PhD in Polar Studies (Scott Polar Research Institute)

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.

Applicants for research in polar studies should select the following course: PhD (probationary) in Polar Studies at the Scott Polar Research Institute. The Institute/Department will then decide into which category – Polar Studies (Natural Science) or Polar Studies (Social Sciences and Humanities) – your application falls. This will affect the level of fees paid by applicants with overseas fee status.

Selection Process

Each postgraduate student is assigned a principal supervisor to guide their research. They will work closely with their supervisor. Acceptance of any applicant will be dependent upon specialist supervision being available.

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

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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.
• 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 SPRI/Department or the NERC DTP website, do not need to include a research proposal but should include a statement saying why they have chosen a topic or topics and their suitability for the chosen topic or topics. Your proposal or statement should include a list of specific resource needs for your research (such as travel budget, fieldwork, laboratory equipment, chemical, IT needs, etc) and an outline of relevant experience (including employment and non-academic experience) relevant to your application.
• School of Physical Sciences - 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

Before making an application, you must satisfy yourself that advanced study in your chosen field can be effectively supervised by the Scott Polar Research Institute. Please consult the Research page on the Institute website to obtain an idea of the academic staff.

You will find a list of the academic staff's research interests and the topics of their current and recently completed PhD students. If your research interests fall generally into one or more of these areas, you must contact the relevant supervisor(s).

The purpose of this initial contact is to discuss research proposals, inquire about the supervisor's capacity and willingness to supervise, and determine if there is a good fit between your interests and theirs. When contacting a supervisor, it is recommended that you consider their research profile. You should also include your CV so they can assess your academic background and research experience.

Please note that general and unfocused applications with no suitable supervisor are likely to be seriously disadvantaged or rejected. Please check that the supervisor you want to work with is still current in the department and taking students.

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.