cambridge phd entry requirements

Study at Cambridge

About the university, research at cambridge.

• Events and open days
• Fees and finance
• Student blogs and videos
• Why Cambridge
• Qualifications directory
• How to apply
• Fees and funding
• Frequently asked questions
• International students
• Continuing education
• Executive and professional education
• Courses in education
• How the University and Colleges work
• Visiting the University
• Term dates and calendars
• Video and audio
• Find an expert
• Publications
• International Cambridge
• Public engagement
• Giving to Cambridge
• For current students
• For business
• Colleges & departments
• Libraries & facilities
• Museums & collections
• Email & phone search
• Postgraduate Studies
• PhD in Economics
• Faculty of Economics
• Research overview
• Econometrics Research Group - Papers
• Econometrics Research Group - Cambridge Working Papers in Economics
• Microeconomic Theory Research Group - Papers
• Microeconomic Theory Research Group - Cambridge Working Papers in Economics
• Macroeconomics Research Group - Papers
• Macroeconomics Research Group - Cambridge Working Papers in Economics
• Empirical Microeconomics Research Group
• Empirical Microeconomics Research Group - Cambridge Working Papers in Economics
• History Research Group - Cambridge Working Papers in Economics
• Papers and Publications
• Cambridge Working Papers in Economics (CWPE)
• Research Intranet (Raven Login Required)
• The Janeway Institute
• The Keynes Fund
• Research Contact
• People overview
• Noriko Amano-Patiño
• Debopam Bhattacharya
• Florin Bilbiie
• Peter Bossaerts
• Charles Brendon
• Vasco Carvalho
• Tiago Cavalcanti
• Meredith Crowley
• Matthew Elliott
• Aytek Erdil
• Robert Evans
• Elisa Faraglia
• Leonardo Felli
• Eric French
• Edoardo Gallo
• Tripos supervisions
• Chryssi Giannitsarou
• Selected Articles
• Working Papers
• Popular Press
• Past PhD Students
• Invited Lectures
• Christopher Harris
• Economics of Religion in India Book
• Demography Book
• Oliver Linton
• An old link to some of my papers
• A poem by Robert Graves
• Christopher Rauh
• Alexander Rodnyansky
• Mikhail Safronov
• Gabriella Santangelo
• Flavio Toxvaerd
• Julius Vainora
• Some Recent Articles
• Research Projects
• Efficiency Assessment
• Supervisions
• Weilong Zhang
• Ivano Cardinale
• Giancarlo Corsetti
• William H Janeway
• Pierre Mella-Barral
• Theofanis Papamichalis
• Simona Paravani
• Mark Salmon
• Patrick Allmis
• Nazanin Babolmorad
• Seda Basihos
• Leonard Bocquet
• Daniele Cassese
• George Charlson
• Chuan-Han Cheng
• Joris Hoste
• Konstantinos Ioannidis
• Caroline Liqui Lung
• Antonis Ragkousis
• Jason Schoeters
• Jerome Simons
• Robert Woods
• Michael Ashby
• Victoria Bateman
• Francisco Beltran
• Collin Constantine
• Yujiang River Chen
• Rupert Gatti
• Emanuele Giovannetti
• Pauline Goyal-Rutsaert
• Myungun Kim
• Nigel Knight
• Vasileios Kotsidis
• Domique Lauga
• Kamiar Mohaddes
• Mary Murphy
• Dario Palumbo
• Cristina Peñasco
• Cristiano Ristuccia
• Isabelle Roland
• Julia Shvets
• Oleh Stupak
• Simon Taylor
• Anna Watson
• Publications - Since 2001
• Interviews and Lectures
• Jeremy Edwards
• Refereed Papers
• Other Publications
• Work in Progress
• Selected Publications
• Downloadable Publications
• Economics as Social Theory
• Sir James Mirrlees
• Downloadable Conference Presentations
• Regulation, Privatisation, Energy, Electricity
• Transport: Road and Rail
• Risk, Industrial Organisation, Optimal Growth, Dynamic Inconsistency
• Taxation, Public finance, Cost-benefit analysis
• Transition Economies and Development
• Recent Conference Presentations
• Jose Gabriel Palma
• Published Articles
• Forthcoming Papers
• Newspaper, Magazine and Online Articles
• Forewords/Prefaces
• Book Reviews
• Unpublished Papers
• Lecture Audio, Video and Podcast Recordings
• Archive Working Papers
• Biographical
• Biographical (long version)
• William Peterson
• Bob Rowthorn
• Honours and Awards
• Geoff Whittington
• Selection Committee
• Academic Staff - A to E
• Academic Staff - F to H
• Academic Staff - I to M
• Academic Staff - N to Q
• Academic Staff - R to V
• Academic Staff - W to Z
• Academic Staff - Office Hours
• Past Visitors
• Prospective Academic Visitors Information
• Application Form
• Rules and Categories of Visitors
• Visiting Doctoral Students
• Visiting Students Application Form
• Razan Amine
• Laura Araújo De Freitas
• Marium Ashfaq
• Deniz Atalar
• Kilian Bachmair
• Gerardo Baldo
• Balduin Bippus
• Saru Chaudhary
• Adrian Chung
• Radu Cristea
• Zixuan Deng
• Mar Domenech-Palacios
• Lukas Freund
• Luigi Dante Gaviano
• Guillem Gordo-I-Bach
• Darija Halatova
• Andrew Hannon
• Lea Havemeister
• Shengjuan He
• Rebecca Heath
• Christian Höhne
• Darren Hoover
• Benedikt Kagerer
• Kilian Kamkar
• Ganesh Karapakula
• Alastair Langtry
• Sean Lavender
• Weiguang Liu
• Ana Lleo-Bono
• Fred Seunghyun Maeng
• Shane Mahen
• Fergus McCormack
• Manuel Montesinos
• Mathis Momm
• Jamie Moore
• James Morris
• Shania Mustika
• Felix Mylius
• Cheuk Fai Ng
• Lennart Niermann
• Tianyu Pang
• Charles Parry
• Dmitrii Petrukhin
• Benjapon Prommawin
• Vivek Roy-Chowdhury
• Diogo Salgado Baptista
• Niklas Schmitz
• Kishen Shastry
• Sarah Rose Taylor
• Christian Tien
• Ho-Yung Antonia Tsang
• Carles Vila Martínez
• Nicholas Waltz
• Yi (Amanda) Wang
• Shu Feng Wei
• Alessa Widmaier
• Mingmei Xiao
• Yinfeng Zeng
• Mingxi Zhang
• Xiaoxiao Zhang
• Yiyang Zhang
• Yuting (Tina) Zhang
• Zhaocheng Zhang
• Henning Zschietzschmann
• Professional Services Staff
• Job Market Candidates
• Teaching overview
• University's Blended Learning Site
• Apply overview
• Economics Open Days 2023
• Economics Prospectus
• A Guide for Prospective Students
• Preliminary Part I Reading List
• Why Choose Economics
• Course Description
• Course Structure
• Course Requirements
• How to Apply
• Students Finance
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• Entry Requirements
• How and When to Apply
• Finance Overview and Funding
• Core Modules
• Optional Modules
• Applicant Mentoring Programme
• Doctoral Training Partnership
• ESRC Studentships
• Example Course Structure
• PhD Modules
• Careers / Placements
• EDGE (European Doctoral Group in Economics)
• Social Events
• Postgraduate Open Day
• Postgraduate Life
• Postgraduate Guide 2023
• Cambridge University Graduate Economics Society
• Economics Postgraduate Fund
• Postgraduate Admissions - Contacts
• The Cambridge Environment
• Introduction to the Faculty
• Student Life
• Alumni overview
• Alumni Newsletter
• Alumni Webinars
• Online Giving
• Faculty Info overview
• Information for Staff (Intranet)
• Find the Faculty
• Provision for Students with Disabilities
• History of the Faculty
• Sheilagh Ogilvie
• Caroline Hoxby
• Joan Robinson
• Women in Economics Events
• Student & Staff Behaviour
• Women in Economics
• Faculty IT Support
• Advanced Diploma in Economics
• MPhil in Economics
• MPhil in Economic Research
• MPhil in Finance and Economics
• MPhil in Economics and Data Science

