CSC-COI MD/PhD High-level Medical Innovative Talent Scholarships

General Information about the D.Phil Course in Oxford

Students will be admitted directly onto a research project with one of Oxford Medical Science Division’s world-leading scientists, who will act as their primary supervisor. The student will be expected to play an active role in shaping their project over the course of the DPhil. Graduate students are a valuable part of the department and they are encouraged to be involved with the scientific and social life of the department at all levels.

The project and development during the DPhil studies will be guided by a specialised team led by the academic supervisor. Most students also have one or more formal co-supervisors, who can provide additional scientific advice on their specialist areas and who will offer another viewpoint on the student’s project. Together, they form the specialised team that will advise on academic progress.

As well as their supervisor, the student will have the support of a Graduate Advisor, the Director of Graduate Studies and the Graduate Studies Administrator. All activity relating to graduate students within the department is overseen by the Graduate Studies Committee.

Student training will be tailored to individual needs, drawing from the vast range of training available at Oxford and covering both specialist scientific methods and techniques, and transferable skills.

Much of the training will take place in the lab, where the student will be trained by their supervisor or members of the lab team in the variety of techniques and protocols used. A brief statement of the training offered in the lab is included in the training description of their chosen project.

As a member of the Medical Sciences Graduate School the student will be entitled to enrol on courses run by Medical Sciences Skills Training. The student will also be able to attend the wide variety of sessions covered through the MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine (WIMM) Methods and Techniques course and, if the research is on a topic related to cardiovascular medicine, they will be able to benefit from the British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence hosted by the University.

Additional information about this program

1. 4-year D. Phil project within one of the top laboratories within Medical Sciences Division PIs with strong scientific track records in the Medical Sciences Division (Committees’ decision) will be invited to submit proposals around September each year.

2. Tailor-made clinical training programs/course including:

• Clinical Specialist training program (personalised course at one-to-one basis)
• Training in Microbiology Lab
• Invited theme based Lectures by well-established clinical scientists and heads of departments in Medical Sciences Division.
• Laboratory training course for the first-year students
• Bio-informatics training courses
• Weekly “grand round” seminar for clinical case studies/discussions with senior clinicians

 3.  Opportunity for clinical observation within in the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Funding

Up to 25 students per year associated with the CAMS Oxford Institute, up to 4 years fully funded D.Phil. scholarship, covering overseas fees and £21.5K stipend plus £5,000 consumables per year.

Student candidates/selection procedure

Eligible students

Chinese students eligible for the program include those enrolled on an eight-year MD course (20 Scholarships) or undergraduates of non-medical courses (5 Scholarships) from 14 China’s top Medical Universities. Scholars must demonstrate exceptional academic merit and/or potential prior to commencing a full-time DPhil course of study in any subject within the Medical Sciences Division of the University. Scholars shall meet the standard selection criteria of the University. 

Shortlist and Interview

CSC and COI will be responsible for sending out the advertisement and checking students against their own eligibility criteria for shortlisting. The University will shortlist candidates of the Programme using the University’s own entry requirements, and conduct interviews jointly with the CSC to select successful candidates. 

Project Supervisors

Primary supervisor: Oxford PIs with a contract of employment to the completion of the student’s studies, or have the agreement of the Head of Department to act as a primary supervisor; have your own grant income or the ability to cover the project costs; and have previously supervised a student to completion successfully (either at Oxford or elsewhere).

Secondary supervisor: Secondary PI with clinical background or senior scientist if required - if primary PIs are not clinically qualified.

Course coordinators

Oxford: Professor Tao Dong

CSC: Mr Xiaopeng Hu 

Application and Selection Process

Only candidates who are recommended by three Professors in China and subsequently offered admission to study at the University of Oxford, having applied through the normal admissions process, and meet the criteria for funding by CSC, can be considered for scholarships of the Programme. Applying students will select three projects from the advertised list. The selection of candidates for the scholarships will be the joint responsibility of the CSC and the University. Final selection will be based solely on academic merit and/or potential.

2025 applications now open

Prospective students must apply to CSC by 30^th November 2024. CSC will then contact students who have been approved for them to continue with their application and apply directly to Oxford University by 15^th December 2024. 

Apply to the CSC scheme here. 

Apply to the University of Oxford NDM Clinical Medicine scheme here.

Key dates (tentative and subject to change)

27^th Sep 2024:            Deadline for project proposal submission. 

15^th Oct 2024:              CSC/COI/NDM begin advertising for applications.  

30^th Nov 2024:             Deadline for candidates to submit their CV, cover letter and list of three projects to CSC.   

1^st- 15^th Dec 2024:  Candidates apply directly to the University of Oxford for admission.   

8^th - 15^th Jan 2025:    The University will shortlist candidates for the Programme. 

15^th -31^st Jan 2025:  Interviews by Oxford              

Feb 2025:                          Interviews by CSC  

Mar 2025:                           Successful candidates will be notified.