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.
You are required to identify a potential supervisor, whose research interests align with your own, before making an application via the Portal.
General applications with no suitable or prospective supervisor are unlikely to be supported. 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 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.
Selection Process
Applications are considered by the MChir Committee which meets at set times throughout the academic year.
Your research proposal should contain sufficient information to enable the MChir Committee to assess the suitability of the proposed work for an MChir degree. Sufficient information can usually be provided in a proposal of 1,000–1,500 words (excluding references).
If the Committee is satisfied that the research proposal contains all the elements they expect to see in the planned work for an MChir, they have the option to seek the opinions of one or two specialist reviewers in the field of the proposed research. If these reviewers confirm that the proposal is viable and suitable for a Cambridge MChir, the Committee may recommend approval of the application. This process can take several months and you should submit your application as far in advance of your preferred admission term as possible. Candidates can be admitted to the MChir programme at any term in the academic year, and this can sometimes be a term or more later than the one identified in the application.
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.
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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. - Core - Multiple Proposed Supervisors (200 characters) (mandatory)
You must get in touch with a Supervisor before making an application. For more information on finding a Supervisor, see below. - Core - Project Title (250 characters) (mandatory)
- Core - Research Proposal (document upload) (mandatory)
- Core - Professional Qualifications (document upload) (optional)
- 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:
See Gates Cambridge for more information.
How to Find a Supervisor
You should identify a principal supervisor who is willing to supervise your research throughout the duration of the programme and who is an expert in the field of research proposed in the application. The supervisor is also required to submit a letter of support for the research proposal and complete and submit an interview form for you following an interview in the department.
Supervisors can be members of any department and speciality involved with clinical or medical-related work. You should directly approach investigators in your field of interest. All University departments have websites with information on their current areas of research and you are encouraged to investigate as widely as possible. These can be found here:
Department of Surgery | School of Clinical Medicine |
Departments, institutes and units | School of Clinical Medicine
There is also a list of supervisors in the wider School of Life Sciences available here.
You may also contact the MChir Chair for further advice on seeking a supervisor by contacting the MChir administrator: patohodsurgery@medschl.cam.ac.uk
If you have any questions about the application process, 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 contain a named proposed supervisor, we will contact you for further information. Until your proposed supervisor is confirmed, we will not be able to further process your application.