Academic Performance

Applicants for direct entry to the PhD programme must hold (or be expecting) a Distinction-level Master’s degree in Economics – of equivalent level to the Faculty’s MPhil in Economic Research .

Specifically, candidates must have advanced technical training in microeconomics, macroeconomics, and econometrics. In addition, through optional papers, they should have some knowledge of the work at the frontier of their research areas of interest. Successful applicants should display some independent research skills and should have experience putting them into practice.

We strongly encourage applicants to include information about their ranking within their academic years, at both undergraduate and master’s degrees.

Candidates without such a background should apply for the MPhil in Economic Research , from which it is possible to proceed to the PhD programme, conditional on performance and Supervisor availability.  If you do not meet the criteria listed above, it is unlikely you will be offered a place.

Research and Supervisor

All applicants MUST include a proposal setting out the research they wish to undertake for the PhD.

All applicants MUST nominate a proposed Supervisor with their applications. The Academic Staff Pages outline a broad range of their research interests, which may provide a suitable basis for a PhD thesis. You MUST also write to your proposed Supervisor ahead of submitting your application to discuss availability.

GRE Requirements

All applicants whose previous university training is from countries outside the UK must submit the results of a recent Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test.

The Faculty of Economics will not normally consider admitting a student whose score registers below the 90th percentile in the Quantitative Reasoning section and below the 50th percentile in the Analytical Writing section of the test.

