University College London, University of London

Programme overview

This Double PhD is delivered through a formal partnership between UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health (UCL GOS ICH) and Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven). Students are registered at UCL, carry out research within one of UCL GOS ICH’s departments and may spend up to one year at KU Leuven as an integrated element of their project. On successful completion of assessments at both institutions students receive PhD awards from UCL and KU Leuven.

What you'll study

Research topics are located within UCL GOS ICH research and teaching departments. Work is translationally oriented through close links with Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust and the Zayed Centre for Research. Departmental areas include:

• Developmental Biology and Cancer: stem cells, regenerative medicine, developmental biology of birth defects, paediatric cancer biology.
• Developmental Neurosciences: molecular neurosciences, neurogenetics, translational myology, clinical systems neuroscience.
• Genetics and Genomic Medicine: molecular basis of rare disease, genome biology, precision medicine, cilia disorders, inborn errors of metabolism.
• Infection, Immunity and Inflammation: infectious disease, microbiome, inflammation and rheumatology, molecular and cellular immunology.
• Population, Policy and Practice: lifecourse and clinical epidemiology, nutrition, biostatistics, childhood and adolescent mental health.

As a Double PhD student you have full access to KU Leuven facilities and training while hosted there under supervision from the host institution. Students also join UCL and institute-level researcher training through the UCL Doctoral School and can access NIHR Great Ormond Street Biomedical Research Centre resources.

Entry requirements

Applicants should hold at minimum an upper second-class (2:1) UK Bachelor’s degree and/or a Master’s degree (preferably with merit or distinction) in a relevant subject, or an overseas qualification of equivalent standing. English language requirements and country-specific equivalencies are provided by UCL for international applicants. The course accepts full-time and part-time study; the advertised duration for full-time entry is four calendar years.

Career prospects

Graduates from UCL GOS ICH commonly continue in academic research as postdoctoral scientists or as clinical academics; some remain within the institute while others take posts elsewhere in the UK and internationally. Around a quarter of graduates move into NHS or clinical roles, reflecting the translational research environment. Other alumni apply their doctoral training in industry, consultancy or charity sectors. Employability development is emphasised through research and transferable skills training and opportunities to gain teaching experience.

Scholarships & funding angle (general)

Research students at UCL and KU Leuven can access doctoral training and skill-development programmes offered by both institutions; students should consult UCL and KU Leuven funding pages and the UCL Doctoral School for information on scholarships, studentships and external funding opportunities.