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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.
Selection Process
Applications are considered as they are received (rolling admissions throughout the year, interviews are done in four batches over the year for each term's intake as well as the funding round). Interviews for the funding round are held in one large group, early January, all other interviews soon after the application deadline for each term.
Applicants who apply by the December funding competition deadline will be reviewed in January and can usually expect to receive a decision in February for admission to the Department. Funding announcements usually start being announced from March onwards.
All other applications are then considered on a rolling basis for the remaining terms and candidates are notified of outcomes 2-3 weeks after application deadline and interviews.
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 - Proposed Supervisor (M)
For more information on finding a Supervisor, see below.
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
We advise all applicants to try to contact supervisors before applying. Applicants have to have a named supervisor on their application form as we do not assign supervisors. Applicants can still apply to that supervisor if they do not hear back from them as the application is reviewed by supervisor as well as the graduate committee. The list of current research projects is available here.