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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.
Offers made of 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.
This course is part of a scheme within the Postgraduate School of Life Sciences which enables three applications to be made with payment of a single application fee. A list of other eligible courses and further information can be found here.
Selection Process
Applications are considered after the funding or course deadline has passed.
Applications for funding are assessed following the funding deadline in December and interviews are held in early January. Applicants who apply by this deadline can usually expect to receive a decision on their admission to the Department in February and funding awards are then announced by Cambridge funders from March onwards.
All other applications are reviewed on a rolling basis after the relevant course deadline for application has passed for each term, so three times a year. Applicants are notified of the outcome of their application within three weeks of the application deadline date for the term.
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 - Multiple Proposed Supervisors (200 characters) (mandatory)
Please name potential supervisor interested in working with (list all in order of preference) - 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:
See Gates Cambridge for more information.
How to Find a Supervisor
You are strongly encouraged to contact supervisors before applying. The purpose of this initial contact is to discuss research proposals and determine if there is a good fit between your interests and theirs. When contacting a supervisor, it is recommended that you consider their research profile when writing to them.
Please look for supervisors in the areas of research you may like to work with by following this link:
https://www.postgradschl.lifesci.cam.ac.uk/research-themes-1
Please note that you need to nominate a supervisor with whom you wish to work on your application form, and the department will take this preference into account. You may still apply to a supervisor if you have not heard back from them as your application will be reviewed by the supervisor as well as the department's postgraduate committee.