“We are very pleased that the PhD Programme for Health Professionals at the Universities of Cambridge and East Anglia, and the Wellcome Sanger Institute has committed to making this outstanding opportunity open to all health professionals.  Nurses, midwives, AHPs, practitioner psychologists, healthcare scientists, pharmacists, non-medical Public Health specialty trainees and consultants can all take advantage of this excellent programme and receive the education and support to develop their research skills and clinical academic careers. Together, we advance scientific knowledge and make a difference to patient outcomes and healthcare”

The Programme offers 5 fellowships funded by the Universities of Cambridge and East Anglia, and 2 Wellcome Sanger Institute-funded fellowships per year. Fellowships cover the broad themes of Genetic and Molecular Basis of Disease; Pathogens, Infectious Disease and Immunity; Physiology, Pathophysiology and Experimental Medicine; Behaviour, Mental Health and Neurological Diseases; Epidemiology, Prevention and Public Health; Health Care Delivery and Improvement. Interdisciplinary research, with doctoral projects cosupervised by biomedical researchers and university investigators in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics, is also encouraged.

The programme faculty provides mentoring and guidance on opportunities to undertake predoctoral research placements, enabling successful candidates to make an informed choice of PhD project and supervisor. Bespoke training and support for career development for fellows, together with support to supervisors, ensures a successful research experience. Postdoctorally, we will guide fellows, tailored to their individual progress, to make the transition into higher research fellowships and clinical pathways, enabling ongoing training with continuance of research momentum.

Up to seven fellowships are offered each year with a single round of admissions.

For medical graduates who do not hold academic clinical fellowships (ACFs) and nonmedical health professionals, there is the opportunity to undertake a three-month predoctoral research placement. During this time, you can undertake mini-projects with research groups in your area of interest, enabling making an informed choice of PhD project and supervisor(s), and formulation of a “Project Proposal” leading to a PhD.

At the start of the Programme, all fellows attend induction events for postgraduate students organised at the University of Cambridge, the University of East Anglia or Wellcome Sanger Institute. The programme includes lectures, workshops, and taught modules, constituting a personal portfolio of training.

Throughout the Programme and after completion, you will be mentored by one or more individuals from the Faculty and Management Committee of the PhD programme.

Year One

During year one, fellows are encouraged to present regularly at lab meetings and to attend journal clubs and seminars. Under University of Cambridge regulations, all PhD students are “probationary” in their first year. Those who wish to progress to a PhD must complete an assessment after 12 months, satisfying their supervisor(s), Head of Department and Faculty Degree Committee that they have the skills, ability and scientific basis to achieve the higher degree, in order to be registered for the PhD. Fellows are therefore required to write a report on their work to date and plans for forthcoming work, and attend a viva. There is also a summer symposium where fellows present their work.

Year Two

You will be encouraged to present regularly at lab meetings, departmental seminars and at meetings of learned societies. You will also prepare for, and present at the summer symposium. Your progress will also be reviewed by the mentoring committee.

Year Three

Ongoing regular presentations at lab meetings, departmental seminars and meetings of learned societies is encouraged. Your progress will be reviewed by the mentoring committee and you will again present at the summer symposium. You will prepare your thesis for submission (deadline of 30 September) and your final viva will take place in October or November.

PhD Programme for Health Professionals at Cambridge and East Anglia

This programme is broad and diverse and brings research supervisors/investigators from many different departments and institutes within the Universities of Cambridge and East Anglia, and the Wellcome Sanger Institute.

Our supervisor list is not absolute and applicants are free to apply with a proposed supervisor based at the Universities of Cambridge or East Anglia or at the Wellcome Sanger Institute who is not already in the current supervisor pool.

For further details of Individual Supervisors or Faculty please click here.

Information on ‘how to apply’ for this programme, can be found here.

2023 intake

2022 intake

2021 intake

2020 intake

2019 intake

2018 intake

2017 intake

2016 intake

2015 intake

2014 intake

2013 intake

2012 intake

2011 intake

Click here for frequently asked questions.