PhD Cardiovascular Research (British Heart Foundation) Doctoral Training Programme

Overview

The BHF 4-year PhD programme aims to train the next generation of researchers to develop innovative approaches for preventing cardiovascular diseases. Cardiovascular diseases are a major cause of illness and death worldwide. Preventing these conditions before they develop is one of the most effective ways to improve health. However, doing this requires new approaches that combine insights from biology, population health and data science.

This PhD programme will train a new generation of researchers to tackle cardiovascular disease prevention by equipping a new generation of cross-disciplinary researchers to work at the intersection of three frontiers:

Population health – analysing large-scale health data from diverse populations to understand disease risk and prevention
Systems biology – studying the biological processes underlying disease across multiple levels, from cells to whole organisms
Artificial intelligence and data science – developing computational methods to integrate and interpret complex biomedical data.

The programme brings together leading scientists from the Universities of Cambridge, Edinburgh, Imperial College London and Oxford, working in partnership with our academic or industry partners, including EMBL-European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Sanger Institute, AstraZeneca, Novo Nordisk, Genomics Ltd, Owlstone Medical, ThermoFischer Scientific and Flagship Pioneering. By combining interdisciplinary training with real-world collaboration, the programme seeks to equip students with the expertise and networks needed to become leaders in cardiovascular disease prevention research.

Educational Aims

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) 4-year PhD programme aims to train the next generation of researchers to develop innovative approaches for preventing cardiovascular diseases.

Cardiovascular diseases are a major cause of illness and death worldwide. Preventing these conditions before they develop is one of the most effective ways to improve health. However, doing this requires new approaches that combine insights from biology, population health and data science.

Population health – analysing large-scale health data from diverse populations to understand disease risk and prevention
Systems biology – studying the biological processes underlying disease across multiple levels, from cells to whole organisms
Artificial intelligence and data science – developing computational methods to integrate and interpret complex biomedical data.

The programme is designed to prepare students to work in collaborative, interdisciplinary environments, recognising that many of the most important advances in disease prevention occur where different scientific fields meet.

A key aim of the programme is also to advance research that benefits diverse and previously under-studied populations, helping to generate new knowledge that can reduce inequalities in cardiovascular health.

By combining interdisciplinary training with real-world collaboration, the programme seeks to equip students with the expertise and networks needed to become leaders in cardiovascular disease prevention research.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the programme, students will be able to:

Knowledge and Understanding

Demonstrate advanced knowledge of cardiovascular disease prevention and the biological, behavioural and environmental factors that influence cardiovascular health.
Understand how insights from population health, systems biology and data science/AI can be integrated to address complex health challenges.
Critically evaluate large-scale, multimodal biomedical data and the strengths and limitations of different analytical approaches.
Understand the ethical, societal and translational implications of data-driven research in health.

Research skills

Design and conduct high-quality, original research addressing important questions in cardiovascular disease prevention.
Analyse and interpret complex datasets using appropriate statistical, computational and machine-learning methods.
Integrate data across multiple sources and scales, including biological, clinical and population-level information.
Apply reproducible research practices, open science principles and responsible data stewardship.

Interdisplinary training

Work effectively in cross-disciplinary teams, communicating across fields such as epidemiology, biology, clinical science, engineering and data science.
Engage with collaborators across academia, healthcare, industry and policy to translate research findings into practical applications.

Professional and leadership skills

Communicate research clearly to academic, clinical, policy and public audiences through written, oral and digital formats.
Demonstrate leadership, project management and collaborative skills in complex research environments.
Identify opportunities for innovation and translation, including engagement with industry and entrepreneurial pathways.

Impact and translation

Develop research that contributes to improving cardiovascular disease prevention and population health.
Understand how scientific discoveries can be translated into real-world interventions, policies or technologies.

Placements

Students will have the option to undertake optional short-term placements with academic partner universities (Edinburgh, Imperial, Oxford), research institutes (e.g., Wellcome Sanger Institute, EMBL-EBI), or industry collaborators (e.g., Thermo Fisher Scientific, Novo Nordisk). These placements are typically 3–6 months in duration and may be taken either during Years 2–4 of the PhD or as a separately funded opportunity during an intermission period. The purpose of these placements is to broaden training, provide exposure to different scientific environments, and strengthen cross-institutional collaboration.

Funding

The studentship is provided by the British Heart Foundation and provides:

University tuition fees (UK home rate only)
A tax-free stipend at the BHF rate
Research training and support

We invite applications from students who meet the UK residency requirements (home fees). International students who are able to confirm that additional costs of all overseas tuition fees will be covered through other scholarships or funding schemes will also be considered.

Year 1: Training

The first year of the programme provides foundational training and research immersion designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and perspectives needed for interdisciplinary research in cardiovascular disease prevention.

During this year, students will undertake a combination of training and exploratory research activities. This includes participation in programme-wide workshops, seminars and optional selected taught modules (e.g., drawn from existing Master's-level programmes) that provide grounding in the programme’s core domains: population health, systems biology and data science/AI. Students will also develop broader research and professional skills, including scientific communication, leadership, open science and responsible research practices.

A key feature of the first year is the requirement to undertake two research rotations, in terms 1 and 2. These rotations allow students to work with different research groups and explore a range of approaches, datasets and scientific questions across the consortium. The rotations help students develop interdisciplinary confidence while informing the selection of their PhD research project.

