phd cambridge entry requirements

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Research Programmes

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• Postgraduate Study

The Faculty of Mathematics offers three doctoral (PhD) and one MPhil research programmes.

Select a course below to visit the University’s Course Directory where you can read about the structure of the programmes, fees and maintenance costs, entry requirements and key deadlines.

Research Areas and Potential Supervisors

Determining whether your interests and ambitions align with our research and expertise is a vital part of the application and admissions process. When we receive your formal application, we will consider the information you provide on your research interests carefully, alongside other factors such as your academic suitability and potential, how you compare to other applicants in the field, and whether we have a suitable academic supervisor with the capacity to take on new students.

We are committed to widening participation in mathematical research at Cambridge. We welcome and encourage applications from people from groups underrepresented in postgraduate study.

Before making an application to study with us we recommend you:

• Investigate our areas of research and consider how they fit with your interests and ambitions.

A list of broad research areas is provided below, together with links to further information. Your interests may span more than one area. On your application form you will be asked to indicate at least one broad area of interest. This is to help us direct your application to the most suitable group of people to review it.

• Identify 2 or 3 appropriate supervisor(s) with whom you might work.

Applicants should indicate one or more proposed supervisor(s) in their application. The information linked below will take you to lists of supervisors working in each broad research area, with an indication of their availability. You are encouraged to make informal contact with potential supervisors prior to making an application. Initial contact should be made by email. In your email we recommend you provide a concise explanation of your areas of interest, how your research interests align with the supervisor(s) research, and that you highlight any relevant work you have done in this area. We recommend that you attach an up-to-date CV. The purpose of this contact is to enquire on supervisor capacity and willingness to supervise, and to see if there is a good fit between your interests and theirs.

If you haven’t had a response to an informal enquiry, you are still welcome to apply and list the individual concerned on your application form, although you may also wish to consider other options.

• Give some thought to your intended research and why you want to study with us.

On your application form you will be asked to submit a short research summary, details of your research experience and your reasons for applying to undertake a PhD/MPhil with us. Whilst you are not expected to submit a detailed research proposal at any stage of the process, we do want to know that you have considered the areas of research that you wish to pursue.

Research areas

Click on a research area to find out more about available supervisors and their research:

Please note that a  large majority of the successful applicants for PhD studentships with  the High Energy Physics, and General Relativity & Cosmology (GR) groups   will have taken Part III of the Mathematical Tripos.

Funding Opportunities

Each Department works hard to secure funding for as many offer holders as possible, either from within its own funds, in collaboration with funding partners, or via the University Postgraduate Funding Competition. However, funding is not guaranteed via these routes, and you should investigate funding opportunities early in the process to be sure that you can meet advertised deadlines.

All application deadlines are 23:59pm (midnight) UK time on the stated date. So that your application can be given full consideration please apply by the following deadlines:

Note for PhD applicants:

We will accept applications for an October start up until the general University deadline in May, but your chances of obtaining funding are significantly reduced. In addition, space limitations may mean that late applications cannot be considered (i.e., the most appropriate supervisor may already have committed to taking other students).

Only in exceptional circumstances will we consider admission to a later start date in the academic year (i.e., January or April). If you intend to apply for a later start date please contact us at [email protected] so we can advise you on the feasibility of your plan.

Note for MPhil applicants:

We will accept applications until the general University deadline in February, but you will not be considered for funding. In addition, space limitations may mean that late applications cannot be considered (i.e., the most appropriate supervisor may already have committed to taking other students).

Most interviews are expected to take place in the second half of January.

The purpose of the interview is to try to ascertain the extent of the applicant's relevant knowledge and experience, and to gauge whether their interests and abilities align with the research of the potential supervisor and/or research group. It will most likely consist of a discussion of your background and motivations for applying to the course, as well as some questions on relevant topics.

Not all applicants will be selected for interview.

If you are selected for interview, you will be contacted by email at the address you provided on your application. The email should confirm:

• the location of the interview (it may be in-person or on-line dependent upon interviewer availability, your distance from Cambridge, as well as individual preferences),
• the interview format and whether you should prepare anything specific in advance,
• the approximate duration of the interview,
• who you will be meeting.

Prior to interview you may declare a disability, serious health problem or caring responsibility which may require reasonable adjustments for the interview to be made.

Due to interviewer availability and the tight admissions timetable, we can usually only rearrange the time and date of your interview under exceptional circumstances.

Decision timeline

Both DAMTP and DPMMS make most of their PhD/MPhil admissions decisions for October entry in January and early February, and you should not expect to receive a decision on your application before mid-February (even if you apply much earlier). We expect to have made decisions on all applications by mid-July. The Department makes every effort to take decisions on applications at the earliest opportunity. In some cases, however, it may take some time for a decision to be made. Applications may need to be viewed by several potential supervisors before a final decision can be reached.

To consider your application formally we must receive a complete application form, together with all supporting documents, by the deadline.

Communication of outcomes

You will be notified of the formal outcome of your application via the Applicant Portal.

Following an interview, you can normally expect to receive notification of the outcome within a week or two.

If you are successful, the University’s Postgraduate Admissions Office will issue a formal offer of admission which will outline all your conditions. As processing times can vary, we may also contact you informally to notify you of our decision.

We do not provide formal feedback to applicants who are unsuccessful at either the application or interview stage.

Take a look at our frequently asked questions for PhD applicants.

Forthcoming Seminars

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Doctorate (PhD, EdD, EngD, PhD by Special Regulations)

Doctoral degrees are awarded to those who have demonstrated all of the criteria below: 

• a significant contribution to the field of study through the creation and interpretation of new knowledge, connection of previously unrelated facts or the development of new theory or revision of older views;
• submission of work of a quality in whole or in part of a standard to merit publication (whether or not subsequently published);
• provides evidence of the acquisition of knowledge and a detailed understanding of applicable techniques for research and advanced academic enquiry;
• is of a quality and quantity to reflect three years of full-time postgraduate study/five years part-time postgraduate study.

