Applying
Do I need to find a supervisor for my postgraduate study before I apply?
- To make a strong application candidates should investigate potential supervisors and get in touch with them to discuss their interest. You’ll find that most Principal Investigators and supervisors will indicate whether they are currently accepting PhD students on their own webpages.
- By searching for and approaching potential Principal Investigators and supervisors you are giving yourself the best opportunity to explore what is possible in the course of choice or field of study
- Many courses request a research statement – you can use this as an opportunity to express your interest in particular Principal Investigators and supervisors and their research
- Applications without specified Principal Investigators and supervisors are acceptable but the candidate should check the course prospectus to make sure that is the case.
Can I apply for more than one postgraduate course in the same admissions year?
Yes, you can apply to as many courses as you wish.
Please note, however, that you must complete a separate application form for each, and upload all the supporting documents required for each course even if that means uploading some of the same files multiple times. You must also pay the full application fee for each application you make. However, there is a 3 for 1 application fee that the Physical School of Life Sciences offers for certain courses. Find out more here.
When will I expect to get a decision on my offer?
If you submitted your application before the general funding deadlines in December or January, you should receive a formal decision on your application before the end of March. The majority of offers are made in February and March.
How do I find a Principal investigator (PI)/supervisor or research project?
You can find a PI/supervisor and/or research project on the individual School of Clinical Medicine department websites. Details of prospective supervisors can be found here and here.
Am I eligible for an application fee waiver?
You can apply for a fee waiver if you meet any of the following criteria:
UK applicants from low income households
Applicants with Asylum Seeker or Refugee Status
Overseas applicants from certain countries
The request for an application fee waiver must be made at least ten working days before any course or funding deadline you wish to meet, and by no later than 1 December 2022. You can find out more here.
Do I have to be a member of a College to study as a postgraduate student?
Yes – the University of Cambridge is a collegiate university, so all students must be members of a College. You can find out more about College membership for postgraduates here.
Financial support
General
Where can I find a list of all funding opportunities?
A list of funding opportunities can be found here.
As a postgraduate student, can I work or have a part-time job whilst studying?
This depends on whether your course is full or part-time. See the working while you study page on the Cambridge Students website.
DTP Training Programme
Why is it recommended that I submit two applications; one to the MRC DTP PhD programme and one to the relevant Department?
We recommend that all applicants also apply directly to the department, and tick the apply for funding box on the application form. By doing so you will automatically be considered for a place and funding via the Department should you not be awarded a Research Council funded place.There is a three for one offer on the application fee for courses within life sciences, so there will only be one application fee. Further details can be found here: https://www.graduate.study.cam.ac.uk/application-process/how-do-i-apply/application-fee/fee-life-science-courses
Can International Fee status applicants receive full funding?
UKRI have confirmed that international students (EU and non-EU) will be eligible for all Research Council-funded postgraduate studentships from the start of the 2021/22 academic year. The text of the August 2020 public statement is here https://www.ukri.org/news/ukri-funded-postgraduate-programmes-to-open-to-international-students/
The MRC DTP will be able to offer a limited number of studentships to international students, and funding will cover both fees and a stipend to support living costs. These international studentship awards will be subject to eligibility and the availability of complementary funding (to provide the differential to the international fee rate); we expect there to be keen competition for these places. Please note that EU, EEA and Swiss nationals benefitting from Citizens’ Rights (under the EU Withdrawal Agreement, EEA EFTA Separation Agreement or Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement respectively), and Irish nationals living in the UK and Ireland (whose right to study and to access benefits and services will be preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement), will continue to be treated as Home students for the purposes of Research Council funding.
Other
Is there an Open Day for prospective postgraduate students?
Yes. The university run a postgraduate open day in November. Find more more here.
