Black Leaders in Cancer PhD Scholarship Programme

Cancer Research UK are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion in research.

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About the programme

As part of Cancer Research UK’s commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Research, they have developed this programme in consultation with the research community and in close collaboration with expert partners, Black in Cancer and the Windsor Fellowship.

For the fourth year of the programme a total of 9 PhD scholarships will be available in 2027. Studentships will be offered at all seven Cancer Research UK Centres. Cancer Research UK plan to grow the programme over time and will review it to consider expanding eligibility to other groups who are also under-represented in our research community.

What is funded?

A fully-funded 4-year PhD studentship (non-clinical) according to our standard PhD funding rates* including stipend, research consumables and UK home tuition fees.
A place on one of the doctoral training programmes at a CRUK Centre.
A comprehensive programme of mentoring, career support, leadership training and networking – led by the Windsor Fellowship and Black in Cancer, in addition to the support provided by the CRUK Centres, to drive your career forward and realise your full potential to beat cancer.

Nine student places are available for our fourth round starting in September 2027. Places will be available at each of the following host institutions:

Who can apply?

Our programme is aimed at students from Black heritage backgrounds pursuing a PhD in cancer-related fields.

This scheme is open to people who self-identify as being from a Black heritage background, including a mixed background, for example: Black African, Black Caribbean, Black Other, Mixed background (to include Black African, Black Caribbean or other Black backgrounds).

You must also meet the general entry requirements for the PhD programme at a CRUK Centre, which typically include:

Hold or expect to graduate with a first or upper-second class undergraduate honours degree or equivalent in a relevant subject (or equivalent from a non-UK university).
Have appropriate research experience as part of, or outside of, an undergraduate or masters degree course in a relevant subject.
Meet English language requirements as set by host institution.
A non-clinical PhD candidate.
Will start the 1^st year of PhD programme in autumn 2027.
Not limited to a UK national. (Please read the details of fee support).

Please read the CRUK programme page for more information on eligibility. Applications for the programmes will open in early September 2026.

How to apply?

1. Apply to the scholarship for an eligibility check

Submit your scholarship application to Windsor Fellowship. Please click here to apply.
We would encourage you to submit your application form as early as possible once applications open in September.

*Note: Each centre has its own application deadline. Please submit your Windsor Fellowship application before the deadline of the centre you are submitting your course application to.

2. Apply to CRUK Centre

Submit your application to the CRUK Centre you would like to be hosted by. Deadlines for Centre applications can be found on their webpages.

The recruitment timetable of the CRUK centres is suggested below:

CRUK Centre	Applications open	Applications close	Interviews
City of London	5 October 2026	4 November 2026	w/c 11 January 2027
Cambridge	5 October 2026	19 November 2026	w/c 11 January 2027
Oxford	16 September 2026	1 December 2026	January 2027
Convergence	5 November 2026	4 January 2027	Early Spring 2027
Manchester	15 February 2027	9 April 2027	w/c 10 May 2027
Newcastle	12 October 2026	4 December 2026	w/c 8 February 2027
Scotland	19 October 2026	30 November 2026	w/c 25 January 2027

3. Pre-interview conversation for short-listed candidates

Applicants who are short-listed for interview by any of the CRUK Centres will be offered a 1-2-1 online pre-interview conversation with Windsor Fellowship from January to March 2027.

Insight Session

We will be running an Insight Session for 2027 entry. The session is an opportunity for candidates interested in the PhD programme to find out more information and ask questions to our panel from the training centres, Cancer Research and Black in Cancer.

Wednesday, 14th October 2026 |12:30 – 14:00

Register to reserve your spot.

If you have any questions, please email: scholarship@windsor-fellowshp.org

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