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.
Full-time Applicants
Applicants for the full-time PhD should expect to enter the department in October with the research training programme beginning in the first term (Michaelmas). Applications for full-time study starting in either Lent or Easter Term will not be accepted.
Part-time Applicants
Applicants for part-time study can apply for a flexible start date (in either the Michaelmas, Lent or Easter Terms). However, if you want to be considered for funding you will need to apply by the funding deadline regardless of your your start date.
For residence, visa, and other requirements, please check the Part-time Graduate Study Guide. It is important to note that the part-time PhD at Cambridge is not a distance-learning course. Part-time students are expected to fully engage with the Institute, integrate into the research culture of the University and attend the University on a regular basis for supervision, study, skills training, research seminars and workshops.
Applications for the PhD in Criminology must be made through the University's Postgraduate Admissions Office. The formal PhD application process will begin with the submission of your application through the online Applicant Portal.
Selection Process
Applications are considered as they are received on a rolling basis. Depending on the location and availability of the parties involved, interviews will be conducted in person, over the phone, or online.
If you want to be considered for funding you must submit your completed application by the funding deadline, and make clear how you meet any specific selection criteria stated by the funder.
You should expect to hear whether you have been successful within 12 weeks of the submission of your completed application (including references and the required supporting documents).
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 - Proposed Supervisor (200 characters) (mandatory)
You must nominate a Supervisor in your application. Please see the supervisor section below for more information on finding a supervisor. - Core - Research Summary (2500 characters) (mandatory)
- Core - Research Proposal (document upload) (mandatory)
A research proposal no more than four pages (~2,000 words) in length (not including the bibliography). Your proposal should include: 1) Suggested title of PhD project; 2) a literature review that shows the respects in which your proposed work builds on and will augment, clarify, or qualify existing knowledge; 3) a clear statement of research questions and hypotheses; 4) methodology - a feasible research design including a discussion of the methods you will employ (qualitative research; quantitative research; mixed-methods approach, etc) and why they are appropriate; study participants / data sources you plan to utilize, including how you expect to obtain access to them; further details about how the fieldwork will be conducted, etc.; 5) a timeline of research (indicating a general timeline about when literature review will be completed, when it is hoped that fieldwork will commence and be completed, writing up stages, etc.; 6) implications for policy and practice arising from the suggested research. - Core - Statement of Interest (7500 characters) (mandatory)
Your statement of interest should: 1) Capture more broadly why are you interested in Criminology as a subject. What are the criminological themes that attract you and why? 2) Outline some of your reasons for studying Criminology. You should mention particular academic interests you may have in the field of criminology and how you see these fitting in with your medium- and long-term plans. - Core - Sample of Work (1) (document upload) (mandatory)
A sample of your academic writing. This should be between 1,500 - 5,000 words long. You can submit either an essay or piece of coursework from a previous degree, or a chapter from a dissertation. The sample of written work is more about showing your academic abilities and style of writing, so it doesn't need to be on a Criminological subject or directly related to Criminology. Many applicants don't come from a criminological background, and most tend to submit a piece of coursework from their current or previous degree.
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
Postgraduate PhD applicants must nominate a Supervisor in their application.
You can see the list of current PhD students for an indication of the wide range of topics currently being researched within the Institute.
Please consult the list of academic staff on the Institute in Criminology’s PhD in Criminology webpage, under the section: ‘Supervisors and PhD Research Topics’, to see which staff members are available to supervise PhD students.
Availability depends on several factors, including sabbatical leave arrangements, contractual arrangements, and the number of students already being supervised by each member of staff. Proposals for doctoral research are unlikely to be successful if no suitable Supervisor is available within the Institute.
You can find more detailed information by clicking through the supervisors' research profiles. Each entry includes a few words outlining research/supervision interests. When choosing your nominated Supervisor, it is important that there is some overlap with your own research interests or approach.
If you are confident that your proposed research is a good fit with your nominated Supervisor, we recommend that you contact them in advance.
If you have any questions about whether your topic is a good fit with your potential Supervisor's interests, you may email them, attaching both a concise CV with details of the degrees you have taken and the marks you have obtained and a brief research proposal (1-2 pages maximum).
Please include the following in the main text of your message:
a short statement about your background (what you have studied so far, your degree result or grade average, any relevant experience) and research interests;
indicate why in particular (not just Cambridge in general) you wish to work with that member of staff, and what you can bring to the research group; demonstrate your awareness of their research and how it aligns with your research interests
It is also helpful to include information on your funding situation and plans. There is no need to attach references or transcripts.
Please be aware that our PhD supervisors receive a large number of enquiries and, therefore, cannot give detailed feedback on your proposal.