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Application process for PhD and EdD

You are required to identify a potential supervisor before submitting your PhD/EdD application. When you contact potential supervisors, you should discuss their availability to supervise and the fit between your proposed PhD project and the area of their research. Indication in principle that the supervisor is willing to supervise your project does not guarantee an offer of admission. This is because potential supervisors cannot independently make a final decision on admission to the PhD/EdD. Potential supervisors will only indicate if, pending a successful application, they would in principle be able to supervise you. This is because the fit between your doctoral research proposal (see below) and the specific research field of the potential supervisor is an essential component of doctoral studies.

Time and interest permitting, the potential supervisor may advise on how a research proposal might be developed or improved. Such advice does not guarantee an offer of admission.

► You can find academic staff profiles, including supervision availability, in the research section on the Faculty website.  ► A list of potential supervisors for the 2024 admission cycle is available here .

Further information about how and when to apply for the PhD/EdD  is available from the Postgraduate Admissions Office.

Progression from Masters to the Doctoral programme

If you are a student on the Faculty Masters programme and you intend to proceed straight onto the doctoral programme, please note that continuation is not automatic and must be preceded by an application to the doctoral programme, regardless of funding arrangements, as well as meeting the academic requirements for continuation.

Supervisors

All applicants are required to name a potential supervisor on your application because they will be the first person to review your application after you submit it. This is the potential supervisor whom you would have contacted ahead of submitting your application.

If the potential supervisor would like to take the application further, you may be contacted for an interview.

If the potential supervisor is not available, your application will be reviewed by the doctoral admissions team to determine whether another supervisor may be identified.

Given the range of areas of research and fields of expertise represented in the Faculty, not identifying a supervisor at the point of application is unlikely to result in a match being identified through this route.

Applicants are strongly encouraged therefore to contact supervisors ahead of submitting their application. If you have not identified a supervisor at the point of application, we may not be able to identify any supervisor with aligned research interests and therefore we may not be able to make an offer of admission.

Admissions decisions

Upon submission of the application, the named potential supervisor reviews the full application and makes a recommendation to the Faculty of Education doctoral admissions team. The doctoral admissions team further reviews the full application and makes a final decision as to whether an offer of admission will be made, and what conditions for admission may apply.

Please note that this final decision normally takes up to 12 weeks to reach the applicant, but may on occasion take longer.

Applicants who have applied for funding, applied by the appropriate funding deadline, and have an offer of admission (even if this has not yet been communicated to the applicant) will be considered for funding. 

Consideration for funding starts with a ranking of all eligible applications, undertaken by a panel convened by the Faculty of Education doctoral admissions team. This panel include academics working in a range of fields and research areas and applying a large variety of methods in their own work. The panel generates a full set of funding recommendations on behalf of the Faculty. 

Funding recommendations are then forwarded from the Faculty of Education to the University's central Postgraduate Funding Committee, who review all applications across the University and make recommendations for funding allocations. Decisions about funding for doctoral places are communicated to applicants starting in February, and can be announced as late as the summer before entry.

Unfortunately, there is limited funding and we cannot therefore promise to fund every applicant who receives an offer of a place. You may receive an offer to study on our doctoral programme, without receiving any funding.

The Faculty of Education doctoral admissions team, the Cambridge Trust, the ESRC DTP and the AHRC DTP are all committed to supporting scholars from diverse backgrounds to join our doctoral programmes. When it comes to funding, we consider applications holistically, weighing up the research proposal, prior academic record, references, and evidence of resilience and other relevant personal circumstances.

The Research Proposal

All doctoral applicants are required to submit a research proposal of up to 1,500 words (exclusive of bibliography/reference list) outlining their proposed research project.

Please read Guidance for research proposal

Important note

It is very important that the area you want to work in is broadly compatible with our research interests and that you name a potential supervisor on your application

The Personal Statement

All doctoral applicants are required to submit a personal statement of up tp 1,500 words providing a holistic account of their reasons for applying and their educational and professional experiences that have led them to this point.