Master of Science/Master of Letters

The Master of Science or Master of Letters degrees are awarded to those who have demonstrated all of the criteria below:

• provides evidence of a useful contribution to the field of study;
• systematic understanding of knowledge and critical awareness of current problems and/or new insights in the field of study
• includes critical evaluation of current methodologies and wider research in the area of study;
• provides evidence of an understanding of applicable techniques for research and advanced academic enquiry;
• submission of work of a quality and quantity expected for two years of full-time postgraduate research and study

Master of Philosophy

The Master of Philosophy degree is awarded to those who have demonstrated all of the criteria below:

• understanding of knowledge and critical awareness of current problems and/or new insights in the field of study;
• submission of work of a quality and quantity expected for one year of full-time postgraduate research and study

Form of work

All students are expected to submit a thesis.  Content of a thesis may differ by subject, but it is expected to include critical review, reworking of existing material providing the provenance of such material is clearly identified, and the results of the original investigation carried out during the course.  In some cases it may also include submission of compositions or recorded work (e.g for a degree in Music).

A thesis may contain previously published material as an integral part of the thesis. This material should be set in the context of an overall thesis (as part of a connected argument) with suitable introductory and concluding passages to link the published material to the rest of the work.   Although permissible, it is not expected that a thesis submitted for the awards of MSc, MLitt or MPhil will include published works.

The amount of previously published material to include is up to each candidate, however included publications must refer to research carried out as part of a candidate’s degree and the thesis must keep within the word limits specified by the relevant Degree Committee . 

Candidates for the PhD by Special Regulations and, with the approval of the relevant Degree Committee, candidates for the PhD (by general regulations) and the EdD may submit a thesis consisting of a number of previously published papers.  In these cases the thesis must also contain a substantial introductory summary statement summarising rationale; placing the work in the context of the wider field of study;  clarifying the extent to which works represent a consistent body of research, and the original contribution to knowledge they make; and providing clear detail on the exact contribution of the student to each included paper.  It would not be necessary for any published work to be re-written prior to inclusion in a thesis.  The amount of published material to include is up to each candidate, however with the exception of candidates for the PhD by Special Regulations the included publications must refer to research carried out as part of a candidate’s degree.  All candidates must also keep within the word limits specified by the relevant Degree Committee .

Works will be considered as ‘published’ if they are traceable in ordinary catalogue and copies are obtainable at the time of application or were at some previous time by members of the public through normal channels. 

The thesis must also be submitted in the approved  format .

Assessment  

The examination shall consist of submission of a thesis embodying the results of the candidate’s approved course of research, and examination on the general field of knowledge within which it falls.

Examiners will assess on the extent to which the thesis:

• is clearly written;
• fulfils the requirements for the degree.

  The oral examination should allow:

• the candidate to defend his or her thesis and clarify any matters raised by the Examiners;
• the Examiners to probe the candidate’s knowledge in the general field;
• the Examiners to assure themselves that the work presented is the candidate’s own and to clarify matters of any collaboration; and
• the Examiners to come to a definite conclusion about the outcome of the examination.

For MPhil programmes where the supplementary programme regulations state requirements for the examination, these shall be supplementary to the guidance detailed above.

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PhD in Chemistry

Entry requirement:   2.1 Masters degree or equivalent . 

Please check international qualifications equivalence guidelines here .

Coming to Cambridge for a PhD in Chemistry means you will be joining a community of over 50 academics, 350 PhD students and more than 200 postdoctoral researchers. The research opportunities are vast and career development is second to none. 

The route to a PhD takes up to four years of full-time research, culminating in a substantial thesis of up to 60,000 words which is examined by viva. Along your journey to a PhD, you will be absorbed in the laboratory life of your chosen research group. The postgraduate chemistry lecture series we offer aims to bring everyone up to the same high-level of foundational knowledge; irrespective of prior educational background at Masters level. You will present your research at seminars and conferences as you progress. Most PhD students go to at least one international and national chemistry conference in the course of their studies.

HOW TO APPLY

We strongly recommend that you correspond with potential supervisors early and well in advance of submitting your application. This is also important for maintaining oversight of which project you could be working on. Prospective projects may not always reflect groups publications therefore, we encourage you to discuss this with your potential supervisors to avoid disappointment. 

For information about funding please click here .

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Requirements for postgraduate courses

Please find details of our academic and other entrance requirements below. This information can also be found on the course pages of the Postgraduate Admissions website, along with further information about the content of each programme and how to apply. 

If you have not completed your studies in the UK please refer to our international equivalencies page for further information on how to check whether your qualification meets the entrance criteria. 

MPhil Courses

Research Courses

Note: Students currently undertaking a taught Master's degree at Cambridge must achieve a mark of 70 per cent to be allowed to continue to the PhD degree. Students currently studying for a Master's degree by research must satisfy their examiners that they are capable of continuing to the PhD degree.

MRes Courses

MSt Courses

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You need to have top grades to study at the University of Cambridge.

You'll need to check the entry requirements for your course before you apply . You may need to have qualifications in a particular subject and achieve certain grades. The entry requirements for your course may differ between Cambridge Colleges.

Our course pages refer to our A level and International Baccalaureate requirements. You can find out more about how we consider A level and IB qualifications and the other qualifications that we accept on our qualifications page .

Check the course pages for entry requirements

You also may need to:

• check that we accept your qualifications , if you aren't studying A levels or IB. There may be qualification specific requirements you need to meet
• have English language qualifications if you are not from a majority English speaking country (as defined by the UK Home Office)
• be over 18 to study some courses , for example Medicine
• check how to apply if you want to transfer from another UK university

Making an offer to study at Cambridge

Offers above the minimum requirement.

The minimum offer level and subject requirements outline the minimum you'll usually need to achieve in your qualifications to receive an offer from Cambridge.

In some cases you’ll receive a higher or more challenging offer.

Colleges set higher offer requirements for a number of reasons. This could be because:

• there is strong competition for places on the course. In this case, we may make more offers and make them more challenging. This gives more applicants a chance to prove themselves through their exam performance, rather than not being made an offer
• you have taken some exams early. We need to ensure you will achieve the highest grades in your remaining exams. This helps us to assess whether you will be able to manage the academic challenge of sitting exams in a single exam period, which is how we assess students at Cambridge
• you have a less common combination of subjects or we want to encourage you to continue with the best combination of subjects
• you performed less well in some parts of the application process

Where we set more challenging offers this is to better ensure that you will be able to cope with the academic level of the course and thrive at Cambridge.

English language requirements

If you're not from a majority English speaking country ( as defined by the UK Home Office ), your English language skills must be good enough for you to:

• take part in an academic interview
• study a Cambridge course that is taught and examined in English

Cambridge offers that include an English language condition

Offers from Cambridge may include an English language condition either as part of any visa requirements or if there are any concerns raised during your application.

