GTA awards include tuition fees plus a combined maintenance grant and salary equivalent to the Research Councils UK National Minimum Doctoral Stipend (£21,805 for 2026/27) for the first three years followed by fees and maintenance grant for a further six months. Scholars also receive fee-paid teacher in Higher Education training through the Associate Fellowship Scheme.
23 October 2026
Successful candidates will demonstrate academic excellence, outstanding research potential and capability to deliver laboratory, seminars, and practical undergraduate level sessions. In addition, applicants should see specific PhD adverts for each projects specific criteria (below for links to PhD projects).
Applicants should have, or expect to obtain, a first or upper second-class honours degree in a relevant subject, and ideally a Master’s degree or equivalent.
The studentships are open to Home students.
The school of Natural Science at the University of Kent invites applications for 4 fully funded 3.5 PhD (GTA) starting in January 2027 for the following disciplines; Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Chemistry, Computational Biology, Genetics, & Sports, Exercise & Rehabilitation Sciences. You will normally be expected to work for 200 hours per annum in years 1 to 3, including teaching (maximum 96 contact hours per year) or demonstrating (maximum 130 contact hours per year) and related duties such as marking, preparation and examination. Further details of GTA terms and conditions are here:
https://www.kent.ac.uk/scholarships/postgraduate/terms-and-conditions-gtas
There are 13 projects to choose from but only 4 scholarships will be awarded. As a result, the selection process will be competitive, and applicants should be aware that meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee an award. Applicants are strongly encouraged to speak with prospective supervisors prior to completing their application.
Please see the following website for details of the available projects https://blogs.kent.ac.uk/biosciences/phd-by-research-projects/
Biochemistry
The Development of Protein Hydras to Treat Cancer
Cell Biology
Giving cells a voice: generating a synthetic cellular health dashboard for biotechnology and medicine
Circular DNA’s a novel method of plant evolution
Chemistry
Bio-inspired tetrapyrrolic photocatalysts for red and near-infrared (NIR) light-driven chemical synthesis
The Extraction of Critical Minerals from Seawater by Porous Polymers
Cool by Design: Harnessing Disorder for Solid-State Cooling
Designing bespoke Raman active chemical taggants with enhanced functionality and detectability
Computational Biology
Evolutionary and Functional Genomics of Social Chromosomes
Genetics
A Microbiome-Based Approach to Target Shared Mechanisms of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Decoding sex differences in appetite, fat accumulation and metabolism: From neuronal mechanisms to human health
Sport, Exercise, and Rehabilitation
Personalised Exercise in Parkinson’s: Integrating biomechanics, tissue mechanics and artificial intelligence
The Influence of Chronotype and Circadian Alignment on Biomechanical Variability and Injury Risk in Athletes
From Initiation to Maintenance: The Psychophysiological Mechanisms Underpinning Sustained Physical Activity
Applicants must contact the relevant supervisor for their chosen project before submitting an application for the scholarship. Supervisor contact details are provided alongside each available project.
Please apply through the PhD application pathway on the following link and select the relevant project’s lead supervisor.
Sport, Exercise, and Rehabilitation
In your application please include:
explain reasons for study
provide an outline of a research proposal
provide details and evidence of qualifications
provide details of any teaching experience
provide two academic references
provide other personal information and supporting documentation
make sure you include that you want to be considered for the GTA on the application