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Postgraduate Study

The MB/PhD Programme leads to the MB, BChir and PhD degrees and is designed for medical students who are interested in academic or research careers by enabling them to integrate a three-year period of research with their clinical education.

The clinical component of the curriculum is designed to equip students for a lifetime of medical practice in a changing world with an emphasis on the acquisition of clinical skills by direct patient contact.  At the start of the programme, students follow the Standard Course Year 4 curriculum up to and including the Year 4 Student Selected Component (SSC). (More information on the new clinical teaching programme can be found on the Standard Course website.) In general this SSC will be conducted in the prospective PhD host laboratory. After Part 1 of the Final MB examinations, and subject to satisfactory progress, a three-year period of full-time research follows, combined with regular clinical education, including weekly clinical supervisions and monthly clinical seminars.  It concludes with students re-joining the clinical course to complete their studies.

During the research component, students are based mainly in the laboratory or department of their choice at the Addenbrooke’s complex or at one of the University sites in central Cambridge, or at a University-affiliated research institute.

Detailed Educational Aims are also outlined on the Course website

 

**Please note that this process is only for students who have already been recommended for the MB/PhD Programme and are in year 4 of the Clinical Course. If you have not already been recommended for the MB/PHd programme, please go to https://www.medschl.cam.ac.uk/clinical-school-mbphd-course-information for more information on the application process**

 


Continuing

You must have already been recommended for MB/PhD programme before submitting an application through the Applicant Portal. 


Open Days

The Postgraduate Virtual Open Day usually takes place at the end of October. It’s a great opportunity to ask questions to admissions staff and academics, explore the Colleges virtually, and to find out more about courses, the application process and funding opportunities. Visit the Postgraduate Open Day page for more details.

See further the Postgraduate Admissions Events pages for other events relating to Postgraduate study, including study fairs, visits and international events.


Departments

This course is advertised in the following departments:

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Key Information


3-4 years full-time

Study Mode : Research

Doctor of Philosophy

Faculty of Clinical Medicine This course is advertised in multiple departments. Please see the Overview tab for more details.

Course - related enquiries

Application - related enquiries

Course on Department Website

Dates and deadlines:

Michaelmas 2025

Applications open
Sept. 4, 2024
Application deadline
Jan. 7, 2025
Course Starts
Oct. 1, 2025

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

Course Funding Deadline
Jan. 7, 2025
Gates Cambridge US round only
Oct. 16, 2024

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