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.
For the 2026/2027 academic cycle, eligible applicants will only be:
• Those who have applied via the University of York application portal (please note that the deadline for this was 19 January 2026), and
• Subsequently received an invitation to submit an application through the University of Cambridge Application Portal.
Only applicants who have received this invitation will be able to submit an application. The deadline for completing this stage of the process is 14 May 2026.
Selection Process
Applicants will be considered as a gathered field and will be shortlisted by the academic leadership committee for the Plant Biosystems Design program.
Shortlisted applicants that have selected University of Cambridge projects/supervisors will be requested to apply for admission to the University through the Applicant Portal (using the Apply now button on the right).
You will not be able to submit an application on this web portal unless you have received an invitation inviting you to an interview from the Plant Biosystems Design administrator.
Applications will be verified by the Department in which their project/supervisor is based and in accordance with university policies and guidance. Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed by a panel. Following interview, applicants that are successful at interview will be matched to a project from their selection and a recommendation of admittance will be made to the Postgraduate Admission Office. Unsuccessful students will be rejected.
Things You'll Need
You should start preparing the things that you'll need when you apply. These will be mandatory, unless specifically flagged as optional.
-
Two referees willing to give you a reference
Either academic or professional – please see our References guidance for more information about which type you need. Your referees will need to have submitted their reference by the course deadline. - Transcript
- CV/resume
- Evidence of competence in English
If required - please see our Competence in English guidance for more information. - Plant Sciences (Invitation upload)
Please upload the email invitation you received from the course administrator inviting you to apply to this programme at the University of Cambridge.
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
Applicants can only appy to advertised projects. Available projects will be listed on the PlantBiodesign website. Each applicant will be able to select up to three projects/supervisors. These may be at any of the four partner institutions (University of Bristol, University of Cambridge, The John Innes Centre (University of East Anglia), University of York). Applicants may contact the supervisors of projects that they are interested in before application to request further details about the project and reserach group but this is not compulsory.