PhD in Engineering

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 must name at least one supervisor with whom they wish to work on the application form, although successful applicants may be allocated to a supervisor other than the one named. Applicants must also provide a short statement of their research interests in the Research section of the application.

If an application does not indicate at least one named supervisor AND include a statement of research interest then the application will be rejected.

This course allows applicants to use one professional referee, as well as one academic referee, even if they have only recently left higher education. Applicants who have been out of higher education for more than 6 years may use two professional referees, in line with our general rules (see References to support your Cambridge application | Postgraduate Study). Note that this does not indicate a preference for professional referees: your referees should be whoever is best-qualified to provide the subject-specific insight necessary to inform our decision-making.

Selection Process

Applicants who apply by the December funding competition deadline will be reviewed in December-January and can usually expect to receive a decision in February if they are being nominated to the funding competition.

Applications received after the funding deadline are considered on a rolling basis as they are received. Decisions will be made within 8 weeks of receipt wherever possible.

We strongly advise that applicants submit as early as possible as we receive a large number of outstanding applications for a limited number of places which may be filled before the advertised deadline. Please note that we may run out of capacity in some research areas earlier than others, and the availability of research places will vary from year to year.

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.
• Proposed Supervisor (mandatory)
• Research Summary (2500 characters) (mandatory)
• Reasons for Applying (2500 characters) (mandatory)
• Research Experience (2500 characters) (mandatory)
• Research Proposal (document upload) (optional)
• 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:

• Gates Cambridge Reference  
• Research Proposal (PhD applicants only)

See Gates Cambridge for more information.

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How to Find a Supervisor

Prior to application, all applicants should browse the Department's research group pages, to find the group and supervisor closest to their interests. Lists of supervisors accepting students for PhD places can be found on the Department webpage. Prospective applicants are not expected to make contact with a supervisor before submitting a formal application, but may do so to informally discuss research proposals, enquire about supervisor capacity, and determine if there is a good fit between research interests.

Applicants must name at least one supervisor with whom they wish to work on the application form. Applications that do not name a supervisor will be rejected.