Applying to ILESLA
ILESLA is for applicants who want to undertake ground-breaking research in the life and environmental sciences.
You do not need to have followed a single “standard” route into doctoral research. What matters is that you have the potential to thrive in our four-year interdisciplinary doctoral programme, and that your interests fit one or more of the ILESLA research themes and BBSRC/NERC remit.
Full details of our admissions criteria and how to apply are available here.
You apply to the programme - not a pre-determined research project
ILESLA is different from many doctoral programmes because you do not apply to a fully defined project. You will use the first year to build skills, explore rotations, meet supervisors and develop the proposal for your substantive DPhil or PhD project. That said, you should use your application to explain what your current interests are. If you already know particular research areas, approaches, supervisors, partner organisations or questions that excite you, say so. This helps assessors understand your fit with the programme.
Participating universities and degree routes
ILESLA admits students that are registered at one of three universities:
University of Oxford
Oxford Brookes University
The Open University
Students may work with supervisors across the ILESLA partnership, but they remain registered at the university that admitted them. At least one member of your supervisory team must be based at your admitting university.
Applying through the Oxford application system
All applications are submitted through the Oxford application system, even where applicants wish only to be considered for Oxford Brookes University and/or The Open University. This allows us to collect the same information in the same format from all applicants. Follow the ILESLA application guidance to indicate your institutional preference or openness to more than one institution. Successful candidates admitted to Oxford Brookes or the Open University will need to complete local institutional processes after offer.
If you only wish to apply to Oxford Brookes and/or the Open University you can request a code to include in the application form so that you don't pay the Oxford application fee. Please make sure that you do this well in advance of the application deadline.
To obtain the fee waiver code, please contact the relevant institution.
Oxford Brookes University contact: ilesla.oxford.brookes@brookes.ac.uk
Open University contact: ILESLA@open.ac.uk
Do I need a project proposal?
No. You do not need to submit a project proposal when applying. ILESLA uses the first-year training and rotation model so that students can make an informed choice about their substantive DPhil or PhD project. Your application should explain your interests, experience, and motivation, but you are not expected to have designed the doctoral project before you arrive. Occasionally, some funded studentships available through the programme may be linked to more specific projects. Where this applies, the advert or application guidance will make this clear.
Funding overview
ILESLA offers fully-funded doctoral studentships across the participating institutions. Students may be funded by BBSRC or NERC, by scholarships and by funding provided by ILESLA partner organisations.
If you apply to the University of Oxford will additionally be considered for any full or partial scholarships you are eligible for. You will automatically be considered for the majority of scholarships you are eligible for, however a few scholarships may require an additional application process. For further information please see the graduate fees and funding pages.
A funded studentship normally covers course fees and provides a stipend at the applicable UKRI rate with a £2K/annum uplift. Some studentships may include partner contributions or other specific funding arrangements.
Some studentships or scholarships offered through ILESLA may have specific requirements in terms of partner organisation(s), college affiliation (University of Oxford only) or research area.
International applicants
ILESLA can consider international applicants, but the number of international studentships that can be funded by BBSRC or NERC funding is limited by UKRI rules to 30% of UKRI-funded students.
Where international studentships are available, they are highly competitive and may be subject to additional fee or scholarship arrangements.
College affiliation
For Oxford-registered students, college membership forms part of the Oxford graduate experience, so all students must have a college affiliation. All students registered at Oxford Brookes University or The Open University will be offered an affiliation with Linacre College, which will provide the opportunity to participate in college social activities and to access college dining and sports facilities.
If applying to the University of Oxford, as part of your application you will be asked to select a college. Alternatively you can select "Open" on your application and we will select a college for you. A full list of colleges that accept students for our programme can be found on the course page of the main university website.
We particularly encourage you to consider applying to one of the colleges listed below, which provide additional support to the programme in the form of partial scholarships.
Brasenose
Jesus
Linacre
Magdalen
Mansfield
Queen's
Reuben
St Cross
St Hugh's
St John's
University
Wolfson
Worcester
What makes a strong application?
A strong ILESLA application does not need to present a full proposal for a research project. It should show curiosity about life and/or environmental science; evidence of academic ability and research potential; a good fit with one or more ILESLA themes and awareness of the kind of training opportunities ILESLA provides.
You should know why you want to do a research degree and evidence clear motivation whether that is through having sought out research experience, engaged in self-directed or part-time study, voluntary activities or employment-related experience.
Use of AI in applications
You are responsible for all material submitted as part of your application. AI tools may be used for limited support, such as checking clarity or grammar, but your application must represent your own experience, thinking and motivation. Do not use AI tools to generate statements that misrepresent your abilities, interests or achievements.
Application timeline
The deadline for applications for 2027-28 entry is 12:00 midday UK time on Wednesday 6th January 2027. We strongly recommend that you submit your application well in advance of this deadline.
There follows an intensive sifting and shortlisting process. Because of the number of applications we receive, this is scheduled to take until 11th February.
Invites to interview will go out in the week commencing 15th February. We aim to send invites out 7 days before the interview is scheduled to give candidates time to prepare. Interviews for shortlisted applicants are planned be held between Feb 22nd to March 5th 2027.
Interviews are conducted by up to 9 interview panels according to the research interests indicated on the application. Panels do not necessarily map directly onto the five research themes as there are sub-specialties.
Initial offers are scheduled to go out on 8th and 9th March. Candidates are given two weeks to accept/decline offers. Further offers may be given where candidates decline, or additional funding is identified. A wait list of is therefore held, and candidates will be notified after 9th March if they are being held in consideration on a wait list. The wait list can continue to run for several months after interviews.
Offer-holders need to verify transcripts and other conditions of offer by 31st August.
Interviews and selection
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to interview. Interviews are used to assess academic potential, research interests, fit with ILESLA themes and remit, motivation for the programme, and readiness to engage with doctoral training.
As the ILESLA programme covers a very broad range of research areas, we convene interview panels that cover different aspects of ILESLA remit. Interview panel members are recruited from across the ILESLA partner organisations. If you are shortlisted for interview you will be assigned to an interview panel based on your background and the research interests you indicate in your statement of purpose.
Before you apply
- Explore the five ILESLA research themes
- Consider whether your interests fit BBSRC and/or NERC remit
- Use the list of supervisors to see whether any are a match for your interests
- Think about which admitting university or universities may fit your interests
- Consider whether you are interested in projects involving specific partners, including Open-IIC projects
- Review eligibility and funding guidance
- Attend an open event or watch available recordings
- Contact your referees and obtain all documents required for the application process.
- Prepare a personal statement following the guidance provided that explains your motivation, fit and potential