PhD in Medical Science (MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit)

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.

Selection Process

We operate a gathered field for applications (i.e., all applications are considered together after the closing date). Applications are accepted between September and early December (in line with the funding deadline). Individuals who are shortlisted are invited to interviews in mid-December or early January. Gates US candidates have an earlier closing date of October, with interviews held shortly afterwards.

For those interviewed, decisions regarding the offer of a place are typically communicated within several weeks of the interview, whereas decisions about funding may be communicated in March, April, or sometimes later.

Applicants who apply after the December deadline will be considered only if there are remaining places following the December/January interviews.

Further information on How To Apply

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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.
• Research Proposal (document upload) (mandatory)
• School of Clinical Medicine - 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.

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How to Find a Supervisor

We strongly encourage all prospective applicants to visit the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit website for a list of research topics and potential supervisors. For a list of supervisors and their areas of research and ideas for specific projects, please refer to our Studentships webpage. Once you have identified a research topic or specific project that interests you as well as a Supervisor, we strongly encourage you to email the Supervisor to discuss opportunities and their potential to supervise in the upcoming academic year.