Contextual information you provide in the personal statement allows the admissions team to make recommendations for funding in the most equitable way possible, based on the information we receive from applicants.

Please read Guidance for personal statement .

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How the University will use your personal information .

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Supervision

Candidates work closely with their supervisor who is assigned to them after a candidate has been accepted and before the commencement of their studies. The supervisor will be a specialist in the general field in which you propose to work, although they may not be an expert on your particular topic of research. Your supervisor will assist you in refining your research topic, oversee the general direction of your work, and ensure that what you are doing is up to the standard expected for the degree towards which you are working. You can expect to meet your supervisor on average once a month to report on your progress, and more frequently than this if necessary. How much you write in a given period will vary, but as a rule of thumb you will usually be expected to produce at least one substantial piece of written work each term.

Prospective PhD students should research the Faculty thoroughly before applying to ensure that there is a Faculty member with appropriate expertise to oversee the proposed project. The Faculty’s research map might be of use as a starting point here, as will the Faculty academic staff profiles .

In addition to their supervisor, PhD students are assigned an advisor, who is a member of the Faculty with expertise in the student’s field. The student has a formal advisory meeting with the supervisor and the advisor once a year. The advisor is also available for less formal consultation from the outset.

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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 

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Apply to the Ph…

Apply to the PhD

• Why a CJBS PhD?
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We’re excited to welcome you into our research programmes and we appreciate that applying for the right PhD can be a challenging process. Find out all you need to know to apply to a Cambridge Judge Business School PhD and successfully navigate the application process.

You will need to gain admission to your PhD via a Cambridge Judge Business School research masters degree. This means you need to already hold or be currently studying for one of the following degrees:

• MPhil in Strategy, Marketing and Operations (SMO)
• MPhil in Innovation, Strategy and Organisation (ISO)

Funding deadlines

Previous PhD Director Jennifer Howard-Grenville offers advice on applying to the doctoral programme.

Hello, I’m Professor Jennifer Howard-Grenville, and I’m the Director of our PhD programme here at the Cambridge Judge Business School We’ve prepared this short video to give you some tips on how our application process works.

Apply via a research masters First, please do not apply directly to the PhD. We only consider applicants who already hold or are studying on one of our Research Masters degrees, the MPhil in ISO, SMO, or Finance. Or the MRes. In extremely rare cases, when a prospective student has already published in top journals in their field, we may consider a direct application.

Ensure you meet our minimum requirements Second, please ensure you meet the minimal requirement for the masters degree to which you are applying. Since it is a competitive process to apply to the PhD from our MPhil programmes, you should also ensure that you’re a strong contender for continuation. This means you have, at a minimum, a first class equivalent in your undergraduate degree. Please look under the International Qualifications tab on the University Admissions website to see what this equates to in your system.

Do you already hold a graduate degree? Our MPhil degrees are designed for students without a graduate degree who are interested in exploring business and management research.

The MRes is for those who already hold a research-oriented graduate degree, and who will then immerse themselves in the topics, literatures and methods for conducting research in a business school setting. To apply for the MRes, you must have been within the top 5% of your class on a prior research-oriented masters degree.

Navigating the admissions process I hope this helps you navigate our process. And we’re excited to welcome new students into our research programmes. Since it is a complex application process, please rest assured that if you apply for a programme that is not the right match and you’re within our minimum qualifications, we will redirect your application internally to make sure you’re considered for the most appropriate programme.

View video with transcript

Admission via a standard research MPhil

Our MPhil degrees are designed for students without a graduate degree who are interested in exploring business and management research. You will need to meet the minimal requirements for the masters degree to which you are applying. Since it is a competitive process to apply to the PhD from our MPhil programmes, you should also ensure that you’re a strong contender for continuation. This means that you have, at a minimum, a first-class equivalent in your undergraduate degree. Please look under the International Qualifications tab on the University Admissions website to see what this equates to in your system. 

To gain admission to Cambridge Judge Business School’s PhD programme via one of the our research MPhil programmes, you will need to take a particular MPhil and specific modules within the programme in order to be eligible to continue to the PhD programme on your desired pathway. 

