Why iDTP?

female researcherThe Integrated PhD in Life Sciences Doctoral Training Programme (iDTP) is a specialist four year programme. It has been created to train the next generation of leading scientists and clinicians in all aspects of human life science.  

The programme takes four years (compared to three years for a non-integrated PhD programme) to successfully complete, leading to you being awarded a PhD in Integrated Studies.

The programme has been specifically designed for researchers from outside the UK to provide additional support for you to adapt to the UK educational system. It will suit individuals joining a PhD programme without a Masters degree, or for those with a Masters degree that did not focus on developing research skills. 

The iDTP offers high quality research-based training, which integrates technical skills for laboratory or epidemiology-based research across a wide breadth of human life sciences subjects; analytical skills for quantitative or qualitative research; communication skills for diverse audiences; and core transferable skills such as organisation and time management. 

Renad Alhamawi

Renad Alhamawi

PhD Immunology and Infection, Saudi Arabia

“I think the Postgraduate community at Birmingham is great, because of the diversity of the city… it’s a multicultural city so you can get to know lots of people from different cultures”

The programme is designed especially for those from outside the UK offering additional support to adapt to the UK educational system, and for those joining a PhD programme without a Masters degree or with a Masters degree which did not focus on developing research skills. The iDTP offers high quality research-based training which integrates technical skills for laboratory or epidemiology-based research across a wide breadth of life sciences subjects; analytical skills for quantitative or qualitative research; communication skills for diverse audiences; and core transferable skills such as organisation and time management.  

Why should you choose this programme?

To help you with the decision here is what the iDTP can offer:

  • You will design your programme to your specific requirements by choosing your subject of interest from a wide range of human life sciences modules, such as Immunology and Immunotherapy, Materials Science, Health Economics, Human Genetics and Genomics, and many more (see the module template form for the full list)
  • You will select two hands-on research projects in different research groups
  • You will develop your PhD proposal alongside your chosen PhD supervisor and the iDTP support team during your first year
  • You will receive training in communicating science in English to a wide-range of audiences and in different formats
  • You will work alongside other UK, EU and international students studying at the University of Birmingham, and become an integrated member of the research teams linked to your PhD project
  • You will have the chance to strengthen your research, networking and communication skills with support from our world-class scientists and educators at Birmingham
  • A simple application process without the need to prepare a research proposal