university of cambridge phd

Study at Cambridge

About the university, research at cambridge.

• For Cambridge students
• For our researchers
• Business and enterprise
• Colleges and Departments
• Email and phone search
• Give to Cambridge
• Museums and collections
• Events and open days
• Fees and finance
• Postgraduate courses
• How to apply
• Fees and funding
• Postgraduate events
• International students
• Continuing education
• Executive and professional education
• Courses in education
• How the University and Colleges work
• Visiting the University
• Annual reports
• Equality and diversity
• A global university
• Public engagement

Topic description and stories

The unschooled anthropologist working with Q'eqchi' weavers

Living for ten months with Q’eqchi’ weavers in the Alta Verapaz of Guatemala, PhD student Callie Vandewiele watched and listened as the women crafted...

Cambridge receives new funding to support PhD students in science and engineering

The University of Cambridge has received new government and industrial funding to support at least 350 PhD students over the next eight years, via...

Postgraduate Open Day 2017 - meet our postgrads

Nearly 10,000 postgraduate students from more than 250 countries, working in countless different subject areas, contribute to Cambridge’s thriving...

Step inside the mind of the young Stephen Hawking as his PhD thesis goes online for first time

Stephen Hawking’s PhD thesis, ‘ Properties of expanding universes’ , has been made freely available to anyone, anywhere in the world, after being...

Astrazeneca and Cambridge announce new joint PhD and clinical research scholarships

AstraZeneca and the University of Cambridge today announced three new joint schemes to support more than 80 PhD scholarships and eight clinical...

Connect with us

© 2024 University of Cambridge

• Contact the University
• Accessibility statement
• Freedom of information
• Privacy policy and cookies
• Statement on Modern Slavery
• Terms and conditions
• University A-Z
• Undergraduate
• Postgraduate
• Cambridge University Press & Assessment
• Research news
• About research at Cambridge
• Spotlight on...

• University of Cambridge
• Search this site
• Join the C2D3 Community
• Executive committee
• Steering committee
• External Advisory Board
• Logo use policy
• Supporting C2D3
• Forthcoming events
• Past events
• Training and skills development
• Cambridge research ecosystem
• The Alan Turing Institute
• Interdisciplinary Research Centres
• Research workshops and challenge areas
• Commercialisation

MPhil and PhD programmes

• Collaboration
• Past funding - Early Career Reseachers
• Past opportunities
• Research Highlights
• From Big Data to Data-Driven Discovery
• An Introduction to Process Mining with Celonis
• 1st UK Academic Roundtable on Process Mining
• C2D3 Virtual Symposium 2020: Research Rendezvous
• Cambridge-Turing sessions: collaborative data science and AI research
• Cambridge University video highlights importance of interdisciplinary research
• Cambridge-Turing sessions reloaded: collaborative data science and AI research
• Data science and AI for sustainability conference 2022
• 2023 Collaboration Day for Interdisciplinary Data Science and AI
• Memoirs of the Trustworthy and Responsible AI Conference at Cambridge

• For Cambridge students
• For businesses
• Colleges and departments
• Libraries and facilities
• Museums and collections
• Email and phone search
• Give to Cambridge

Search form

Cambridge centre for data-driven discovery, currently advertised phd studentships.

• The majority of current PhD studentships are listed on the  University's Jobs site
• For a full list of departments and faculties at the University, visit this page where you can learn more about the research interests within each department
• To find academics you might like to work with, use our directory

Graduate Admissions

The  Graduate Admissions  office provides a range of information on postgraduate programmes at Cambridge, along with a step-by-step guide to the application process. It is advisable to start researching funding opportunities at least a year before your course begins.

MPhil and PhD course relevant to data science - from across University of Cambridge

Please visit the relevant pages and contact the relevant education provider if you have queries. You should pay particular attention to the entry requirements and guidance for applicants there.

MPhil in Machine Learning and Machine Intelligence - an eleven month full-time programme offered by the Machine Learning Group, the Speech Group, and the Computer Vision and Robotics Group in the Cambridge University Department of Engineering.  The course aims to teach the state-of-the-art in machine learning, speech and language processing, and computer vision; to give students the skills and expertise necessary to take leading roles in industry and to equip them with the research skills necessary for doctoral study at Cambridge and other universities.

PhD programme in Advanced Machine Learning - The Machine Learning Group is based in the Department of Engineering, and encourages applications from outstanding candidates with academic backgrounds in Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science, Engineering and related fields, and a keen interest in doing basic research in machine learning and its scientific applications. 

Cambridge Centre for AI in Medicine - Cambridge Centre for AI in Medicine (CCAIM) is a multi-disciplinary centre established by the University of Cambridge in 2020 to develop pioneering AI machine learning (ML) technologies that will transform biomedical science, medicine and healthcare. PhD studentships are oten available, please check their website for details.

SynTech Centre for Doctoral Training - EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Next Generation Synthetic Chemistry Enabled by Digital Molecular Technologies. An interdisciplinary cohort-driven programme to produce the next generation of molecule making scientists by combining Synthetic Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Engineering, Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence.

Advanced Computer Science MPhil  - The MPhil in Advanced Computer Science (the ACS) is designed to prepare students for doctoral research, whether at Cambridge or elsewhere. Typical applicants will have undertaken a first degree in computer science or an equivalent subject, and will be expected to be familiar with basic concepts and practices. The ACS is a nine–month course which starts in early October and finishes on 30 June. It covers advanced material in both theoretical and practical areas as well as instilling the elements of research practice.

Application of Artificial Intelligence to the study of Environmental Risks MRes and PhD - The UKRI Centre for Doctoral Training in the Application of Artificial Intelligence to the study of Environmental Risks (AI4ER) trains researchers (through several multidisciplinary cohorts) to be uniquely equipped to develop and apply leading-edge computational approaches to address critical global environmental challenges by exploiting vast, diverse and often currently untapped environmental data sets. Embedded in the outstanding research environments of the University of Cambridge and the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), the AI4ER CDT addresses problems that are relevant to  building resilience to environmental hazards and managing environmental change .

Postgraduate Study in Mathematics - Various postgraduate courses of a mathematical nature are available at the University of Cambridge, including both taught courses and research degrees.

Mathematics of Information PhD  - This cutting-edge training Centre in the Mathematics of Information produces a new generation of leaders in the theory and practice of modern data science, with an emphasis on the mathematical underpinnings of this new scientific field. The Cambridge Mathematics of Information (CMI) PhD is a four-year course leading to a single PhD thesis.

Cambridge Computational Biology Institute MPhil and PhD ​ - The MPhil in Computational Biology course is aimed at introducing students in the biological, mathematical and physical sciences to quantitative aspects of modern biology and medicine, including bioinformatics. The course has been developed by the Cambridge Computational Biology Institute and is run by the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics at the Centre for Mathematical Sciences (CMS).

Centre for Scientific Computing MPhil and PhD  - The MPhil programme on Scientific Computing is offered by the University of Cambridge as a full-time course which aims to provide education of the highest quality at Master’s level. A common route for admission into our PhD programme is via the Centre’s MPhil programme in Scientific Computing.

Part III Mathematics  - Part III is a 9 month taught masters course in mathematics.  It is an excellent preparation for mathematical research and it is also a valuable course in mathematics and in its applications for those who want further training before taking posts in industry, teaching, or research establishments. Students admitted from outside Cambridge to Part III study towards the Master of Advanced Study (MASt).  Students continuing from the Cambridge Tripos for a fourth year, study towards the Master of Mathematics (MMath).  The requirements and course structure for Part III are the same for all students irrespective of whether they are studying for the MASt or MMath degree. There are over 200 Part III (MASt and MMath) students each year; almost all are in their fourth or fifth year of university studies. 

School of Clinical Medicine Graduate Training Office - Prospective students interested in pursuing a graduate degree course in a subject area related to clinical medicine at the University of Cambridge should consult the School’s individual departmental websites for detailed information about the courses which they run and the University’s Graduate Admissions website for information on the application process and on funding opportunities.

Centre for Doctoral Training in Data, Risk And Environmental Analytical Methods  - The CDT embraces a wide range of world-leading Doctoral research in the area of Big Data and Environmental Risk Mitigation. The CDT research underway seeks to utilise emerging technologies, techniques and tools, to more accurately monitor the environment, enabling cutting edge research. To provide end-users with more integrated information at improved temporal and spatial resolutions to deliver solutions to environmental challenges (both acute and long- term). Funded by  NERC  (the Natural Environment Research Council, NERC Ref: NE/M009009/1), the DREAM (Data, Risk and Environmental Analytical Methods) consortium is made up of Cranfield, Newcastle, Cambridge and Birmingham universities.

Centre for Doctoral Training in Data Intensive Science  - The Cambridge CDT in Data Intensive Science is an innovative, interdisciplinary centre, distributed between the Department of Physics (Cavendish Laboratory), Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics (DAMTP), Department of Pure Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics (DPMMS) and the Institute of Astronomy (IoA).

MPhil in Data Intensive Science - This course aims to take science graduates and to prepare them for data intensive research careers by providing advanced training in three key areas – Statistical Analysis, Machine Learning, and Research Computing – and their application to current research frontiers.

Cambridge Digital Humanities - The MPhil provides the opportunity to specialise in a chosen subject area as well as an advanced level introduction to DH approaches, methods and theory. The course provides critical and practical literacy, the chance to advance an extant specialization by re-contextualizing it in relation to advanced theoretical work, and the chance to develop as a DH scholar.

The Cambridge Centre for Data-Driven Discovery (C2D3) brings together researchers and expertise from across the academic departments and industry to drive research into the analysis, understanding and use of data science and AI. C2D3 is an Interdisciplinary Research Centre at the University of Cambridge.

• Supports and connects the growing data science and AI research community 
• Builds research capacity in data science and AI to tackle complex issues 
• Drives new research challenges through collaborative research projects 
• Promotes and provides opportunities for knowledge transfer 
• Identifies and provides training courses for students, academics, industry and the third sector 
• Serves as a gateway for external organisations 

Study at Cambridge

About the university, research at cambridge.