About the MPhil in Finance

Application deadline

Admissions requirements

MPhil in SMO

About the MPhil in SMO

MPhil in ISO

About the MPhil in ISO

Progress to the PhD programme, after your MPhil year

You need to: 

• submit an application for the PhD programme, which includes a research proposal, paper or literature review that will be assessed for quality and strong references
• perform well in the first term of MPhil modules
• perform well at an interview with a panel of faculty members
• demonstrate a fit between the proposed research and the research expertise in the subject group (resulting in the interview panel recommending supervisors)
• be ranked sufficiently highly by the panel in order to receive an offer (admissions offers are usually conditional on overall performance in the MPhil or parts thereof, and the usual conditions are an overall mark of 70% and 70% in any dissertation). 

We automatically shortlist all PhD applicants from the above 3 research MPhil programmes for interview (applicants currently studying for the MPhil or those who previously completed the MPhil with a grade ≥70% overall and ≥70% in the dissertation). 

Admission via the Master of Research 

The Business School’s Master of Research (MRes) programme offers you another route to the PhD for all pathways except Finance.  To apply for the Cambridge Judge Business School MRes, you will already hold a research-oriented graduate degree, and want to immerse yourself in the topics, literatures and methods for conducting research in a business school setting. 

Students who obtain 70% overall (modules and dissertation combined) and at least 70% in the dissertation component in the School’s Master of Research programme will progress automatically to the PhD programme – no further application is necessary.

Master of Research

About the MRes

Admission directly to the PhD 

All applicants must apply for one of the 3 research MPhils or the MRes in the first instance, or in exceptional cases a Cambridge MPhil in Economic Research.

In very rare cases, outstanding MRes applicants who have exceptional prior research experience (as evidenced by journal publications in reputable management journals) and substantial relevant research methodology training may be considered for entry to the PhD programme directly (without taking the MRes year in the first instance). In this case their MRes application would be transferred to the PhD.

Learn more about the application process and deadlines

Explore fees and funding options

Contact the admissions team

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PhD in Economics

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This is the most advanced programme of graduate studies in Economics at Cambridge. Upon its completion, candidates are awarded a PhD degree for producing a thesis of high-quality, original, and publishable research over a period of four years (full-time) and seven years (part-time).

A good number of our PhD students receive full or partial funding for their studies, from a variety of funding bodies, such as the ESRC and the Gates Foundation .

Our PhD students receive high quality training on a variety of research methods and are exposed to cutting edge research conducted by our own Faculty members, as well visitors to the Faculty (via the Cambridge-INET Institute , seminars, PhD workshops, locally organised conferences, etc.). Faculty members can supervise a wide range of topics from six broadly defined research areas: microeconomic theory, macroeconomics, econometrics, applied microeconomics, economic history and alternative approaches to economics.

PhD students in Cambridge benefit from a high faculty-to-student ratio and therefore form close relationships with many Faculty members. They also forge strong links with our post-doctoral researchers, and they actively participate in the Faculty’s vibrant research life. They have access to a wide range of facilities, such as their own desk/office space in the same building as regular Faculty members, computing equipment, a variety of software and access to a wide range of databases.

PhD students are encouraged to attend academic conferences and showcase their research work in a variety of ways. Upon completions of their studies, many of our PhD students become academics, or researchers at international or government research institutions (see recent job market placements here ).

Explore here the profiles of our current PhD students.

To obtain the degree of PhD in Economics, students need to:

1. Obtain the Certificate of Postgraduate Study (CPGS) . If accepted for the PhD degree, you will be registered initially for the Certificate of Postgraduate Study (CPGS) in Economics. Students registered for the CPGS are required to:

• Attend the 'How to do Economics' lecture course. Other postgraduate courses in research methods are organised by the Schools of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Physical Sciences, and are available to all PhD students.  
• Undertake a minimum of four courses from PhD or MPhil Modules from at least two subject areas. You must achieve a pass mark (60%) on each component of the coursework. Students who fail any examinations will be called for a viva on the coursework.

