Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)

At the heart of HealthBRIDGE is a positive, inclusive, and supportive research culture committed to removing the barriers to participation in doctoral training and that strengthens the quality and diversity of medical research.  

Recruitment and selection

To help achieve a diverse student and research community, HealthBRIDGE operates a fair and accessible recruitment process that is free from bias (conscious or unconscious) towards applicant gender, race, age, disability, or socioeconomic background. This aligns with UKRI and MRC policies and principles for equality, diversity and inclusion, as well as Imperial College London’s EDI Strategy.

To achieve this, and to ensure that candidate selection is based on aptitude and potential for successfully completing a PhD with HealthBRIDGE, we will:

• hold a webinar about HealthBRIDGE and our application process that is available for all interested applicants and make a recording available;
• where possible, remove personal details (name, gender, age, race, disability declaration) from your application before sending for review/scoring;
• where appropriate, consider socio-economic/widening participation factors of individual applicants.

Widening Participation

We are keen to widen participation and strongly encourage applications from candidates :-

• who have been educated at a non-selective state school in the UK;
• who have received a full UK government maintenance loan for their undergraduate studies;
• who have undertaken bachelor’s and/or master’s level study at non-Russell group universities in the UK;
• from backgrounds that are underrepresented in research, e.g. BAME.

Why are we asking for EDI data?

By providing EDI data, you will help us to monitor our recruitment and selection processes. Your EDI data will be anonymised before analysis and unless a question is indicated as mandatory, you can choose not to provide us with the requested information –  what you decide to share with us will only be used for the purpose of legitimate interest and not to the detriment of individual candidates.

We will continuously monitor recruitment outcomes and, if necessary, take action in marketing and recruitment activities to help remove potential barriers to access for students from underrepresented and disadvantaged backgrounds.

Student experience

To support a positive and inclusive student experience, HealthBRIDGE students will:

• take compulsory training in EDI Principles, Freedom of Speech and Active Bystander;
• have access to EDI Champions, pastoral support, student mentors and cohort representatives;
• have access to tailored support from Imperial’s rich community infrastructure to help them thrive as doctoral researchers regardless of background and individual needs.