• Undergraduate courses
• Events and open days
• Fees and finance
• Postgraduate courses
• How to apply
• Postgraduate events
• Fees and funding
• International students
• Continuing education
• Executive and professional education
• Courses in education
• How the University and Colleges work
• Term dates and calendars
• Visiting the University
• Annual reports
• Equality and diversity
• A global university
• Public engagement
• Give to Cambridge
• For Cambridge students
• For our researchers
• Business and enterprise
• Colleges & departments
• Email & phone search
• Museums & collections
• Postgraduate Admissions
• Degrees Offered
• Department of Physics
• About overview
• Our History
• Cavendish Women in Physics
• Cavendish Digital Photo Archive and requests to film in the Laboratory
• Image Request Form
• Cavendish Ambassador Programme
• News overview
• Cavendish Photography Competition 2023-24
• People doing Physics podcast
• Ray Dolby Centre overview
• Residents' Newsletters
• Ray Dolby & Cavendish Laboratory
• Progress Updates
• National Facility for Physics
• Research overview
• Research Groups overview
• Astrophysics overview
• Atacama Large Millimetre Array
• James Clerk Maxwell Telescope - Millimetre-Submillimetre Astronomy
• Arcminute Microkelvin Imager (AMI)
• Planck Surveyor Satellite
• Low Frequency Array (LOFAR)
• Square Kilometre Array (SKA)
• Magdalena Ridge Observatory Interferometer (MROI)
• Theoretical Studies
• Radio Astronomy Heritage and Education Centre
• Atomic, Mesoscopic and Optical Physics
• Biological and Soft Systems overview
• Polymer and Composites
• Thin Films and Interfaces
• Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy
• Medical Imaging
• Optical Microscopy
• Optical Manipulation and Micromechanics
• Cellular Biophysics
• Single Molecules
• Tissues - Biomolecular Gels and Networks
• Interfaces, Films and Membranes
• High Energy Physics overview
• ATLAS: a general purpose detector for the LHC at CERN
• Large Hadron Collider beauty experiment (LHCb)
• Main Injector Neutrino Oscillation Search (MINOS) at Fermilab
• Research and Development for Future Collider Experiments
• The Cavendish Theory Group
• Microelectronics overview
• Quantum Information Processing
• Nanospintronics
• Spin transport in carbon-based, organic semiconductors
• Molecular Engineering
• NanoPhotonics overview
• Semiconductor Microcavities
• Nano-Plasmonic Surfaces
• Elastic Photonic Crystals
• Optoelectronics overview
• Light Emitting Diodes
• Solar Cells
• Transistors
• Physics and Chemistry of Solids
• Quantum Matter overview
• Anisotropic Superconductivity
• Development of new Cryogenic equipment
• Electronic Structure of Correlated Electron Materials
• Exotic States of Matter
• High-Tc Materials
• Hydrostatic Pressure
• Novel Superconductors
• Quantum Ferroelectrics
• Quantum Sensors overview
• Detector Technology
• Scientific Computing
• Semiconductor Physics overview
• One-Dimensional Electron Transport
• Mesoscopic Two-Dimensional Electron Transport
• Electron Transport in Quantum Dots
• Surface Acoustic Waves
• Quantum light sources and detectors
• Low Temperature Scanning Probes
• Terahertz Science and Technology
• Research Facilities overview
• State-of-the-art Electron Beam Lithography
• Molecular Beam Epitaxy
• Device Processing Cleanroom
• Cryostat Systems
• Surface and 2D NanoScience
• Theory of Condensed Matter overview
• Collective Quantum Phenomena
• Quantum Mechanical Methods
• Soft Matter
• Condensed Matter Theory Portfolio Partnership
• Thin Film Magnetism overview
• Magnetic Mesostructures
• Spin Transport
• Research Programmes overview
• The Centre for Scientific Computing Collaboration
• Winton Programme for the Physics of Sustainability
• Physics of Medicine
• Collaborative Programmes overview
• Cambridge Nuclear Energy Centre
• Computational Radiotherapy Collaborations
• Nanoelectronics
• Optoelectronics
• Spintronics
• The Cavendish-Hitachi Collaboration
• The Cavendish-Toshiba Collaboration overview
• Toshiba website
• Research Services overview
• Electron Microscopy Suite
• Knowledge Exchange overview
• KE for Cavendish Researchers
• Cavendish KE working lunch series
• Advanced Materials Characterisation Suite overview
• Publications
• Measurement Techniques and Instrument Technical Literature overview
• Remnant Fields in Superconducting Magnets
• PPMS DynaCool System and Options User Manuals
• Quantum Design MPMS3 SQUID-VSM and Options User Manuals
• Sample Geometry and the Accuracy of Reported Sample Magnetic Moment
• Talks, seminars and events overview
• Cavendish Quantum Colloquium
• Research Group Administrative Contacts
• Studying Physics overview
• Prospective Undergraduates
• Current Undergraduates overview
• QAA reviews & accreditation
• Current courses overview
• Course Overview : Part IA
• Course Overview : Part IB
• Course Overview : Part II
• Course Overview : Part III
• Examinations
• Prospective Postgraduate
• Postgraduate Student Prizes
• Coronavirus Postgraduate Signposting
• People overview
• Principal Investigators
• Affiliated Lecturers
• Emeritus Staff and Academic Alumni
• Staff by Research Group
• Professional Services
• Jobs overview
• Apprenticeships
• Intranet overview
• Living with Communicable Diseases including Covid-19

PhD in Physics

• Ray Dolby Centre
• Studying Physics

PhD in Physics (3+ years)

The majority of postgraduate students (about 110 are accepted each year) carry out research at the Cavendish Laboratory towards a PhD degree.

For admission to the PhD, the Postgraduate Admissions Office normally requires applicants to have achieved the equivalent of a UK Masters (Pass) . Applicants should obtain the equivalent of:

• at least a 2:i in a UK four-year "undergraduate Master's" (Honours) degree,  OR
• at least a 2:i in a UK three-year Bachelor's (Honours) degree plus a relevant one/two -year UK Master's degree.

All applicants are assessed individually on the basis of their academic records.

Full-time students must spend at least three terms of residence in Cambridge and nine terms of research. If you are undertaking a placement or internship away from Cambridge for more than two weeks you need to apply for leave to work away.

Final examination involves the submission of a thesis of not more than 60,000 words followed by an oral examination (or viva) of the thesis and the general field of physics into which it falls.

Successful applicants are assigned to a research supervisor, a specialist in part or all of the student's chosen research field, and joins a research group which might vary in size between 4 and 80 individuals. Although the supervisor is responsible for the progress of a student's research programme, the extent to which a postgraduate student is assisted by the supervisor or by other members of the group depends almost entirely on the structure and character of the group concerned. The research field is normally determined at entry, after consideration of the student's interests and facilities available.

A list of current research projects is published and available on the  research pages  of our website, and more detailed information about specific research areas can be obtained from the relevant academic staff. The student, however, may work within a given field for a period of time before his or her personal topic is determined.

There is no requirement by the University of attendance at formal courses of lectures for the PhD. Postgraduate work is largely a matter of independent research and successful postgraduates require a high degree of self-motivation. Nevertheless, lectures and classes may be arranged, and students are expected to attend both seminars (delivered regularly by members of the University and by visiting scholars and industrialists) and external conferences. In addition, postgraduate students carry out first- and second-year physics undergraduate supervision and assist with practical work and theoretical examples classes in the Department.

Lectures within all the faculties of the University are open to any member of the University, and a physics postgraduate student has the opportunity of attending lectures not only within the undergraduate Physics and Theoretical Physics course, but also in any other subject area or faculty.

Cavendish Laboratory

19 J J Thomson Avenue

Cambridge CB3 0HE

Tel: +44 1223 337200

Email: [email protected]

Site Privacy & Cookie Policies

Privacy notice for our emails to you, social media.

© 2024 University of Cambridge

• Contact the University
• Accessibility
• Freedom of information
• Privacy policy and cookies
• Statement on Modern Slavery
• Terms and conditions
• University A-Z
• Undergraduate
• Postgraduate
• Research news
• About research at Cambridge
• Spotlight on...

Study at Cambridge

About the university, research at cambridge.

• Undergraduate courses
• Events and open days
• Fees and finance
• Postgraduate courses
• How to apply
• Postgraduate events
• Fees and funding
• International students
• Continuing education
• Executive and professional education
• Courses in education
• How the University and Colleges work
• Term dates and calendars
• Visiting the University
• Annual reports
• Equality and diversity
• A global university
• Public engagement
• Give to Cambridge
• For Cambridge students
• For our researchers
• Business and enterprise
• Colleges & departments
• Email & phone search
• Museums & collections

Prospective Postgraduates

Department of Psychology

• About Us overview
• Athena SWAN overview
• Career Development
• Work-Life Balance
• Celebrating Women in the Department overview
• Professor of Comparative Cognition, Nicola Clayton FRS FSB FAPS C Psychol
• Professor of Cognitive Developmental Neuroscience, Usha Goswami FBA
• Professor of Psychology, Melissa Hines
• Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience, Lorraine K. Tyler
• Professor of Experimental Psychology, Zoe Kourtzi
• Professor of Developmental Psychology, Claire Hughes
• Professor of Family Research and Director of the Centre for Family Research, Susan Golombok
• Dignity At Work
• Race Equality
• Neurodivergent Socialities Discussion Group
• Visitors to the Department overview
• Guidance for Visitors and their Supervisors
• Visitor Application Form
• People overview
• Head of Department
• Professional Services Team
• Academic Staff
• Research Professors
• Researchers and Visitors
• Artist in Residence
• Postgraduate Students
• Psychology Analytical Laboratory Staff
• Study overview
• Psychology A-Z
• Prospective Undergraduates overview
• Applying to Cambridge
• FAQ PBS Tripos
• Letter from one undergraduate...
• PBS alumni profiles
• Current Undergraduates overview
• Natural Sciences Tripos Part IB Experimental Psychology
• Natural Sciences Tripos Part II Courses overview
• Data Retention Policy - University Examinations
• Psychological and Behavioural Sciences Tripos
• Prospective Postgraduates overview
• Introduction to Graduate Courses
• PhD in Psychology (Course Code BLPC22) overview
• Available projects
• Potential PhD Psychology supervisor
• MPhil in Psychology (Course Code BLPCM1)
• Application procedure
• Postgraduate Funding
• Frequently asked questions
• Current Postgraduates overview
• Research overview
• Research Centres & Groups overview
• Adaptive Brain Lab
• ADPRG overview
• Psychology, Public Policy, and Law
• The New Parents Study overview
• New Parents Study Recruitment Partners
• Hayden Henderson
• Auditory Perception Group - Hearing overview
• Auditory demonstrations and useful software
• Publications of Brian C. J. Moore: Books
• BCJM papers in refereed journals
• BCJM Book chapters
• CAM2 (CAMEQ2-HF) Hearing AID fitting software
• THE PATIENT-CENTRED TINNITUS MANAGEMENT TOOL
• CDs for Diagnosis of Dead Regions in the Cochlea – TEN(HL) and TEN(ER3)
• CD of audio demonstrations
• Measuring psychophysical tuning curves
• Two methods for determining TFS sensitivity
• Determining binaural TFS sensitivity: The TFS-AF test
• Software for running psychoacoustic experiments
• Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute - BCNI overview
• About us - BCNI
• About us BCNI
• Research BCNI overview
• BCNI Publications 2003 onwards.doc
• Past events - BCNI
• BCNI Find us
• Contact BCNI
• Online Resources BCNI overview
• Get involved BCNI
• Believing Brain Project overview
• Brain, Language and Bilingualism overview
• Opportunities and Contact - Brain, Language and Bilingualism
• People - Brain, Language and Bilingualism
• Publications - Brain, Language and Bilingualism
• Research at Brain, Language and Bilingualism
• Cambridge Babylab overview
• Meet the Members - BabyLab
• Research Methods - Babylab
• Get Involved!
• Where to Find Us - Babylab
• FAQ's - Babylab
• BabyLab News overview
• BabyPaL Principal Investigator, Dr Rebecca Lawson is a selected performer for the Wellcome Leap, $45M 1kD program!
• Check out the new paper on bilingualism in infants by our own Dr Hana D'Souza!
• Dianna publishes a new paper in Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews: Infant social interactions and brain development: A systematic review!
• Dr Ellie Smith publishes new paper in Infant Behavior and Development!
• Dr Hana D'Souza & the Embodied Lab are moving to Cardiff University!
• Dr Sarah Lloyd-Fox writes about "Generation COVID: pregnancy, birth and postnatal life in the pandemic".
• Dr Sinead Rocha-Thomas presented some BabyRhythm data at a Conference!
• Dr. Borja Blanco publishes paper on bilingual adaptations in resting state functional connectivity!
• Ellie & Addie finish data collection for the BabyPaL-GiggleDOT Collaboration!
• Ellie & Addie present at the Society of fNIRS Virtual Conference 2021!
• The BabyPaL monkey-LEAP Project has begun!
• The CNE Babylab's paper was chosen as Editor's Choice in Brain & Language!
• The PIPKIN Project: at home!!
• COVID-19 Changes: How are we making the Babylab safe for our Researchers & your Family to visit?
• Meet Labs - BabyLab
• ANIMATE - Babylab
• Brain Imaging for Global HealTh (BRIGHT)
• Baby Prediction and Learning Lab
• CNE Babylab
• Embodied Attention & Learning - BabyLab overview
• Selected publications
• Summaries of our research
• Current Projects overview
• How does infant social behaviour develop neurologically over the first year of life: using a wearable, baby-friendly brain imaging system? - BabyLab
• Baby Prediction and Learning Lab - Babylab
• How do infants' learn about their environment?
• How has COVID-19 effected the experience of pregnancy for young families?
• Does your Little Scientist like to move? - BabyLab
• Cambridge Body, Mind and Behaviour Laboratory
• Cambridge Centre for the Integration of Science, Technology and Culture
• Cambridge Laboratory for Research into Autism
• Cambridge Personality and Social Dynamics Research Group
• Cambridge Political Psychology Lab overview
• Join the Lab
• Lab Resources
• Publications
• Cambridge Social Decision-Making Lab
• Cambridge University Behavioural Insights Team - CUBIT
• Centre for Family Research
• Centre for Neuroscience in Education
• Centre for Speech, Language and the Brain
• Cognition and Motivated Behaviour Lab
• Comparative Cognition Lab. overview
• Research Output
• Consciousness and Cognition Lab
• Higher Values: Aesthetic Experiences, Transcendence, and Prosociality overview
• Project Publications - Higher Values
• Project Team - Higher Values
• IC Thinking Research Group
• Memory Laboratory
• Research Funding
• Study Participation
• Applying for Research Fellowships
• COVID-19 Research
• Work with us overview
• Current vacancies
• Guidance for Applications
• New Starters
• Current Staff
• Professional Development
• Retirement & Pensions
• Visas & Immigration
• Services overview
• The Archive
• Psychology Analytical Laboratory
• Staff Intranet (Raven Login)
• Biotronix Electronics Workshop
• Intranet overview
• DA Monday updates overview
• Committee meetings
• Ethics Committee
• Undergraduate Teaching
• Postgraduate Supervisors

