PhD in Zoology

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:

1. you have submitted your application and supporting documents via the Applicant Portal
2. you have paid the application fee if applicable. For further information on application fees, and which courses require an application fee, see here.
3. your referees have provided their references.

If you miss the deadlines specified in this section, you will not be able to submit your application.

Applicants must secure the support of a Supervisor before their application will be considered.

Selection Process

Applications are considered on a rolling basis as they are received. Applicants should expect to hear whether they have been successful within eight weeks of submitting their completed application and the required supporting documents.

Further information on How To Apply

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.
• Proposed Supervisor (mandatory)
  You must contact a Supervisor and find out if they can accommodate you in their research group before applying. For more information on finding a Supervisor, see below.
• Project Title (250 characters) (mandatory)
• Research Summary (2500 characters) (mandatory)
• Research Experience (2500 characters) (mandatory)
• Research Proposal (document upload) (mandatory)
  Research proposals should be one or two pages long. There is no strict format or word limit, although we would recommend writing no more than 1,000 words. The proposal should be based on your own ideas (even if you are applying to an advertised project or studentship) and on discussions with your prospective Supervisor.
• Statement of Interest (mandatory)
• 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:

• Gates Cambridge Reference  
• Research Proposal (PhD applicants only)

See Gates Cambridge for more information.

How to Find a Supervisor

If you are interested in applying for this PhD course, you will need to identify a potential Supervisor and find out if they can accommodate you in their research group. Make contact with them to discuss ideas for research projects and, if at all possible, to arrange a visit.

You can browse our research pages to discover the department's fields of expertise and identify who is best to make contact with, depending on your research interests.

The Department of Zoology maintains a list of research projects advertised by potential supervisors, some of which are linked to available funding. You are welcome to apply for a specified project or to suggest and develop your own with your potential Supervisor. See our website to view current projects.

As detailed above, applicants to this course should, therefore, ensure they identify and name a potential Supervisor in their application form.