LevelPhD
Funding TypeFully Funded
Fields of StudyArtificial Intelligence, Cardiovascular Science, Data Science, Engineering, Neuroscience
DeadlineNovember 9, 2026

Scholarship Overview

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Overview

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) Multidisciplinary PhD Programme is recruiting ten fully funded four-year PhD students for the 2027/28 academic year. This initiative is part of the newly established CHAIN (Connecting Hearts And mINds) consortium—a partnership between the British Heart Foundation, the University of Manchester, the University of Bristol, and the University of Liverpool.

The programme trains the next generation of cardiovascular scientists to adopt an integrated, multidisciplinary approach to understanding, predicting, and disrupting the complex interactions between heart and brain diseases.

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Why Heart and Brain Research Matters

Diseases of the heart and brain frequently occur together, creating serious compounding risks for patients. Atrial fibrillation markedly increases stroke risk, while heart failure strongly associates with cognitive decline and dementia. Conversely, stroke and mental health conditions can increase fatal cardiovascular events.

These clinical links arise from the heart–brain axis: a complex network of neuronal, vascular, inflammatory, and metabolic pathways connecting cardiovascular and neurological health. Despite these connections, research and training often remain organised around single-organ systems, limiting progress in treating multisystem disease.

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Programme Structure

Year 1: Multidisciplinary Training

You will select one host institution from Manchester, Bristol, or Liverpool. The first nine months include:

  • Advanced training courses across all three institutions
  • Group innovation challenges
  • Three 11-week multidisciplinary research rotations

Rotations draw on expertise in cardiovascular science, neuroscience, cell biology, data science, epidemiology, artificial intelligence, computer science, behavioural science, engineering, and engineering biology. At least one rotation occurs at a partner institution, with flexible single-site options available for those unable to travel.

Years 2–4: Your PhD Project

After initial training, you will co-design your PhD project with supervisors from your host institution and consortium partners. Ongoing tailored training, professional development, and industry engagement support your research and career development.

Host Institutions and Available Places

Institution Studentships Director
University of Manchester 4 Dr Gina Galli (Director), Prof Stuart Allan (Deputy)
University of Bristol 4 Professor Alastair Poole (Co-director)
University of Liverpool 2 Professor Deirdre Lane (Co-director)

Your host institution awards your final degree, though you will spend time across all three universities during the programme.

Research Areas and Supervision

Research opportunities span multiple disciplines:

  • Advanced imaging and artificial intelligence
  • Behavioural science and bioinformatics
  • Cell biology, engineering biology, and chemistry
  • Computer science and data science
  • Discovery biosciences and epidemiology
  • Immunology, material biosciences, and mathematics
  • Nanotechnology, OMICS, and physics
  • Translational clinical science

Unlike other PhD programmes, you do not need to contact supervisors before applying. You will match with expert supervisors during your first year to develop your project.

Funding and Financial Support

The studentship provides comprehensive funding for home-fee eligible candidates:

  • Tuition fees: Fully covered
  • Research costs: Fully covered
  • Annual tax-free stipend:
    • Year 1: £21,747
    • Year 2: £23,520
    • Year 3: £25,437
    • Year 4: £25,437
  • Additional support: £3,000 for conference travel and contributions toward inter-institutional travel

Eligibility Requirements

These studentships are available to home-fee eligible candidates only. This typically includes UK citizens and certain EU/EEA residents with settled status. Unfortunately, this programme does not currently accept international fee-paying applicants.

Academic requirements:

  • First or Upper Second class UK honours degree, or equivalent international qualification
  • Approate subject background (cardiovascular science, neuroscience, data science, engineering, or related fields welcomed)

The programme actively welcomes diverse applicants and seeks equality of opportunity for all postgraduate researchers.

Application Process

Step 1: Check Eligibility

Confirm you meet home-fee status requirements and academic entry criteria.

Step 2: Choose Your Institution

Select one host institution—Manchester, Bristol, or Liverpool. You may only apply to one.

