Studentships
Intercalated BSc studentships
Intercalated BSc studentships are offered annually in each of the undergraduate medical schools where there is a Chair of Rheumatology or an arc-funded academic post (currently Aberdeen, Barts and The London, Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow,Guy’s/King's College London, Imperial College London, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield, Southampton and University College London). These studentships aim to promote an interest in research, particularly rheumatological research, amongst medical students at an early stage of their careers. Students are selected on academic merit by their medical school, and the choice of research project, which may be in any discipline relevant to arthritis and related musculoskeletal diseases, will be made in conjunction with the Professor of Rheumatology/arc Senior Lecturer. Students are required to submit a brief report to arc on completion of their project.
Summer vacation scholarships
arc-funded Intercalated BSc students who have gained a Class 1 or 2.i degree are eligible to apply for summer vacation scholarships to enable them to spend up to a maximum of 8 weeks to continue their laboratory research at their host institution in the period immediately following their intercalated year. Written application, on the appropriate form available from the Research and Education Department, should be made by the student's supervisor or head of department, and should describe the proposed research and provide evidence that attempts to obtain funds from elsewhere have been unsuccessful.
PhD studentships (Biomedical Sciences Panel)
A limited number of prestigious PhD studentships are available to encourage the best young science graduates to embark on a research career in any discipline relevant to arthritis and related musculoskeletal diseases. Studentships are awarded to university departments annually, by open competition, for projects that have clear relevance to the aims of arc and provide training in research in a multidisciplinary environment. These studentships provide a generous tax-free incremental stipend (linked to the academic 1B scale), #UK tuition fees and limited running costs for 3 years. Since the number of awards is limited, geographic/numerical limitations may apply to the number of studentships held by a single department.
These studentships are advertised once a year (see Application Deadlines) and successful projects and departments will be announced in November/December for studentships to start in October of the following year. Applications may include a named student or, alternatively, students may be recruited by the host department after award of the studentship, with the approval of arc. Proposals may also be submitted for collaborative studentships by universities with an industrial sponsor/supervisor.
Students must submit a brief annual report and progression to the next year of the studentship is dependent upon the report being satisfactory.
# arc will not pay overseas fees
Clinical PhD studentships (Biomedical Sciences Panel)
A new Clinical PhD Studentship (CPhD) aims to provide training for medically qualified clinicians in a high quality research environment leading to a PhD and allow institutions to recruit candidates of the highest calibre. Two CPhDs will be awarded in an annual competition to university departments who can provide an appropriate scientific/clinical training environment and a scientifically robust project relevant to the aims of the Arthritis Research Campaign. A single institution will be permitted to host only one CPhD in any 3 year period.
The CPhD projects in the successful host institutions will be advertised nationally and applications will be invited from clinicians with a commitment to a clinical academic research career in the UK, and an interest in musculoskeletal disease in rheumatology or any other related discipline.
The CPhD will provide a clinical salary over 3 years at the appropriate level for the appointed candidate (usually at SpR level) with running expenses and essential equipment. Please note that all arc grants provide an automatic additional allowance for conference travel and open access publication which do not need to be applied for in the grant application.
These studentships will be advertised once a year (see Application Deadlines) and applications will be invited from university departments outlining the details of the project, the supervisors and the training to be provided.
