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.
This PhD is part of the Physics-led Applications for Nuclear Engineering & Technology (PLANET) programme – a UKRI Doctoral Focal Award led by the University of York with the Universities of Cambridge, Edinburgh, Lancaster and Surrey.
To ensure recruitment coherence across the programme, all candidates must first apply directly to the University of York's Doctoral Focal Award (DFA) - https://planet-dfa.ac.uk/how-to-apply/ before 31 May 2026. Applicants who are selected by the DFA are then invited to apply here through the Cambridge application portal.
To be eligible for this programme applicants must be UK nationals.
Only applicants who have already been notified by the University of York that they have been offered the PLANET Studentship are eligible to submit an application through the University of Cambridge Applicant Portal.
Selection Process
The University of York's DFA admission and selection process will include academics from Cambridge. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to interview.
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- Invitation upload
Please upload the email invitation you received from the University of York inviting you to apply to this programme at the University of Cambridge. - School of Technology - 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
Applicants do not need to find a supervisor before applying to this course.