We’ll assess you on:

• your qualifications
• written assessment or pre-submitted work
• interview performance
• educational background

The Cambridge College that makes you an offer will decide what the condition is. The condition may be based on your grade in a high school qualification or an approved English language test.

As a guide, you would be expected to achieve a good C1 standard within the Common European Framework for Languages (CEFR) in all four competencies by the time you start at Cambridge University. Commonly, this is demonstrated by one of the qualifications listed below.

Minimum English language requirements

• IELTS Academic – normally a minimum overall grade of 7.5, usually with 7.0 or above in each element
• TOEFL Internet Based Test (IBT) – normally a minimum overall score of 110, with 25 or above in each element
• EU students – competence in English at C1 standard in the appropriate component of a school-leaving exam (for example, the Abitur)
• Cambridge English: C2 Proficiency – accepted with a minimum overall score of 200, with no element lower than 185
• Cambridge English: C1 Advanced – accepted with a minimum overall score of 193, with no element lower than 185, alongside other evidence of competence in English

If you have followed the Singapore Integrated Programme (SIP), contact your chosen College admissions office for advice.

Visas and Secure English Language Tests (SELT)

For some visa types, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) requires a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as 'IELTS for UKVI (Academic)'. However, under UKVI policy, as a Higher Education Provider (HEP), we can accept other English language qualifications when sponsoring a student visa.

If you take an approved English language test to meet the English language requirements:

• the test is only valid for visa purposes for two years from the date of the exam
• the results should still be valid on your first day of your Cambridge course
• the component scores should normally be achieved in a single sitting of the test.

If you’re under 18 when you start at Cambridge

If you’ll be under 18 when you join us, you should talk to a College Admissions Office as early as possible to discuss your application.

If you’re considering Medicine, you should also read the advice about age requirements on the Medicine course page .

If you'll be under the age of 16 on admission, you may need to meet additional requirements and restrictions to comply with legislation.

Transferring to Cambridge from another UK university

We normally do not consider applications from students enrolled on a degree course at another UK university.

We’ll only consider this if:

• you have exceptional circumstances
• you want to change the subject you're studying
• need strong support from your course director
• need a written reference or letter of support to the Cambridge College you apply to
• be assessed in the same way as any other applicant

If you transfer to Cambridge from another UK university, you will need to start your chosen Cambridge course from the beginning (first year). It is not possible to transfer credit to Cambridge from another university.

Please be aware that if you have previously studied at another university, this may impact your eligibility for student finance and/or a student visa.

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PhD in Computer Science

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Potential applicants should refer to the the Postgraduate Admissions Course Directory for information about the program and application requirements.

Those who are applying for one of the department's PhD studentships and RA'ships , you should use the deadline published on the individual job listing.

For those applicants who have not secured external scholarships and who wish to be considered for the various University and Cambridge Trusts' funding competitions, applications for the academic year commencing October 2025, and January 2026, open on 3 September 2024. Applicants are encouraged to apply early. The deadline for submission of complete applications is 23:59 (GMT) on  3 December 2024 . Applicants who have secured external funding may apply up to 15 May 2025.

Please note that applications submitted between 4 December 2024 and 15 May 2025 will be considered only if there is a named potential supervisor who has invited the application, if the application is complete, and if funding is readily available. Note that incomplete applications received after this date will only be considered for January 2026 admission but cannot be considered for the funding competitions (for which the deadline is 3 December 2024).

Applicants should refer to the Postgraduate Admissions page for links to the application portal , deadlines, guidance and information.

Please note the following:

• Applications for funding support from the University and Cambridge Trusts must be submitted early: see University funding deadlines .
• Research students are normally admitted to the probationary Certificate of Postgraduate Studies in Computer Science (see CPGS) in the first instance.
• Applicants will also need to include a brief research abstract within the section of the application form which asks for a research topic and to indicate a potential supervisor's name .
• Applicants should discuss their proposed research with a potential supervisor before submitting the application for admission. See Research proposal for further details about the research proposal, and Research themes for links to potential supervisors within areas of your research interests. Please confirm that you have discussed the project with the proposed supervisor, and that they have confirmed they will be content to review an application from you. You should include a statement to this effect within the research abstract section of the application form.
• Applications are considered as they are received.

Please note that your application can only be considered by the department once it has been submitted. Your application can only be submitted if it is complete. You will be able to upload all your supporting material including a research proposal and the same time as submitting the application form. It is therefore very important to have all your supporting material, including agreement from your referees to provide you with references, your transcripts and research project proposal, ready before you start the application.

Applicants wishing to be considered for funding competitions should check their eligibility on the University-wide Sources of Funding web page.

The application portal acts as a scholarship funding application as well as an application for admission. In most cases, no further funding application form is required. There are some exceptions, however: we recommend checking the Student Funding webpage which provides information about other grants for students applying to Cambridge and their closing dates.

The current costs of a PhD are available from the Student Registry's Postgraduate Course Costs and Fee Status page . You will need sufficient funding to cover the University Tuition Fee, and at least the minimum maintenance for three years.

Once again, if you wish to apply for one of the department's PhD studentships and RA'ships , you should use the deadline published on the individual job listing.

Home students

The Department makes awards to UK students both from funds supplied, for example the EPSRC Doctoral Training Grant, and from its own funds such as the Premium Studentship  and the Hopper Studentship . In the year starting October 2023, the Department will help to fund up to three research students from its Doctoral Training Grant. These funds are limited. The Applications Panel considers all successful applicants for funding awards within its gift and submits the names of highly ranked home and international students to the Cambridge Trusts.

The Department may also have positions associated with industrial collaborations and particular research projects. Such studentships are advertised on the University's Jobs web page.

Very highly ranked international students will be considered for nomination to the Gates Cambridge Trust and Cambridge International Scholarship Scheme ( CISS ) competitions.

Please note earlier applications deadline for Gates Cambridge US scholarships for US students who are resident in the US: 11 October 2023 .

The Department will contact applicants directly about its internal awards such as the Premium Studentship .

It is worth noting that full funding must be secured before starting a course at Cambridge. Most of the scholarships will not accept applications from students who are already in residence. We strongly discourage students asserting they can self-fund a PhD in the hope that something else will turn up once you are in Cambridge.

Admission conditions

The Faculty's Degree Committee makes recommendations to offer places to successful applicants via the University's central Postgraduate Admissions Office, the only body with the authority to make an offer of a place as a postgraduate student. Offers from Postgraduate Admissions are usually conditional . A deadline will be set by which date all conditions must be met and, once met, the offer is confirmed by the Postgraduate Admissions Office.

