The Cambridge Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership is a fully-funded 4-year PhD programme providing training opportunities across the scientific areas encompassed by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) strategic research priorities:
- Understanding the rules of life
- Transformative technologies
- Bioscience for sustainable agriculture and food
- Bioscience for renewable resources and clean growth
- Bioscience for an integrated understanding of health
Full-time programmes typically span four years, while part-time programmes extend over a period of up to seven years.
The Programme offers 3 types of studentships: Standard, Targeted and iCASE.
Standard studentship
In the Standard studentship, students make an application to a research priority, not a specific project. After completing 2 rotations in different departments, you can select your PhD project. This studentship also includes a 3-month professional internship in an organisation of your choice as part of your PhD. We 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.
Choosing rotations and PhD Projects
Before starting the programme, you will be able to contact supervisors in different Departments/Institutes to discuss possible rotation/PhD projects. We encourage you to undertake rotations in different locations.
Targeted studentship
Students applying for a Targeted studentship make an application to a specific PhD project. Once accepted into the programme, students undergo 2 rotations, including one in the laboratory associated with the project they applied for. This gives you hands-on experience within the environment directly related to your chosen project; and the other rotation in a different lab, which is still selected based on its relevance to your project. This broader experience helps students gain a more comprehensive understanding of their research area.
The studentship includes a 3-month professional internship in an organisation of your choice as part of your PhD journey. 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.
iCASE studentship
The iCASE studentships are a collaboration between an academic institute/department and an industrial partner/company.
All iCASE research students must spend between 3-18 months on placement with the partner company - during this time you will participate in projects that are closely related to your research area. In addition to experience of an industrial research environment, you will have access to business-related training, for example, in project-management, business strategy, and/or finance.
Previous industrial partners include:
Cambridge Animal Technologies Ltd
If you have any questions or need advice about any of our courses please contact us.
Professional Internships for PhD students (PIPS)
Standard and Targeted students undertake a 3-month internship in an organisation of your choice. This internship has been designed to give DTP students the opportunity to experience working outside of an academic/ lab environment and as such provide an excellent chance to consider what may interest you as a career should you decide to leave academia upon completion of your PhD. Read more about PIPS.
Training and Networking
As a Cambridge Biosciences DTP student, you will join a tailored training programme that fits right alongside your rotations and PhD work. Networking events aren't just for learning about things like public engagement—they're also chances to connect with other students and build a supportive community. Read more about the training opportunities offered.