Step 3: Prepare Documents

  • Supporting statement
  • Reference details (two referees; automatic requests sent upon submission)
  • Degree certificates and final/interim transcripts
  • Proof of Master’s enrolment if applicable
  • Official English language certificates (if applicable—conditional requirement only)
  • Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Note: No research proposal is required.

Step 4: Submit Online Application

Apply through your chosen institution’s portal with specific programme details:

Manchester: Level: Postgraduate Research; Entry year: 2027/28; Intake: September; Programme: BHF PhD Programme; Funding: Yes—Uni of Manchester scheme—BHF—Awarded—Fully Funded

Bristol: Level: Postgraduate Research; Entry year: 1 September 2027; Programme: Clinical Sciences PhD; Funding: Studentship—BHF—100%—Yes

Liverpool: Apply online via Liverpool’s postgraduate research portal.

Key Dates

Applications open Monday, 5 October 2026
Applications close Monday, 9 November 2026
Interviews To be confirmed
Studentships awarded To be confirmed
Programme begins October 2027

Contact Information

  • Manchester: fbmh.doctoralacademy.admissions@manchester.ac.uk
  • Bristol: uob-pgradmissions@bristol.ac.uk
  • Liverpool: dtcoordinator@liverpool.ac.uk

For African Applicants

This programme restricts eligibility to home-fee candidates, which generally excludes applicants from Zimbabwe and SADC countries unless you hold UK settled status or meet specific UK fee residency requirements. If you are a SADC national who has completed prior UK study or holds indefinite leave to remain, contact the institutions directly to confirm eligibility. For fully funded PhD opportunities open to international applicants, consider the DAAD EPOS Scholarship or Eiffel Excellence Scholarship listed on this site.

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Official scholarship page: https://www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/study/research/funding-fees/funded-programmes/bhf-chain/

Apply on the official site →

You apply directly with the provider. We never charge for applications or ask for payment details. How we verify scholarships

Funding Coverage

Full tuition fees, research costs, and tax-free stipend (£21,747 Year 1; £23,520 Year 2; £25,437 Years 3-4). Additional £3,000 conference travel fund.

Eligibility Criteria

Home-fee eligible candidates only. First or Upper Second class UK honours degree or equivalent. Diverse scientific backgrounds welcomed including cardiovascular science, neuroscience, data science, and engineering.

Required Documents

Supporting statement, two references, degree certificates and transcripts, proof of Master's enrolment if applicable, English language certificate (conditional), CV. No research proposal required.

Application Process

1) Check home-fee eligibility and academic requirements. 2) Choose one host institution (Manchester, Bristol, or Liverpool). 3) Prepare supporting documents. 4) Submit online application through chosen institution's portal with specific programme and funding codes.
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Frequently Asked Questions

No. The BHF Multidisciplinary PhD Programme is restricted to home-fee eligible candidates only. This typically includes UK citizens and certain EU/EEA residents with settled status. Applicants from Zimbabwe, SADC, and other international regions are not eligible unless they hold UK settled status or meet specific UK residency requirements for home fees.
No. Unlike most PhD programmes, you are not required to contact supervisors before applying. During your first year, you will match with expert supervisors from your host institution and develop your research project through three rotation placements.
The studentship covers full tuition fees, all research costs, and a tax-free stipend totaling approximately £96,141 over four years (£21,747 in Year 1, £23,520 in Year 2, and £25,437 in Years 3 and 4). You also receive £3,000 for conference travel.
No. You must select only one host institution—Manchester, Bristol, or Liverpool—and apply through that university's portal. Your chosen institution will award your final degree, though you will spend time at all three universities during training.
Flexible arrangements are available. The programme supports single-site PhDs with online rotations and engagement with other host programmes to ensure full participation for those unable to travel between Manchester, Bristol, and Liverpool.
No. You do not submit a research proposal with your application. Your project will be developed during Year 1 through three 11-week rotations and co-designed with supervisors afterward. Required documents are your supporting statement, references, transcripts, CV, and English certificate if applicable.

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