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.
Plant Biosytems Design PhD projects will be advertised each autumn on the PlantBiodesign website.
Applicants must have previously submitted an application to the University of York Plant Biosytems Design application portal and subsequently received instructions inviting them to apply to the University of Cambridge. Only applicants who have received this invitation will be able to submit an application.
Selection Process
Applicants must first apply via the University of York Plant Biosytems Design application portal. Applicants will be considered as a gathered field and will be shortlisted for interview within 8 weeks of the closing date by the academic leadership committee of the Plant Biosystems Design programme.
Shortlisted applicants that have selected projects for which the primary supervisor is based at the University of Cambridge will be invited to apply to the 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 from the Plant Biosystems Design administrator.
Invited applications to the University of Cambridge will be verified by the Department in which their project/supervisor is based and in accordance with University of Cambridge policies and guidance. Recommendations of admittance will be made to the Postgraduate Admission Office.
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.
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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. - Core- 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 apply 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 research group but this is not compulsory.