Standard conditions include securing sufficient funding for three years to meet the financial conditions of the University including tuition fees and maintenance, and College membership. Additionally, applicants may be asked to achieve a certain grade in their current studies; to take or retake an English Language proficiency test ; and any other conditions the Postgraduate Admissions Office might apply.

Successful applicants who have applied online may be required to send original documents to the University's Postgraduate Admissions Office for validation. We strongly recommend the use of a reputable courier and that you obtain a tracking number .

CDT in Decision Making in Complex Systems

The AI CDT in Decision Making for Complex Systems is a programme offered in conjunction with the University of Manchester that aims to enable students to develop new fundamental AI capabilities in the context of a diversity of complex systems. Rather than working in isolation, as is usual in AI,  the students will learn to develop these in a collaborative manner tied to a specific application domain. The CDT is focused on three areas, Uncertainty in complex systems, Decision-making with humans in the loop and Decision-making for ML systems. Model interpretability and explainability will be transversal to the three topics. Decision making with AI needs  to be interpretable and explainable to facilitate interrogation of decision processes such that trust can be built by the human, and it is essential for understanding and meeting ethical and legal implications.

Like all research students admitted to read for the PhD degree, those admitted to the AI CDT in Decision Making for Complex Systems are admitted on a probationary basis. They will have successfully completed the Postgraduate Diploma in Artificial Intelligence  at the University of Manchester before being registered on a probationary basis at the University of Cambridge. During this year students may do some additional coursework and will write a research report that is likely to form the foundation of the eventual PhD thesis. Applications for admission in Michaelmas 2025 open in September 2024.

Please contact the department's Postgraduate Education Manager with any questions not answered above.

Email: Postgraduate Education Manager

Include "PhD application query" in the subject.

Department of Computer Science and Technology William Gates Building 15 JJ Thomson Avenue Cambridge CB3 0FD

Tel: +44 1223 334656 (NB may not be accessible during remote working)

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WWW: https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/

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The PhD programme

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The PhD is awarded after three to four years of full-time research (or five to seven years of part-time study) on the basis of a dissertation of 80,000 words (exclusive of footnotes, appendices and bibliography, but subject to an overall word limit of 100,000 words exclusive of bibliography, table of contents and any other preliminary matter). Examination for the PhD involves an oral examination (viva) by two examiners.

Research students who intend to undertake PhD research are in the first instance automatically registered for a one-year research training programme leading to the Certificate of Postgraduate Study (CPGS) in Legal Studies. They are assigned a supervisory team by the Degree Committee of the Faculty, ordinarily consisting of a supervisor (who is principally responsible for directing and assisting the research) and an advisor (who provides a second point of contact for academic advice). At the end of the first year, the Degree Committee decides whether students should be registered for the PhD. This decision is taken on the basis of the student’s personal progress log, first-year dissertation of 15,000 words, viva conducted by two assessors from within the Faculty, and outline of plans for the full research project. Candidates who successfully complete the requirements of the CPGS and the first-year progress review are retrospectively registered for the PhD.

All full-time PhD students are ordinarily required to be resident in Cambridge for the duration of their research (except where given leave to work away from Cambridge for academic reasons or whilst undertaking fieldwork), and during the first year in particular must attend weekly research training sessions in the Faculty.

This overview of the PhD programme must be read in conjunction with the detailed information available under the 'Courses' section (see, in particular, the Course Directory) of the Postgraduate Admissions website . Further information on postgraduate admission to research courses in the Faculty of Law is available from [email protected] or +44 (0)1223 330039.

The Faculty of Law The David Williams Building 10 West Road Cambridge CB3 9DZ United Kingdom

Telephone: +44 1223 330033 Email: [email protected]

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© Martin Bond

We house over 30 research groups working in fundamental science, engineering, and mathematics fields, with an overarching drive to deliver real impact in the areas of sustainability and healthcare. Our multidisciplinary expertise is centered on five key competencies: biology, materials, reactions and processes, sensor technologies and big data. Most of our research groups accept applications for PhD study.

Entry requirements

You are normally expected to hold, or to be about to achieve, a First Class or high 2.i Honours Degree (or the equivalent from an overseas institution, please see the  International Qualifications  page) in chemical engineering, engineering, chemistry, biochemistry, applied mathematics, physics, biological science or related subjects. Alternatively, candidates with an appropriate Master's qualification may be considered, but please be advised that we would still normally expect a First Class or high 2.i Honours (or overseas equivalent) undergraduate degree.

In addition, if English is not your first language, you may need to take a language proficiency test. You do not need to take a test before you apply, but if you are made an offer, it could be a requirement that you obtain a passing score. To determine if you are likely to need an English test, please see ' Will I Have a Language Requirement '.

How to apply

University of cambridge postgraduate admissions.

To study for a PhD in Chemical Engineering or Biotechnology at the University of Cambridge, you must formally apply to University of Cambridge Postgraduate Admissions. Please see their website for more information about applying online : University of Cambridge Postgraduate Admissions.

All first-year PhD research students are registered for no formal registration (NOTAF) until satisfactory progress has been made. Offer letters from the Board of Graduate Studies to such students will say that they have either been registered for a PhD (Probationary) or NOTAF in the first instance. Research students are registered for the PhD only after a satisfactory progress assessment at the end of three terms.

Close the Gap and AIM

The Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology welcomes applications from underrepresented groups, and we are proud to participate in Close the Gap , the Oxford and Cambridge University's initiative to transform doctoral student selection to develop a socially and epistemically just and inclusive environment for world-leading research.

We additionally participate in AIM, a 6-month online programme to assist applicants from underrepresented groups with their application to doctoral study at the University of Cambridge. Eligible applicants receive personalised support from admissions staff and students who have been through the application process themselves, giving you the confidence to make a competitive application to Cambridge.

Please see the University of Cambridge's AIM PhD website for further information.

Completing the Graduate Admissions Application Form

Please note that the postgraduate admission process can take 2 - 3 months.

