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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.
Applicants for research in Geography should select the following course: PhD (probationary) in Geography in the Department of Geography. The department will then allocate you to the relevant category – Social Sciences and Humanities or Physical/Natural Science. This will affect the level of fees paid by applicants with overseas fee status.
Selection Process
Applications received up to the December funding competition deadline will be reviewed as a gathered field and can usually expect to receive a decision in February. Any applications received after this date will be considered in further gathered fields up to the March deadline with decisions usually made in April-May, but such applications will not be put into the University funding competition.
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 - Reasons for Applying (1500 characters) (mandatory)
- Research Proposal (document upload) (mandatory)
You should include a statement (approximately 2,000 words) of your research proposal, including aims and methods, sources and the location of the proposed research. Please state which academic in the department could supervise your research. Physical Geography applicants, choosing from the list of topics available on the department or the NERC DTP website, do not need to include a research proposal but should include a statement giving information about why they have chosen a topic or topics and their suitability for the chosen topic or topics. A listing of specific resource needs for your research (such as travel budget, fieldwork, laboratory equipment, chemical, IT needs, etc) should be included with your research proposal. Please include an outline of any experience you have that is relevant to your application. - School of Physical Sciences - 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:
See Gates Cambridge for more information.
How to Find a Supervisor
Each postgraduate student requires a principal Supervisor to guide their research. The students will work closely with their Supervisor. Therefore, before making an application, the applicants must contact their chosen Supervisor and satisfy themselves that the Department of Geography can effectively supervise advanced study in their chosen field. Acceptance of any applicant will be dependent upon specialist supervision being available.
Please consult the Department of Geography's Research webpages to get an idea of the types of research the department does, and consult our online staff list to determine if someone in the department is willing to supervise a topic. Physical Geography applicants can apply with their own topic if they believe there is a Supervisor available but there is also a list of advertised Physical Geography topics on the department's website.
We will decline the application regardless of its academic merit if we cannot supervise a topic.
Part-time study may not always be viable and will be considered on a case-by-case basis, so please discuss this option with your proposed Supervisor before applying for this mode of study.
(Please note: Identification of a potential Supervisor, while an essential requirement for application, does not imply any guarantee of admission and the full admissions procedure must be followed in all cases).