PhD in Psychology (Course Code BLPC22)

About PhD in Psychology 

The PhD degree is a minimum of three years of full-time research with an individual supervisor followed by an examination of a research thesis in an oral examination. This is the principal research degree offered in the Department of Psychology and the great majority of our students are registered for this degree.

• At the end of their first year of study, students are required to complete a satisfactory First Year Report and Viva . A brief report (without viva) is required at the end of the second year and third year.
• All candidates are expected to take part in the Department’s Postgraduate Education Programme and the Postgraduate School of Life Science’s Skills Training Programme .
• Applications are usually considered in one round - for October entry. This allows applicants to compete for funding and to attend the Postgraduate Induction events held at the beginning of the academic year.
• In some circumstances, it is possible to defer entry to Lent or Easter terms or apply for a January or April start date. However, applicants should contact the Postgraduate Administrator (email)  in advance of submitting their application to discuss whether this option would be available to them.

Eligibility and application

➤  academic requirements.

Candidates who wish to become research students in the Department should usually have a good degree in psychology, neuroscience or in another related subject (for example, physiology, sociology, linguistics, computer science, or engineering), which may provide sufficient background for research in certain areas of psychology. Experience and/or training in psychology is not always a requirement but may be advantageous for some research projects.

graduation-309661_640.png

You are normally expected to hold or to be about to achieve:

- at least a good 2.I honours degree from a UK university or an equivalent standard from an overseas university (on a 4-point GPA, we require a minimum of 3.5 out of 4)

- fluent command of the English language

- completion of any current training or education course

*You are not required to provide GRE scores.

application-keyboad-250x250.jpg

➤  Application

Applications for postgraduate study in the Department of Psychology are made through the University's Postgraduate Admissions . Please note that the course code BLPC22

We recommend that potential applicants take the time to familiarise themselves with the useful material on the  University's Postgraduate Admissions page.

Department application procedure

List of potential phd psychology supervisors, list of available phd projects, ➤ application deadline - to start october 2024.

Applications for October 2024 will open in September 2023.

All deadlines are 12.00 (UK time).

The Department will continue to accept applications up until Wednesday 24   April 2024  for October 2024 start date. Any application submitted after 5 December 2023 will not be considered for the funding round.

Find the answers to frequently asked questions .

Current Postgraduates​ ​​​​​ ​

Introduction, open day 2024, application procedure​, mphil in psychology, phd in psychology, application deadline - to start october 2024.

The Department will continue to accept applications up until Wednesday 24 April 2024 for October 2024 start date. 

Any application submitted after 5 December 2023 will not be considered for the funding round.

Research Councils​

Downing Street, Cambridge

webmaster[at]psychol.cam.ac.uk

• Downing Site
• New Museums Site

Data Protection

Privacy policy.

Information on personal information we gather when you visit the website and how that information is used.

© 2024 University of Cambridge

• Contact the University
• Accessibility
• Freedom of information
• Privacy policy and cookies
• Statement on Modern Slavery
• Terms and conditions
• University A-Z
• Undergraduate
• Postgraduate
• Research news
• About research at Cambridge
• Spotlight on...

• Internal wiki

PhD Programme in Advanced Machine Learning

The Cambridge Machine Learning Group (MLG) runs a PhD programme in Advanced Machine Learning. The supervisors are Jose Miguel Hernandez-Lobato , Carl Rasmussen , Richard E. Turner , Adrian Weller , Hong Ge and David Krueger . Zoubin Ghahramani is currently on academic leave and not accepting new students at this time.

We encourage applications from outstanding candidates with academic backgrounds in Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science, Engineering and related fields, and a keen interest in doing basic research in machine learning and its scientific applications. There are no additional restrictions on the topic of the PhD, but for further information on our current research areas, please consult our webpages at http://mlg.eng.cam.ac.uk .

The typical duration of the PhD will be four years.

Applicants must formally apply through the Applicant Portal at the University of Cambridge by the deadline, indicating “PhD in Engineering” as the course (supervisor Hernandez-Lobato, Rasmussen, Turner, Weller, Ge and/or Krueger). Applicants who want to apply for University funding need to reply ‘Yes’ to the question ‘Apply for Cambridge Scholarships’. See http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/students/gradadmissions/prospec/apply/deadlines.html for details. Note that applications will not be complete until all the required material has been uploaded (including reference letters), and we will not be able to see any applications until that happens.

Gates funding applicants (US or other overseas) need to fill out the dedicated Gates Cambridge Scholarships section later on the form which is sent on to the administrators of Gates funding.

Deadline for PhD Application: noon 5 December, 2023

Applications from outstanding individuals may be considered after this time, but applying later may adversely impact your chances for both admission and funding.

FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT COMPLETING THE ADMISSIONS FORMS:

The Machine Learning Group is based in the Department of Engineering, not Computer Science.

We will assess your application on three criteria:

1 Academic performance (ensure evidence for strong academic achievement, e.g. position in year, awards, etc.) 2 references (clearly your references will need to be strong; they should also mention evidence of excellence as quotes will be drawn from them) 3 research (detail your research experience, especially that which relates to machine learning)

You will also need to put together a research proposal. We do not offer individual support for this. It is part of the application assessment, i.e. ascertaining whether you can write about a research area in a sensible way and pose interesting questions. It is not a commitment to what you will work on during your PhD. Most often PhD topics crystallise over the first year. The research proposal should be about 2 pages long and can be attached to your application (you can indicate that your proposal is attached in the 1500 character count Research Summary box). This aspect of the application does not carry a huge amount of weight so do not spend a large amount of time on it. Please also attach a recent CV to your application too.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE CAMBRIDGE-TUEBINGEN PROGRAMME:

We also offer a small number of PhDs on the Cambridge-Tuebingen programme. This stream is for specific candidates whose research interests are well-matched to both the machine learning group in Cambridge and the MPI for Intelligent Systems in Tuebingen. For more information about the Cambridge-Tuebingen programme and how to apply see here . IMPORTANT: remember to download your application form before you submit so that you can send a copy to the administrators in Tuebingen directly . Note that the application deadline for the Cambridge-Tuebingen programme is noon, 5th December, 2023, CET.

What background do I need?

An ideal background is a top undergraduate or Masters degree in Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science, or Electrical Engineering. You should be both very strong mathematically and have an intuitive and practical grasp of computation. Successful applicants often have research experience in statistical machine learning. Shortlisted applicants are interviewed.

Do you have funding?

There are a number of funding sources at Cambridge University for PhD students, including for international students. All our students receive partial or full funding for the full three years of the PhD. We do not give preference to “self-funded” students. To be eligible for funding it is important to apply early (see https://www.graduate.study.cam.ac.uk/finance/funding – current deadlines are 10 October for US students, and 1 December for others). Also make sure you tick the box on the application saying you wish to be considered for funding!

If you are applying to the Cambridge-Tuebingen programme, note that this source of funding will not be listed as one of the official funding sources, but if you apply to this programme, please tick the other possible sources of funding if you want to maximise your chances of getting funding from Cambridge.

What is my likelihood of being admitted?

Because we receive so many applications, unfortunately we can’t admit many excellent candidates, even some who have funding. Successful applicants tend to be among the very top students at their institution, have very strong mathematics backgrounds, and references, and have some research experience in statistical machine learning.

Do I have to contact one of the faculty members first or can I apply formally directly?

It is not necessary, but if you have doubts about whether your background is suitable for the programme, or if you have questions about the group, you are welcome to contact one of the faculty members directly. Due to their high email volume you may not receive an immediate response but they will endeavour to get back to you as quickly as possible. It is important to make your official application to Graduate Admissions at Cambridge before the funding deadlines, even if you don’t hear back from us; otherwise we may not be able to consider you.

Do you take Masters students, or part-time PhD students?

We generally don’t admit students for a part-time PhD. We also don’t usually admit students just for a pure-research Masters in machine learning , except for specific programs such as the Churchill and Marshall scholarships. However, please do note that we run a one-year taught Master’s Programme: The MPhil in Machine Learning, and Machine Intelligence . You are welcome to apply directly to this.

What Department / course should I indicate on my application form?

This machine learning group is in the Department of Engineering. The degree you would be applying for is a PhD in Engineering (not Computer Science or Statistics).

How long does a PhD take?

A typical PhD from our group takes 3-4 years. The first year requires students to pass some courses and submit a first-year research report. Students must submit their PhD before the 4th year.

What research topics do you have projects on?

We don’t generally pre-specify projects for students. We prefer to find a research area that suits the student. For a sample of our research, you can check group members’ personal pages or our research publications page.

What are the career prospects for PhD students from your group?

Students and postdocs from the group have moved on to excellent positions both in academia and industry. Have a look at our list of recent alumni on the Machine Learning group webpage . Research expertise in machine learning is in very high demand these days.

