DPhil in Cardiovascular Science (Cardiovascular Disease Prevention) at University of Oxford

About the Position

The DPhil in Cardiovascular Science (Collaborative Vision for Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Prevention) is a collaboration between the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, the University of Edinburgh, and Imperial College London. This four-year DPhil course combines interdisciplinary training with in-depth research. You will be trained to work at the intersection of population health, systems biology, and data science/AI, combining expertise across these fields to tackle one of the most pressing challenges in global health. By harnessing large-scale multimodal data and emerging technologies, you will develop new approaches to understand, predict, and prevent heart and circulatory diseases.

Research Areas and Structure

Students will be based in one of the following institutes: Oxford (2 studentships), Cambridge (5 studentships), Edinburgh (2 studentships), and Imperial (1 studentship) while benefiting from training, co-supervision, and collaboration across the partner institutions. Projects will span a range of topics including health data science, AI and machine learning, multi-omics, epidemiology, and translational cardiovascular research. You will be part of a cohort-based programme, gaining access to shared training activities, collaborative networks, and state-of-the-art data resources across the multi-institute partnership.

Year One

In year one, you will take an induction programme, training courses and research rotations before selecting your DPhil project and supervisory team (all at your host institution). Please note that it is not possible to change institution between years 1 and 2, except under exceptional circumstances.

Years Two to Four

In years two-four, you will carry out your DPhil research with interdisciplinary supervision. Additional opportunities will include advanced training courses, programme-wide workshops and symposia, and optional placements with academic or industry partners, including EMBL-European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Sanger Institute, AstraZeneca, Novo Nordisk, Genomics Ltd, Owlstone Medical, ThermoFischer Scientific, and Flagship Pioneering.

Funding and Costs

This DPhil includes funding support from the British Heart Foundation (BHF). Funding and costs information relates to entry in 2027-28. Annual course fees and living costs are covered for successful applicants.

Eligibility and Requirements

• Standard level English language requirement.
• A first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours in a relevant discipline.
• A master's degree is desirable but not essential.
• Proven and potential academic excellence.
• References (three overall, academic preferred).
• Supporting documents including official transcripts and a statement of purpose (maximum 500 words).

Application Process

This course has a two-stage application process:

1. Stage 1: Apply to the University of Cambridge – You must first apply to Cambridge. The final application deadline for entry in 2027-28 is 12:00 midday UK time on Tuesday, 1 December 2026.
2. Stage 2: Apply to the University of Oxford – If you are successful at Stage 1, you will be invited to complete a University of Oxford application. The application fee is waived for all applications to this course.

About University of Oxford

University of Oxford is a collegiate research university in Oxford, England. It offers undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral education across medicine, science, engineering, humanities and social sciences. Its departments, colleges and research institutes support scholarship and international collaboration, providing opportunities for students and researchers to investigate questions across many academic fields.

Official website: https://www.ox.ac.uk/

Application dates

Milestone	Date
Final Application Deadline (Stage 1 – Cambridge)	1 December 2026, 12:00 midday UK time
Expected Start Date	October 2026
Duration	4 years

Official Link

https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate/courses/dphil-cardiovascular-science-cardiovascular-disease-prevention

Contact

Course-related enquiries: Please refer to the contact details on the official page.

Important Notes

• The programme is funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF).
• Students are based at one of the partner institutions: Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh, or Imperial.
• The programme includes optional placements with academic and industry partners.
• Applications are managed by a partner institution (Cambridge) for Stage 1.

How to Apply

Submit your application through the official portal before the deadline: 1 December 2026, 12:00 GMT. Read the eligibility requirements carefully and prepare all requested documents — early applications are strongly recommended for competitive awards.

Open the official application page ↗

Application guides

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