The Faculty MUST receive the results of the GRE General Test to meet the course deadline OR the funding deadline, should you wish to be considered for funding (see How and When to Apply ). Please note that your application will be automatically withdrawn should the test results are not received in time.

The University of Cambridge Faculty of Economics institution code for GRE is 2433.

You MUST provide a GRE Test result if:

• Your degree level study is from any country other than the UK
• Your degree level study has been taken via the University of London International Programme
• Your degree level study is from any country other than the UK, but you have taken one or more exchange programme in the UK

You are NOT required to provide a GRE Test result if:

• Your degree level study (undergraduate and/or postgraduate) is from the UK (except University of London International Programme)

Note:  The Faculty may request candidates from UK universities to take the GRE General Test.

Details of registration deadlines for this test, and of opportunities to take the computer-based test can be sought from ETS, which administers the test. 

The GRE website can be accessed to order publications, try out sample questions and for information regarding test dates and locations.

GRE Customer Service number: +1-609-771-7670

GRE Fax number: +1-609-771-7906.

Specific questions about the GRE can be emailed directly to [email protected]

Details of entry for the GRE test are often available within the candidate’s home country, or can be obtained from:  

English Language Qualifications

Please refer to the University Postgraduate Admissions website for further details on language conditions.

The Faculty of Economics will not normally ask you to have a valid English Test in order to submit an application, however, this might be a requirement at a later stage, should you receive a conditional offer.

Faculty of Economics Austin Robinson Building Sidgwick Avenue Cambridge CB3 9DD UNITED KINGDOM

Telephone: +44 1223 335200

Fax: +44 1223 335475

Site Privacy & Cookie Policies

Find Us (details and maps)

with University of Cambridge Maps

with Google Maps

Associated Websites

Janeway Institute

COVID-19 Economic Research

Keynes Fund

Application Emails

Undergraduate Admissions: (for enquiries about the BA in Economics) [email protected]

Graduate Admissions: (for enquiries about the Diploma, MPhil and PhD courses) [email protected]

General Emails

Faculty Office: (for all other enquiries) [email protected]

Webmaster: (for enquiries about the website) [email protected]

Marshall Library: [email protected]

© 2024 University of Cambridge

• University A-Z
• Contact the University
• Accessibility
• Freedom of information
• Terms and conditions
• Undergraduate
• Spotlight on...
• About research at Cambridge

Study at Cambridge

About the university, research at cambridge.

