Why a PhD?

A PhD in the Biosciences equips you for a range of fulfilling careers that will exploit not just the specialist knowledge you will acquire but also the critical and analytical skills and resilience that you will develop as you carry out an original body of research.

Though a PhD is the starting point for an academic career, it is also provides an entry point to numerous other fulfilling careers; the majority of PhD students move onto careers in other sectors including biotech companies, pharma, agritech, consulting, public policy, patent law, and the charity sector. Employers in these sectors recognise the value of PhD graduates and value the problem solving skills, individual initiative and resourcefulness and team-work skills that are all honed during a PhD.

Why the Cambridge Biosciences DTP?

• No more student loans! As a DTP student, you will be paid a stipend to support your living costs (currently £18622 for AY 2023-2024), and you will not pay any course fees.
• A fully student-centred programme that focuses on supporting student's individual needs.
• Flexibility for part-time study for PhD when needed e.g. to accommodate caring responsibilities.
• Opportunity to select interdisciplinary research projects across the full breadth of BBSRC research themes.
• Two first-year rotation projects from across the Partnership allow you to make an informed choice of PhD project and host lab.
• A comprehensive training programme profiled across the 4 years equips you with the personal and professional skills that you will need to succeed in your PhD and to launch the next phase of your career.  
• Opportunities to gain experience working in a different professional environment via a three-month Professional Internship for PhD Students (PIPS) placement or a CASE project with an industrial collaborator.
• A programme of cohort-building activities, including the flagship annual Symposium, featuring careers panels and talks by students and prominent visiting speakers, helps you to establish an enduring professional network.
• Membership of one of the University’s colleges, multidisciplinary, international communities that provide social, cultural & sports facilities and pastoral support via dedicated Postgraduate Tutors.

Why Cambridge?

Cambridge is a small city and enjoys many advantages such as the numerous green spaces throughout the city and easy access to the surrounding countryside. However, this is matched by a vibrant and diverse cultural and social life expected of any major university city.

The history of scientific breakthroughs in Cambridge has led to the “Cambridge Phenomenon” or “Silicon Fen”, the largest cluster of biotech, pharma and high-tech companies outside of the US. Students in Cambridge benefit from this unique bioentrepreneurial environment, which provides and thrives upon numerous opportunities for interaction across the academic-commercial interface.