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Dean’s PhD Professional Development Awards

Dean’s Internship Awards The Dean’s PhD Professional Development Awards scheme supports all Faculty of Medicine PhD students in gaining experience and insight across different sectors and in building valuable networks, by funding a wide range of research and training activities. Examples of how the awards have been used are available on the awardee profiles page.

Examples of funding
Category	Description and guidance
Internships and placements	Internship or placement opportunity to be discussed with supervisor and department as early as possible. Applications may include a UKRI aligned bursary payment, for an advertised or self-organised external internship or placement. Internship or placement to be confirmed by host prior to release of funds. A PGR Interruption of Studies is recommended for the duration of the placement.
High cost training	Applications to support training in research areas of strategic need.
Exceptional training opportunities	Applications to support training such as overseas fieldwork, complementary and beneficial placement, or training in new advanced research skills.
Industry training	Applications for training with industry or at the interdisciplinary interface.
PhD to postdoctoral transition	Applications for costs related to open access publication, or laboratory visits aimed at obtaining postdoctoral positions.
Professional conferences	Applications for costs of conference registration, accommodation and travel. Note: Conference attendance should be justified as training that is necessary and suitable for the student’s stage of study. This would normally involve active participation e.g., making a first author presentation, running a workshop, or chairing a session. Evidence of this may be requested e.g., abstract acceptance email, visibility of the student’s name in the conference programme. It would usually be expected that meeting and travel award bursaries are applied for as a first source of funding. This would include those available through professional associations – receiving such awards is a good way to demonstrate scientific competitiveness in future job/grant applications. It would normally be expected that PhD students would attend no more than 1-2 conferences per annum.

How to apply

Please apply at least 6 weeks prior to when the funds are required. Your department may ask for additional information after receiving your application, and will require successful applicants to provide a brief report after the training or internship.

All correspondence about the application and award is to be directed to the named contact person listed below:

Department	Application form and contact
Department of Surgery and Cancer	Surgery and Cancer application form For any queries, please contact: Jennifer Simeon, Senior Postgraduate Education Administrator Alison Cambrey, Education Manager
Department of Brain Sciences Department of Infectious Disease Department of Immunology and Inflammation Department of Metabolism, Digestion & Reproduction	DBS, DID, DII, DMDR application form Please notify Casper Debieux, Research Degrees Administrator, by email, once you have made an application. Any queries should also be directed to Casper.
School of Public Health	School of Public Health application form Please notify Rahma Ally, PhD Administrator, by email, once you have made an application. Any queries should also be directed to Rahma.
National Heart and Lung Institute	National Heart and Lung Institute application form For any queries students should contact NHLI PGR Team nhlipgr.team@imperial.ac.uk or Lenara Urazaeva l.urazaeva@imperial.ac.uk
Institute of Clinical Sciences / MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences	Please contact Enrique Martinez-Perez, Director of Postgraduate Studies, indicating that you wish to apply, and he will send you further instructions.

Eligibility and Terms & Conditions

Eligibility

This scheme is open to all Faculty of Medicine PhD students. Note that all MRC-funded students are eligible for the MRC Supplement Scheme and are expected to consider this scheme first.

Terms and Conditions

Students can apply more than once, over the duration of their PhD studies. The final award amount may vary in value according to the development opportunity, and may be made in full, or as a contribution towards the costs of the development opportunity.
For internships and placements, applications are to be made a minimum 6 weeks prior to the start date, and consideration should be given to taking an interruption of studies for the duration of the internship.
Your application will be reviewed by an academic panel, as part of the application and awarding process within your department.
By accepting the award, you agree to complete an online survey detailing your experience of the internship or placement. Information from your survey will be used, where required, to promote the scheme, e.g. for online student profiles.
Students who are funded by another funding scheme that include supplementary funding for professional development are not eligible to apply for funding under the Dean’s Professional Development Awards.

FAQs

What happens after I submit my application?
Your Department may ask for additional information after receiving your application. Application outcomes are typically sent within three weeks after you submit your application.

How will a decision be made, and when will I hear back?
Your application will be assessed by an academic panel within your department. Application outcomes are typically sent within three weeks after you submit your application.

Can I apply more than once?
There is no limit on the number of applications. However, currently the scheme will allow a maximum award of £5,700 per student.

What is the maximum funding I can apply for?
The maximum funding is £5,700 per student, over the duration of their PhD studies. The final award amount may vary in value according to the development opportunity, and may be made in full, or as a contribution towards the costs of the development opportunity.

For an Internship or Placement application, how do I apply for Interruption of Studies?
This scheme is intended to provide stipend support, for the purposes of Internships and Placements, of no more than 3 months in duration. Ideally this is best suited, but not limited, to students who are within writing-up status but prior to submission. Students who want to take an internship or placement are advised to apply for an Interruption of Studies (IOS).

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