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Postgraduate Study

Apply using the Applicant Portal

The Apply Now button on the right will take you to the Applicant Portal. There, you can create and submit your application and supporting documents, and you can also request your references.

An application is only complete when:

  1. you have submitted your application and supporting documents via the Applicant Portal
  2. you have paid the application fee if applicable. For further information on application fees, and which courses require an application fee, see here.
  3. your referees have provided their references.

If you miss the deadlines specified in this section, you will not be able to submit your application.

 

The MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology occasionally takes on MPhil students providing they have the support of a group leader in the laboratory.

This course is part of a scheme within the Postgraduate School of Life Sciences which enables three applications to be made with payment of a single application fee. A list of other eligible courses and further information can be found here.

Selection Process

We process applications as a gathered field once per year. Selection and interviews usually take place during January-February, and we reply to applicants within 2 months at the latest, usually 3 weeks. 

Applicants who apply by the December funding competition deadline will be reviewed in December-January and can usually expect to receive a decision in February-March.

Applications outside the gathered field are processed on a case-by-case basis within 8-12 weeks of receiving the complete application.

Applicants should be aware of the earlier application deadlines of some funders, such as US Gates, and ensure that they meet the funders' deadlines.

Further information on How To Apply


Things You'll Need

In order to apply for this course you'll need to think about getting a few things ready before you apply.

  • Two academic references  
  • Transcript  
  • CV/resume
  • Evidence of competence in English  
    If required - you can check using our tool
  • Multiple Proposed Supervisors (200 characters) (mandatory)
  • Covering Letter (document upload) (mandatory)
  • School of Biological Sciences - Widening Participation Questionnaire
    Applicants to this course are asked to complete an additional form to provide contextual information about their previous study. Find out more about our use of contextual information here: postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/applying/contextual-data.

Gates Cambridge Scholarships

If you wish to be considered for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship you will also need to provide the following:

  • Gates Cambridge Reference  
  • Research Proposal (PhD applicants only)

See Gates Cambridge for more information.


How to Find a Supervisor

To obtain support from a group leader, students should contact them directly. For information on our faculty members’ research interests, please visit the LMB website's Research and Group Leaders pages.

Applicants should be aware that not all groups are able to accommodate projects within the scope of an MPhil and that places are very limited by the small size of the groups at the LMB.

Apply Now

Key Information


12 months full-time

2 years part-time

Study Mode : Research

Master of Philosophy

MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology

Course - related enquiries

Application - related enquiries

Course on Department Website

Dates and deadlines:

Michaelmas 2025

Applications open
Sept. 4, 2024
Application deadline
Dec. 3, 2024
Course Starts
Oct. 1, 2025

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

Course Funding Deadline
Dec. 3, 2024
Gates Cambridge US round only
Oct. 16, 2024

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


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