Between months four and nine of the programme, students will work with potential supervisors to develop and refine their doctoral research project. The final PhD project and supervisory team will be agreed and formally confirmed during the first year.

Years 2-4: PhD Research and Specialisation

From the second year onwards, students will focus primarily on their PhD research project. Projects will typically be co-supervised by researchers from different disciplines and may involve collaboration across institutions within the consortium.

During this phase, students will develop deep expertise in their chosen research area while continuing to engage with the wider programme through seminars, workshops and cohort activities. Students will be encouraged to present their work at scientific conferences, publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals and contribute to collaborative research initiatives.

Students may also have opportunities to undertake research placements with partner organisations, including industry, research institutes or collaborating academic groups. These placements provide additional experience in translational research environments and help students develop professional networks beyond their host institution.

Together, these elements are designed to support students in developing into independent researchers capable of advancing innovative approaches to cardiovascular disease prevention.

Assessment

The PhD is assessed by submission of a thesis and oral examination.

The thesis should not exceed 60,000 words (or 80,000 by special permission of the Degree Committee). These limits exclude figures, photographs, tables, appendices and bibliography.

The content and format of the thesis should be discussed with your supervisor.

Other Assessment

All PhD students are probationary in their first year and are required to undergo formal assessment (by written report and viva) at the end of their first year, which they must pass.

If successful, the student moves from being 'probationary' to being formally registered for the PhD and can proceed with their project.

There is also an informal assessment to check on the student's progress at the end of the second year. All year 1-3 PhD students are encouraged to present their work at the Department's annual PhD presentation days in June.

Application Process for 2027 entry

*Please note that applications are not yet open for October 2027 entry.

Applicants submit one initial application to the programme and may be considered for a funded place at any of the institutions they have ranked.

Key dates

Programme start date: October 2027
Application deadline: December 2026
Interviews: Dates will be confirmed in the programme advertisement

Applicants are usually informed of the outcome of the programme selection process within four to six weeks of the application deadline.

Step-by-step application process

Step 1: Check your eligibility

Before applying, please check that you meet the academic, funding and fee-status eligibility requirements stated in the programme advertisement.

The advertisement will also confirm:

the number of funded studentships available at each institution;
the documents required;
the application deadline;
the reference that must be included in the subject line of your application email.

Step 2: Choose your preferred host institutions

In your cover letter, you will be asked to rank the partner institutions in order of preference.

You should list only institutions that you would genuinely be willing to attend if offered a place. You do not need to rank every institution.

Your preferences will be considered carefully, but it may not be possible to offer every successful applicant a place at their first-choice institution.

Step 3: Prepare your application documents

Your initial application must include:

a curriculum vitae;
two letters of recommendation from your referees; and
a cover letter of no more than 500 words.

Your cover letter should:

explain why you are suitable for the programme;
describe your relevant academic background, research experience and interests; and
rank the institutions you would be willing to attend in order of preference.

Please ensure that your referees provide their recommendation letters in time for you to include them with your application.

Step 4: Submit your initial application by email

Send your completed application to:bhfphdadmin@medschl.cam.ac.uk

All required documents must be submitted by the advertised deadline in December 2026.

At this stage, you should not submit an application through the postgraduate admissions portal of Cambridge, Edinburgh, Imperial or Oxford.

Step 5: Application and eligibility checks

The programme team will check that:

your application is complete;
all required documents have been submitted;
you meet the academic eligibility requirements; and
you meet the relevant funding and fee-status requirements.

Only complete and eligible applications will proceed to shortlisting.

Step 6: Shortlisting

All eligible applications will be reviewed by a cross-institutional panel made up of representatives from the partner universities.

Applicants will be assessed using common selection criteria and will be considered for the programme as a whole, rather than for a specific PhD project or supervisor.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to interview.

Step 7: Programme interview

Shortlisted applicants will attend a programme-level funding interview involving representatives from the partner institutions.

The interview will assess your:

academic potential;
relevant research experience;
motivation for undertaking a PhD;
suitability for the programme’s collaborative and multidisciplinary training model; and
broad research interests.

Following the interviews, the panel will identify the applicants who are appointable and establish an overall ranking.

Step 8: Allocation to a host institution

Successful applicants will be provisionally allocated to Cambridge, Edinburgh, Imperial or Oxford.

The allocation process will take account of:

your stated institutional preferences;
your position in the overall applicant ranking;
the number of funded places available at each institution;
your academic background and research interests; and
the availability of appropriate research rotations, projects and supervisors.

Applicants will be notified of their provisional host institution following the selection process.

Step 9: Receive a provisional programme offer

A provisional offer from the programme means that you have been selected for a funded place and allocated to a partner institution.

This is not yet a formal university offer. It remains conditional on you meeting:

the formal admissions requirements of your allocated university;
any academic or English-language conditions set by that university; and
the BHF’s eligibility and funding requirements.

Step 10: Apply formally to your allocated university

Only after you have received a provisional programme offer should you submit a formal postgraduate application.

You must apply through the admissions system of the institution to which you have been allocated:

applicants allocated to Cambridge should apply through the University of Cambridge postgraduate application portal;
applicants allocated to Edinburgh should apply through the University of Edinburgh admissions system;
applicants allocated to Imperial should apply through Imperial College London’s admissions system; and
applicants allocated to Oxford should apply through the University of Oxford admissions system.

You should not submit formal applications to multiple partner institutions.

The host university will review your application and issue a formal offer once all admissions requirements and conditions have been met.