See all our PhD projects:

Fully-funded PhD projects

Apply for our fully-funded PhD projects in subjects including chemistry, biology, computer science, and physics.

PhD opportunities for science graduates

Applications are now open for two PhD studentships starting in October 2026. The projects are listed below. Should you wish to be notified about future PhD opportunities, please subscribe to our mailing list.

Stipends

The ICR's current student stipend is £26,505 per year. Studentships awarded by the Cancer Research UK Convergence Science Centre, which is a partnership of the ICR and Imperial College London, instead includes a stipend paid at the Cancer Research UK rate of £24,219 per year.

Find out about our application process  Mailing list

Funding

Funding for our PhD projects comes from a variety of different sources, including some funded programmes, such as the MRC Doctoral Training Partnership and the CRUK Science Centre at the ICR and Imperial.  

Please note, the advertised funder may change prior to registration.

Available opportunities

Black Leaders in Cancer & Convergence PhD Studentships

We are currently inviting applications for two funded studentships offered through a joint recruitment call between the Black Leaders in Cancer Studentship and the Convergence PhD Programme. View available projects and find out how to apply.

 

Closed: Late-effects of hypofractionated radiotherapy for breast cancer

Primary supervisor: Professor Amy Berrington Primary site: Sutton Funded by ICR

Closed: Late-effects of hypofractionated radiotherapy for breast cancer

See full project details

Closed: Examining the mechanism of chromatin telomere replication

Primary supervisor: Dr Max Douglas Primary site: Sutton Funded by Medical Research Council - Doctoral Training Partnership (MRC DTP)

Closed: Examining the mechanism of chromatin telomere replication

See full project details

Closed: HPV- and genome instability-driven innate immune responses in head and neck cancer

Primary supervisor: Dr Ben O'Leary Primary site: Chelsea Funded by CRUK RadNet

Closed: HPV- and genome instability-driven innate immune responses in head and neck cancer

See full project details

Closed: Deciphering the role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in radiotherapy resistance for HPV+ head and neck cancers

Primary supervisor: Dr Ben O'Leary Primary site: Sutton Funded by ICR

Closed: Deciphering the role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in radiotherapy resistance for HPV+ head and neck cancers

See full project details

Closed: Determining the role of the adaptive immune system in controlling breast cancer metastasis and evolution

Primary supervisor: Dr Stephen-John Sammut Primary site: Chelsea Funded by Medical Research Council - Doctoral Training Partnership (MRC DTP)

Closed: Determining the role of the adaptive immune system in controlling breast cancer metastasis and evolution

See full project details