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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.
Before making an application via the Portal, all prospective students are required to identify a potential Supervisor whose research interests align with their own.
General and unfocused applications with no suitable or prospective Supervisor are likely to be seriously disadvantaged or rejected. Please check that the Supervisor you want to work with is currently based in the Department and taking students.
Please see the section below on ‘Finding a Supervisor’ for advice on how to do so.
Offers made 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 completing a check in other areas.
Please also note the University funding deadlines for various scholarships here.
Selection Process
Applications are considered on a rolling basis as they are received. Applicants should expect to hear whether they have been successful within six weeks of submitting their completed application and the required supporting documents.
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)
For more information on finding a Supervisor, see below - Project Title (250 characters) (mandatory)
- Research Proposal (document upload) (mandatory)
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
Applicants, including self-funded individuals, are required to discuss their application with a potential Supervisor (principal investigator) in order to establish a research project and a funding source prior to submitting an online application. For more information, please see our departmental website here.
When contacting a potential Supervisor, please provide a CV and a brief (500-1,000 words) research proposal.
If you do not receive a response within 10 working days, the Postgraduate Administration team will be happy to help. You can contact us via the Department Query button on the right-hand side of this page or at clusterPG@medschl.cam.ac.uk
If your online application does not include a named proposed Supervisor, we will contact you for further information. Until your proposed supervisor is confirmed, we will not be able to process your application further.