About Cambridge Judge

• Overview of the Business School
• History and today
• External recognition
• Diversity and inclusion
• Virtual tours
• Jobs at Cambridge Judge
• Giving overview
• Fundraising priorities
• How to give
• Impact and recognition
• Recruiters and organisations overview
• Recruit from Cambridge Judge
• Student consultancy projects
• Develop your talent
• Corporate speaker opportunities
• Special interest groups and societies
• News overview
• Announcements
• Programme news
• Student and alumni news
• Faculty news
• Research centre news
• Fundraising news
• Media coverage
• News room (for journalists)

FT Responsible Business Education Awards: 2 wins for Cambridge Judge

Purpose of Finance course wins top Teaching award and a study on paedophile hunters wins Academic Research award, while Cambridge Judge is Highly Commended for School-wide activities in the Financial Times awards for business education responsibility and impact.

Degree programmes

• Masters degrees overview
• Executive MBA
• Executive Master of Accounting
• Master of Finance (MFin)
• MSt in Entrepreneurship
• MSt in Social Innovation
• MPhil in Management
• MPhil in Technology Policy
• PhD and research masters overview
• PhD pathways
• Business Doctorate
• Master of Research in Management

MPhil in Finance

• MPhil in Innovation, Strategy and Organisation
• MPhil in Strategy, Marketing and Operations
• Management Studies (Tripos)
• Virtual tours of the Business School
• Cambridge life
• Entrepreneurship at Cambridge Judge
• Financial aid
• Admission events

Non-degree programmes

• Entrepreneurship programmes overview
• Accelerate Cambridge
• Enterprise Tuesday
• Venture Creation
• EnterpriseTECH
• EnterpriseWOMEN
• Social Venture Weekend
• First Certificate in Business overview
• For learners
• For organisations
• Executive Education overview
• Online ExecEd programmes
• Open programmes for individuals
• Custom programmes for organisations

Need help funding your degree programme studies at Cambridge Judge?

Explore our scholarship and loan opportunities.

Executive Education

• Open programmes for individuals overview
• Programme finder
• New programmes
• Online programmes
• Managing People
• Managing Organisations
• Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
• Strategy and Growth
• Innovation and Technology
• Professional Service Firms
• Custom programmes for organisations overview
• Open programmes for organisations
• Clients and case studies
• Psychometric services
• Professional service firms
• Certificate of Achievement
• B Corp certification
• Digital certificates
• Visa information
• Meet the team

Not sure which programme is for you?

Search our portfolio of over 40 well-crafted programmes that will expand your skills and understanding in service of your organisational, personal development and career objectives.

• Research and teaching staff
• Honorary appointments
• Subject groups overview
• Economics and Policy
• Operations and Technology Management
• Organisational Behaviour
• Organisational Theory and Information Systems
• Strategy and International Business
• Research centre finder
• Alternative Finance
• Behavioural Economics and Policy
• Business Research
• Chinese Management
• Circular Economy
• Digital Innovation
• Endowment Asset Management
• Energy Policy Research Group
• Entrepreneurship
• Experimental & Behavioural Economics Group
• Finance, Technology and Regulation
• Financial Reporting and Accountability
• Health Leadership and Enterprise
• India and Global Business
• International Human Resource Management
• Process Excellence and Innovation
• Psychometrics
• Regulatory Genome Project
• Risk Studies
• Social Innovation
• Wo+Men’s Leadership
• Impact and practitioner engagement overview
• Collaborate with our faculty
• Publications overview
• The Cadbury Archive
• Information and Library Services overview
• Research seminars

Faculty and research

• AI and technology
• Behavioural economics
• Career and personal development
• Entrepreneurship and innovation
• ESG and sustainability
• Equality, diversity and inclusion
• Finance and accounting
• Future of work
• Global strategy and international business
• Governance, economics, and policy
• Leadership and organisational behaviour
• Operations management
• Philanthropy
• Social impact

Exploring the rise of the global B Corp movement

The B Corp movement is helping to shift the focus of capitalism from shareholders to all stakeholders: find out how Cambridge fits in.

Find an expert

We have faculty, who can speak on many current UK and global issues, and are happy to be contacted by journalists.

• All insights
• Alumni council
• Regional Alumni groups
• Alumni Special Interest Groups (ASIGs)
• Alumni toolkit
• Alumni profiles
• Get involved
• CJBS network
• CJBS Connects: Worldwide

Join us in achieving real world impact

We invite you to invest in our future and help us to remain at the forefront of global business research and education.

• PhD & research …
• Specialising via a PhD pathway

The Finance PhD…

The Finance PhD pathway

• Why a CJBS PhD?
• Accounting PhD pathway
• Business Economics PhD pathway
• Finance PhD pathway
• Marketing PhD pathway
• Operations and Technology Management PhD pathway
• Organisational Behaviour PhD pathway
• Organisational Theory and Information Systems PhD pathway
• Strategic Management PhD pathway overview
• PhD pathways overview

Master of Research (MRes)

• Financing your PhD
• Current students
• Job market candidates
• Visiting students overview
• External PhD scholars
• The Business Doctorate

The Finance group at Cambridge Judge Business School covers a broad spectrum of issues in finance. We define finance as more than a set of financial transactions – it is the glue that holds together corporations, capital markets and the real economy. 

We pursue research on empirical and theoretical corporate finance, asset pricing, and financial accounting as well as the intersections of finance and economics. In doing so, we treat finance as both an art and a science.

Professor Raghavendra Rau talks about the Finance pathway.

Hello. My name is Raghu Rau, and I’m the Head of the Finance and Accounting group here at Cambridge Judge Business School. Finance is actually an area which deals with four different groups of people.

We are looking at investors. Investors are people who give money to corporations and to reinvest in investment project and so on. We’re looking at corporations who take money from individuals and use that to invest in different types of projects. We have financial intermediaries, who sit between the corporations and individuals trying to make sure they have the best match between projects which the companies are offering and the individuals who want to invest in these projects. And finally, you have government and regulators who make sure the whole process is fair.

Here at Cambridge Judge Business School, we focus mostly on corporate finance. So in particular, we look at empirical corporate finance. What that means is most of our research uses actual data from companies. We look at why companies use particular types of financial policy.

We look at why individuals make certain types of decisions, whether they do this rationally, whether they’re driven by behavioural biases, and so on. We look at what conflicts of interest might make financial intermediaries advocate one type of action rather than another, for example, why they might ask firms to issue equity in place of debt and other factors like that. Overall, our focus is on trying to get actual data, hard data, which tells us exactly– allows us to get at the truth, allows us to figure out what it is that individuals, managers, and financial intermediaries are really thinking when they make financial decisions.

A lot of the data we use comes from deep engagement with companies. So in fact, here at Cambridge Judge Business School, we engage a lot with individuals who are at high level positions at firms. And because we are the University of Cambridge, we have been able to get access to a lot of unique data sets, which are not available typically at most universities across the world. And we use these to answer these types of questions.

What type of student are we looking for? Basically, someone who is interested in finding out the truth. The problem with industry is that you cannot really spend much time digging into to issues and figure out what is really going on.

We don’t just have the time. You need to talk to your clients. You need to talk to your company. These are short-frame, short-term projects, which typically last more than less than about three to six months.

Three to six months is a very, very short time for an academic. If you’re interested in truly figuring out how things work, you really have to go in-depth into these matters. And that might take a year, maybe two years. At the end of the day, we’re looking for someone who is at heart interested in the truth, someone who is, well, for better words, an academic.

View video with transcript

The pathway

To start on the Finance pathway you must take one of the following 9-month masters programmes:

Master of Research (MRes) (for students with a Cambridge MPhil in Economic Research)

Essential reading

Download detailed information about the 9-month + 4-year programme structure and content.

• Research areas What we expect from you What you can expect from us PhD supervisors
• What we expect from you Research areas What you can expect from us PhD supervisors
• What you can expect from us Research areas What we expect from you PhD supervisors
• PhD supervisors Research areas What we expect from you What you can expect from us

Research areas

Our faculty research is based around empirical and theoretical corporate finance, asset pricing, and financial accounting as well as the intersections of finance and economics. You will have the opportunity to conduct cutting-edge research on the multi-faceted linkages between investors, intermediaries and corporations. While the questions are academic in nature, we strive for solutions that can inform the practice of finance, and we incorporate this spirit into our teaching and other classroom interactions. 

Application of econometric methods and theoretical tools from contract theory and financial economics

• Provides the methodical rigour to infer causal statements about the way the world works.
• Allows us to shed light on questions that we, and businesses in the real world, deemed to be interesting and important at this time.
• Leads to key new understandings, eg the importance of the role of financial intermediation for growth and welfare.

Analysing the ‘black box’ that is financial institutions

• Work on topics and papers related to the study of commercial banks, investment banks, universal banks, mutual funds, hedge funds and other providers of financial services.
• Market failures and inefficiencies as a result of what happens within firms, not just between financial institutions and those seeking their services.
• Analysis of how firms work – how are compensation contracts written, and why do companies pay bribes to politicians?
• Analysis of investors that invest in firms through a set of financial intermediaries. How do these investors understand risk? Can managers and intermediaries consistently fool them into paying too much for securities or assets?

We pay close attention to human decision-making and behavioural anomalies, both of which also apply to the broader context of capital markets and financial accounting.  

What we expect from you

You will need to have earned a first class undergraduate degree or equivalent. In some cases you will need to have a graduate degree from a highly regarded university in financial, mathematical or business economics, and to have performed within the top 5% in your class.

You will also be able to demonstrate a high level of commitment to an academic career in a business school, to this end your academic preparation is key. Finance research is quantitative in nature and your background will reflect quantitative and methodological rigour. 

For more details, please see the academic requirements for the:

What you can expect from us

• You will be considered a junior colleague rather than a student from the outset of the programme. 
• Work with faculty on joint research projects for publication in leading academic journals.  
• Learn from a series of courses focused on research methodology and the foundations of the discipline. 
• Attend seminars given by the top researchers in the field. 
• Benefit from close interactions both within the Finance subject group and beyond including external researchers, meetings with speakers and research visits to some of the finest finance departments outside Cambridge. 
• You will be fully funded during your years on the programme. 
• Access researchers across the University of Cambridge, studying a huge variety of topics at a world-class level. 
• Take advantage of the specialised interdisciplinary centres established by the Finance group, and access unique data found nowhere else in the world. 

PhD supervisors

Your principal supervisor will be a senior academic, often Professor or Associate Professor, from within the Finance group. You will benefit from their guidance and counsel throughout the programme, and beyond: in helping you to succeed in the job market and in gaining a faculty position at a leading business school. Your principal supervisor will take an active role in your research programme and will assemble a group of faculty (your advisory committee) who will co-author papers with you. 

Take a look at the faculty who may serve as your principal supervisor and view their research interests:

David Chambers

Invesco professor of finance, read more about david.

Research interests

David Chambers researches investment management; financial history; endowment asset management; IPOs; law and finance.

View David's profile

Elroy Dimson

Professor of finance, not available to take incoming phd students in october 2024., read more about elroy.

Elroy Dimson researches investment management; financial market history; endowment asset management; sustainable and responsible investing.

View Elroy's profile

Oğuzhan Karakaş

Associate professor in finance, read more about oğuzhan.

Oguzhan Karakas researches corporate governance; ownership and control; corporate social responsibility; private equity; dynamic investment strategies.

View Oğuzhan's profile

Andrei Kirilenko

Read more about andrei.

