Applications to the Cambridge Biosciences DTP open in September/October with a December deadline. The dates for the next academic year will be announced in due course.

This is a fully funded programme supported by the BBSRC Doctoral Landscape Awards. An offer of a place will include full funding of your stipend (currently £20,780 for the academic year 2025-2026) as well as university fees.

You can apply for a Standard, Targeted or iCASE studentship only or you can apply to different types of studentships in the same application. You will be able to indicate your choice in the application form. The programme is also open to international students (EU and non-EU).

 

Apply for a Standard studentship

In a Standard studentship, students apply to a BBSRC Research Priority, not a specific project. After completing 2 rotations in different departments, they can select their PhD project. This studentship also includes a 3-month professional internship in an organisation of their choice as part of their PhD. We would recommend undertaking the internship between the second and third year of the PhD. However, the timing should be discussed and agreed with the supervisor and the host organisation. There is no need to contact a supervisor before submitting an application. However, we advise you to look through the Research Topics pages where supervisors are listed and although not required, you should feel free to contact them about potential projects in their lab. You can also contact supervisors listed on the websites of our affiliated departments and institutes to ask whether they will be likely to offer a rotation/PhD project.

Read more about the Standard studentship, including programme structure, Professional Internships, training and networking.

Before you apply

Check your eligibility

• Applicants for this course should have achieved a UK Good II.i Honours Degree.
• If your degree is not from the UK, please check International Qualifications to find the equivalent in your country.

Read more information about the eligibility criteria.

 

Applying

You will need to apply through the University’s Applicant Portal. The course is listed as PhD in Biological Sciences.

Completing the application form:

• Please indicate the main BBSRC research priority you wish to apply to.
• Add 'Standard' in the ‘Project Title’ box.

References

• You need to provide 2 academic and/or professional references.
• You can submit your application before references have been submitted, however, applications must be complete and referees must submit their references by the deadline. If your application (including supporting documents) is not submitted by the relevant deadline, it will be withdrawn.

Read more information about References on the Postgraduate Study website.

 

After you apply

• Applications are considered together as a gathered field after the closing date in December. Successful applicants will be notified in January and invited to attend an online interview in early February
• Shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend an online interview workshop a week before the interviews. A link will be sent in due course
• This course is taking part in the University’s Contextual Admissions Pilot, a new selection procedure designed to promote contextualised understanding and to minimise bias. Find out more about Contextual Admissions.

 

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Apply for a Targeted studentship

In Targeted studentships, applicants select up to two options from a list of available projects. Students complete two rotations: one in the lab associated with the project applied for and another one will be carried out in a different lab, which is still chosen based on its relevance to the targeted project. This broader experience helps students gain a more comprehensive understanding of their research area. Students will also undertake a 3-month professional internship in an organisation of their choice as part of their PhD journey. Students must contact the supervisor(s) before submitting an application to discuss the project(s).

Read more about the Targeted studentship, including programme structure, Professional Internships, training and networking.

 

Before you apply

Check your eligibility

• Applicants for this course should have achieved a UK Good II.i Honours Degree.
• If your degree is not from the UK, please check International Qualifications to find the equivalent in your country.

Read more information about the eligibility criteria.

Check the list of available Targeted projects and contact supervisor(s)

• You may select up to 2 different Targeted projects as part of your application.
• You must contact the supervisor(s) before submitting your application to discuss the project.

 

Applying

You will need to apply through the University’s Applicant Portal. The course is listed as PhD in Biological Sciences.

Completing the application form

• In the 'Statement of interest' please include the project reference(s) and a statement of your interest in each project you have selected.

References

• You need to provide 2 academic and/or professional references.
• You can submit your application before references have been submitted, however, applications must be complete and referees must submit their references by the deadline. If your application (including supporting documents) is not submitted by the relevant deadline, it will be withdrawn.

Read more information about References on the Postgraduate Study website.

