BHF 4-year Multidisciplinary PhD Programme

Introduction

• Applications are required to identify a relevant theme, such as an unmet cardiovascular need or an innovative approach to address a significant cardiovascular challenge. The selected theme should encourage and foster cross-disciplinary research that may include but also go beyond bench based biomedical sciences to integrate fields such as engineering, physics, mathematics, behavioural science, genomics and data science among other fields. These themes must aim to deepen our understanding and improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cardiovascular disease. 
• Applications must be submitted from a consortium of universities and may also include collaborations between universities and industry partners. Consortia may include up to four partners (although fewer partners are also welcome), adopting a principal applicant model with up to three co-applicants. Eligible applicants and co-applicants may include UK universities, industry partners, biotech, pharma and other commercial entities with a health focus, assembled in the optimal combination to deliver the proposed theme. In exceptional circumstances, that will need to be fully articulated by the applicant, BHF might be prepared to consider an application from a single institution.
• Awards will allow universities to recruit between 3 and 6 students per year fully BHF funded, or up to twice this number per year partially BHF funded with the remaining funds provided by the consortium (i.e. 12 students would be 50% BHF funded and 50% funded by the applicants, 9 students would be 75% BHF funded and 25% funded by the applicants). 
• The programme will consist of 4 intakes, with the first in Autumn 2026 and the last in Autumn 2029.A lead institution may only submit one application to the new scheme. However, distinct groups from within a single institution may contribute to multiple consortia if individuals (including supervisors) named in one application are not included in any other consortium.
• Applicants will have to demonstrate that they either already have in place, or can put in place, the resources to run a 4-year PhD programme. The first year of study may include generic and specialist training courses and a number of practical projects before the students move on to a 3-year PhD project.
• After award, students recruited by consortia must be approved individually by the BHF before entry into the programme. Individual 3-year PhD project outlines for each set of students must then be submitted approximately 9 months after their start, to be approved by the BHF Fellowships Committee.
• We will pay a student stipend at the standard BHF rate and university PhD tuition fees (at the home rate only), consumable costs up to £8000 for year 1 and £18,000 per year thereafter, a travel fund up to £2000 to present research at or attend scientific meetings, and budget to visit partners in the programme up to £1000 per student.
• This scheme is in addition to our existing individual 3-year PhD studentships, which will continue as normal.

How to apply

• An expression of interest must be submitted via our Grants Management System between the 13th of January and the 17th of March 2025. Approval of eligible expression of interests will be communicated to applicants prior to the opening of the full application window.
• To submit a full application, you will need to log in to our Grants Management System and complete an application form between the 28th of April and the 7th of July 2025.
• The application must be completed by the proposed Programme Director and an appropriate Senior Faculty member will also need to provide a supporting letter and declaration as part of the application process.
• Details of the questions that will need to be addressed and criteria for assessment can be found in our call document.
• For questions regarding the application process or other elements of the call, please contact: [email protected] or see our FAQ document. 

Decision process

• Applications will be considered by the BHF Fellowships Committee, which will be informed by external peer review. Decisions will be communicated to applicants in due course. BHF will not enter into discussion with applicants about individual applications or their outcomes.