Andrei Kirilenko researches the intersection of finance, technology and regulation; fintech; asset pricing, data, and digital technologies; the design of automated financial markets and instruments.

View Andrei's profile

Bart Lambrecht

Read more about bart.

Bart Lambrecht researches various aspects of corporate finance such as real options and investment under uncertainty; mergers and acquisitions; payout policy; managerial agency and the role of asymmetric information; bankruptcy; and the financing of firms; housing and household finance; bank lending and bank capital structure.

View Bart's profile

Bang Dang Nguyen

Read more about bang.

Bang Dang Nguyen researches corporate finance; empirical finance; corporate governance.

View Bang's profile

Raghavendra Rau

Sir evelyn de rothschild professor of finance, read more about raghavendra.

Raghu Rau researches empirical corporate finance; empirical behavioural finance.

View Raghavendra's profile

Pedro Saffi

Professor of financial economics, read more about pedro.

Pedro Saffi researches security lending markets; short selling; liquidity risk; and how differences of beliefs affect trading volume.

View Pedro's profile

Lucio Sarno

Read more about lucio.

Lucio Sarno researches empirical asset pricing; international finance, and especially foreign exchange markets; macro-finance; microstructure of financial markets.

View Lucio's profile

Finance faculty

Learn more about the faculty that teach on this pathway.

Learn more about the Finance subject group

Learn more about the application process and deadlines

Explore fees and funding options

Contact the admissions team

Study at Cambridge

About the university, research at cambridge.

• Undergraduate courses
• Events and open days
• Fees and finance
• Postgraduate courses
• How to apply
• Postgraduate events
• Fees and funding
• International students
• Continuing education
• Executive and professional education
• Courses in education
• How the University and Colleges work
• Term dates and calendars
• Visiting the University
• Annual reports
• Equality and diversity
• A global university
• Public engagement
• Give to Cambridge
• For Cambridge students
• For our researchers
• Business and enterprise
• Colleges & departments
• Email & phone search
• Museums & collections
• Study With Us
• Centre of Development Studies
• Welcome overview
• Annual Report 2022-23
• How to find us
• Our People overview
• Director: Professor Maha Abdelrahman
• Academic Staff
• Academics for PhD Supervision Nomination
• Senior Affiliated and Emeritus
• Administrative Staff
• PhD Students
• Study With Us overview
• MPhil in Development Studies overview
• Application and Deadlines
• Fees and Funding
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Testimonials from Students
• PhD in Development Studies overview
• Visiting Scholars
• Current Students overview
• MPhil in Development Studies

PhD in Development Studies

• Alumni overview
• How to support Development Studies
• Careers after the MPhil
• Events overview
• Work with us

Description

Most of our PhD students spend their second year away from Cambridge, conducting their fieldwork for which some limited financial assistance is available.

A part-time PhD route is available and proceeds in a similar sequence but over a longer duration, with a maximum allowed length of seven years. Candidates who intend to carry out fieldwork as part of their doctoral research cannot be considered for the part-time route.

In the first year of the PhD programme there is a focus on training in research methods and transferable skills. Students will take a Research Methods course and it is compulsory for all first year PhD students to attend, including part-time students. Students are also encouraged to attend seminars and other events that are organised by the Centre of Development Studies and departments throughout the University, such as the Social Sciences Research Methods Centre .  All candidates for the PhD programme are not at first registered for the degree, as they have to pass a  registration exercise  towards the end of the first academic year of study. The registration exercise aims to ensure that the candidate’s project is viable, that an appropriate methodology has been developed, and that the candidate is capable of carrying the project through successfully. Failure to pass the registration (which may be repeated only once) will result in removal from the course. Details of First Year Assessment for current First Year students are found on Moodle.

Transferable Skills Training  is available through the University and further information can be found  here . 

PhD students are invited to give a presentation on their own research at seminars run by the Centre. This is a great opportunity to develop presentation skills and receive valuable feedback from both senior academics and peers relating to their thesis. Presentation of a paper at one of these seminars is a requirement of the PhD programme.

The essence of the Cambridge experience , however, is that the PhD candidate works closely with the PhD supervisor. He or she will help the candidate develop the thesis project through discussion and the review of draft materials presented by the candidate. 

The process of working on the thesis will differ from candidate to candidate, depending on their project, their preferences and the style of supervision adopted. However, in general, it is expected that the first year will be devoted not only to completing the Research Methods modules, but also to the development of a detailed and well thought-through thesis outline and methodology. In particular, at the outset, the student should devote some time to considering how they will be making an original contribution to the field through their work.

As members of a research-oriented institution, Cambridge University academic staff are entitled to sabbatical leave . As a result, it is possible that in any particular term or year one of the members of the academic staff may be away. The University always endeavours to make appropriate arrangements for substitute teaching, but occasionally one or another option may be suspended during a staff member's leave.

By the end of the programme , candidates will have acquired excellent skills, experience and knowledge to undertake postdoctoral work (research, teaching or both) or another profession related to the field of development studies. 

For details of the virtual Postgraduate Open Day, held in November each year: Postgraduate Open Day

The  application and deadlines   page contains details of the entry requirements and all the key dates to be aware of for funding opportunities., the  fees and funding  page contains details of schemes specific to this course., the  frequently asked questions page should cover anything else that the other pages have missed.

© 2024 University of Cambridge

• Contact the University
• Accessibility
• Freedom of information
• Privacy policy and cookies
• Statement on Modern Slavery
• Terms and conditions
• University A-Z
• Undergraduate
• Postgraduate
• Research news
• About research at Cambridge
• Spotlight on...

Study at Cambridge

About the university, research at cambridge.

• Undergraduate courses
• Events and open days
• Fees and finance
• Postgraduate courses

How to apply

• Postgraduate events
• Fees and funding
• International students
• Continuing education
• Executive and professional education
• Courses in education
• How the University and Colleges work
• Term dates and calendars
• Visiting the University
• Annual reports
• Equality and diversity
• A global university
• Public engagement
• Give to Cambridge
• For Cambridge students
• For our researchers
• Business and enterprise
• Colleges & departments
• Email & phone search
• Museums & collections
• Faculty of Divinity
• About us overview
• Getting to the Faculty
• Administration overview
• Accounts overview
• Staff Handbook
• Faculty Committees
• Awards, Grants and Prizes
• Special Lectures and Conferences
• Academic Visitors
• The History of Faculty Professorships and Readerships overview
• Cambridge Teachers of Rabbinics
• Lady Margaret's Professors
• Ely Professors
• Regius Professors of Divinity
• Norris-Hulse Professors
• Research integrity and ethics
• Equality & Diversity
• Faculty of Divinity: Health & Safety Policy
• Copyright Notice and Takedown
• Stanton Lectures
• Study Here overview
• Undergraduate Degree overview
• List of papers (modules) for 2023-24
• Open days, events and resources overview
• Undergraduate Open Day
• Masterclasses and taster events
• Cambridge in Your Classroom overview
• Does God have a gendered body?
• Can philosophy teach us about God?
• What is the apocalypse?
• How can we be close to nature?
• Are all Muslims the same?
• Is the story in the Book of Genesis true?
• Are there really ten commandments?
• What is the annunciation?
• Can we prove God's existence?
• What is a mosque for?
• What does the parable of the prodigal son mean?
• What can different religions share?
• Is God our Intimate Stranger?
• Who is God?
• 50 Religious Treasures of Cambridge
• On demand Open Day
• Islam Enrichment Day
• RE:View Film competition
• Theology and Literature study evening
• A Level Study Day
• For Teachers overview
• What does good RE look like?
• Cambridge Philosothon
• Scripture & Violence
• Who is the Buddha?
• How do I know if this course is for me? overview
• List of Papers (Modules) for 2022-23
• What papers can I choose from? overview
• Do I have to be religious?
• What are the entry requirements and how do I apply?
• How do I choose a College?
• What teaching can I expect and what are supervisions?
• Do I have to learn a language?
• How do I prepare for the interview?
• What careers are possible after I graduate? overview
• What introductory reading can I do?
• How can I support my child/pupil in their application?
• How can I find out more?
• Advanced Diploma
• MPhil overview
• The Part-Time MPhil Route
• Graduate funding
• PhD overview
• Studying for the PhD Part-Time
• Graduate Funding
• Bachelor of Theology for Ministry
• Visiting Students
• University Regulations
• Research overview
• Research areas overview
• Old Testament overview
• Old Testament MPhil Pathway
• Old Testament PhD
• Old Testament specialists
• New Testament overview
• New Testament & Early Christian MPhil Pathway
• New Testament specialists
• New Testament Seminar
• Christian Theology overview
• Christian Theology specialists
• Christian Theology Seminar
• Christian Theology MPhil Pathway
• History of Christianity overview
• History of Christianity specialists
• History of Christianity Seminar
• Religions of Late Antiquity MPhil Pathway
• Anglican Studies MPhil pathway
• Philosophy of Religion overview
• Philosophy of Religion MPhil Pathway
• Philosophy of Religion specialists
• The D Society
• Religious Studies overview
• Jewish studies
• The Indian religions overview
• Indian Religion Research Seminars
• Islamic studies
• Study of religion
• Study of World Religions MPhil Pathway
• Religious Studies specialists
• Religious Studies Seminar
• Religion and Conflict MPhil Pathway
• Late antiquity overview
• Late antiquity specialists
• Hebrew, Jewish, Early Christian overview
• Hebrew, Jewish, Early Christian Studies Seminar
• World Christianities overview
• World Christianities Pathway in the Theology and Religious Studies MPhil
• World Christianities specialists
• World Christianities Seminar
• Scriptural languages overview
• Scriptural language specialists
• Research news and impact overview
• Finding Zion in South Africa
• Divinity academics research societal implications of astrobiology
• Research programmes and projects overview
• Cambridge Centre for the Study of Platonism
• Research Project: Systematicity and Method in Islamic Philosophical Theology (‘Ilm al-Kalām)
• Cambridge Inter-Faith Programme
• Interdisciplinary research clusters overview
• Cambridge Forum for Jewish Studies
• Cambridge Late Antiquity Network
• Locating Religion Research Group
• Templeton World Charity Foundation Fellowships in Theology, Philosophy of Religion, and the Sciences
• The Book and the Sword
• The Cambridge Platonist Research Group
• Past research projects
• Recent Publications
• Research seminars overview
• Hebrew Bible/OT Seminar
• Religions of Late Antiquity Seminar (formerly Patristic) overview
• Religions of Late Antiquity Seminar
• Reading groups overview
• Jewish Texts Reading Group
• Noesis overview
• Noesis Review: Tables of Contents
• Past Noesis seminars
• Plotinus Reading Group
• Christian Theology
• Hebrew Reading Group
• Postdoctoral research fellowships
• People overview
• Subject specialists
• A -Z of People
• University Teaching Officers
• Academic staff
• Research staff
• Professional Support Staff and Library Staff
• Directors of Studies
• Other teaching assistance
• Retired Faculty
• Graduate students
• Library overview
• Opening Hours
• Frequently Asked Questions overview
• Can I use the Divinity Faculty Library? overview
• Information for non-current members and external students/scholars
• Borrow overview
• Borrowing allowance
• Recall an item
• Vacation borrowing
• Non-standard loan lengths
• Notifications
• Library Rules
• Return books
• Finding Items in the Library overview
• Finding periodicals and other materials
• Classification System at Divinity Library : author/person element
• Recommend a book
• New acquisitions overview
• Resources overview
• Print books
• Dissertations (UG)
• Electronic resources
• Journals in the Divinity Library
• Research resources
• Collection Development Policy
• Tours and Training overview
• Study skills and research skills sessions
• Online training & learning about eresources
• Facilities and environment overview
• Access and support
• Disability information
• Computers and internet
• Photocopying, Scanning and printing
• Library guidelines
• Contact us / find us
• Closed Access requests overview
• Request close access items
• Privacy policy

PhD in the Faculty of Divinity

• Undergraduate Degree

PhD in Theology and Religious Studies

The PhD is normally a three-year course of full-time study, culminating in a thesis of no more than 80,000 words, based on original research on a focused topic. It is also possible to pursue the degree part-time over five years.