• Undergraduate courses
• Events and open days
• Fees and finance
• Postgraduate courses
• How to apply
• Postgraduate events
• Fees and funding
• International students
• Continuing education
• Executive and professional education
• Courses in education
• How the University and Colleges work
• Term dates and calendars
• Visiting the University
• Annual reports
• Equality and diversity
• A global university
• Public engagement
• Give to Cambridge
• For Cambridge students
• For our researchers
• Business and enterprise
• Colleges & departments
• Email & phone search
• Museums & collections
• Postgraduate Admissions
• Degrees Offered
• Department of Physics
• About overview
• Our History
• Cavendish Women in Physics
• Cavendish Digital Photo Archive and requests to film in the Laboratory
• Image Request Form
• Cavendish Ambassador Programme
• News overview
• Cavendish Photography Competition 2023-24
• People doing Physics podcast
• Ray Dolby Centre overview
• Residents' Newsletters
• Ray Dolby & Cavendish Laboratory
• Progress Updates
• National Facility for Physics
• Research overview
• Research Groups overview
• Astrophysics overview
• Atacama Large Millimetre Array
• James Clerk Maxwell Telescope - Millimetre-Submillimetre Astronomy
• Arcminute Microkelvin Imager (AMI)
• Planck Surveyor Satellite
• Low Frequency Array (LOFAR)
• Square Kilometre Array (SKA)
• Magdalena Ridge Observatory Interferometer (MROI)
• Theoretical Studies
• Radio Astronomy Heritage and Education Centre
• Atomic, Mesoscopic and Optical Physics
• Biological and Soft Systems overview
• Polymer and Composites
• Thin Films and Interfaces
• Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy
• Medical Imaging
• Optical Microscopy
• Optical Manipulation and Micromechanics
• Cellular Biophysics
• Single Molecules
• Tissues - Biomolecular Gels and Networks
• Interfaces, Films and Membranes
• High Energy Physics overview
• ATLAS: a general purpose detector for the LHC at CERN
• Large Hadron Collider beauty experiment (LHCb)
• Main Injector Neutrino Oscillation Search (MINOS) at Fermilab
• Research and Development for Future Collider Experiments
• The Cavendish Theory Group
• Microelectronics overview
• Quantum Information Processing
• Nanospintronics
• Spin transport in carbon-based, organic semiconductors
• Molecular Engineering
• NanoPhotonics overview
• Semiconductor Microcavities
• Nano-Plasmonic Surfaces
• Elastic Photonic Crystals
• Optoelectronics overview
• Light Emitting Diodes
• Solar Cells
• Transistors
• Physics and Chemistry of Solids
• Quantum Matter overview
• Anisotropic Superconductivity
• Development of new Cryogenic equipment
• Electronic Structure of Correlated Electron Materials
• Exotic States of Matter
• High-Tc Materials
• Hydrostatic Pressure
• Novel Superconductors
• Quantum Ferroelectrics
• Quantum Sensors overview
• Detector Technology
• Scientific Computing
• Semiconductor Physics overview
• One-Dimensional Electron Transport
• Mesoscopic Two-Dimensional Electron Transport
• Electron Transport in Quantum Dots
• Surface Acoustic Waves
• Quantum light sources and detectors
• Low Temperature Scanning Probes
• Terahertz Science and Technology
• Research Facilities overview
• State-of-the-art Electron Beam Lithography
• Molecular Beam Epitaxy
• Device Processing Cleanroom
• Cryostat Systems
• Surface and 2D NanoScience
• Theory of Condensed Matter overview
• Collective Quantum Phenomena
• Quantum Mechanical Methods
• Soft Matter
• Condensed Matter Theory Portfolio Partnership
• Thin Film Magnetism overview
• Magnetic Mesostructures
• Spin Transport
• Research Programmes overview
• The Centre for Scientific Computing Collaboration
• Winton Programme for the Physics of Sustainability
• Physics of Medicine
• Collaborative Programmes overview
• Cambridge Nuclear Energy Centre
• Computational Radiotherapy Collaborations
• Nanoelectronics
• Optoelectronics
• Spintronics
• The Cavendish-Hitachi Collaboration
• The Cavendish-Toshiba Collaboration overview
• Toshiba website
• Research Services overview
• Electron Microscopy Suite
• Knowledge Exchange overview
• KE for Cavendish Researchers
• Cavendish KE working lunch series
• Advanced Materials Characterisation Suite overview
• Publications
• Measurement Techniques and Instrument Technical Literature overview
• Remnant Fields in Superconducting Magnets
• PPMS DynaCool System and Options User Manuals
• Quantum Design MPMS3 SQUID-VSM and Options User Manuals
• Sample Geometry and the Accuracy of Reported Sample Magnetic Moment
• Talks, seminars and events overview
• Cavendish Quantum Colloquium
• Research Group Administrative Contacts
• Studying Physics overview
• Prospective Undergraduates
• Current Undergraduates overview
• QAA reviews & accreditation
• Current courses overview
• Course Overview : Part IA
• Course Overview : Part IB
• Course Overview : Part II
• Course Overview : Part III
• Examinations
• Prospective Postgraduate
• Postgraduate Student Prizes
• Coronavirus Postgraduate Signposting
• People overview
• Principal Investigators
• Affiliated Lecturers
• Emeritus Staff and Academic Alumni
• Staff by Research Group
• Professional Services
• Jobs overview
• Apprenticeships
• Intranet overview
• Living with Communicable Diseases including Covid-19

PhD in Physics

• Ray Dolby Centre
• Studying Physics

PhD in Physics (3+ years)

The majority of postgraduate students (about 110 are accepted each year) carry out research at the Cavendish Laboratory towards a PhD degree.

For admission to the PhD, the Postgraduate Admissions Office normally requires applicants to have achieved the equivalent of a UK Masters (Pass) . Applicants should obtain the equivalent of:

• at least a 2:i in a UK four-year "undergraduate Master's" (Honours) degree,  OR
• at least a 2:i in a UK three-year Bachelor's (Honours) degree plus a relevant one/two -year UK Master's degree.

All applicants are assessed individually on the basis of their academic records.

Full-time students must spend at least three terms of residence in Cambridge and nine terms of research. If you are undertaking a placement or internship away from Cambridge for more than two weeks you need to apply for leave to work away.

Final examination involves the submission of a thesis of not more than 60,000 words followed by an oral examination (or viva) of the thesis and the general field of physics into which it falls.

Successful applicants are assigned to a research supervisor, a specialist in part or all of the student's chosen research field, and joins a research group which might vary in size between 4 and 80 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 facilities available.

A list of current research projects is published and available on the  research pages  of our website, and more detailed information about specific research areas can be obtained from the relevant academic staff. The student, however, may work within a given field for a period of time before his or her personal topic is determined.

There is no requirement by the University of attendance at formal courses of 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. In addition, postgraduate students carry out first- and second-year physics undergraduate supervision and assist with practical work and theoretical examples classes in the Department.

Lectures within all the faculties of the University are open to any member of the University, and a physics postgraduate student has the opportunity of attending lectures not only within the undergraduate Physics and Theoretical Physics course, but also in any other subject area or faculty.

Cavendish Laboratory

19 J J Thomson Avenue

Cambridge CB3 0HE

Tel: +44 1223 337200

Email: [email protected]

Site Privacy & Cookie Policies

Privacy notice for our emails to you, social media.

