Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Accept all cookies Reject all non-essential cookies Find out more

Funded Opportunities at NDCN

Mabel Churn Scholarship in Ophthalmology

Every three years, St Cross College plans to invite applications for the Mabel Churn Scholarship from successful applicants normally resident in the UK who have an offer to begin studying at the University of Oxford for a DPhil research degree in the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences (NDCN) in any area of retinal research.

STUDENTSHIP IN PAIN MECHANISMS 

Investigating the role of hormonal and circadian mechanisms in pain

Pain is an essential protective signal that alerts us to actual or potential tissue damage. When pain persists or becomes dysregulated, it can drive chronic pain disorders with major personal and societal burden. Many pain conditions also fluctuate across the day and differ by sex, suggesting that timing and biological state are integral to the mechanisms that generate pain.

 This studentship will combine multidisciplinary approaches to understand the role of biological rhythms in pain using advanced in vitro human pain models. Your work will be aligned to the new MRC complex in vitro models initiative.  You will be based at the world leading Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery and part of the Sir Jules Thorne Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute (SCNi). 

This work will allow identification of new cellular targets for the development of future treatment strategies in pain which take into account sex and time-of-day dependent effects. You will learn advanced cell culture, functional assay and omics.

 

To be considered for this studentship, please submit an application to the DPhil in Clinical Neurosciences by 29th April 2026.

On the application form, in the section headed ‘Departmental Studentship Applications’, you must indicate that you are applying for a studentship and enter the reference code for this studentship '26NDCN03'.

Please note that this studentship covers UK home fees only and UKRI matched stipend, and an offer of a place is dependent on a college place being available.

If you have any questions in relationship to this studentship, please contact zameel.cader@ndcn.ox.ac.uk

NDCN scholarships

NDCN offers a number of fully-funded scholarships for students, funded from a variety of sources including Department funding, the Wellcome Trust, MRC, and the Clarendon Fund. If you apply to the December deadline then your application will be automatically included for consideration for one of these awards. Most scholarships are awarded between February and June.

ICASE 2026/27  (MRC ENTERPRISE STUDENTSHIP PROGRAMMe)

Eight industrial CASE (iCASE) studentships are available for doctoral study at Oxford, to start in October 2026. 

Applications to the MRC Enterprise studentship programme must be received by 12 noon (UK time) Tuesday 2 December 2025. 

How to apply for iCASE

You should complete a DPhil application via the central application system, stating the name of the project you would like to be considered for and the supervisors’ names in the relevant application sections. Please seek supervisor support before applying. There is no need to include a project proposal with your application, if you are only applying for an iCase project, as you are applying for a studentship for a specific project. 

How to apply for both iCASE and ALSO standard DPhil admission

You are allowed to submit one application for both an iCASE application and a standard DPhil application together. However, please note that for a standard DPhil application, you must secure the support of a prospective supervisor for your project before applying. For more information about this, please see the section on our prospective students' page about finding a supervisor.

When completing your application form, state both the iCASE project you are applying for AND your own project title. In the supervisors’ names’ section, list your proposed DPhil supervisor(s) for your own standard project, but also include the word iCASE. If you are applying for both, you must include a project proposal for your standard project (but not for the iCase project). Once received, your application will be considered for both iCASE and standard DPhil admission at the same time, providing a project proposal is included for a standard DPhil project.

If no project proposal is included for a standard DPhil project, your application will only be considered for the iCase project.

Restorative Neural Dynamics CoRE

There are six projects available this year. 

Applications must be received by 12 noon (UK time) Tuesday 2 December 2025. Use code 26NDCN01MRC on your application.

How to apply for CORE

You should complete a DPhil application via the central application system, stating the name of the project you would like to be considered for and the supervisors’ names in the relevant application sections. Please seek supervisor support before applying, and apply for only 1 CoRE project. There is no need to include a project proposal with your application, if you are only applying for a CoRE project, as you are applying for a studentship for a specific project. Use code 26NDCN01MRC on your application.

How to apply for both core and ALSO standard DPhil admission

You are allowed to submit one application for both an CoRE application and a standard DPhil application together. However, please note that for a standard DPhil application, you must secure the support of a prospective supervisor for your project before applying. For more information about this, please see the section on our prospective students' page about finding a supervisor.

When completing your application form, state both the CoRE project you are applying for AND your own project title. In the supervisors’ names’ section, list your proposed DPhil supervisor(s) for your own standard project, but also include the word CoRE. If you are applying for both, you must include a project proposal for your standard project (but not for the CoRE project). Once received, your application will be considered for both CoRE and standard DPhil admission at the same time, providing a project proposal is included for a standard DPhil project.

If no project proposal is included for a standard DPhil project, your application will only be considered for the CoRE project.

Graduate Programmes