• Write a research proposal (maximum length 10,000 words) that should include a review of the relevant literature, a research question, and outline of a research design and methods. The expectation is that this proposal will be for a piece of research that could form the basis of one chapter of a PhD dissertation. You will be given an oral examination on this piece of work and must perform to a satisfactory standard.  
• Attend (a) one of the three research workshops (on microeconomics, macroeconomics or econometrics) at which research students present both their own work and recent papers in the literature - assessment of workshops will be arranged by course organisers; (b) attend at least one of the Faculty's general seminars in which papers are given both by outside speakers and Faculty members;  
• To be registered for the PhD submit an acceptable piece of research (first year chapter) of not more than 20,000 words. The piece of research submitted must be of a standard that would enable it to form the basis of one-third of your eventual PhD thesis. This means that it must contain research that could be expanded upon to constitute one-third of the PhD thesis.

2. Once upgraded to PhD status, a student concentrates on her or his PhD dissertation. In general the thesis format is either in the form of a book divided into chapters, or of three or more connected articles; in either case, the Faculty has a strict limit of 60,000 words. As research progresses, there will be opportunities to present work in progress at research workshops attended by Faculty members and research students. PhD students will also be required to attend research seminars given by outside speakers and Faculty members. 

Upon completion and submission of the PhD thesis, students do an oral examination (viva) with two examiners, one internal to the University of Cambridge (not the supervisor or research advisor), and one external (from any other University in the UK or the rest of the world).

After a successful thesis defence, the examiners recommend awarding the degree of PhD.

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The PhD programme

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The PhD is awarded after three to four years of full-time research (or five to seven years of part-time study) on the basis of a dissertation of 80,000 words (exclusive of footnotes, appendices and bibliography, but subject to an overall word limit of 100,000 words exclusive of bibliography, table of contents and any other preliminary matter). Examination for the PhD involves an oral examination (viva) by two examiners.

Research students who intend to undertake PhD research are in the first instance automatically registered for a one-year research training programme leading to the Certificate of Postgraduate Study (CPGS) in Legal Studies. They are assigned a supervisory team by the Degree Committee of the Faculty, ordinarily consisting of a supervisor (who is principally responsible for directing and assisting the research) and an advisor (who provides a second point of contact for academic advice). At the end of the first year, the Degree Committee decides whether students should be registered for the PhD. This decision is taken on the basis of the student’s personal progress log, first-year dissertation of 15,000 words, viva conducted by two assessors from within the Faculty, and outline of plans for the full research project. Candidates who successfully complete the requirements of the CPGS and the first-year progress review are retrospectively registered for the PhD.

All full-time PhD students are ordinarily required to be resident in Cambridge for the duration of their research (save where given leave to work away from Cambridge for academic reasons or whilst undertaking fieldwork), and during the first year in particular must attend weekly research training sessions in the Faculty.

This overview of the PhD programme must be read in conjunction with the detailed information available under the 'Courses' section (see, in particular, the Course Directory) of the Postgraduate Admissions website . Further information on postgraduate admission to research courses in the Faculty of Law is available from [email protected] or +44 (0)1223 330039.

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Registration

Monitoring progress, intermission, working away, preparation of thesis, questionnaires.

Research students are expected to be in residence in Cambridge pursuing their research between terms, except during periods of holiday agreed with their supervisor, normally up to 8 weeks in a 12 month period. Students who make time to take some holidays, or a break away from their studies, tend to do better.

PhD candidates may submit their theses after nine terms (three years) of research, and MLitt candidates after six terms (two years).  The Student Registry and the Degree Committee expect a thesis to be a piece of work which can be produced by a capable, well-qualified and diligent research student, properly supervised and supported, within those times.  It is very important that you design your project with these time-limits firmly in view. It is good both for morale and for your CV to submit your thesis within the stated times – and most PhD funding runs out after three years. 