 

After you apply

• Applications are considered together as a gathered field after the closing date in December. Successful applicants will be notified in January and invited to attend an online interview in early February.
• Shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend an online interview workshop. A link will be sent in due course. 
• This course is taking part in the University’s Contextual Admissions Pilot, a new selection procedure designed to promote contextualised understanding and to minimise bias. Find out more about Contextual Admissions.

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Apply for an iCASE studentship

iCASE studentships offer a PhD in a University department with an internship with an industrial partner connected with the PhD project. Students select their preferred option from a list of available projects, which will include a minimum of 3 months internship with the industrial partner. Students must contact the supervisor(s) before applying.

Read more about the iCASE studentship, including programme structure, industrial partners, training and networking.

 

Before you apply

Check your eligibility

• Applicants for this course should have achieved a UK Good II.i Honours Degree.
• If your degree is not from the UK, please check International Qualifications to find the equivalent in your country.

Read more information about the eligibility criteria.

Check the list of available iCase projects and contact supervisor(s)

• You may select up to 2 different iCASE projects as part of your application.
• You must contact the supervisor(s) before submitting your application to discuss the project.

 

Applying

You will need to apply through the University’s Applicant Portal. The course is listed as PhD in Biological Sciences.

Completing the application form

• In the 'Statement of interest' please include the project reference(s) and a statement of your interest in each project you have selected.

References

• You need to provide 2 academic and/or professional references. Read more information about References on the Postgraduate Study website.
• You can submit your application before references have been submitted, however, applications must be complete and referees must submit their references by the deadline. If your application (including supporting documents) is not submitted by the relevant deadline, it will be withdrawn.

 

After you apply

• Applications are considered together as a gathered field after the closing date in December. Successful applicants will be notified in January and invited to attend an online interview in early February.
• Shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend an online interview workshop. A link will be sent in due course. 
• This course is taking part in the University’s Contextual Admissions Pilot, a new selection procedure designed to promote contextualised understanding and to minimise bias. Find out more about Contextual Admissions.

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Apply for different types of studentships in one application

You don’t need to make a separate application if you would like to apply for different types of studentships (i.e. Standard, Targeted, iCASE). Please indicate your choice in the application (in the 'Project Title' box).

 

Before you apply

Check your eligibility

• Applicants for this course should have achieved a UK Good II.i Honours Degree.
• If your degree is not from the UK, please check International Qualifications to find the equivalent in your country.

Read more information about the eligibility criteria.

Check the list of available iCASE and Targeted projects and contact the supervisor(s)

• You may select up to 2 different projects as part of your application
• You must contact the supervisor(s) before submitting your application to discuss the project(s)

 

Applying

You will need to apply through the University’s Applicant Portal. The course is listed as PhD in Biological Sciences.

Completing the application form:

• If you are interested in being considered for Targeted and iCASE projects, please insert the project references in the 'Project Title' box in order of preference. You can choose up to 2 projects from the list available.
• You can apply for a Standard studentship and 2 projects. If you want to do this, please insert the project references and 'Standard' in the 'Project Title' box in order of preference.
• In the 'Statement of interest' box, please include the project reference(s) and a statement of your interest in each project you have selected.

References

• You need to provide 2 academic and/or professional references.
• You can submit your application before references have been submitted, however, applications must be complete and referees must submit their references by the deadline. If your application (including supporting documents) is not submitted by the relevant deadline, it will be withdrawn.

Read more information about References on the Postgraduate Study website.

 

After you apply

• Applications are considered together as a gathered field after the closing date in December. Successful applicants will be notified in January and invited to attend an online interview in early February.
• Shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend an online interview workshop. A link will be sent in due course. 
• This course is taking part in the University’s Contextual Admissions Pilot, a new selection procedure designed to promote contextualised understanding and to minimise bias. Find out more about Contextual Admissions.

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International students

International students (EU and non-EU) are eligible for all Research Council-funded postgraduate studentships, and the Cambridge Biosciences DTP will be able to offer a limited number of studentships to international students.

The Cambridge Biosciences DTP will cover the costs of student visas and health surcharge for any international BBSRC DTP students recruited and will also provide funding to cover both fees and a stipend to support living costs.