PhD in Medical Science (CRUK CI)

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.

There are two routes of entry for PhD study at CRUK CI. Please note that they are not mutually exclusive.

Apply for a CRUK CI funded studentship

All available studentships are advertised on the CRUK CI website, on the University of Cambridge Job Opportunities page (under 'Studentships'), on jobs.ac.uk and on FindAPhd.com. You should make sure you have made a careful note of the application deadline for each studentship opportunity, as it will often be earlier than the overall course application deadline.

Please click the 'Apply Now' button to submit your application via the University Applicant Portal by the advertised deadline.

Apply for a CRUK CI PhD to be supported by 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 advertised deadline.

References

You will be required to provide the names and contact details of two referees during the application process. We would expect you to have notified your referees in advance, and that they are willing to support your application. The University will contact your referees on your behalf, so you should not contact them yourself. In addition, while our course deadline for receiving references may be later than the application deadline for a specific advertised project, it would greatly assist the selection process if your referees were prepared to submit their reference as soon as possible.

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.

Selection Process

CRUK CI funded PhD studentships

Applicants should expect to hear whether they have been shortlisted for interview within six weeks of the advertised application deadline.

Please note: the application deadline for a specific advertised PhD project may be earlier than the overall PhD course application deadline.

All shortlisted applicants will be interviewed either online or in person.

For our annual PhD studentship competition (September - January), we normally plan to invite shortlisted applicants to a three-day recruitment event the following January, consisting of an Applicant Symposium in our Lecture Theatre, followed by a series of interviews conducted by your potential supervisor and at least one other senior academic. If you are unable to attend in person, we will make suitable arrangements for you to participate virtually. For in-person attendance, the cost of travel, accommodation and a Standard Visitor Visa (if required) will be covered by the Institute.

You will also be invited to a dinner at one of the Cambridge Colleges, where you can meet current PhD students; and you will have at least one opportunity to meet members of your chosen lab in an informal setting.

Externally funded applicants

If you are not applying for one of our advertised studentships, and intend to apply for or have already secured independent funding to support your studies, your application will be considered shortly after it is received by the Institute.

Further information on How To Apply

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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.
• Medical Science (CRUK CI) - Project Details
  You will be asked to provide project details for our advertised projects to be found on our website on https://jobs.cam.ac.uk and other channels. If you are not applying for a specific project, please contact us at AcDev@cruk.cam.ac.uk
• Research Experience (2500 characters) (mandatory)
• Statement of Interest (2500 characters) (mandatory)
  Reason(s) you wish to be considered for the CRUK CI PhD studentship(s) you have selected. You should include the reasons for your choice of 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 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.

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How to Find a Supervisor

CRUK CI funded PhD studentships

Applicants for an advertised CRUK CI studentship are not expected to contact a supervisor before making a formal application. All advertised projects are associated with a named supervisor, and you should ensure you state the project title and its supervisor when you make your online application. Space will be provided to do this on the application form. You may wish to research the named supervisor and their lab further by visiting www.cruk.cam.ac.uk/research-groups.

Externally funded applicants

Prospective applicants for a non-advertised project 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 interests and theirs. It is expected you will have carefully read the information about the research interests and activities of all our Research Groups on our website at www.cruk.cam.ac.uk/research-groups, 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.