Proposed Supervisor, Title of Research and Research Summary

Before choosing a research area, please see the Department's Research Group page to become familiar with our current research. Prospective applicants are expected to contact potential supervisors before applying. The purpose of this initial contact is to understand the process, develop an application, and enquire on a supervisor’s capacity and willingness to supervise/see if there is a good fit between your interests and theirs. When you contact a supervisor, please be sure to include your CV, a statement of your research interests/proposal, and any other relevant materials. Before applying, please carefully review the information available on our website; familiarize yourself with the work conducted by our department and the research interests and projects of potential supervisors. This will help you identify the academic staff whose expertise aligns with your own research interests. In your proposal, demonstrate your familiarity with related academic work in the field. Identify and describe a novel research direction, considering why it is both interesting and relevant to pursue research in that particular area. Write clearly and concisely. Your proposal should be approximately 300 words and written in English. Structure your proposal with sections such as introduction, prior research/gaps, problem/proposed research, and methodologies. Provide some specific details of what is expected of each section. Demonstrate feasibility and an anticipated plan/schedule of work for the first year. Strive for precision in what you intend to do in your PhD. When you are ready to apply, you must enter the name of a prospective supervisor; we are unable to consider applications without one. A degree of flexibility on both sides (the department and you) is helpful. Students frequently come to the department and work in a slightly different area to their original preference.

Research Groups Offering Part Time Study 

Some groups are able to consider applicants for part-time study; please see the list below: 

Sebastian Ahnert’s research group -- Structural Complexity

Graham Christie’s group  --  Molecular Microbiology

Adrian Fisher’s group  -- Electrochemical and Microengineering

Séamus Higson’ s group  -- Bio-analytical Chemistry and Energy Systems

Markus Kraft’s group -- Computational Modelling

Ewa Marek's group -- Energy Reactions and Carriers

Róisín Owen’s group -- Bioelectronic Systems Technology

Sam Stranks’ group  --  Optoelectronic Materials and Device Spectroscopy

Axel Zeitler’s group  --  Terahertz Applications

Scholarships Please see the University's Postgraduate Prospectus for details on funding opportunities and deadlines. Scholarship rounds at Cambridge are highly competitive, and we encourage all our applicants to search for funding sources that are external to the University.

Reasons for applying We would like your reasons for applying to Cambridge itself, for example, why Cambridge is an ideal fit for your proposed research.

Statement of interest Let us know why you're interested in the course, why you feel you're an ideal candidate for it, and what you would do with your degree after its completion.

College preferences The application form asks you to indicate a choice of College; the Postgraduate Admissions website has information on the College system and choosing a College .

Letters of Reference When selecting referees, please refer to the guidelines provided by  Postgraduate Admissions  on who to nominate to be your referees.

What happens after you apply

Please note that it normally takes 2-3 months for a decision to be made.

Your most current information on your application will be on the  Applicant Portal ; please check there regularly for the latest updates.

Before your application is sent electronically from the Postgraduate Admissions Office to the Department, two academic references and copies of your transcripts must be provided by you via the Applicant Portal.   You should notify your referees immediately that you have applied for admission to Cambridge, and they should expect to receive an email that will contain instructions on uploading the reference. Please ask them to check their spam/junk mail folders for this email. In addition, you must upload copies of your most recent transcripts from  all  your previous degrees. Please note that if you are made an offer of admission, you will be asked to send original hard copies of your final transcripts.

Once your application is submitted, and all required supporting documents uploaded, your application will be sent to the Department for consideration. If we recommend an offer of admission, your application will be considered by the Degree Committee in Engineering and then the Postgraduate Admissions Office. Provided your application is fully approved, admissions will issue a Conditional Offer, which will outline all the steps you must take to obtain a Confirmation of Admission. You will be able to track each step via the Applicant Portal.

Receiving a conditional offer

In your Conditional Offer, you will see the conditions you must meet before your admission is confirmed. You should complete the tasks associated for each condition as soon as you are able, you do not need to wait until you are able to meet all of them . For example, you can accept your offer, upload a photograph, and complete and upload the Visa Status form (if applicable) straight away. Many applicants will also be able to upload a passport copy immediately. The more conditions you can meet early, the greater your chances of getting a confirmed offer in good time.

Please be advised that when you upload a document onto the Applicant Portal, or if delivery of your original hard copies is signed for at the Postgraduate Admissions Office, your condition will not be automatically met. Your uploaded or hard copies of documents will join a queue with other students' documents to await processing. Once the document is considered by staff at the Admissions Office, they will either update the condition as complete, or they will issue a note on your self-service as to why the condition was not met and the steps you need to take. It normally takes 1-2 weeks, or longer during busy periods such as late summer/early autumn and in December/January, before the document is processed by the Admissions Office.

Withdrawing your offer

If you determine that you will be unable to take up your place at Cambridge, you will need to log-in to your self-service and formally withdraw your application. This will alert the Admissions Office, the Department, and your College of your intentions.

Your fees will vary depending on your nationality (UK or overseas) and your choice of college. Your living expenses (maintenance fees) will also vary depending on the number of dependents accompanying you. For more detailed information on the costs you will incur, please visit the  Student Registry .

A full list of deadlines is published on the   Deadlines Page  of the University's Graduate Admissions Office. Please note that an offer of admission does not guarantee a scholarship, and the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology does not provide funding support towards fees and maintenance from its own resources. Also, under University regulations, it is not possible for students to work as a teaching or research assistant while studying for a PhD.

Due to the highly competitive nature of scholarship opportunities at the  University ,  we encourage all applicants to search for funding outside of the University , i.e., government scholarships offered by your home country.

Students at Cambridge are members of both the University and a College. If you are offered a place of study on one of our graduate courses, you will obtain a place at a College as well. You do not have to be a member of the same college as your supervisor.

The Department is where you will attend lectures, conduct research, etc. The Colleges provide: on-going academic and pastoral support from your Tutor and Graduate Office; accommodation and catering; financial advice and assistance; and social, cultural, and sporting facilities. Colleges administer formal processes, including matriculation (formally joining the University and College), monitoring international students' status for visa purposes, and graduation.

Choosing a College

As you are completing your application for admission, you may indicate your first and second choices of college, or you may leave your application 'open'.  If your application for study is approved, but neither your first nor second College choice will be able to offer you a place, your application will be sent to a randomly selected college. When determining your college choices, it's especially useful to visit the University's  Choosing a College  page. Here, you will find advice on how to choose a college (and how not to!). You should also look at their Key Facts and Figures link to help you choose.

Visa requirements

The most up-to-date information about visa and ATAS requirements for applicants can be found on the  International Student Office's  website.

EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Sensor Technologies and Applications in an Uncertain World

We are home to the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Sensor Technologies and Applications in an Uncertain World , established in direct response to an identified training need articulated by major UK industries, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the academic sector. The Sensor CDT delivers a four-year, interdisciplinary, research-focused training programme to outstanding students, ranging all the way from physical concepts of sensing, interpreting, and managing sensory data, to application-focused sensor development.

