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Postgraduate Study

The Wellcome Sanger Institute occasionally takes on research MPhil students, provided they have the support of a faculty member. Students should contact faculty members directly to obtain support. For information on our faculty members’ research interests, please visit the Potential Supervisors page on the Sanger Institute website.

This is a one-year full-time or two-year part-time research MPhil that starts in October. Assessment is by submission of a thesis and an oral examination. 

Please note that part-time study may not be viable, depending on the project, and will be considered on a case-by-case basis. If you are considering part-time study, please get in touch with the Sanger Institute Postgraduate Office (gradoffice@sanger.ac.uk) to discuss this option before applying for this study mode.

The MPhil aims to provide research opportunities in the field of genomic science that reflect the unique nature of Sanger Institute science, with an emphasis on large-scale, high-throughput approaches and the development of a blend of wet-lab and computational skills. The Institute also aims to provide students with general research and transferable skills training in addition to training in their specific research area.

Applicants will generally have a bioscience background, but applicants with a computational or mathematical background are also encouraged to apply.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the MPhil, students will be expected to have acquired a detailed understanding of the relevant areas of genomics that underlie their research project and to have written a thesis on their work (of not more than 20,000 words in length, excluding tables, footnotes, bibliography and appendices). They will also be expected to have attended courses or lectures on general research and transferable skills, covering subjects such as bioinformatics, statistics, ethics, research integrity, scientific writing and presentation skills, together with the Institute’s Postgraduate Student Lecture Series and student journal club.


Continuing

Students who want to continue to a PhD have to apply through the usual Wellcome Sanger Institute PhD application process.


Open Days

The University hosts and attends fairs and events throughout the year, in the UK and across the world. We also offer online events to help you explore your options:

  • Discover Cambridge: Master’s and PhD study webinars - these Spring events provide practical information about applying for postgraduate study.

  • Postgraduate Virtual Open Days - taking place in November each year, the Open Days focus on subject and course information.

For more information about upcoming events visit our events pages.

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Key Information


12 months full-time

24 months part-time

Study Mode : Research

Master of Philosophy

Wellcome Sanger Institute

Course - related enquiries

Application - related enquiries

Course on Department Website

Dates and deadlines:

Applications open
Sept. 4, 2023
Application deadline
Oct. 2, 2024
Course Starts
Jan. 5, 2025

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

Applications open
Sept. 4, 2023
Application deadline
Jan. 14, 2025
Course Starts
April 17, 2025

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

Michaelmas 2025

Applications open
Sept. 4, 2024
Application deadline
May 16, 2025
Course Starts
Oct. 1, 2025

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

Applications open
Sept. 4, 2024
Application deadline
Oct. 2, 2025
Course Starts
Jan. 5, 2026

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

Applications open
Sept. 4, 2024
Application deadline
Jan. 14, 2026
Course Starts
April 17, 2026

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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