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.
When applying to the Wellcome Sanger Institute's 4 year PhD programme (with rotations) for one of our 12 funded studentships, or with your own external scholarship funding, you must apply directly to the Institute by following the instructions detailed in the 'How to apply' section on the PhD Programme page on the Wellcome Sanger Institute's website.
However, if you are applying for funding from the Gates Cambridge Scholarship Programme or any other University of Cambridge funding opportunity, you will need to submit an application directly through the University's Applicant Portal by the US Gates deadline in October or the general University funding deadline in December, as appropriate, and name a Sanger Institute Faculty member in your application who has agreed to supervise your proposed project.
Depending on the project, part-time study may not be viable and will be considered on a case-by-case basis. If you are considering part-time study, please contact the Sanger Institute Postgraduate Office to discuss this option before making an application for this mode of study.
Selection Process
4-Year PhD Programme Studentship
All applicants applying to the Wellcome Sanger Institute's main 4 year PhD programme (with rotations), must follow the instructions detailed in the 'How to apply' section on the 4 year PhD programme page on the Wellcome Sanger Institute's website.
To be considered for the Institute’s 12 funded studentships, applications must be submitted directly via the online form on the Sanger Institute website by the specified deadline (typically at the end of November or beginning of December). Please note that applications submitted directly to the Sanger Institute are not applications to the University of Cambridge. If you are offered a place, you will then be required to submit a formal application through the University's Applicant Portal.
Applicants who have secured external scholarship funding and wish to apply for the main 4-year PhD Programme (with rotations) must also apply via the Sanger Institute’s website by the same deadline.
Please note that the Sanger Institute studentship funding deadline is independent of the University’s general funding deadline and may close earlier. Please refer to the 4-year PhD Programme for further information.
Applications for the main 4-year PhD programme (with rotations) are considered as part of a gathered field.
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend our in-person PhD Interview Day on 25 January 2027.
At the PhD Interview Day, the shortlisted applicants will have a combination of individual and panel interviews with Sanger Institute Faculty members or senior scientists. They will also have the chance to meet current PhD students and have a tour around the campus. Any shortlisted applicants unavailable for the PhD Interview Day can be interviewed via videoconference during the two weeks prior to the Interview Day. Decisions on offers are made shortly after this.
Visit the PhD Programme page on the Wellcome Sanger Institute's website for more details.
Occasionally applicants apply to do a PhD with a specific Faculty member at the Institute rather than to the main 4-year PhD programme (with rotations). These applicants must follow the process and deadlines outlined below.
General Funding Opportunities
If you wish to be considered for Gates Cambridge or general University of Cambridge funding, you must apply via the University’s Applicant Portal by the 8 December 2026 funding deadline (note: the US Gates deadline is in October), and you must have the support of a Sanger Faculty member in place before submitting your application. You will not be considered for Gates Cambridge or any general University of Cambridge funding if you apply after the funding deadline.
Applicants with External Funding
If you have external scholarship funding and are not applying to our main 4-year PhD Programme (with rotations), you may submit your application via the University’s Applicant Portal up until 13 May 2027. In all cases, you must have the support of a Sanger Faculty member in place before submitting your application.
Applications are considered as they are received, with suitable applicants being interviewed, in person or by videoconference, on a rolling basis as appropriate. Decisions are usually made within 12 weeks.
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. - Biology - Statement of Interest (mandatory)
Please outline (max 500 words) your research interests, reasons for applying to this course, and any relevant training or experience (including details of any subject-relevant courses, scholarships, and awards). - Proposed Supervisor (optional)
Applicants applying directly to our 4 year PhD programme with rotations (via the Sanger Institute website) do not need to name a PhD Supervisor. However, candidates applying for funding from the Gates Cambridge Scholarship Programme or any other University of Cambridge funding opportunity do need to name a Sanger Institute Faculty member who has agreed to supervise their proposed project. - Biology - Research Proposal (optional)
We recommend that your research proposal is around 500 words. Please include a provisional research title in your proposal. Applicants applying to an advertised project or studentship do not need to include a research proposal; they should instead confirm which project/studentship they are applying to. - School of Biological Sciences - Widening Participation Questionnaire
Applicants to this course are being asked to complete an additional form to provide contextual information about their previous study. Find out more about our use of contextual information here: https://www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/apply/how/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
Applicants to our main 4-year PhD programme (with rotations) do not need to choose a PhD Supervisor at the point of application since successful students will spend their first eight months undertaking three rotation projects in different research groups before choosing their final PhD project and Supervisor. Therefore, applicants need to apply to the programme and not individual supervisors.
However, PhD programme applicants are asked to list three Faculty members whose research interests them and should, therefore, visit our Potential Supervisors page for information on our Faculty members and their research areas.
Please note that candidates applying for funding from the Gates Cambridge Scholarship Programme or any other University of Cambridge funding opportunity will need to submit an application directly through the University’s Applicant Portal by the relevant funding deadline and name a Sanger Institute Faculty member who is willing to supervise their proposed project in their application.