Alzheimer’s Society Doctoral Training Centre Funded PhDs

Become part of the next generation of dementia researchers with our Alzheimer’s Society Doctoral Training Centre (DTC) Vascular and Immune Contributors to Dementia (VIDA).

VIDA is a multi-institutional partnership funded by the Alzheimer's Society supporting the next generation of dementia researchers with fully funded PhDs to understand the vascular and immune contributors to dementia.

Commencing in 2025, the DTC will train 29 PhD students over eight years with researchers using cutting-edge science to understand the mechanisms behind how dementia develops, to find new treatments and new approaches that will ultimately improve the lives of those affected by dementia.

All researchers will have supervisors from at least two of the institutions that make up VIDA: The University of Manchester, the University of Edinburgh, Imperial College London, and St George’s University of London.

Alzheimer’s Society DTC projects are now live and applications are open until Saturday, 20 December 2025.

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Why apply for the Alzheimer’s Society DTC?

• Funding: Receive a fully funded studentship covering tuition fees and an annual tax free stipend at the Alzheimer’s Society rate (2024/25: £19,500 per year), £5,000 per year for research expenses/consumables and £500 per year for travel to conferences.
• Cohort of researchers: Join a cohort of PhD students at Manchester and collaborate with researchers at other institutes across the UK throughout the programme including an induction week at the beginning of the programme, annual conferences, and residential workshop retreats.
• Engagement and placement opportunities: Participate in public engagement activities with the Alzheimer’s Society and their Research Volunteers Network, and benefit from a placement opportunity with an industry partner during third year as well as the chance to supervise a placement student to develop teaching and leadership skills.

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Browse available projects

Who is eligible?

These studentships are available to home and international candidates that:

• Hold, or are about to obtain, a First or Upper Second class UK honours degree (or international equivalent) in an appropriate area.

We seek to create equality of opportunity for all our applicants and postgraduate researchers. Find out more about Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at Manchester.

Next Steps

1.      Check if you meet our eligibility criteria.

2.      Find a Alzheimer’s Society DTC project that matches your research interests.

3.      Get in contact with the listed project supervisor and discuss your suitability for the project.

4.      Prepare your supporting documents.

5.      Apply online once you’ve checked you’re eligible, found a project and spoken to the supervisor.

For further details about our Alzheimer’s Society DTC, including project listings, details on how to apply and full eligibility requirements, please visit our website.

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Key Dates

Application deadline: Saturday, 20 December 2025

Interviews take place: W/C Monday, 9 March 2026