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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.
If you miss the deadlines specified in this section, you will not be able to submit your application.
Selection Process
Students wishing to apply for funding should apply by the appropriate funding deadline for applications as given on the Postgraduate Admissions website. Applicants should expect to hear whether they have been selected for an interview within four weeks following each funding submission deadline. For those applying after the funding deadlines, selection for interview will be made on a rolling basis each term, also taking into account starting term, and you should hear within 12 weeks of submission.
Offers made for places on this course are conditional on clearing any security checks the University deems necessary. Security checks are routinely required for all individuals involved in research activities that include working with sensitive information, working with children and vulnerable adults, working with live animals or with tissues supplied from live animals or working in an environment in which such work is pursued by others, working with dangerous pathogens or in a category 3 containment laboratory or working with some other sensitive technologies. Where necessary the University will ensure that applicants are not disproportionately impacted by the requirement for any security checks by allowing new students to take up places and start appropriate areas of their work prior to a check in other areas being completed.
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.
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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
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Evidence of competence in English
If required - please see our Competence in English guidance for more information. - Statement of Interest (5000 characters) (mandatory)
- Reasons for Applying (document upload) (mandatory)
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Multiple Proposed Supervisors (200 characters) (mandatory)
For more information on finding a Supervisor (Principal Investigator), see below -
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:
See Gates Cambridge for more information.
How to Find a Supervisor
Before applying to the Department via the University Applicant Portal, applicants must contact individual Principal Investigators in the Dept of Clinical Biochemistry, whose research is of interest, to discuss potential projects and the possibility of them acting as PhD Supervisor. They must also then name the proposed Supervisor on their application form, otherwise their application will be rejected.
Alternatively, if applicants are considering the DTP-MR/ MRC iCase programmes involving 2 lab rotations before choosing a final host lab, applicants must state on their application form that they are interested in these programmes with the Dept of Clinical Biochemistry as their final host lab. They must also indicate who they would like to do their rotations with (and their preferred Dept of Clinical Biochemistry final Supervisor if known) otherwise their application will be rejected. These applicants do not need to contact potential Supervisors ahead of submitting their application.