© 2024 University of Cambridge

• Contact the University
• Accessibility
• Freedom of information
• Privacy policy and cookies
• Statement on Modern Slavery
• Terms and conditions
• University A-Z
• Undergraduate
• Postgraduate
• Research news
• About research at Cambridge
• Spotlight on...

Study at Cambridge

About the university, research at cambridge.

• Undergraduate courses
• Events and open days
• Fees and finance
• Postgraduate courses
• How to apply
• Postgraduate events
• Fees and funding
• International students
• Continuing education
• Executive and professional education
• Courses in education
• How the University and Colleges work
• Term dates and calendars
• Visiting the University
• Annual reports
• Equality and diversity
• A global university
• Public engagement
• Give to Cambridge
• For Cambridge students
• For our researchers
• Business and enterprise
• Colleges & departments
• Email & phone search
• Museums & collections

• Postgraduate Study in Mathematics
• Undergraduate Mathematics
• Part III (MMath/MASt)
• New PhD students
• Handbook and Code of Practice
• Research Conduct and Integrity
• Expectations and Reporting
• Supervision Training
• Training opportunities
• Change in circumstances
• Examination
• Student Support
• Smith-Knight & Rayleigh-Knight Prizes
• Lecture Lists
• NST Mathematics
• Student Representation
• Careers for Mathematicians
• Careers Resources
• Undergraduate Admissions
• Undergraduate Open Days
• Part III (MASt/MMath)
• MPhil Taught
• HEP, GR and Cosmology
• PhD Applicant FAQs
• Postgraduate Open Day
• Mathematics for Natural Sciences Tripos (NST)
• Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics
• Pure Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics
• Industrial Collaboration
• Internships
• Summer Research in Mathematics: CMP and Research in the CMS
• Adams Prize
• Mathematics for all - outreach overview
• The Millennium Mathematics Project (MMP)
• Underground Mathematics
• STEP preparation support - widening participation
• Mathematics at the Cambridge Science Festival 
• Internal overview
• Postgraduate Office
• Computing and IT
• Degree Committee and Postgraduate Education
• Directors of Studies
• Faculty Board
• Research Facilitation
• Teaching and Examining
• Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
• Women in Mathematics
• Alumni and Friends
• News and Announcements
• The Departments
• Mathematics in Cambridge

Research Programmes

• Prospective Students
• Postgraduate Study

The Faculty of Mathematics offers three doctoral (PhD) and one MPhil research programmes.

Select a course below to visit the University’s Course Directory where you can read about the structure of the programmes, fees and maintenance costs, entry requirements and key deadlines.

Research Areas and Potential Supervisors

Determining whether your interests and ambitions align with our research and expertise is a vital part of the application and admissions process. When we receive your formal application, we will consider the information you provide on your research interests carefully, alongside other factors such as your academic suitability and potential, how you compare to other applicants in the field, and whether we have a suitable academic supervisor with the capacity to take on new students.

We are committed to widening participation in mathematical research at Cambridge. We welcome and encourage applications from people from groups underrepresented in postgraduate study.

Before making an application to study with us we recommend you:

• Investigate our areas of research and consider how they fit with your interests and ambitions.

A list of broad research areas is provided below, together with links to further information. Your interests may span more than one area. On your application form you will be asked to indicate at least one broad area of interest. This is to help us direct your application to the most suitable group of people to review it.

• Identify 2 or 3 appropriate supervisor(s) with whom you might work.

The information linked below will take you to lists of supervisors working in each broad research area, with an indication of their availability. You are encouraged to make informal contact with potential supervisors prior to making an application. Initial contact should be made by email. In your email we recommend you provide a concise explanation of your areas of interest, how your research interests align with the supervisor(s) research, and that you highlight any relevant work you have done in this area. We recommend that you attach an up-to-date CV. The purpose of this contact is to enquire on supervisor capacity and willingness to supervise, and to see if there is a good fit between your interests and theirs.

If you haven’t had a response to an informal enquiry, you are still welcome to apply and list the individual concerned on your application form, although you may also wish to consider other options.

• Give some thought to your intended research and why you want to study with us.

On your application form you will be asked to submit a short research summary, details of your research experience and your reasons for applying to undertake a PhD/MPhil with us. Whilst you are not expected to submit a detailed research proposal at any stage of the process, we do want to know that you have considered the areas of research that you wish to pursue.

Research areas

Click on a research area to find out more about available supervisors and their research:

Please note that a  large majority of the successful applicants for PhD studentships with  the High Energy Physics, and General Relativity & Cosmology (GR) groups   will have taken Part III of the Mathematical Tripos.

Funding Opportunities

Each Department works hard to secure funding for as many offer holders as possible, either from within its own funds, in collaboration with funding partners, or via the University Postgraduate Funding Competition. However, funding is not guaranteed via these routes, and you should investigate funding opportunities early in the process to be sure that you can meet advertised deadlines.