The Faculty of Divinity is one of the largest centres for theological research in the UK. There are 22 University Teaching Officers, covering six core areas: Christian Theology, History of Christianity, New Testament, Old Testament, Philosophy of Religion and Religious Studies. Information about academics and subject areas can be found under ' People ' and ' Subjects ' on the main site menu.

The Faculty's research environment is internationally respected and admired, supporting a balance of individual research initiatives and larger-scale collaborations. It provides an ideal setting, rigorous and supportive, for research to flourish. It has close links with external research institutions, including the Centre for Research in the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities ( CRASSH ), Tyndale House , the  Von Hügel Institute , and members of the Cambridge Theological Federation , including research centres such as the Cambridge Centre for Christianity Worldwide , the Faraday Institute , and the Woolf Institute .

The faculty’s research culture is focused around a range of senior seminars , which meet regularly during term time. Here, academics from Cambridge and elsewhere read and discuss papers. There are nine senior seminars, covering the six subject areas listed above, plus Hebrew, Jewish and Early Christian Studies, Patristics and World Christianity.

Alongside these seminars there is also a wide range of informal reading groups. A  list of reading groups  can be found under the 'Research' section of the main menu. The faculty also has a number of endowed lectures which see leading academics visiting the faculty. Again a  list of endowed lectures  can be found in the Research pages. 

The University has exceptional research collections. The nearby  University Library  (UL) has more than eight million print items and numerous unique archives. The colleges each have their own collections and archives, often housing manuscripts of national and international importance. The library of  Tyndale House  contains a collection of relating to contemporary Biblical Studies of international renown.

Study for a PhD involves working closely with an individual supervisor. Prospective students should consult the list of University Teaching Officers . Some members of the wider academic community in theology at Cambridge also supervise PhDs.

Information about all postgraduate degrees of the University of Cambridge can be found via the postgraduate admissions page  of the Graduate Admissions Office, the central body which deals with all graduate applications for the whole University. The set of pages on the PhD in Theology and Religious Studies is here .

In advance of your application, you must contact a potential supervisor regarding your potential dissertation.

You should submit your application to the Postgraduate Admissions Office following the guidance on that admissions page.

All applicants must submit a  research proposal  of around 1,000 words and a  sample of written work . Written work should between 25 and 30 pages long.  Click here for advice on writing a research proposal.

Applicants for the PhD will usually have completed a master's degree in theology or religious studies (such as the Faculty's own MPhil ), or one with a substantial theological component. Where a candidate is transferring into theology or religious studies from a different discipline, the Advanced Diploma and/or the MPhil, may be a necessary preparation for further postgraduate work.  You should raise the question of whether you are adequately prepared for the research you wish to undertake with a Faculty member in your chosen area of study.

Minimum entry requirements

A Master's degree with marks of  at least  67 per cent; where appropriate a GPA of at least 3.7.  Applicants who are currently taking the Faculty of Divinity's M.Phil. degree must achieve an overall average of at least 71 per cent and at least 71 per cent for their thesis.

There is information about sources of funding  here .

Further Questions

If you have any questions about the application process and the course contents then please contact the  Graduate Studies Co-ordinator.

Postal Address: Faculty of Divinity West Road Cambridge CB3 9BS

Telephone: 01223 763002 Information provided by:     [email protected] Site Privacy & Cookie Policies

School of Arts & Humanities

School of Arts & Humanities Graduate School Research in the School School committees

Useful links

Moodle Research seminars Undergraduate applications

Social media

Find us on Facebook Follow us on X Follow us on Instagram

© 2024 University of Cambridge

• Contact the University
• Accessibility
• Freedom of information
• Privacy policy and cookies
• Statement on Modern Slavery
• Terms and conditions
• University A-Z
• Undergraduate
• Postgraduate
• Research news
• About research at Cambridge
• Spotlight on...

Study at Cambridge

About the university, research at cambridge.

• Undergraduate courses
• Events and open days
• Fees and finance
• Postgraduate courses
• How to apply
• Postgraduate events
• Fees and funding

International students

• Continuing education
• Executive and professional education
• Courses in education
• How the University and Colleges work
• Term dates and calendars
• Visiting the University
• Annual reports
• Equality and diversity
• A global university
• Public engagement
• Give to Cambridge
• For Cambridge students
• For our researchers
• Business and enterprise
• Colleges & departments
• Email & phone search
• Museums & collections
• Undergraduate Study
• Student life overview
• Why Cambridge
• Accommodation
• Sport and societies
• Courses overview
• Choosing a course
• How you will learn
• Careers and graduate prospects
• Subject A-Z
• Colleges overview
• What is a College?
• Choosing a College
• College contacts
• Area links scheme
• Finance overview
• Tuition fees
• Living costs
• Financial support
• Music awards
• Applying overview
• Application timeline
• Before you apply
• After you apply
• International overview
• Chat with our students
• Why Cambridge?
• What can I study?
• Entry requirements
• Tuition fees and costs
• International visits and events
• Visas and immigration
• Year abroad
• Get in touch!
• Open Days and Events overview
• Upcoming events
• Cambridge Open Days
• Virtual Tour
• Think Cambridge
• Applicant Webinar Series
• Subject Masterclasses
• Teachers and advisers' events
• HE fairs and exhibitions
• Find out more overview
• Sign up to our Newsletter
• Widening participation

Parents and supporters

Teachers and advisers

• Getting here
• Why Cambridge overview
• Study facilities and libraries
• Cambridge explained
• Support overview
• College welfare

Disabled students

Mature students

• Counselling
• Care leavers overview
• Realise student snapshot
• Travel Fund
• Young carers
• Student parents and childcare
• Estranged students
• Area links scheme overview
• East Midlands overview
• Leicester City
• Leicestershire
• Lincolnshire
• Northamptonshire
• Nottinghamshire
• East of England overview
• Bedfordshire
• Cambridgeshire
• Hertfordshire
• Peterborough
• Southend-on-Sea
• Greater London overview
• Barking and Dagenham
• City of London
• City of Westminster
• Hammersmith and Fulham
• Kensington and Chelsea
• Tower Hamlets
• Waltham Forest
• North East overview
• Middlesbrough
• North Tyneside
• Northumberland
• Redcar and Cleveland
• South Tyneside
• Stockton-on-Tees
• North West overview
• Blackburn with Darwen
• Telford and Wrekin
• Northern Ireland
• South East overview
• Bracknell Forest
• Milton Keynes
• Oxfordshire
• Southampton
• Isle of Wight
• Buckinghamshire
• West Berkshire
• South West overview
• Bath and North East Somerset
• Bournemouth
• Gloucestershire
• North Somerset
• South Gloucestershire
• Wales overview
• North Wales
• Mid and South Wales
• West Midlands overview
• Herefordshire
• Staffordshire
• Warwickshire
• Wolverhampton
• Worcestershire
• Yorkshire and Humber overview
• East Yorkshire
• Huddersfield and Kirklees
• Kingston-upon-Hull
• North East Lincolnshire
• North Lincolnshire
• North Yorkshire
• Isle of Man
• Living costs overview
• Study costs
• Financial support overview
• Cambridge financial support
• Government financial support
• Family contribution
• Outreach Scholarships overview
• Stormzy Scholarship
• Formula 1 Scholarship
• Geography Scholarship
• Student Funding and Sharia Law
• Music awards overview
• Choral awards overview
• Instrumental awards overview
• Organ scholarships overview
• College vacancies and course restrictions
• When are the auditions and interviews?
• What do the Organ Trials involve?
• How do I apply?
• Further information
• Choosing high school subjects
• Improve your application
• Entry requirements overview
• Qualifications we accept
• Sixth Term Exam (STEP)
• International entry requirements
• Application statistics
• Mature student applications
• Second undergraduate degrees
• UCAS application
• Admission tests overview
• Clinical aptitude test (UCAT)
• Law test (LNAT)
• Engineering and Science test (ESAT)
• Mathematics test (TMUA)
• College admission assessments
• My Cambridge Application
• Disruption to your studies
• Written work and portfolios
• Cambridge interviews overview
• Prepare for an interview
• Application decisions overview
• Admissions Policy
• Unspent criminal convictions
• Contextual data
• Outcome of your application overview
• Terms of Admission
• Admissions complaints
• After you get your exam results overview
• Information for new students
• Applying for reconsideration overview
• Reconsideration eligibility criteria
• Tuition fees and costs overview
• International financial support
• Tuition fee status
• International visits and events overview
• International webinar series
• Teachers and advisers' events overview
• Teachers and Advisers' Webinars
• Teachers and Advisers' Conference
• Widening participation overview
• Access and Participation Plans
• Insight Discover
• Insight Explore
• Sutton Trust Summer Schools
• Apply: Cambridge
• Safeguarding
• Parents and supporters overview
• Parents' Newsletter
• Teachers and advisers overview
• How similar are Oxford and Cambridge?
• Helping students prepare
• School/college reference
• Teachers' Newsletter
• Events for Teachers and Advisers
• Inspiring Educator Awards

Medicine (Graduate course), MB and BChir

• Student life
• International
• Open Days and Events
• Find out more

Medicine at Cambridge

Studying Medicine at Cambridge prepares you to become a compassionate, thoughtful, skilled member, and leader, of the medical profession.

Study this accelerated, 4 year course if you already have an undergraduate degree with 2.1 or above and you’re a home fee status student.  

Medicine graduate course at Cambridge

This course combines core medical science with clinical medicine.

You’ll have the opportunity to develop your clinical skills through direct patient contact in hospital and community environments throughout the East of England.

This is an intense course, so you won’t have the time to do an additional degree, undertake optional study or exchange programmes at the same time.

The University departments collaborate with:

• the 4 Cambridge Colleges that offer the course
• 6 general practices in West Suffolk, and the West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds, which is the main clinical base for the course

This course is for you if:

• it’s your second undergraduate degree
• you’re a home fee status student

If you don’t already have another undergraduate degree or you’re an international fee status student, you can:

• apply to study our standard Medicine course , which is open to everyone

If you successfully complete this course, you’ll graduate with Bachelor of Medicine as well as Bachelor of Surgery MB, BChir.

Teaching and facilities

Clinical teaching is delivered on the wards and in general practice. There are also additional opportunities to attend general and specialist outpatient clinics.

The course is based in Cambridge. Some of the course is also delivered in regional hospitals or practices, to take advantage of the different educational opportunities they offer.

This Cambridge Medical course features teaching from world experts, progressive technology and modern facilities.

You'll also have access to the impressive Cambridge University Library, one of the world’s oldest university libraries.

