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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:
- you have submitted your application and supporting documents via the Applicant Portal
- you have paid the application fee if applicable. For further information on application fees, and which courses require an application fee, see here.
- your referees have provided their references.
If you miss the deadlines specified in this section, you will not be able to submit your application.
Please see the How to Apply page on the LMB website for step-by-step application instructions, including a selection of PhD projects, supporting document requirements, and application deadlines.
Selection Process
Applications are considered in gathered fields which roughly correspond to the University's central funding competitions.
Generally, candidates are selected for interview in mid-December. Interviews take place in mid-January, and successful applicants are notified by early February. See the Key Dates for Applicants page for further information.
Students with their own funding or applying to specific funding calls may be considered after the University's central funding closing dates.
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)
The course you are applying for requires you to name a proposed Supervisor. You may name just one Supervisor or up to three potential supervisors in order of preference. All named supervisors will review the application. - Personal statement (document upload) (mandatory)
The course you are applying for requires you to upload a statement of interest for your requested projects. The form can be found here https://www2.mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk/students/international-phd-programme/how-.... If you are applying to more than one project or supervisor, you may upload up to three statements of interest as a single PDF. - 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:
See Gates Cambridge for more information.
How to Find a Supervisor
Information on available projects and potential supervisors is available here. Available projects are updated during August.
Candidates are advised to familiarise themselves with the research areas in the Institute.
It is possible to contact individual prospective supervisors prior to making an application. The purpose of this initial contact is to understand the process, discuss research proposals, and determine if there is a good fit between the applicant's interests and theirs. When contacting a Supervisor, it is recommended to consider their research profile when writing to them. However, it is not always possible to individually reply to all enquiries, and applications will be considered even if the applicant has not previously contacted the potential Supervisor.
Applicants can nominate up to three potential supervisors and indicate the order of preference if any.
Applications without a named potential Supervisor will not be considered.