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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.

You must approach potential supervisors to discuss a project before applying.  While you may submit an application without a supervisor agreement in place this will delay consideration of your application and may lead to your application being unsuccessful. See below for more information.

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

Applications are accepted and considered as they are received (rolling admissions).

You will be shortlisted for interview if your submitted application meets the minimum academic requirements and you have identified  a suitable and willing Supervisor. You must therefore approach potential supervisors to discuss a project before applying.  See below for more information.

We aim to interview within one month of receiving your complete application and we will notify you of the interview outcome within one week of the interview. At peak times, or in exceptional circumstances, this may take longer. If recommended by the Department your application is then considered for admission by other offices in the University.

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.

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 (mandatory)
    You must make contact with a suitable Supervisor before applying. You will need to provide the name of the Supervisor who has agreed to supervise you in your application. If you do not have their agreement, this will delay consideration of your application and may lead to your application being unsuccessful. We will not take your application forward until the named supervisor has agreed that they can supervise you. See below for more information.
  • Research Proposal (mandatory)
    A research title and summary of the research proposed (c. 2000 words). You should have discussed this with your proposed supervisor.
  • Research Experience (2500 characters) (optional)
    A description of any research experience you may have
  • Statement of Interest (mandatory)
    An outline of your research interests, reasons for applying for this course and any relevant training or experience

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

Before making an application, you must first identify a suitable supervisor. 

  • Read about our Researcher staff and their work on our Research pages (as well as looking at our currently available projects: https://www.vet.cam.ac.uk/study/postgrad/projects). 
  • Make contact via email with those Researcher staff (list here) whose work interests you.
  • Tell them why you are interested in their work, what motivates you to apply, and outline your own previous research experience and research interests and include any other useful information (e.g. funding)
  • Include a copy of your CV. 
  • Discuss possible projects with them, and their availability to supervise you.

You will need to provide the name of the Supervisor who has agreed to supervise you in your application. If you do not have their agreement, this will delay consideration of your application and may lead to your application being unsuccessful.

For more details, please visit the How to Apply page on the Department of Veterinary Medicine website.

Apply Now

Key Information


12 months full-time

2 years part-time

Study Mode : Research

Master of Philosophy

Department of Veterinary Medicine

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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