Course costs

When you go to university, you’ll need to consider two main costs – your tuition fees and your living costs (sometimes referred to as maintenance costs).

Your living costs will include costs related to your studies that are not covered by your tuition fees. There are some general study costs that will apply for all students – you can find details of these costs here .

Other additional course costs for Graduate Medicine are detailed below. If you have any queries about the costs, please contact the School of Clinical Medicine.

To buy and maintain essential equipment for the course, the estimated cost is £60. Equipment includes:

• University approved scientific calculator
• Safety glasses
• Dissecting instruments

You will also need:

• Theatre clogs – estimated contribution £10
• Stethoscope – estimated cost £60 to £100

Clinical Placements

Clinical placements take place in all 4 years of the course and will vary from student to student. You will be on placement at hospitals across the East Anglia Region. 

The types of cost you will be expected to cover and those covered by the School of Clinical Medicine are detailed below.

• The School will pay the cost of one return journey for each clinical placement.
• Costs of accommodation near the clinical placement hospitals are covered by the School.
• You are expected to cover basic subsistence costs during your placements.

College accommodation

In the first 2 years of the course, you’ll need some College accommodation outside term time. The cost of this will vary by College, but should be around £130 per week. Around 9 weeks of additional accommodation will be needed across the first 2 years of the course.

Optional study abroad

There is an opportunity to go abroad for 7 weeks. If you do, the estimated cost is around £3,000. College and national grants may be available to help you cover these costs.

Course funding

You may be able to get funding from the NHS to help pay for your studies. Find out more about the NHS Bursary .

You may also be able to get funding from the Cambridge Bursary Scheme. See the Cambridge Bursary Scheme website for details.

Becoming a doctor

As a graduate you’ll be able to get provisional registration with the General Medical Council (GMC). The GMC has certain expectations about attitudes, behaviour and performance of medical students.

Read about registering as a doctor on the General Medical Council website.

You can then go anywhere in the country to complete two years as a junior doctor. These are known as Foundation Years. At the end of these two years you can register with the GMC as a doctor.

Read about the foundation programme on the UK Foundation Programme website.

If you’re graduating from 2025 onwards, you’ll need to take the Medical Licensing Assessment (MLA).

This is a test introduced by the General Medical Council to test the core knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to practise safely in the UK.

Read about the medical licensing assessment on the General Medical Council website.

Your future career

We enable students to develop the excellent communication, clinical, interpersonal and professional skills required for good medical practice.

As a graduate you’ll be ready for a range of careers across:

• general practice
• other specialities

If you’re interested in an academic research career, our MB/PhD Programme leads to the MB, BChir and PhD degrees. Read about the MB/PhD on the School of Clinical Medicine website .

Teaching is delivered through a combination of lectures, practical classes that include dissections, and small-group supervisions. There are typically 20 to 25 teaching hours each week.

Clinical teaching is delivered on the wards and in general practice.

Teaching is supported by small-group sessions with a Graduate Course Tutor, who is a senior clinician in West Suffolk, groups in general practice, the Colleges and hospital.

Your ongoing progress is reviewed each week and term by your College supervisors.

Formal assessment, which determines your ability to proceed with the course, includes written and practical examinations, coursework submission and clinical assessments.

Practical work is undertaken and assessed in all years of the degree programme.

You won't usually be able to resit any of your exams, except for professional qualifying exams.

Years 1 and 2

You study core medical science and clinical medicine with those on the Standard Course in Medicine.

We’ll provide you with the scientific basis that will allow you to develop your medical career to the full.

The main areas of learning are covered by courses in:

• Functional Architecture of the Body, where you examine and dissect the human body, and includes living anatomy, and the use of modern imaging techniques
• Homeostasis, which covers the physiological systems that underpin the body's regulation of its internal environment and its responses to external threats. You also have related practical classes in experimental physiology and histology (the microscopic structure of tissues)
• Molecules in Medical Science, which examines the chemical and molecular basis of how cells and organisms work
• Biology of Disease, dealing with the nature and mechanisms of disease processes
• Mechanisms of Drug Action, which provides an understanding of the basic mechanisms of drug action at the levels of both drug-receptor interactions and the effects on body systems
• Neurobiology and Human Behaviour, covering the structure and function of the sense organs and central nervous system, the effects of drugs on brain function, and various psychological aspects
• Human Reproduction, where you look at the biology of the human reproductive system, its social context, and its influence on demographic trends
• Head and Neck Anatomy, where you learn about the structure and organisation of the human head and neck. There is a focus on the relationship of structure to function

The clinical strand of Years 1 and 2 involves:

• Foundations of Evidence-Based Practice, covering epidemiology and how it is applied in medicine
• Social and Ethical Context of Health and Illness, which is an introduction to the broader cultural aspects of healthcare and the medical profession in Britain, working with patients and colleagues, both in hospital and in the community
• Preparing for Patients involves meeting patients in general practice in the first year, in a hospital setting in second year, and through visiting community-based health-related agencies in second and third year

You’ll also go on 5 clinical placements where you’ll learn clinical skills:

• clinical placements take place in West Suffolk, during the University vacations
• you’ll spend one and a half day each week in a local general practice and the other days in a hospital environment.

You spend the year doing specialist clinical practice.

You go on placements at Addenbrooke's Hospital, or other hospitals in East Anglia. You’ll learn alongside students on the standard Medicine course doing their clinical studies.

Your placements are based around the stages of the human lifespan:

• growth, development and childhood illness
• women’s health
• major adult diseases – cardiothoracic medicine, oncology, infectious disease
• neurosciences and mental health

You spend the year doing applied clinical practice. You go on clinical placements at West Suffolk Hospital and in General Practice. This will reinforce everything you’ve learnt in first and second year.

Your placements focus on:

• integration of primary care, secondary care and the specialties
• following the patient journey

For further information about this course see the School of Clinical Medicine website .

Changing course

It’s really important to think carefully about which course you want to study before you apply. 

In rare cases, it may be possible to change course once you’ve joined the University. You will usually have to get agreement from your College and the relevant departments. It’s not guaranteed that your course change will be approved.

You might also have to:

• take part in an interview
• complete an admissions test
• produce some written work
• achieve a particular grade in your current studies
• do some catch-up work
• start your new course from the beginning 

You should contact your College’s Admissions Office if you’re thinking of changing your course. They will be able to give you advice and explain how changing courses works.

Minimum offer level

A level and undergraduate degree:  

• A*A*A (or equivalent in other qualifications) if you graduated with a 2.1 or are yet to complete your degree
• ABB (or equivalent in other qualifications) if you graduated with a first class degree
• 41-42 points, with 776 at Higher Level if you graduated with a 2.1 or are yet to complete your degree
• 38-40 points, with 665 at Higher Level if you graduated with a first class degree

Other qualifications : Check which other qualifications we accept

You can't apply for this course if you:

• want to take a gap year before you start the course
• do not have home fee status
• have failed at or been excluded from another medical school

Work experience: work experience plays a large role in our selection process. Competitive candidates typically have a variety of work experience, built up over several years. This can be paid or voluntary, in a health or social care organisation.

Subject requirements

A level Chemistry and at least one other science at grade A or above passed within 7 years of entry, or proof of equivalent study. Please note that this requirement does not need to be met to apply; you can apply with pending qualifications.

IB Higher Level subjects or Scottish Highers in relevant subjects will satisfy the A level requirements.

If you do not have recent science A levels (or equivalent), but believe your degree meets the subject requirements, please contact a College .

Admissions test

You will need to take the University Clinical Aptitude Test .

You will need to register in advance for this test.

Visit our UCAT page for more information .

When you apply 

• you can apply to study this course at Hughes Hall, Lucy Cavendish, St Edmund’s or Wolfson Colleges 
• you can also apply to the standard Medicine course in Medicine instead, which takes 6 years to complete, as long as you are applying to Lucy Cavendish, St Edmund's or Wolfson Colleges (not available at Hughes Hall) 
• when it’s time for you to apply for UCAS you will also need to complete the Graduate Course in Medicine application form. 

Extra requirements if you get offered a place 

If you get offered a place on this course we’ll need to check a few extra things with you. We’ll explain what you need to do when we send the offer letter out to you.  

Everything you tell us will be confidential. Some of the usual extra checks include: 

• a criminal record check. In the UK this is called a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check. Find out more about criminal record checks  
• vaccinations – you’ll need to be immunised against certain infectious diseases 
• blood test – to make sure you can safely take part in certain surgical procedures 
• occupational health assessment  
• if you have a disability, specific learning disabilities, SpLD or a long-term health condition we’ll discuss your needs with you  

Declaring minor misdemeanours 

Minor misdemeanours will not necessarily prevent you from entering the medical profession. 

You should declare these in your UCAS application. We will send you the relevant forms to complete if you are offered a place. 

Submitted work 

You won’t need to submit any written work before your interview. You may be asked to do some reading instead, but we will let you know if this is the case.  

Offers above the minimum requirement

The minimum offer level and subject requirements outline the minimum you'll usually need to achieve to get an offer from Cambridge.

In some cases, you'll get a higher or more challenging offer. Colleges set higher offer requirements for a range of reasons. If you'd like to find out more about why we do this, check the information about offers above the minimum requirement  on the entry requirements page.

All undergraduate admissions decisions are the responsibility of the Cambridge Colleges. Please contact the relevant College admissions office if you have any queries.

Discover your department or faculty

• Visit the School of Clinical Medicine website - The School of Clinical Medicine website has more information about this course, facilities, people and research.

Explore our Colleges

• Find out how Colleges work - A College is where you’ll live, eat and socialise. It’s also where you’ll have teaching in a small group, known as supervisions.
• How to choose a Cambridge College that's right for you - If you think you know which course you’d like to study, it’s time to choose a College.

Visit us on open day

• Book an open day - Get a feel for the city and the University.
• Find an event - We offer a range of events where you can find out more about Cambridge, Colleges, and your course. Many of our events have hybrid options so you can join us virtually.

Find out how to apply

• Find out how to apply and how our admissions processes work - Our admissions process is slightly different to other universities. We’ve put together a handy guide to tell you everything you need to know about applying to study at Cambridge.
• Improve your application - Supercurricular activities are a great way to engage with your chosen subject outside of school or college.

Key information

Hughes Hall, Lucy Cavendish, St Edmund's and Wolfson Colleges

Additional notes

• To apply for this course, you must complete a Supplementary Application Form in addition to your UCAS application ( see above ).
• If you apply for both the Graduate Course in Medicine (A101) and the Standard Course in Medicine (A100) , you must apply to the same College for both courses. 
• It is not possible to apply for deferred entry.
• Whilst original College choice will be taken into account, you may be offered a place at any of the four admitting Colleges.

Cambridge Admissions Office

• Cambridge Admissions Office Student Services Centre New Museums Site Cambridge CB2 3PT
• 01223 333308
• [email protected]
• www.cao.cam.ac.uk

About this site

Our website

Privacy policy

Participant data and booking policies

Information for

Care leavers and estranged students

© 2024 University of Cambridge

• Contact the University
• Accessibility
• Freedom of information
• Privacy policy and cookies
• Statement on Modern Slavery
• Terms and conditions
• University A-Z
• Undergraduate
• Postgraduate
• Research news
• About research at Cambridge
• Spotlight on...

