Programme criteria
• Applicants must hold, or be expected to achieve, a first or high upper second-class undergraduate honours degree (e.g. BA, BSc) or a Master’s degree (e.g. MRes, MSc), or the overseas equivalent, in a relevant subject. 

• All students whose first language is not English must be able to provide recent evidence that their spoken and written command of the English language is adequate for the programme according to UCL requirements. Applicants must achieve the level of ‘good’.

Self-/ external funded places
We welcome applications from candidates (UK, EU, overseas) who are either self-funding or in receipt of an alternative funding source.

The Ecological Brain DTP at UCL strives to be diverse and inclusive – a place where we can all be ourselves. We particularly encourage applications from people who identify as Black, Asian or from a Minority Ethnic background, who are underrepresented at the University.

The programme can be studied in either a 3- or 4-year programme.

3-year programme
Students select a primary and one or more secondary PhD supervisors and write a short project proposal as part of their application to the programme. Students will be based in the home department of their primary supervisor.

Please note that for the 3-year programme you need to have a clear idea on your supervisor and research project at this stage and we encourage you to get in touch with prospective supervisors as soon as possible. A list of potential supervisors is available here and describes the Ecological Brain research carried out in different labs at UCL.

Alternatively, applicants can choose one of the projects listed and discuss the project in further detail with the listed supervisor.

4-year programme

The 4-year programme includes a rotation year wherein students undertake 3 rotations in their first year before choosing their PhD project. Students are able to choose any project within the remit of the research of their supervisory team and subject to the programme directors agreeing with the research topic. There is a pool of projects (which will be updated annually) to choose from and students have time in the first few weeks to meet with potential supervisors and decide on what they would like to do. In the 2-4 year, students will follow the 3-year programme as outlined below.

 For the 4-year programme you are not required to provide a research proposal nor to decide on your supervisor at this stage.

All applications are for a September 2022 start. All applicants must complete Sections A and B of the application form below and send to ecologicalbrain@ucl.ac.uk.  Files must be sent in a single email but attached as separate documents (i.e. do not attach your application as a single document).  Please ensure you read the checklist on Section A and attach all the requested documents to your application.

• 2021 EcoBrain-Application_Section-A_confidential
• 2021 EcoBrain-Application_Section-B

All applicants request references from 2 referees (referees may use either the form below OR send a standard letter reference) and request that they send their completed references to ecologicalbrain@ucl.ac.uk by the application deadline.  It is the responsibility of applicants to ensure that references are received on time. 

2021 EcologicalBrain-Application_Reference

E-mail your application to ecologicalbrain@ucl.ac.uk 

DEADLINE for online applications: 05 January 2022

• It is highly recommended to submit your application 3-4 days before the deadline to avoid delays;
• Applications submitted after this date will not be considered.

INTERVIEW DATES: mid-January 2022 – TBC

• We will contact selected applicants via email shortly afterwards;
• At the interview you will be expected to answer some questions about your previous research experience and potential for an academic career;
• The interview panel will include min. three Executive Board Members.

ADMISSION:

The results of the interviews will be announced informally via email within three weeks time. A more formal letter from UCL will be sent anytime afterwards. If accepted for admission, the program will start at the end of September 2022.

For more information please email us on ecologicalbrain@ucl.ac.uk