All application deadlines are 23:59pm (midnight) UK time on the stated date. So that your application can be given full consideration please apply by the following deadlines:

Note for PhD applicants:

We will accept applications for an October start up until the general University deadline in May, but your chances of obtaining funding are significantly reduced. In addition, space limitations may mean that late applications cannot be considered (i.e., the most appropriate supervisor may already have committed to taking other students).

Only in exceptional circumstances will we consider admission to a later start date in the academic year (i.e., January or April). If you intend to apply for a later start date please contact us at [email protected] so we can advise you on the feasibility of your plan.

Note for MPhil applicants:

We will accept applications until the general University deadline in February, but you will not be considered for funding. In addition, space limitations may mean that late applications cannot be considered (i.e., the most appropriate supervisor may already have committed to taking other students).

Most interviews are expected to take place in the second half of January.

The purpose of the interview is to try to ascertain the extent of the applicant's relevant knowledge and experience, and to gauge whether their interests and abilities align with the research of the potential supervisor and/or research group. It will most likely consist of a discussion of your background and motivations for applying to the course, as well as some questions on relevant topics.

Not all applicants will be selected for interview.

If you are selected for interview, you will be contacted by email at the address you provided on your application. The email should confirm:

• the location of the interview (it may be in-person or on-line dependent upon interviewer availability, your distance from Cambridge, as well as individual preferences),
• the interview format and whether you should prepare anything specific in advance,
• the approximate duration of the interview,
• who you will be meeting.

Prior to interview you may declare a disability, serious health problem or caring responsibility which may require reasonable adjustments for the interview to be made.

Due to interviewer availability and the tight admissions timetable, we can usually only rearrange the time and date of your interview under exceptional circumstances.

Decision timeline

Both DAMTP and DPMMS make most of their PhD/MPhil admissions decisions for October entry in January and early February, and you should not expect to receive a decision on your application before mid-February (even if you apply much earlier). We expect to have made decisions on all applications by mid-July. The Department makes every effort to take decisions on applications at the earliest opportunity. In some cases, however, it may take some time for a decision to be made. Applications may need to be viewed by several potential supervisors before a final decision can be reached.

To consider your application formally we must receive a complete application form, together with all supporting documents, by the deadline.

Communication of outcomes

You will be notified of the formal outcome of your application via the Applicant Portal.

Following an interview, you can normally expect to receive notification of the outcome within a week or two.

If you are successful, the University’s Postgraduate Admissions Office will issue a formal offer of admission which will outline all your conditions. As processing times can vary, we may also contact you informally to notify you of our decision.

We do not provide formal feedback to applicants who are unsuccessful at either the application or interview stage.

Take a look at our frequently asked questions for PhD applicants.

Forthcoming Seminars

• DAMTP Seminars
• DPMMS Seminars
• Statistical Laboratory Seminars
• Isaac Newton Institute Seminars

News, Announcements and Events

© 2024 University of Cambridge

• Contact the University
• Accessibility
• Freedom of information
• Privacy policy and cookies
• Statement on Modern Slavery
• Terms and conditions
• University A-Z
• Undergraduate
• Postgraduate
• Research news
• About research at Cambridge
• Spotlight on...

Study at Cambridge

About the university, research at cambridge.

• Undergraduate courses
• Events and open days
• Fees and finance
• Postgraduate courses
• How to apply
• Postgraduate events
• Fees and funding
• International students
• Continuing education
• Executive and professional education
• Courses in education
• How the University and Colleges work
• Term dates and calendars
• Visiting the University
• Annual reports
• Equality and diversity
• A global university
• Public engagement
• Give to Cambridge
• For Cambridge students
• For our researchers
• Business and enterprise
• Colleges & departments
• Email & phone search
• Museums & collections
• Prospective Students
• Postgraduate Study
• Department of Sociology
• Our History
• Job Vacancies
• Green Team overview
• Everyday Tips for the Office
• Environmental Action Plan
• Green Travel
• Green Cambridge
• Green Seminar Series
• Alumni overview
• Help support the Department of Sociology
• Alumni Benefits
• Alumni Events
• Academic Staff
• Affiliated Staff
• Postdoctoral and Research Staff
• Postgraduate Students
• Emeritus Academics
• Administrative Staff overview
• Paulina Baltsoukou
• Lara Gisborne
• Lucy O'Connor
• Lisa Watson
• Abigail Youngman
• Yvonne Frankfurth
• Yvonne Martin-Portugues
• Ellen Munnelly
• Lucian Stephenson
• Undergraduates overview
• Part I overview
• Supervisions
• One-Year Part II
• Undergraduate Teaching FAQs
• Postgraduates overview
• Library Services
• Resources & Training
• Support & Wellbeing
• Cambridge University Sociology Society (SocSoc)
• Generative AI and your learning
• Why study Sociology?
• Undergraduate Study overview
• Course Structure
• Applying to Sociology
• Fees and Funding
• Guidance for Teachers
• Preparing for Interview
• Student Testimonials
• Support and Services
• Postgraduate Study overview
• Choosing a Supervisor
• Applications overview
• Postgraduate FAQs

Visiting Scholars

• Outreach & Open Days
• Y10-13 Photo Competition
• Events overview
• News overview
• Decolonise Sociology ↗
• Applications
• Undergraduate Study

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

Contact: [email protected]

Privacy notice & cookie policies.