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

• View all journals
• Explore content
• About the journal
• Publish with us
• Sign up for alerts
• CORRESPONDENCE
• 02 April 2024

How can we make PhD training fit for the modern world? Broaden its philosophical foundations

• Ganesh Alagarasan 0

Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Tirupati, India.

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

You have highlighted how PhD training assessment has stagnated, despite evolving educational methodologies (see Nature 613 , 414 (2023) and Nature 627 , 244; 2024 ). In particular, you note the mismatch between the current PhD journey and the multifaceted demands of modern research and societal challenges.

Access options

Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals

Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription

24,99 € / 30 days

cancel any time

Subscribe to this journal

Receive 51 print issues and online access

185,98 € per year

only 3,65 € per issue

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Nature 628 , 36 (2024)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-00969-x

Competing Interests

The author declares no competing interests.

Related Articles

See more letters to the editor

• Research management
• Scientific community

Ready or not, AI is coming to science education — and students have opinions

Career Feature 08 APR 24

After the genocide: what scientists are learning from Rwanda

News Feature 05 APR 24

The neuroscientist formerly known as Prince’s audio engineer

Career Feature 14 MAR 24

Brazil’s postgraduate funding model is about rectifying past inequalities

Correspondence 09 APR 24

Declining postdoc numbers threaten the future of US life science

How we landed job interviews for professorships straight out of our PhD programmes

Career Column 08 APR 24

How two PhD students overcame the odds to snag tenure-track jobs

Adopt universal standards for study adaptation to boost health, education and social-science research

Correspondence 02 APR 24

Faculty Position, Department of Surgery - Research

Memphis, Tennessee

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (St. Jude)

Faculty Position, Bioethics

Faculty position – immunology or bone marrow transplantation & cellular therapy.

Faculty Position – Immunology or Bone Marrow Transplantation & Cellular Therapy – Center of Excellence for Pediatric Immuno-Oncology

Medical Physicist Faculty Position, Department of Radiation Oncology

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Quick links

• Explore articles by subject
• Guide to authors
• Editorial policies

• Career Paths
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
• DMSE Job Opportunities
• Our Faculty
• Computing and Data Science
• Energy and the Environment
• Health and Medicine
• Manufacturing
• Transportation and Infrastructure
• Archaeological Materials
• Semiconductors
• Soft Matter
• Characterization
• Computation and Design
• Device Fabrication
• Synthesis and Processing
• Impact Stories
• Research Facilities
• Majors, Minors, and Concentration
• Opportunities For First-Year Students
• Opportunities for DMSE Undergraduates
• DMSE Breakerspace
• Wulff Lecture
• Application Assistance and Resources
• Doctoral Degree and Requirements
• Master’s Degree and Requirements
• Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs
• Funding Opportunities
• Postdoctoral Program
• MITx Online
• Newsletter Archive
• FORGE Initiative

QS World University Rankings rates MIT No. 1 in 11 subjects for 2024

QS World University Rankings has placed MIT in the No. 1 spot in 11 subject areas for 2024, the organization announced today. The Institute received a No. 1 ranking in the following QS subject areas: Chemical Engineering; Civil and Structural Engineering; Computer Science and Information Systems; Data Science and Artificial Intelligence; Electrical and Electronic Engineering; Linguistics; Materials Science; Mechanical, Aeronautical, and Manufacturing Engineering; Mathematics; Physics and Astronomy; and Statistics and Operational Research. MIT also placed second in five subject areas: Accounting and Finance; Architecture/Built Environment; Biological Sciences; Chemistry; and Economics and Econometrics. For 2024, universities were evaluated in 55 specific subjects and five broader subject areas. MIT was ranked No. 1 in the broader subject area of Engineering and Technology and No. 2 in Natural Sciences. Quacquarelli Symonds Limited subject rankings, published annually, are designed to help prospective students find the leading schools in their field of interest. Rankings are based on research quality and accomplishments, academic reputation, and graduate employment. MIT has been ranked as the No. 1 university in the world by QS World University Rankings for 12 straight years.

Study at Cambridge

About the university, research at cambridge.

• Undergraduate courses
• Events and open days
• Fees and finance
• Postgraduate courses
• How to apply
• Postgraduate events
• Fees and funding
• International students
• Continuing education
• Executive and professional education
• Courses in education
• How the University and Colleges work
• Term dates and calendars
• Visiting the University
• Annual reports
• Equality and diversity
• A global university
• Public engagement
• Give to Cambridge
• For Cambridge students
• For our researchers
• Business and enterprise
• Colleges & departments
• Email & phone search
• Museums & collections
• Course Directory

PhD in Public Health and Primary Care

Postgraduate Study

• Why Cambridge overview
• Chat with our students
• Cambridge explained overview
• The supervision system
• Student life overview
• In and around Cambridge
• Leisure activities
• Student unions
• Music awards
• Student support overview
• Mental health and wellbeing
• Disabled students
• Accommodation
• Language tuition
• Skills training
• Support for refugees
• Courses overview
• Department directory
• Qualification types
• Funded studentships
• Part-time study
• Research degrees
• Visiting students
• Finance overview
• Fees overview
• What is my fee status?
• Part-time fees
• Application fee
• Living costs
• Funding overview
• Funding search
• How to apply for funding
• University funding overview
• Research Councils (UKRI)
• External funding and loans overview
• Funding searches
• External scholarships
• Charities and the voluntary sector
• Funding for disabled students
• Widening participation in funding
• Colleges overview
• What is a College?
• Choosing a College
• Terms of Residence
• Applying overview
• Before you apply
• Entry requirements
• Application deadlines
• How do I apply? overview
• Application fee overview
• Application fee waiver
• Life Science courses
• Terms and conditions
• Continuing students
• Disabled applicants
• Supporting documents overview
• Academic documents
• Finance documents
• Evidence of competence in English
• Terms and Conditions
• Applicant portal and self-service
• After you apply overview
• Confirmation of admission
• Student registry
• Previous criminal convictions
• Deferring an application
• Updating your personal details
• Appeals and Complaints
• Widening participation
• Postgraduate admissions fraud
• International overview
• Immigration overview
• ATAS overview
• Applying for an ATAS certificate
• Current Cambridge students
• International qualifications
• Competence in English overview
• What tests are accepted?
• International events
• International student views overview
• Akhila’s story
• Alex’s story
• Huijie’s story
• Kelsey’s story
• Nilesh’s story
• Get in touch!
• Events overview
• Upcoming events
• Postgraduate Open Days overview
• Discover Cambridge: Master’s and PhD Study webinars
• Virtual tour
• Research Internships
• How we use participant data
• Postgraduate Newsletter

Primary tabs

• Overview (active tab)
• Requirements
• How To Apply

The Department of Public Health & Primary Care encompasses a broad range of themes (e.g. from Genetic Epidemiology to Behaviour and Health, from Health Services Research to Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology etc) and methods (e.g. quantitative methods, qualitative research, systematic reviews, functional genomics etc). PhD projects are typically available at each of the Units within the Department. Interdisciplinary research is also encouraged, whether within the Department or with other local or international collaborators.

The aim of the PhD course is to provide a sound foundation in study design and conduct, data acquisition and handling, quality issues, statistics, discussion of research ethics, issues of intellectual property, multidisciplinary team working, access to a variety of research settings and dissemination of findings. In addition to standard applications, there are opportunities for PhD training on specific projects throughout the year. The PhD can be undertaken by full-time or part-time study.

Students studying for the MPhil who wish to continue to a PhD, are required to achieve a high standard across modules and the dissertation and will be required to satisfy their potential supervisor, Head of Department and the Faculty Degree Committee that they have the skills and ability to achieve the higher degree.

The Postgraduate Virtual Open Day usually takes place at the end of October. It’s a great opportunity to ask questions to admissions staff and academics, explore the Colleges virtually, and to find out more about courses, the application process and funding opportunities. Visit the  Postgraduate Open Day  page for more details.

See further the  Postgraduate Admissions Events  pages for other events relating to Postgraduate study, including study fairs, visits and international events.

Key Information

3-4 years full-time, 4-7 years part-time, study mode : research, doctor of philosophy, department of public health and primary care, course - related enquiries, application - related enquiries, course on department website, dates and deadlines:, lent 2024 (closed).

Some courses can close early. See the Deadlines page for guidance on when to apply.

Easter 2024 (Closed)

Michaelmas 2024, easter 2025, funding deadlines.

These deadlines apply to applications for courses starting in Michaelmas 2024, Lent 2025 and Easter 2025.

Postgraduate Admissions Office

• Admissions Statistics
• Start an Application
• Applicant Self-Service

At a glance

• Bringing a family
• Current Postgraduates
• Cambridge Students' Union (SU)

University Policy and Guidelines

Privacy Policy

Information compliance

Equality and Diversity

Terms of Study

About this site

About our website

Privacy policy

© 2024 University of Cambridge

• Contact the University
• Accessibility
• Freedom of information
• Privacy policy and cookies
• Statement on Modern Slavery
• University A-Z
• Undergraduate
• Postgraduate
• Research news
• About research at Cambridge
• Spotlight on...

Our Community

• Alumni Impact Stories
• Community Recognition
• Faculty Awards & Honors
• Researchers & Postdocs Association (RPA^3)
• Student Groups
• DEI Dashboard (Internal)
• Environment, Health, and Safety
• Wright Brothers Wind Tunnel
• Professors Emeriti
• Autonomous Systems & Decision-Making
• Computational Science & Engineering
• Earth & Space Sciences
• Human-System Collaboration
• Systems Design & Engineering
• Transportation & Exploration
• Vehicle Design & Engineering

Undergraduate Program

• Undergraduate Degrees & Requirements
• Apply (via MIT Admissions)
• Objectives & Outcomes
• Research Opportunities
• Work, Internships, & Extracurricular Activities

Graduate Program

• Graduate Degrees & Requirements
• Graduate Fields
• For Prospective Students
• For Current Students
• View Thesis Archive (via DSpace)
• Certificate in Aerospace Innovation

Academics & Resources

• Academic Calendar (via MIT Registrar)
• AeroAstro Communication Lab
• Resources & Support
• Special Course Listings
• Subject Listing (via MIT Course Catalog Bulletin)
• Subject Evaluation (via MIT Registrar)
• News & Impact
• Public Events
• Department Events (Log-in Required)
• Department Resources

QS World University Rankings rates MIT No. 1 in 11 subjects for 2024

QS World University Rankings has placed MIT in the No. 1 spot in 11 subject areas for 2024, the organization announced today.

The Institute received a No. 1 ranking in the following QS subject areas: Chemical Engineering; Civil and Structural Engineering; Computer Science and Information Systems; Data Science and Artificial Intelligence; Electrical and Electronic Engineering; Linguistics; Materials Science; Mechanical, Aeronautical, and Manufacturing Engineering; Mathematics; Physics and Astronomy; and Statistics and Operational Research.

MIT also placed second in five subject areas: Accounting and Finance; Architecture/Built Environment; Biological Sciences; Chemistry; and Economics and Econometrics.

For 2024, universities were evaluated in 55 specific subjects and five broader subject areas. MIT was ranked No. 1 in the broader subject area of Engineering and Technology and No. 2 in Natural Sciences.

Quacquarelli Symonds Limited subject rankings, published annually, are designed to help prospective students find the leading schools in their field of interest. Rankings are based on research quality and accomplishments, academic reputation, and graduate employment.

MIT has been ranked as the No. 1 university in the world by QS World University Rankings for 12 straight years.

Related Stories