The Oxford Interdisciplinary Life and Environmental Science training programme (ILESLA)
PhD
Key facts
Start dates
September 2026 / October 2026
Application deadline
8 January 2026 - 12:00 midday UK time
Location
Course length
Full time: 4 years
More details
Eligibility: Home UK/EU and International Applicants
Bursary p.a: The stipend is at the UKRI rate (currently £20,780 for the academic year 2025/26 plus an additional £2000). The studentship covers bench fees, stipend, and tuition fees. Visa and associated costs are not funded.
Overview
The 4 year MPhil/PhD provides the opportunity to undertake research across the full breadth of biological and environmental science. This tailored programme includes taught courses in interdisciplinary skills. Two exploratory research projects are taken in Year 1, with prospective supervisors, before choosing the 3 year research project. A 12 week professional internship provides work experience.
Studentships are available on the BBSRC/NERC funded ILESLA training programme. Students admitted through Oxford Brookes University must undertake one rotation project at Brookes and another at any of the partner organisations. The PhD project must include a supervisor from Oxford Brookes University. Full programme details are available on the University of Oxford ILESLA website.
Additional details
- University of Oxford, coordinators of the DTP
- Oxford Brookes University Research, a partner in developing regional excellence in bioscience research
- Pirbright Institute, which provides the UK’s national capabilities for the study and control of viral disease of livestock
- Diamond Light Source, which provides the UK’s national capabilities for synchrotron science
- ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, which provides national capabilities for neutron science
- Open University
How to apply
Entry requirements
Applicants are required to hold/or expect to obtain a UK Bachelor’s Degree 2:1 or higher (or overseas equivalent) in a relevant academic subject.
English language requirements
International applicants must have a valid IELTS Academic test certificate (or equivalent – please contact ilesla.oxford.brookes@brookes.ac.uk to check equivalency) with an overall minimum score of 7.5 and no score below 7.0 issued in the last 2 years by an approved test centre. Applicants can check language equivalence accepted by Oxford Brookes.
Application process
Applications for 2026 entry are all through the University of Oxford application system: there will be one entry route regardless of the institution where you will be carrying out your research. Applications to all three universities will therefore be reviewed as a single group. This means that if you are shortlisted for interview you will normally only be interviewed once for entry into the programme. You will benefit from the same programme structure and training programme irrespective of which organisation(s) you apply to.
You can apply online for entry to the programme via the University of Oxford Graduate Admissions Course Page.
When applying, please make it clear in the "Proposed Supervisor" field, if you are applying for a place at The Open University and/or Oxford Brookes University. Please see list of Oxford Brookes supervisors and project areas.
There is a fee to apply to the University of Oxford, however this will be waived for applicants applying only to Oxford Brookes University or The Open University. You will need a fee waiver code at the point of submitting your application. To obtain the fee waiver code for Oxford Brookes, please contact ilesla.oxford.brookes@brookes.ac.uk
Please note that if you use the code when applying also to the University of Oxford, your application will not be considered for University of Oxford entry.
Queries about the programme can be directed to Associate Professor Andrew Jones (a.jones@brookes.ac.uk) and also to Professor Verena Kriechbaumer (vkriechbaumer@brookes.ac.uk).
Details of forthcoming Open Days can be found on the University of Oxford website.
Consideration of part time study may exceptionally be considered for home fee applicants only.
Read privacy notice.
Tuition fees
Questions about fees?
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