The Health Protection Research Unit (HPRU) in Climate Change and Health Security is part of a National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) collaboration between LSHTM, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), UCL, and the Met Office. It's focused on applied, policy-relevant research aimed at protecting public health from climate-related hazards and delivering evidence for decision-making. This PhD program is designed to produce topical, impactful research on climate-driven health risks. 

Location (Country/City)

• Primary base: London, United Kingdom, within the Faculty of Public Health and Policy at LSHTM.
  
  
• Research placements may also occur at collaborating institutions like UKHSA and the Met Office, depending on the project.
  
  

Funding

• Three full-time, fully funded PhD studentships available for the academic year 2025/2026.
  
  
• Each includes:
  
  
  
  • £22,780/year tax-free stipend (UKRI rate for 2025/26)
    
    
  • Tuition fees at Home rate only (International applicants are not eligible)
    
    

Eligibility Criteria

• Must qualify for Home fee status i.e., UK or eligible EU applicants as per LSHTM’s and UK Government’s fee assessment policies.
  
  
• General academic requirements:
  
  
  
  • A relevant undergraduate and master’s degree with high grades, or
    
    
  • A strong undergraduate degree with relevant work experience.
    
    
  • Key academic competencies: attention to detail, independent work capacity, excellent communication, interest in applied climate-health research in the UK.
    
    
• Additional, project-specific criteria apply depending on which research topic you choose.
  
  

Application Date

• Open now for candidates aiming to start in the 2025/2026 academic year.
  
  

Application Deadline

• 5:00 pm BST on 20 October 2025 is the firm deadline. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.
  
  

Duration

• 3 years, full-time PhD study, with integrated exposure to practice, policy, and academic research.
  
  

Application Process

1. Informal discussion: Contact your desired project’s primary supervisor before applying.
   
   
2. Online application: Submit via the LSHTM research degree portal (apply.lshtm.ac.uk).
   
   
3. Documents required:
   
   
   
   • Academic transcripts
     
     
   • Two-page CV
     
     
   • References
     
     
   • A 500-word research proposal for your first-choice project (also state 2nd and 3rd choices)
     
     
   • A 300-word personal statement highlighting your fit
     
     
   • Indicate funding interest by stating: "HPRU – Climate Change and Health Security" in the funding section.
     
     
4. Interviews: Shortlisted applicants will be invited for interviews shortly after the application deadline. 

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Application Website

All details including funding, project descriptions, and the application portal are available on the LSHTM page titled HPRU Climate Change and Health Security PhD Studentships under Research Degree Funding. https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/study/fees-and-funding/funding-scholarships/research-degree-funding/hpru-climate-change-health-security-phd-studentships 

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