The programme is structured as a one-year Master of Research (MRes) course followed by a three-year PhD research project.

Find out more about the programme on the  Sensors CDT website .

Funded PhD Positions

Whether you’re interested in pushing forward the development of next-generation materials, creating life-changing medical technology or helping to solve the most fundamental problems facing the world today, CEB offers fully-funded PhD studentships. To see our currently available programmes: CEB Studentships

While we are happy to help you with any queries about the application process and conditions of admission, we do ask that you please read the  University's Postgraduate Prospectus  in the first instance, as it provides information about fees and funding opportunities, entrance requirements, deadlines, and the application process. If you have already been made an offer, you should consult the  Offer Booklet  for guidance. If you feel that you need assistance, please email  [email protected]

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Driven by curiosity. Driving change.

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Entry Requirements

The Centre of Development Studies PhD programme has high academic requirements, and a large number of applicants who meet them. If you do not meet the criteria listed below, it is most unlikely you will be offered a place.

• A UK  Masters Degree  in a relevant subject   with a Merit overall or a GPA of at least 3.6/4.0 (usually 67% overall) or equivalent from a non-UK University.
• A high 2.1 Undergraduate Degree from a UK university or equivalent GPA of at least 3.6/4.0 (usually 67% overall) or equivalent from a non-UK University.
• Applicants must also have a good research project that falls within the research interests of one the Centre's lecturers who is available for supervision.

If your degree is not from the UK, please consult the Postgraduate Admissions International Qualifications page to ascertain the international  equivalent  in your country.

• F or those whose first language is not English and who have not previously studied for a degree in an English language university within the last 2 years , evidence of proficiency in English is required.  This consists of an IELTS score of 7.5 (with a minimum of 7.0 in each individual component) or a TOEFL score of 110 (with 25 in each element).  Conditional offers can be made without these results, at the initial application level, but these will need to be obtained and proof provided for a firm offer to be extended and all requirements met for a formal matriculation.
• Find out  if you will have a Language Requirement . 

Naming a Supervisor on your Application

Supervisors can be named from the Centre of Development Studies. Your research topic must come within their area of expertise and there must a strong link to Development Studies. Applicants should contact an available supervisor to discuss their proposal before applying. Academics currently available for PhD supervision are listed here:  https://www.devstudies.cam.ac.uk/ourpeople/phd-supervisors

In exceptional circumstances , applicants may name a supervisor from another department, if the research proposal and the proposed supervisor both have a strong link to Development Studies. In these cases, before submitting the application the proposed supervisor should confirm their willingness to supervise the candidate and contact the PhD Director to outline why the PhD would be best undertaken in the Centre of Development Studies rather than their own department.

In all cases, following appropriate research on the most relevant choice, a suitable and available supervisor and a proposed research title must be included in the correct place on the application . (This is found on the first page of the Application Form, in the "Research" section, "Proposed Supervisor" and "Proposed title of Research").

*Please note that applications will be rejected should they fail to propose an available supervisor and/or a research title.*    

Applications are considered by the Admissions Committee on a rolling basis once applications open in September.

If at any point before, during or after applying you have a question, Postgraduate Admissions run a very comprehensive  FAQ page  

Please use the Postgraduate Admissions contact form if you can't find an answer to your question:  https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/contact-form

All applications are made through the Postgraduate Admissions Department Self-Service website. 

When you have completed the necessary preparation and you are ready to begin your online application, you should take note of the following important information before you create your application:

• There is an application charge per application. You can make the payment by providing your card details when you submit the online application.
• Your application is  not complete without the required supporting documentation.

Uploading Supporting Documentation

Applications will not be considered by the Department until all the documents are uploaded, as Postgraduate Admissions only send them to us once all the documents are present.  Incomplete applications will not be considered for funding, even if you apply in time.  We do not chase applicants for missing documents. 

It is the responsibility of applicants to ensure that  all  documents forming part of their application are correct and complete  at the point of submission of the application . The department will not permit changes or additions to these documents after application. Additionally, the Admissions Committee will not review any documents which are not listed on the PAO website as required for the MPhil or PhD in Development Studies.

Incomplete/inactive applications (i.e. those which have been missing documents for a considerable length of time) will be withdrawn by Postgraduate Admissions, and will therefore never reach the Department. 

Required Documentation

1. First Academic Reference and Second Academic Reference

Please see this website for information on who to nominate as your referees, and how they submit their references. 

All applicants will require two academic references, including continuing students.

2. Personal Reference This is only required if you are applying for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship.

3. Transcripts

Please see this website for information on how to upload your transcripts. 

4. Evidence of Competence in English if English is not your first language

• You can use this website to find out  if you will have a Language Requirement . 
• This website has information about the accepted tests and how to upload them.  

You  do not  have to have a language test certificate when you apply. Whilst this is preferable, this can be uploaded during any part of the application process - and if an offer is made, can be included as one of the conditions of admission. 

The same form should also be used when you wish to request a language test waiver - there is an option on the form for this purpose. 

5. Research Proposal with Title

An outline (three or four pages) of the proposed research topic, indicating: the background and aims of the research and the methodology and data to be applied (if relevant). This is in addition to information provided on the application form.

6. Writing sample (not more than 5,000 words)

This could be a published article or an essay from the student's Bachelor or Master programme, where possible relevant to Development Studies.

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Application Information

Applications for the MPhil and PhD in Sociology are made via the postgraduate admissions website , simply search for "Sociology" in their course directory .

The Department of Sociology operates a “gathered field” admissions process in which applications are collected and processed in three rounds. All applicants are encouraged to apply early, if possible, as the availability of supervisors will decrease from round to round as places are awarded.

Entry Requirements

Applicants to our postgraduate programmes must meet the minimum entry requirements specified by the University of Cambridge. These requirements include:

• MPhil : A high 2.1 (3.6/4 GPA) or international equivalent , in a bachelor’s degree in Sociology or a related discipline (see " Requirements " FAQ).
• PhD : A Merit grade or international equivalent , in a master’s degree in Sociology or a related discipline (see " Requirements " FAQ). Students registered for an MPhil at Cambridge must achieve an overall mark of 70% for their MPhil, and a mark of 70% for their dissertation.
• English proficiency: If English isn’t your first language, you will be required to submit evidence that you meet the University’s English language requirement .