If your PhD research is suitably related to your MPhil work, you will usually be allowed to count some or all of your three MPhil terms towards the residency requirements of the PhD, if you are ready to submit your thesis before the minimum terms of study have elapsed. This means that you may submit a PhD thesis after only six more terms, if you wish. Please see the following webpage for further information:

https://www.cambridgestudents.cam.ac.uk/your-course/postgraduate-study/your-student-status/allowanceexemption-research-terms

The Student Registry and the Degree Committee recognise, however, that original research is liable to unforeseen difficulties and delays, so all PhD students are allowed 4 years in which to complete and submit their thesis (3 years for the MLitt). Unless there are extenuating circumstances, which would permit a student to apply for an extension to their submission date, candidates who do not submit by these final deadlines would be asked to withdraw from the University, until such time as they are ready to submit, and apply for reinstatement .

All students accepted for the PhD are on probation for their first year. In your third term of research, the Degree Committee will decide whether to register you as a candidate for the PhD (the registration then being backdated to your date of admission). You will have a registration interview with two Faculty assessors, other than your Supervisor. Central University information on the requirements of a registration review is here:

https://www.cambridgestudents.cam.ac.uk/self-evaluation

In some (rare) cases, your assessors may decide that you should be registered for the MLitt degree, instead of the PhD, at this stage. This registration interview cannot be delayed without good cause (e.g., illness). With your supervisors’ help, you start working out your plan of research, and the topic or topics of your written work, as soon as possible after you arrive.

Before registering you as a PhD candidate the Degree Committee must be satisfied (i) that you have a suitable plan of work and (ii) that you have begun to write about some part of it, in a sustained way, at a standard likely to get you the degree in a reasonable time. You are therefore required to email the following documents to your two assessors and the Postgraduate Administrator by the last day of Lent full term*:

• a statement (1,000 words) of your plan of research.
• a piece of recent written work (6,000-10,000 words) on some topic within this plan; and
• an account of research already completed (1,000 words)

These submissions must be properly written up: rough drafts are not acceptable. The registration interview will take place shortly after the end of Lent Term, with your two assessors who will have read the submitted documents. The exact date of the review will be agreed on by the two assessors and the student. The requirements for registration are as outlined above. Students will be sent a copy of their review report once it has been approved by Degree Committee at their May meeting.

Prospective PhD candidates whose work does not show sufficient progress will be given the opportunity to submit an improved set of work by the last day of Easter full term*. A further interview will then take place with the two Faculty members writing independent reports for the Degree Committee in late June/early July*.

The Degree Committee will recommend that prospective PhD candidates whose resubmitted work is still deemed to be unsatisfactory either withdraw from the University or, less severely, be registered only as MLitt candidates. In the latter case they may later be re-registered as PhD candidates (with registration again backdated to the date of admission) if they submit sufficiently improved work at the same time in their second year (i.e. at their fifth term review).

The Degree Committee will recommend that prospective MLitt candidates whose resubmitted work is still deemed to be unsatisfactory withdraw from the University.

Monitoring progress

Your supervisor is required to report termly to the Student Registry and the Degree Committee on your progress. You will also be invited to submit self-evaluation reports on your progress on CamSIS. More information on the Feedback and progress reporting systems for postgraduate students is here:

In addition, there are the following reviews:

Fifth Term Review

This review takes place in the fifth term for a student who is registered for the PhD or MLitt.  For this review you need to email the following documents to your supervisor, advisor, and Postgraduate Secretary by the last day of Lent full term*:

• an account of research you have already completed (1,000 words)

These submissions must be properly written up: rough drafts are not acceptable.  The review will take place shortly after the end of Lent Term, normally with the supervisor and advisor, who will report in writing to the first meeting of the Degree Committee in the Easter Term. The exact date of the review will be agreed on by the two assessors and the student. Students will then be sent a copy of their review report once it has been approved by Degree Committee at their May meeting.

In the unlikely event that your work does not show sufficient progress you will be given the opportunity to submit an improved set of work by last day of Easter full term*. A further interview will then take place with the supervisor and advisor writing independent reports for the Degree Committee in late June/early July*.

Seventh Term Review

This review takes place in the seventh term for a student who is registered for the PhD. For this review you are required to email the same three documents as are described above, again demonstrating ongoing progress, to your supervisor and advisor by the last day of Michaelmas full term*.

