Optimising radiotherapy for treatment of prostate cancer

About the Project

One full-time scholarship is available in the School of Medicine in 2026/27. This scholarship is open to UK applicants and covers tuition fees plus matching UKRI maintenance stipend.

This fully funded PhD place provides an exciting opportunity to pursue postgraduate research in a range of fields relating to oncology (radiotherapy) and computer science. The scholarship offers a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research at the intersection of artificial intelligence and healthcare. The research will involve innovative approaches to analysis of radiotherapy imaging to evaluate relationships between radiation dose and treatment-related side effects in patients treated for prostate cancer. The successful candidate will work in a multidisciplinary environment, collaborating with computer scientists, clinicians and healthcare researchers. The outcomes of this research have the potential to shape the design of radiotherapy and ultimately improve patient outcomes.

The project sits within Cancer Research UK funded Radiation Research Centre of Excellence which has established Leeds as a beacon for radiotherapy research in the North of England, helping to improve the lives of radiotherapy patients in Yorkshire, nationally and globally. The Cancer Research UK investment has leveraged >£20m externally funded research awards, delivered >90 peer reviewed publications (including Nature Medicine, Nature Comms, Lancet Oncology).

The School of Medicine invites applications from prospective postgraduate researchers who wish to commence study for a PhD in the academic year 2026/27 for the scholarship. The award is open to full-time candidates (UK only) who meet the eligibility for a place on a PhD degree at the School of Medicine.

Eligibility

This award is only available to applicants who are eligible to pay fees at the UK Home fee rate.

Applicants to this scholarship in the School of Medicine should normally have an Undergraduate degree of 2:1 or above (or international equivalent) in a relevant subject area. A Master’s degree is desirable, but not essential.

If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence that you meet the University's minimum English language requirements. Applicants whose first language is not English must provide evidence that their English language is sufficient to meet the specific demands of their study. The Faculty of Medicine and Health minimum requirements in IELTS and TOEFL tests for PhD, MSc, MPhil, MD are:

• British Council IELTS - score of 6.5 overall, with no element less than 6.0
• TOEFL iBT - overall score of 88 with not less than 19 in listening, 20 in reading, 22 in speaking and 21 in writing

How to Apply

To apply for this scholarship opportunity applicants should complete an online application form and attach the following documentation to support their application.

• a full academic CV
• degree certificate and transcripts of marks
• Evidence that you meet the University's minimum English language requirements (if applicable)

To help us identify that you are applying for this scholarship project please ensure you provide the following information on your application form;

• Select PhD in Medicine as your programme of study
• Give the full project title and name the supervisors listed in this advert
• For source of funding please state you are applying for a Leeds Institute of Medical Research (LIMR) Scholarship

For further information about the admissions process please contact the FMH PGR Admissions Team:

e: fmhpgradmissions@leeds.ac.uk

Funding Notes

We are offering 1 full-time PhD scholarship in the School of Medicine for one UK candidate, matching UKRI maintenance stipend (£21,805 for 2026/27) and UK tuition fees for 3.5 years. The award will be made for one year in the first instance and renewable for a further period of up to 2.5 years, subject to satisfactory progress.

• Applicants must not have already been awarded or currently be studying for a doctoral degree
• Awards must be taken up by 1st October 2026
• Applicants must live within a reasonable distance of the University of Leeds whilst in receipt of this scholarship