MRC LID is open for application for 2026-27

PRE-APPLICATION STEPS

1. Find out more about MRC LID, and whether this is the Doctoral Training Programme for you.
2. Check the value of an MRC LID studentship.
3. Ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria.
4. Consider the most suitable studentship route for you.
5. If applicable, attend the institutional Open Days
   • City St George’s, University of London Open Day and/or
   • LSHTM Open Day.
6. Watch the MRC LID Applicant Workshop recordings.
7. Look at the 2026-27 research projects on offer, and select the one most closely linked to your research interests and path.
8. Read through the MRC LID documents for this recruitment round:
   • 2026-27 MRC LID Applicant Guidance and FAQs
     • 2026-27 MRC LID Applicant Guidance and FAQs (PDF)
     • 2026-27 MRC LID Applicant Guidance and FAQs (HTML)
   • 2026-27 MRC LID Online Application Questions and Guidance (for an overview of the questions that will be asked on the online application, and guidance on completing answers; this document should be read alongside the ‘Applicant Guidance & FAQs’ document)
     • 2026-27 MRC LID Online Application Questions and Guidance (PDF)
     • 2026-27 MRC LID Online Application Questions and Guidance (HTML)
9. Draft an initial project proposal, based on one of the projects advertised (and only after reading and watching all of the information provided by the supervisory team).
10. Contact your potential project supervisory team for a discussion about your proposed project. Please use the ‘MRC LID Applicant Guidance and FAQs’ document to guide your actions here.
11. Prepare the mandatory documents for your application, including updating or revising your research proposal (following discussions with the supervisory team), and apply.

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MRC LID Prospective Applications Drop-In Session (Mon 5 Jan 2026, 2pm-3pm GMT)

Other students are a great resource when trying to understanding if an institution and programme is right for you. If you have watched the MRC LID Applicant Workshop recordings, you will have heard about some MRC LID students’ experiences.

In addition, the MRC LID cohort (current students) have offered to host an online session for prospective applicants. This online drop-in session is intended to be an informal, interactive, friendly opportunity to ask general questions and/or fill in any gaps in your information (covering anything that is not on web pages and/or shared by supervisors), or get clarification on anything that seems unclear at this stage.

To join some current MRC LID students and the MRC LID Manager for the 2026-27 MRC LID Applicants drop-in session, please sign-up via this survey.

If you haven’t yet looked at the available materials outlined in the steps above, please do so ahead of joining this drop-in session. Questions can be sent – in advance – by email to mrclid@lshtm.ac.uk or asked during the session.

TO APPLY

All applicants must follow this application process, regardless of whether they are applying for a research project based at City St George’s, University of London or at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

To apply, follow the steps above and submit a completed 2026-27 MRC LID Online Application, with all required supplementary documents, by 23:59 (GMT) on Wednesday 14 January 2026.

Please do not submit your application until you are certain that you have nothing further to add to it.

Please note: For MRC LID purposes, applicants should not apply for admission to either LSHTM or City St George’s, University of London at this stage. (Of course, if you are applying for other funding and scholarships you may be asked to submit an application to the relevant institution. Please follow the specific application instructions for these.)