The review will take place shortly after the end of Michaelmas Term, normally with the supervisor and adrvisor, who will report in writing to the first meeting of the Degree Committee in the Lent Term. The exact date of the review will be agreed on by the two assessors and the student. Students will then be sent a copy of their review report once it has been approved by Degree Committee at their January meeting.

If the supervisor and advisor are not happy with a student's progress they may recommend to the Degree Committee that a student's registration be changed from PhD to MLitt. They may also recommend that candidates who are not making satisfactory progress towards completing their theses withdraw from the University. The student will be fully consulted before any such recommendation is made. Note also that students withdraw from the University for this reason (or because they have failed to submit on time), but who manage to complete their theses on their own, may apply to be reinstated in order to submit their theses for examination. Please see:

https://www.cambridgestudents.cam.ac.uk/your-course/postgraduate-study/your-student-status/reinstatement

Although this monitoring may sound onerous, experience shows that most often the reviews function as useful markers of progress, and as good opportunities to take stock and to talk about useful ways forward, in a forum slightly different from that of a normal supervision.

If your work is hindered or interrupted by medical, financial or other problems you may apply for leave to intermit your research for a period of time from 2 weeks, to up to 3 terms (for full time students). Terms intermitted do not count towards the above deadlines. Consult your Supervisor and the Postgraduate Secretary if you would like to discuss this option at any point in your studies. You can also find further information here:

https://www.cambridgestudents.cam.ac.uk/your-course/postgraduate-study/your-student-status/medical-intermission

Working away from Cambridge

It is possible to apply for leave to work away from Cambridge for a maximum of 3 terms at a time Some PhD students find this is useful if they wish to work with a supervisor who is external to the University of Cambridge for some of their PhD study. More information on the process of how to apply for leave to work away can be found here:

https://www.cambridgestudents.cam.ac.uk/your-course/postgraduate-study/your-student-status/work-away

To support students working away from Cambridge, it is recommended that students apply to the University for free travel insurance: https://www.insurance.admin.cam.ac.uk/travel-insurance/travel-insurance-students

The Faculty has a small allocation of funding for fieldwork, that students can apply for via the Postgraduate Office. As part of this application process, students will also be required to complete a risk assessment: https://www.safety.admin.cam.ac.uk/risk-assessment

The Faculty can provide a template risk assessment – please ask the Postgraduate Secretary for further information.

Preparation of theses

PhD (MLitt) theses in philosophy must not be more than 80,000 (60,000) words long. The word count includes appendices and footnotes but excludes bibliography. See here for further information:

https://www.cambridgestudents.cam.ac.uk/your-course/examinations/graduate-exam-information/submitting-and-examination/phd-msc-mlitt/word#philos

The University’s regulations require that to qualify for the award of the PhD degree, a thesis has to be in English (apart from quotations and technical formulae), to be clearly written, to take due account of previously published work on the subject, and to represent a significant contribution to learning (for example through the discovery of new knowledge, the connection of previously unrelated facts, the development of new theory, or the revision of older views). The Degree Committee of Philosophy, in its advice to examiners, adds as an informal gloss on this that an acceptable thesis should contain some material of sufficient originality to merit publication and this material should be adequate to form the basis of, for example, at least two articles (together amounting to 15,000 - 20,000 words) or of a short monograph.

To qualify for the award of the MLitt degree, a thesis must be clearly written, take due account of previously published work on the subject, and represent a useful contribution to learning.

Candidates may get an idea of the standards expected of PhD and MLitt theses in philosophy by reading the copies of successful theses deposited in the University Library.

The detailed procedure for submitting PhD and MLitt theses for examination, which candidates should follow carefully, is at:

https://www.cambridgestudents.cam.ac.uk/your-course/examinations/graduate-exam-information/submitting-and-examination/phd-msc-mlitt/prepare

In what follows only a few salient points are picked out.

