Doctoral Training Programmes in the UK

[tortitude]

Hi all! So, I am thinking about applying for PhD programs in the biomedical sciences for Fall 2019 entry. I am quite the anglophile - I studied in the UK for a while and loved it, so I am looking into some PhD programs in the UK, particularly some of the relatively new Doctoral Training Programmes/Centres for Doctoral Training (DTP/CDTs), which are modelled on the US system (1 year of rotations, and then 3 years on your chosen project). They are typically funded by public research councils, which makes me think international students would not be eligible for funding. If anyone knows a bit/has any experience with these programs, any info would be greatly appreciated! How competitive are these programs compared to the US, and compared to the more traditional PhD studentships in the UK? Are they even open to non-EU internationals, and what is the funding situation? And on that note, what are some routes for an American student to be able to study a funded PhD in the UK?