Research proposal

All applications should include a research proposal, the length of which, excluding references, should be approximately:

• 1,000 words for MPhil applicants
• 2,000 words for PhD applicants

The research proposal should contain:

• A clear, viable and well-motivated research question
• A brief literature review, outlining the state of knowledge in your chosen area and the gaps which your research is intended to fill
• The data and research methods you propose to employ
• You may also like to explain your own interest in the project, and any skills or experience which mean you are particularly well equipped to undertake the work.

No special formatting is required; please do not include appendices.

Nominating a supervisor

Postgraduate applicants are required to indicate a preferred supervisor in their application using the designated box on their application form.

Supervisors act as academic advisors that help students plan their individual study programmes and provide guidance throughout the course of study. As a result, it is important that there is some overlap between students and their supervisors in terms of research interests or approach. Applicants can find a list of supervisors, their research interests and availability in our list of available supervisors .

You will need to supply at least two academic references , and your referees will need to upload these before the application deadline. Please ensure that you contact your referees in plenty of time, because if the references are not received by the course deadline, your application will be withdrawn.

The Department of Sociology will usually interview all competitive PhD applicants. Topics to be covered in interviews will vary depending on the nature of particular candidates’ application, their proposed research project and their particular academic background.

Candidates need not prepare for these interviews but should anticipate a discussion pertaining to their research proposal and preparation for postgraduate study in the Department. These interviews also give candidates an opportunity to ask any questions they may have about the University, Department or course.

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Postgraduate Admissions

• Current Undergraduates

As a postgraduate student at the Cavendish laboratory you would be joining an institution with an illustrious history of innovation and discovery and a current programme that builds on that tradition.

Postgraduate Students in the Department study for one of the following qualifications:

• Master of Advanced Studies (MASt in Physics) , 9 Months
• MPhil in Data Intensive Science ,10 Months
• MPhil in Planetary Sciences and Life in the Universe (PSLU) , 10-month
• MPhil in Physics (by research) , 1 year
• MPhil in Scientific Computing (taught/research), 1 year
• PhD in Physics (by research), 3+ years
• Interdisciplinary PhD in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (NanoDTC)   (initial common training period + research), 3.5+ years
• PhD in Computational Methods for Materials Science - 4 year

Applications for admissions

If you decide to make an application, you are advised to do so as early as possible. This will increase your chances not only of acceptance but also of being considered for funding. 

All candidates should consult the course directory for funding deadlines

We hope that the above information is helpful as we wish to encourage good applicants. Should you choose to apply, we will try to reach a decision in the Department without undue delay before passing on your papers for further consideration by the Colleges, the Degree Committee, and the Postgraduate Admissions Office. You should not take any steps to come to Cambridge before you receive an admission letter from the Postgraduate Admissions Office stating that you have satisfied all conditions.

• The Application Process

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Postgraduate Open Days 

Virtual Postgraduate Open Days takes place every year. During the Open Day you can find out more about what it is like to be a Cavendish postgraduate, various research areas, the application process, student life and more. You will also get an opportunity to attend a Q&A session with the current staff.

This year the Postgraduate Open Day will take place between 4 th and 15 th November 2024.  You can find more information here.

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PhD in Social Anthropology

• MPhil in Social Anthropological Research

The PhD in Social Anthropology is intended for students who already have full training at undergraduate and/or Master's level in the methods and perspectives of Social/Cultural Anthropology. A first class Honours degree or strong High Pass in a Master's degree in Social Anthropology is normally required.

The course includes intensive fieldwork training in the first year, a research period of 12 to 18 months, and a further year for writing the dissertation (a maximum of four years is allowed in total). Students work under the guidance of a principal Supervisor and a Faculty Advisor, and the Department also provides compulsory training and specialist seminars which students are expected to attend. Opportunities are available for teaching practice for senior PhD students.

The PhD course consists in the first place of nine months training in research issues and methods culminating in the preparation of a research proposal. This training can be undertaken through the nine-month (three-term) Pre-Fieldwork Course. Students undertaking the PhD Pre-Fieldwork Course can expect to leave for field research at the end of their third term (June-July).

Students whose PhD projects will require fluency in an unfamiliar language must build into their application statement and their research proposal a consideration of how and when they will acquire the necessary language skills for their fieldwork.

For information on postgraduate supervision and facilities see the  Supervision and Facilities  page.

Further details about the PhD in Social Anthropology, including information about eligibility, funding, training and assessment and how to submit your supporting documents can be found on the Postgraduate Admissions website .   To apply, visit the PhD pages in the Postgraduate Admissions Course Directory .

Applications for each academic year open from mid-September and close on 30 April each year. Applications for funding close early December each year.

Department of Social Anthropology Free School Lane Cambridge CB2 3RF Tel: 01223 334 599

Contact: [email protected]

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Cambridge Population Health Sciences

Entry requirements.

Applicants will need to meet the standard minimum requirements for graduate study in Cambridge, including achievement of a good UK2.i honours degree or equivalent. 

If your degree is not from the UK, please check International Qualifications to find the equivalent in your country.

Applicants will usually have undergraduate experience in quantitative science or a degree in a health-related area, although other relevant experience will also be considered. 

We also expect clear interest in Population Health Sciences (PHS), clear commitment to a career in PHS, and a clear understanding of the contribution of the MPhil to applicants’ future career ambitions. 

Applicants without the standard university requirements but with clinical degrees, appropriate and compensatory professional experience, or intercalating medical students, may be considered via our non-standard admissions mechanism, if they meet all other admissions criteria. 

Mathematical skills at the level of an excellent A-level student are a minimum requirement for applicants to the Health Data Science (HDS) theme. Nevertheless, we expect that most applicants to HDS will have a mathematical training that is more advanced than A-level. Applicants to HDS who only satisfy the minimum mathematical requirement will have an undergraduate degree in a field relevant to the course. Some aptitude for and experience of computer programming is highly desirable for HDS applicants. 

We also require all applicants to demonstrate competence in the English language at a very high level ( see more on this ). 

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Academic Performance

The Faculty of Economics has high academic requirements and a large number of applicants that meet them. Applicants should have attained or expect to attain a high 2:1 undergraduate ( or country equivalent ) qualification in Economics. The degree should include standard courses in intermediate level Microeconomics, Macroeconomics and Econometrics (a Business Studies, Accountancy or Management degree or qualification does not provide an adequate background). If you do not meet the criteria listed below, it is unlikely you will be offered a place.