Candidates should apply for the appointment of examiners, through the Philosophy Postgraduate Secretary, when—but only when—their theses are nearly complete. (In particular, if they are going to submit their theses during the Long Vacation they should apply in good time for the late June/early July meeting of the Degree Committee*.) Together with the candidate, the supervisor should compete the form found here:

https://www.phil.cam.ac.uk/curr-students/postgraduates/Graduate-Forms

and submit this by e-mail to the Postgraduate Secretary. The candidate will also need to email the Postgraduate Secretary a one page summary of the thesis, to guide the Degree Committee in appointing suitable examiners. This abstract should be around 300 words in length – a candidate’s supervisor can provide further guidance on the expected content of the abstract.         

Theses are examined independently by two examiners, one of whom will normally be from outside Cambridge. Candidates are required to submit their thesis initially via Moodle, the University’s Online Teaching Platform. The Postgraduate Secretary will provide further information on the process for softbound submission. As of 1 st October 2017, once their PhD has been approved, students are also required to submit an electronic copy of their PhD thesis to the University’s repository, Apollo. At the point of upload, students are given the choice of different access options, including the choice to make their thesis available Open Access immediately or to embargo access for an initial 12 months . The upload of the thesis can be done via the upload form in Symplectic Elements .

Once the award of the degree is approved, students should submit one hard bound copy to be deposited in the University Library.  More information on the submission of electronic theses can be found on the Office of Scholarly Communication website:

http://osc.cam.ac.uk/theses

It is important that thesis examiners actually receive theses when they expect to do so; otherwise their other commitments may seriously delay the examination. In giving submission dates, candidates should therefore take care to be realistic, and not underestimate the time it takes to complete writing up, make final corrections, check references and proofs, and get their theses printed and bound.

What to expect from the viva

The examination is undertaken with two examiners, and may include an independent chair if the Degree Committee has deemed it appropriate.  There are no rules for its duration, but as an approximate guide, the examination will normally take at least 90 minutes and is likely to conclude within three hours at a maximum.

The oral examination should allow:

• The defence of your dissertation and the clarification of any matters raised by the examiners
• the examiners to probe your knowledge in the field
• the examiners to assure themselves that the work presented is your own and to clarify matters of any collaboration
• the examiners to come to a definite conclusion about the outcome of the examination

What to bring with you to the viva

• You can take a (marked up) copy of the thesis in with you.  You may want to take a tablet or notepad and pen to make notes.
• Water will be available in the room where you will be examined but you may like to take your own with you.

The default  viva  format is an in-person examination held in Cambridge, but students will have the option to choose an online  viva  if they wish.  The University has provided additional information about the online viva process, which can be found here:

https://www.cambridgestudents.cam.ac.uk/files/guide_to_conducting_vivas_online.pdf

Examiners write independent reports on theses for the Degree Committee, making recommendations, which may or may not be conditional on the results of the oral examination. Because it often takes a considerable time for examiners to get round to, and to complete, this assessment, candidates must expect to wait (or return) for their oral examination up to two months (but no more than four months) after submitting their theses. Examiners may allow candidates who have had to return, e.g., to America or Australasia, the option of conducting the oral examination by video conference; but they are under no obligation to do so, and candidates must not assume that they will. If a candidate would like to request adjustments to their viva on the grounds of disability, they should complete a ‘voluntary disclosure form’ and return this to the Postgraduate secretary. The form can be found here: https://www.cambridgestudents.cam.ac.uk/files/voluntary_disclosure_form.pdf

An examiner who thinks that a PhD or MLitt thesis fails to reach the required standard, but could do so with suitable revision, may recommend allowing the candidate to submit a revised thesis. This can only happen once; a thesis which has already been resubmitted once cannot be submitted again.

An examiner who thinks that a PhD thesis fails to reach the standard required for that degree, but does reach the standard required for the MLitt, may recommend approving the candidate for that degree. A PhD examiner who thinks both of the above may recommend giving the candidate the alternative of submitting a revised thesis or of taking the MLitt (but not both).

If the examiners’ recommendations agree, the Degree Committee will normally accept them, unless the examination has been improperly conducted in some way, in which case new examiners may have to be appointed. If the original examiners’ recommendations disagree, the Degree Committee may resolve the disagreement by appointing a third examiner.

