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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.

The Institute accepts between one and five MPhil students per year.  Nearly all students will need to be responsible for securing their own external funding.

If you are applying for or already have independent funding from another source, please review the Research Groups information on our website to determine your choice of supervisor for the project you wish to undertake. Once you have identified a potential supervisor and field of research, you can submit your application via the University Applicant Portal by the course deadline. 

Note: Offers of places on this course are conditional upon 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;
  • 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

Applicants should expect to hear whether they have been shortlisted for interview within six weeks of submitting their completed application. All shortlisted applicants will be interviewed either online or in person by their potential supervisor and at least one other senior academic. They will also have the opportunity to meet current students and other members of the lab, in an informal setting at the Institute or online.

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
  • Statement of Interest (2500 characters) (mandatory)
    Reason(s) you wish to be considered for the CRUK CI MPhil in Medical Science. You should include the reasons for your choice of research project, the specific experience you will bring, and the qualities you believe make you an outstanding candidate.
  • 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

Prospective applicants for MPhil study at CRUK CI are not required to contact potential supervisors but may do so before making a formal application. The purpose of initial contact is to discuss research proposals, enquire about supervisor capacity and willingness to supervise, and determine if there is a good fit between your research interest and theirs. It is expected you will have carefully read the information about the research interests and activities of all our Research Groups (CRUK CI website) to discover which group(s) you would be interested in joining, and where you might make a meaningful contribution to the lab’s field of research.

Apply Now

Key Information


12 months full-time

24 months part-time

Study Mode : Research

Master of Philosophy

Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute

Course - related enquiries

Application - related enquiries

Course on Department Website

Dates and deadlines:

Applications open
Sept. 4, 2023
Application deadline
Oct. 2, 2024
Course Starts
Jan. 5, 2025

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

Applications open
Sept. 4, 2023
Application deadline
Jan. 15, 2025
Course Starts
April 17, 2025

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

Michaelmas 2025

Applications open
Sept. 4, 2024
Application deadline
May 16, 2025
Course Starts
Oct. 1, 2025

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

Applications open
Sept. 4, 2024
Application deadline
Oct. 2, 2025
Course Starts
Jan. 5, 2026

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

Applications open
Sept. 4, 2024
Application deadline
Jan. 14, 2026
Course Starts
April 17, 2026

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.


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