Cambridge BBSRC DTP Programme - Test TB

Programme Structure

The Programme is four years in duration and is studied on a full-time basis. The first six months is spent completing training in Statistics, Computational and Systems Biology, and Research Skills (Exploiting New Ways of Working) and undertaking two 10-week rotation projects, either at the University or at one of the Partner Institutes. During this time you will choose your PhD project and complete a project proposal. Successful completion of these elements is required before you can proceed. You will spend the remainder of the four years completing a research project for the award of PhD. You will also undertake further research skills training and subject-specific training during Years 2-4 of the Programme and spend three months undertaking a Professional Internship for PhD Students (PIPS).

As the Programme is four years in duration students must submit their thesis no later than 48 months after their start date. For students starting in October 2018, the final date for submission of a thesis would be 30th September 2022.

Students are admitted to one of four BBSRC strategic research Themes and choose rotation and PhD projects from within this Theme, although under exceptional circumstances they may be allowed to transfer between Themes. As well as Theme-specific research events organised within Cambridge, there is also the opportunity to interact with students from other DTP programmes in the UK.

Professional Internships

As part of the Programme, each student will complete a 12-week internship (Professional Internship for PhD Students, or PIPS) outside their immediate research area with one of a range of companies, public institutions or charities. The objective of the PIPS is to give students an opportunity to gain experience in a non-academic environment. Students should therefore choose PIPS that are not related to their field of research. The PIPS cannot be done in the first training period of the DTP, but can once the PhD project is underway. Most students choose to carry out the PIPS in the second and third years of the Programme.