• Applicants from UK universities : an undergraduate degree with a minimum of a high 2.1 (average grade over 68%).
• Applicants from North American institutions : an undergraduate degree with a GPA of at least 3.6 out of 4 or the equivalent.
• Applicants from other educational systems : an undergraduate degree ( or country equivalent ) where the applicant is within the top ten per cent of their reference group.

In addition, applicants are strongly encouraged to include supporting information of their ranking within each academic year.

Prerequisites

Applicants should have an undergraduate degree ( or country equivalent ) in Economics and have taken standard courses in intermediate Microeconomics, Macroeconomics and Econometrics.

The Econometrics topics that applicants are expected to have studied, showing both an understanding of the theory behind the techniques and their empirical application, are as follows:

• Statistical inference : sampling theory, interval estimation, hypothesis testing;
• Regression : simple properties of OLS estimators and sampling distributions of regression coefficients, elementary analysis of variance, estimation and interpretation of multiple regression coefficients, multicollinearity, elementary analysis of misspecification (serial correlation, heteroscedasticity and structural change);
• Forecasting : conditional and unconditional forecasts and confidence intervals;
• Elementary representation of economic time series : first-order AR and MA representations, random walks.

In addition, applicants must have competence in the following areas of mathematics:

• Calculus : functions of several variables, partial and total derivatives, the chain rule, constrained optimisation using Lagrange multipliers, integration;
• Matrix algebra : matrices, determinants, inverses, solutions to simple simultaneous equation systems.

Competence in this context means that the applicant should have studied these topics in a mathematical methods in economics course, usually within an economics degree. Applicants should have completed a mathematics course with content equivalent to the undergraduate course offered at Cambridge .

GRE Requirements

All applicants whose previous university training is from countries outside the UK must submit the results of a recent Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test.

The Faculty of Economics will not normally consider admitting a student whose score registers below the 90th percentile in the Quantitative Reasoning section and below the 50th percentile in the Analytical Writing section of the test.

The Faculty MUST receive the results of the GRE General Test to meet the course deadline OR the funding deadline, should you wish to be considered for funding (see How and When to Apply ). Please note that your application will be automatically withdrawn should the test results are not received in time.

The University of Cambridge Faculty of Economics institution code for GRE is 2433.

You MUST provide a GRE Test result if:

• Your degree level study is from any country other than the UK
• Your degree level study has been taken via the University of London International Programme
• Your degree level study is from any country other than the UK, but you have taken one or more exchange programme in the UK

You are NOT required to provide a GRE Test result if:

• Your degree level study (undergraduate and/or postgraduate) is from the UK (except University of London International Programme)

Note:  The Faculty may request candidates from UK universities to take the GRE General Test.

Details of registration deadlines for this test, and of opportunities to take the computer-based test can be sought from ETS, which administers the test. 

The GRE website can be accessed to order publications, try out sample questions and for information regarding test dates and locations.

GRE Customer Service number: +1-609-771-7670

GRE Fax number: +1-609-771-7906.

Specific questions about the GRE can be emailed directly to [email protected]

Details of entry for the GRE test are often available within the candidate’s home country, or can be obtained from:  

English Language Qualifications

Please refer to the University Postgraduate Admissions website for further details on language conditions.

The Faculty of Economics will not normally ask you to have a valid English Test in order to submit an application, however, this might be a requirement at a later stage, should you receive a conditional offer.

Faculty of Economics Austin Robinson Building Sidgwick Avenue Cambridge CB3 9DD UNITED KINGDOM

Telephone: +44 1223 335200

Fax: +44 1223 335475

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PhD in Zoology

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The Department of Zoology is home to a community of researchers from a great diversity of disciplines, ranging from cell and developmental biology to field ecology and conservation. Evolutionary biology is a major focus of our work. We share an interest in whole organisms and how systems interact across different levels of organisation to generate the complexity of form, function and behaviour observed in the living world. Much of our work is underpinned by questions about evolution and an appreciation of the importance of the interactions between living organisms and their environments.

The PhD degree requires a minimum of three years of full-time research with an individual Supervisor. At the end of their degree, students will produce a written thesis, which will be assessed by independent experts, and examined with a viva . This is the principal research degree offered in the Department of Zoology and the great majority of our students are registered for it.

Students are supervised by at least one member of the academic staff who is an expert in the student's field of study. Supervisors support students in developing an independent and novel project in their field of interest. Students will learn how to review relevant literature, phrase and answer scientific questions, and report their findings to the scientific community at conferences and through peer-reviewed scientific publications. We very much encourage students to get experience in undergraduate teaching, which can be either as demonstrators during practical classes or supervisors teaching small groups. 

At the end of their first year of study, students are required to pass a first-year assessment based on a detailed progress report examined by viva by the student's thesis advisory committee. At the end of the second and third years, a brief report (without viva ) is required to ensure satisfactory progress toward the timely completion of the PhD degree.

Most candidates taking this option start in October to take advantage of d and University induction programmes, but admission in January or April is also possible.

Please note: part-time study may not always be viable and will be considered on a case-by-case basis, so please discuss this option with your proposed Supervisor before applying for this mode of study.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the programme, students will have:

• a comprehensive understanding of techniques and a thorough knowledge of the literature applicable to their own research
• demonstrated originality in the application of knowledge, together with a practical understanding of how research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge in their field
• shown abilities in the critical evaluation of current research and research techniques and methodologies
• demonstrated some self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems, and acted autonomously in the planning and implementation of research

The University hosts and attends fairs and events throughout the year, in the UK and across the world. We also offer online events to help you explore your options:

Discover Cambridge: Master’s and PhD study webinars - these Spring events provide practical information about applying for postgraduate study.

Postgraduate Virtual Open Days - taking place in November each year, the Open Days focus on subject and course information.

For more information about upcoming events visit our events pages .

Key Information

3-4 years full-time, 4-7 years part-time, study mode : research, doctor of philosophy, department of zoology, course - related enquiries, application - related enquiries, course on department website, dates and deadlines:.

Some courses can close early. See the Deadlines page for guidance on when to apply.

Easter 2025

Michaelmas 2025, easter 2026, funding deadlines.

These deadlines apply to applications for courses starting in Michaelmas 2025, Lent 2026 and Easter 2026.

Similar Courses

• Biological Science (Zoology) by thesis MPhil
• Biological Sciences (Developmental Biology) by advanced study MPhil
• Biological Sciences (Crop Science) by advanced study MPhil
• Cancer Biology PhD
• Biological Sciences (Infection Biology and Molecular Immunology) by advanced study MPhil

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