PhD in Slavonic Studies

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.

We strongly recommend that students (even those not seeking funding) submit their application by the funding deadline at the beginning of December. If places are still available beyond this deadline, self-funded applicants may apply until 14 May.

Selection Process

Applicants who apply for US Gates funding by the October funding deadline may normally expect to receive an admissions decision in December. All other applicants who apply by the funding deadline in December may normally expect to receive a decision before the end of March, and the majority of offers are made in February and March. Following the funding deadlines, applications are processed on a rolling basis. Applicants may expect a decision within 12 weeks after submitting their completed application and required supporting documents. Occasionally, applicants may not receive a decision within the expected timeframe due to being placed on a reserve list. If this is the case, then the Faculty will get in touch to let applicants know. Usually, the latest date for decisions to be communicated is the end of June.

Further information on How To Apply

---

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.
• Research Proposal (document upload) (mandatory)
  Please upload a 500-1,000-word research proposal. Bibliographic references (whether in footnotes or a works cited list) are not included in the word count. Discursive footnotes should be avoided.
• Sample of Work (1) (document upload) (mandatory)
  Please upload a sample of recent research writing of approximately 5,000-10,000 words. The sample can be either an essay produced during masters-level studies or a thesis section and must be a single-authored work. Bibliographic references (whether in footnotes or a works cited list) are not included in the word count. However, discursive footnotes should be avoided.
• Language Attainments Certificates (document upload) (optional)
• Project Title (250 characters) (mandatory)
• Proposed Supervisor (200 characters) (mandatory)
  It is strongly recommended that you informally approach a potential Supervisor to discuss your proposed research project in advance of applying. Usually one principal supervisor is appointed. However, in exceptional circumstances, second supervisors are appointed (for example, agreed interdisciplinary or collaborative projects). For more information on finding a Supervisor, refer to the 'How to Apply' section of the course page.
• Research Summary (2500 characters) (mandatory)
• Research Experience (2500 characters) (optional)
• Your Motivation
  Explain what motivates you to apply for a PhD and what drives your interest in pursuing this program. Highlight your motivation to learn and develop.
• Responding to Challenges
  Describe how you persist through challenges, learn from feedback, and use problem-solving or creative thinking to explore issues from new perspectives. Draw from examples from your academic, professional or personal life.
• Independent Study
  Describe how you manage your own learning and meet important milestones. Provide examples from your academic, professional, or personal life that demonstrate how you have successfully handled independent tasks or how you have developed these skills in preparation for doctoral study.
• School of Arts and Humanities - 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.

---

How to Find a Supervisor

Doctoral study is a team effort. It is conducted under the supervision of at least one Cambridge academic staff member.

Before submitting a PhD application, students are strongly recommended to contact relevant professors and inquire about the possibility of their service as Supervisors. This approach is normally done via email and is entirely informal. Its purpose is to help the candidate determine the availability and degree of research fit of relevant professors at Cambridge.

As a first step, consult the academic staff pages and familiarise yourself with the publications and projects undertaken by our professors. Once you have identified a potential Supervisor, please send an expression of interest to them via email with your CV and as much of your research proposal as possible. Please do not reach out to more than one professor at the same time. (If needed, you may request advice from the relevant Postgraduate Teaching and Examinations Officer (PTEO) listed on the Postgraduate Contacts page.)

Making such an approach will help you nominate a Supervisor when you eventually submit your application. The Faculty will consider this nomination, although there is no guarantee that this Supervisor will be formally appointed if you are accepted to the PhD program. The MMLL Degree Committee regularly monitors the supervision load for each academic staff member and may decide to appoint another suitable Supervisor if necessary.

Please note that admission to the PhD is made by a committee at the Faculty level in accordance with University standards and guidelines; potential supervisors can only contribute to admission decisions.