Website Updates

Profile Update Form

Research Project Form

Event Promotion Form

Tweet Request Form

Useful Information

Annual Reports

Equipment for Loan

Digital Editorial Guidelines

IT Services Guide

twitterrrr.png

facebook_logo_square.png

117156_media_512x512.png

768px-youtube_play_button_square_2013-2017.svg_.png

© 2024 University of Cambridge

• Contact the University
• Accessibility
• Freedom of information
• Privacy policy and cookies
• Statement on Modern Slavery
• Terms and conditions
• University A-Z
• Undergraduate
• Postgraduate
• Research news
• About research at Cambridge
• Spotlight on...

Study at Cambridge

About the university, research at cambridge.

• Events and open days
• Fees and finance
• Student blogs and videos
• Why Cambridge
• Qualifications directory
• How to apply
• Fees and funding
• Frequently asked questions
• International students
• Continuing education
• Executive and professional education
• Courses in education
• How the University and Colleges work
• Visiting the University
• Term dates and calendars
• Video and audio
• Find an expert
• Publications
• International Cambridge
• Public engagement
• Giving to Cambridge
• For current students
• For business
• Colleges & departments
• Libraries & facilities
• Museums & collections
• Email & phone search
• /  Departments A-Z  /
• FoE / Study with Us / Postgraduate Study / Postgraduate Study: Doctoral Programme / PhD in Education Programme

The Faculty of Education

Departments A-Z

• Map & How To Reach Us
• Green Impact and Sustainability
• Visiting Scholars
• Visiting Students
• Courses still available 2020-21
• Undergraduate Study
• Postgraduate Study
• Practitioner Professional Development
• Counselling
• Student Engagement & Feedback
• REF 2021 (Raven required)
• About our research
• Research Areas
• Research Centres
• Research Groups and Centres
• Research Programmes
• Cambridge Journal of Education
• CRiCLE Network
• NRICH mathematics
• Cambridge School Classics Project
• CIAN Network
• Leadership for Learning
• SUPER Network
• Cambridge Primary Review Trust
• Academic Staff
• Emeritus Readers and Professors
• Doctoral Students
• Equality and Diversity
• Media enquiries
• Open Research Seminar calendar
• Conferences
• Recorded seminars and lectures
• Faculty Library - home
• Your Library Guides - Moodle site
• Library Blog - FYI
• Opening Hours
• COVID-19 guidance
• Remote working guide
• AV Support Service
• Booker - Book a room
• Google Apps@Cambridge
• External Bookings
•    educ   NET   

PhD in Education Programme

• Faculty of Education

Study with Us

• Postgraduate Study: Doctoral Programme
• PhD Programme
• EdD Programme
• The Doctoral Experience
• Doctoral Programme
• The Cambridge Experience

Postgraduate Open Day

Each year the University holds a Postgraduate Open Day where potential applicants can ask staff their questions, find out more about the application process, and explore Cambridge virtually.

Research Community

ESRC Doctoral Training Centre

PhD Programme Structure

The PhD Dissertation

Centres & Networks

Connect with us, our address.

© 2024 University of Cambridge

• University A-Z
• Contact the University
• Accessibility
• Freedom of information
• Terms and conditions
• Undergraduate
• Postgraduate
• Spotlight on...
• About research at Cambridge

• Study at Cambridge
• About the University
• Research at Cambridge
• Colleges and departments
• Email and phone search
• For business
• For current students
• Libraries and facilities
• Museum and collections

Search form

• Events and open days
• Fees and finance
• Student blogs and videos
• Why Cambridge
• Qualifications directory
• How to apply
• Fees and funding
• Frequently asked questions
• International students
• Continuing education
• Executive and professional education
• Course in education
• Giving to Cambridge
• How the University and Colleges work
• Visiting the University
• Spotlight on...
• About research at Cambridge

