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Postgraduate Study

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.

We strongly encourage all applicants, including those who have secured their funding, to apply by the funding deadline. The majority of studentships on this course will be offered by February and applicants wishing to apply after competition deadlines should contact the course administrator to check if there are any available places.

Please note that incomplete applications, including those missing one or both academic references, will not be considered. You should ensure that academic referees submit references BEFORE the funding deadline.

Selection Process

Applications are considered in gathered fields which roughly correspond to the University’s central funding competitions and, if the course is not full, on a rolling basis until the application deadline. Interviews will be held prior to recommending an offer of admission.

Further information on How To Apply


Things You'll Need

In order to apply for this course you'll need to think about getting a few things ready before you apply.

  • Two academic references  
  • Transcript  
  • CV/resume
  • Evidence of competence in English  
    If required - you can check using our tool
  • Personal statement (document upload) (mandatory)
    There is no official maximum word limit, however, we’d recommend no more than 500 words.
  • School of Clinical Medicine - Widening Participation Questionnaire
    Applicants to this course are asked to complete an additional form to provide contextual information about their previous study. Find out more about our use of contextual information here: postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/applying/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

You do not need to contact a supervisor prior to applying for the course. Opportunities to meet with potential supervisors and discuss projects will be provided to those with offers, before the start of term. 

Apply Now

Key Information


10 months full-time

Study Mode : Taught

Master of Philosophy

Wellcome - MRC Institute of Metabolic Science

Course - related enquiries

Application - related enquiries

Course on Department Website

Dates and deadlines:

Michaelmas 2025

Applications open
Sept. 4, 2024
Application deadline
April 4, 2025
Course Starts
Oct. 1, 2025

Some courses can close early. See the Deadlines page for guidance on when to apply.

Course Funding Deadline
Dec. 3, 2024
Gates Cambridge US round only
Oct. 16, 2024

These deadlines apply to applications for courses starting in Michaelmas 2025, Lent 2026 and Easter 2026.