any tips on getting an interview for wellcome trust 4 yr phd schemes?

i got a first and a MRes (distinction), did a placement at Imperial, and i'm working for the MRC, but somehow didn't even manage to get an interview from my own uni (Edinburgh).

someone said having a Msc
could count against you; maybe the Wellcome trust discriminates against MRC ppl?

I'm afraid we can't offer any tips specific to the Wellcome scheme. As somebody who is well qualified to take up a studentship it does sound like there may be something wrong with your application. Why not ask for some feedback from the people who turned you down. For somebody who already has an MRes, schemes such as the Wellcome one may not be appropriate as you have already received teaching in research methods. Why not got for the more traditional 3 year programmes?

Finally, any idea that one funding body discriminates against people trained though a different one is ridiculous.