Primary tabs
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.
There is usually a single round of admissions each year. Application will be open from September to November, with fellowships needing to be taken up within the calendar year 2026.
All fellowships are fully-funded so there is no need to apply for additional funding to be considered for this PhD programme. Visit the programme website for more details.
You should nominate two referees (academic or professional) who are best placed to provide information that most appropriately supports your application to the Programme. This course allows you to use one professional referee, as well as one academic referee, even if you have only recently left higher education. If you have been out of higher education for more than 6 years, you may use two professional referees, in line with our general rules (see References to support your Cambridge application | Postgraduate Study).
Selection Process
All applications are considered as part of a gathered field after the closing date.
Applicants will be shortlisted and interviewed by a selection panel consisting of the Programme Directors, Faculty members from the University of East Anglia, University of Cambridge Department of Veterinary Medicine and Wellcome Sanger Institute, and also a selection of Theme Leads and Principal Investigators from the Programme. A Director of another Clinical PhD Programme may be invited to join the panel. Interviews will take place in early January 2026 - exact dates to be confirmed.
If you have not heard from us by 31 March, you should assume your application was unsuccessful.
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. -
Statement of Interest (7500 characters) (mandatory)
Please provide a statement on your research interests and experience, career goals and how these fit with your preliminary project aspirations. Please state whether or not you would consider a fellowship based at the Wellcome Sanger Institute or the University of East Anglia. You can use the Statement of Interest to expand on information provided in the Research Section. -
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
Information on supervisors can be found on the programme website.
Our supervisor list is not absolute and applicants are free to apply without having identified a project or supervisor at the Universities of Cambridge or East Anglia or at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, with the Programme Faculty helping them to make an informed choice of project and supervisor if they are successful in gaining a fellowship.
Applicants who do apply with a proposed supervisor/project are encouraged to contact the supervisor prior to application to express an interest and discuss possible projects.