The University’s statement on academic misconduct, including plagiarism can be found at:

http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/univ/plagiarism/students/statement.html

We ask PhD & MLitt students to provide their feedback at regular intervals throughout their course, in the form of a questionnaire sent from the Postgraduate Office. Usually there is one questionnaire sent at the time of each review. Feedback from students is important in helping us to improve the course, and we ask that all students complete all questionnaires.

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PhD in Sociology

The PhD in Sociology offers a world-class programme of research study in sociology supervised by experts in their respective fields. The Department of Sociology at the University of Cambridge is ranked first for Sociology in the  Guardian's Best Universities league table  and first for Sociology in the  Complete University Guide League Table 2024 . And the  QS World University rankings  list our departments as 2nd out of over 500 Sociology Departments across the world in 2023.

In the first year you are encouraged to take research methods courses offered by the Department and the  Social Science Research Methods Programme (SSRMP)  to build the methodological grounding of your individual research projects. 

The Department also offers a programme of seminars covering transferable skills such as academic writing, presentation skills and in-depth information about how to progress the PhD and the academic career. PhD students are supported by their supervisor and a faculty adviser.

Watch our open day video

The Programme

The course aims to provide all students with the skills they need to be professional researchers and academics. There is an organised programme of courses for first-year PhD students, which has three major components:

• Basic academic and research skills, designed to provide the essential tools of academic work
• The core training programme, which covers issues of social science research in general
• Issues of research specific to particular disciplines or areas of interest, and research design, including the integration of methodological, theoretical and substantive issues

The standard period for PhDs is 3-4 years full-time or 5-7 years part-time.    Click here for further information about part-time PhD studies .

Meet our Candidates

What you can do with your phd.

Students who complete graduate programmes in Sociology have the opportunity to develop the analytical and writing skills to help them succeed in academia but also in careers such as health and social care, marketing and public relations, politics, and education, amongst others.

Postgraduate Prospectus

The PG prospectus details all the courses on offer at Cambridge, as well as introducing the different Colleges and describing the admissions process.

The Department of Sociology University of Cambridge Free School Lane Cambridge CB2 3RQ

Tel: 01223 (3)34520

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Medicine (Graduate course), MB and BChir

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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 at grade A or above, passed within 7 years of entry to the course.
• At least one of Biology, Physics, Mathematics, at A level or AS level.

Please note that these requirements do 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.

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

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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.

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PhD in Physics

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The PhD in Physics is a full-time period of research which introduces or builds upon, research skills and specialist knowledge. Students are assigned a research supervisor, a specialist in part or all of the student's chosen research field, and join a research group which might vary in size between a handful to many tens of 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 the facilities available. The student, however, may work within a given field for a period of time before their personal topic is determined.

There is no requirement made by the University for postgraduate students to attend formal courses or 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. Postgraduate students are also expected to participate in the undergraduate teaching programme at some time whilst they are based at the Cavendish, in order to develop their teaching, demonstrating, outreach, organisational and person-management skills.

It is expected that postgraduate students will also take advantage of the multiple opportunities available for transferable skills training within the University during their period of research.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the research programme, students will have demonstrated:

• the creation and interpretation of new knowledge, through original research or other advanced scholarship, of a quality to satisfy peer review, extend the forefront of the discipline, and merit publication;
• a systematic acquisition and understanding of a substantial body of knowledge which is at the forefront of an academic discipline or area of professional practice;
• the general ability to conceptualise, design and implement a project for the generation of new knowledge, applications or understanding at the forefront of the discipline, and to adjust the project design in the light of unforeseen problems;
• a detailed understanding of applicable techniques for research and advanced academic enquiry; and
• the development of a PhD thesis for examination that they can defend in an oral examination and, if successful, graduate with a PhD.

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 physics, 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.

Similar Courses

• Physics MPhil
• Planetary Science and Life in the Universe MPhil
• Computational Methods for Materials Science CDT PhD
• Mathematics MPhil
• Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics PhD

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• Contact the University
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