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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.

You must be a current student of the University of Cambridge MB BChir programme to apply for this course . Successful admission to the course is subject to your satisfactory progress and completion of Part 1 of the Final MB examinations.

Selection Process

If you are a current student on the University of Cambridge MB BChir, you will be sent an application form for the MBPhD in your 3rd year of the course.

Applicants submitting that form in March of their 3rd year will be interviewed in May. If you are successful in those interviews you will join the Clinical course along with the standard course students before being advised to complete a further application via the Applicant Portal, via the apply now link in the side menu.

If you are not a current student on the University of Cambridge MB BChir program, you cannot apply for the MBPhD and will not be accepted if you do apply.

See the course website.

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.
  • 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.


How to Find a Supervisor

You may have preliminary discussions with a particular department or supervisor in the area of research in which you are interested, but it is not expected. The area of research will be discussed with the Programme Director after the Interview process, if you are accepted on to the course. More information is available here.

Apply Now

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 2026

Applications open
Sept. 3, 2025
Application deadline
Jan. 7, 2026
Course Starts
Oct. 1, 2026

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

Course Funding Deadline
Jan. 7, 2026
Gates Cambridge US round only
Oct. 15, 2025

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