--- title: "Francis Crick Institute PhD 2027: £27,715 Stipend, 4 Years" description: "Funded 4-year biomedical PhD at the Crick in London for all nationalities: tuition, a £27,715 tax-free stipend and visa costs. Closes 3 November 2026." url: "https://worldwide-scholarships.com/scholarships/francis-crick-institute-phd-programme-and-studentship/" type: "website" --- [All scholarships](https://worldwide-scholarships.com/scholarships/) The Francis Crick Institute # Francis Crick Institute PhD Programme and Studentship Four-year PhD studentships in biomedical research at the Francis Crick Institute in London, open to all nationalities. Covers tuition and research costs and a tax-free stipend of £27,715 a year, with the visa fee and health surcharge reimbursed. Applications close 3 November 2026. Checked 20 Oct 2026 [Apply on the official site](https://www.crick.ac.uk/careers-study/students/phd-student-recruitment) - **Deadline:** 8 · days left· 3 November 2026 - **Study in:** United Kingdom - **Level:** PhD - **Covers:** Tuition fees, Living costs, Visa fees +1 more [Add this deadline to your calendar](https://worldwide-scholarships.com/deadlines.ics) What you get A place on the Crick PhD programme and a studentship covering a tax-free stipend (living allowance) of £27,715 per year for four years, tuition fees including for international students, and research costs. If applicable, the Crick reimburses the student visa application fee and the immigration health surcharge. The recruitment pages do not mention flights or relocation costs. Covers - Tuition fees - Living costs - Visa fees - Other costs ## Who can apply - Candidates of all nationalities can apply - A first or upper second-class honours degree (or equivalent from a non-UK university) in a relevant subject; candidates with a lower second-class degree need a master's degree to meet the academic requirement - Appropriate research experience, gained as part of or outside a university degree, or a master's degree in a relevant subject - A small number of positions may carry additional eligibility criteria linked to their funding, listed at the top of the individual position page - No English language evidence is needed to apply; the Crick gives the requirements to candidates who receive an offer - It is your responsibility to check that your qualifications, including any international equivalence, meet the academic criteria ### You choose supervisors, not just a programme The Crick is a biomedical research institute in London rather than a university, and its PhD route works differently from a standard university application. On the application form you select up to four Group Leaders you would like to be considered by, and if one of them offers you a place at the end of the process, that Group Leader becomes your supervisor. Before you apply you are expected to read about the Group Leaders and their PhD positions and watch their recorded talks. Project outlines are a guide and can change, and only the Group Leaders listed on the PhD positions page are recruiting. The Crick says you do not need to contact a Group Leader before you apply, and that you should submit even if one has not replied, because they may not have time to answer before the deadline. For every position you select, you must also answer a lab-specific question of up to 1,500 characters. The Crick says that if you skip the question for a position, you will not be considered for it. Treat each chosen lab as its own short application. ### What the application asks for The form has ten sections. Every candidate answers two set questions: what motivates you to pursue a career in research and the area you want to work in (maximum 1,500 characters), and how your research experience, knowledge and skills will help you succeed (maximum 1,000 characters). There are also sections for research experience, education, other information, references, equal opportunities and a declaration. The Crick asks for two references: one from someone who can confirm and comment on your university registration and academic performance, such as a programme leader, a personal tutor or the registry, and one from someone who can judge your research experience. It does not accept references from personal email accounts, so give your referees institutional addresses and ask them early. You cannot change an application once it is submitted. The Crick receives over 2,500 applications a year, so competition is heavy. It says applications are reviewed by its Academic Training team and by Group Leaders and their research groups, not by AI, and that Group Leaders do not see your name at first review, to reduce unconscious bias. On AI, it welcomes responsible use to improve clarity, structure or grammar, but asks you not to submit a fully AI-generated application or responses that do not reflect your own experience. ### How shortlisting and interviews run After the 10 November reference deadline, Group Leaders review applications and shortlisted candidates are contacted for first-stage screening interviews by Zoom. Group Leaders then select candidates for the final stage in January. Everyone is told by the end of 22 December 2026 whether they have an interview. The final stage has two parts: a panel interview by Zoom on 13 to 15 January 2027, then an open afternoon and lab visits in person at the Crick on 18 and 19 January. If you are invited to the in-person visits, you will need to be in London on those dates. Final outcomes arrive by the end of 8 February 2027. ### A second route for candidates of Black heritage The Crick’s [Future Leaders in Biomedical Sciences Scholarships](https://www.crick.ac.uk/careers-and-study/students/phd-students/future-leaders-in-biomedical-sciences-scholarships) are open to candidates of any nationality from a Black or mixed Black heritage background, with backgrounds in biological or biomedical sciences, physics, chemistry, engineering, mathematics or computer science, who want a PhD in the biological or biomedical sciences. They carry the same stipend, fees and visa reimbursement, plus extra mentoring and networking. The deadline is the same, 3 November at midday GMT, with references by 10 November. Applicants name up to three participating Group Leaders, up to 9 candidates are invited to the formal interview programme, and the Zoom panel interview is on 12 January 2027. The Crick says eligible candidates may also apply separately to the main recruitment. ### What the money covers, and what it does not say The stipend is £27,715 a year, tax-free, for four years. Tuition fees, including international fees, and research costs are covered, and the student visa fee and immigration health surcharge are reimbursed where they apply. Neither recruitment page mentions flights or relocation costs, so budget for your own travel to London. Students register with one of the Crick’s partner universities and follow a four-year programme with an induction week and annual progression points. Our [guide to studying in the UK](https://worldwide-scholarships.com/studying-in-the-uk-funding-visas-and-how-the-money-works/) explains the visa steps and the current restrictions affecting some nationalities. ### Check the UK visa position first A place at the Crick does not guarantee a UK Student visa. Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar and Sudan are the four countries covered by the UK government’s [visa brake](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/visa-brake-changes-to-the-uk-visa-system), which the government says refuses Student visa applications made from outside the UK by nationals of those countries and is reviewed regularly. The Crick says candidates of all nationalities can apply, but if you hold one of those nationalities, read the government page before you spend time on an application. ### How it compares with the Sanger programme Readers often look at the [Wellcome Sanger Institute 4-Year PhD Programme](https://worldwide-scholarships.com/scholarships/wellcome-sanger-institute-4-year-phd-programme/) alongside the Crick. Both fund four years and are open to all nationalities, but the Crick closes first, on 3 November 2026, against 24 November for Sanger. At the Crick you choose supervisors and their advertised positions from the start, while Sanger admits you to the programme and you choose a lab after rotations. If you plan to apply to both, prepare the Crick application first. Where this comes from Every fact above was read on **crick.ac.uk**, the awarding body's own website, and last confirmed on **20 October 2026**. Nothing here is taken from another directory. Funding bodies change deadlines and eligibility rules without notice, and we are not affiliated with The Francis Crick Institute. Always confirm on the official site before you apply. 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