Department of Engineering

• Overview of the Department
• 21st Century Engineers
• Staff and Student Directory
• Department Newsletter
• Alumni Relations
• How to Find Us
• Keep in touch
• Undergraduates Overview
• Prospective Undergraduates
• Information for Staff
• Current Undergraduates
• Postgraduates Overview
• Taught courses (MPhil and MRes)
• Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs)
• PhD in Engineering
• MPhil in Engineering
• Part-time study
• Applying for taught courses and CDTs
• Applying for research courses
• Applying for part-time study
• Requirements for postgraduate students
• English language requirements
• International equivalencies
• Funding opportunities for applicants
• Current Postgraduate Students
• Information for staff
• Research Overview
• Energy, Fluids and Turbomachinery
• Electrical Engineering
• Mechanics, Materials and Design
• Civil Engineering
• Manufacturing and Management
• Information Engineering
• Energy, Transport and Urban Infrastructure
• Manufacturing, Design and Materials
• Bioengineering
• Complex, Resilient and Intelligent Systems
• Research news
• Research Integrity
• Collaboration Overview
• Student Placements
• Short Student Projects
• Longer Projects and Frameworks
• Academic Partnerships
• Consulting and Other Services
• Giving to the Department
• Events and Outreach Overview
• Events and Seminars
• Work Experience at the Department of Engineering
• Services Overview
• Building and Estate Services
• Design & Technical Services
• Health and Safety
• Printing Services
• Centre for Languages and Inter-Communication

Requirements for postgraduate courses

Please find details of our academic and other entrance requirements below. This information can also be found on the course pages of the Postgraduate Admissions website, along with further information about the content of each programme and how to apply. 

If you have not completed your studies in the UK please refer to our international equivalencies page for further information on how to check whether your qualification meets the entrance criteria. 

MPhil Courses

Research courses.

Note: Students currently undertaking a taught Master's degree at Cambridge must achieve a mark of 70 per cent to be allowed to continue to the PhD degree. Students currently studying for a Master's degree by research must satisfy their examiners that they are capable of continuing to the PhD degree.

MRes Courses

Mst courses.

Study at Cambridge

About the university, research at cambridge.

• Events and open days
• Fees and finance
• Student blogs and videos
• Why Cambridge
• Course directory
• How to apply
• Frequently asked questions
• International students
• Continuing education
• Executive and professional education
• Courses in education
• How the University and Colleges work
• Visiting the University
• Term dates and calendars
• Video and audio
• Find an expert
• Publications
• International Cambridge
• Public engagement
• Giving to Cambridge
• For current students
• For business
• Colleges & departments
• Libraries & facilities
• Museums & collections
• Email & phone search
• Research Centres
• Institute of Criminology
• Computer Office
• Squire Law Library
• Faculty of Law
• About overview
• History of the Faculty
• Equality, diversity & inclusion overview
• Athena SWAN
• Diversifying the Law: Postgraduate research poster exhibition
• Equal opportunities
• Dignity at work
• Societies overview
• Graduate Law Society (CUGLS)
• Events at the Faculty
• Public media collections
• Cambridge LawLink newsletter overview
• LawLink April 2024
• LawLink January 2024
• LawLink October 2023
• LawLink July 2023
• LawLink April 2023
• LawLink January 2023
• LawLink October 2022
• LawLink July 2022
• LawLink April 2022
• LawLink January 2022
• LawLink October 2021
• LawLink July 2021
• LawLink May 2021
• LawLink January 2021
• LawLink October 2020
• LawLink July 2020
• LawLink May 2020
• LawLink January 2020
• LawLink October 2019
• LawLink July 2019
• LawLink April 2019
• LawLink January 2019
• LawLink October 2018
• LawLink July 2018
• LawLink April 2018
• LawLink January 2018
• LawLink October 2017
• LawLink July 2017
• LawLink April 2017
• LawLink January 2017
• LawLink October 2016
• LawLink July 2016
• LawLink April 2016
• LawLink January 2016
• LawLink October 2015
• LawLink August 2015
• LawLink April 2015
• LawLink January 2015
• LawLink October 2014
• LawLink July 2014
• LawLink April 2014
• Publications from the Faculty
• How to find Us
• People overview
• University and College Teaching Officers in Law Faculty Officers University Teaching Officers in the Institute of Criminology University Teaching Officers in the Department of Land Economy Affiliated Lecturers Retired and honorary members Research Staff Research Students Development and Communications Administrative Staff Computing Staff Squire Library Staff
• Directors of Studies and College Teaching Affiliates
• College Research Fellows in Law
• Human Resources
• Courses overview
• Research overview
• Current research grants
• Faculty Centres, Networks and Groups overview
• Network of Empirical Labour Law Scholars (NELLS)
• Cambridge Socio-Legal Group
• Criminal Jurisprudence and Philosophy Group (CrimJur)
• Cambridge Legal Theory Discussion Group (CLTDG)
• Cambridge Law Club
• Financial support for research
• International Research Groups and Networks
• Research ethics
• Research highlights
• Research with impact
• SSRN Legal Studies Research Paper Series
• Cambridge Law Eminent Scholars Archive
• International links overview
• Faculty academic visitors
• Exchange schemes
• Access & outreach overview
• Why study law?
• How do I become a lawyer?
• Outreach initiatives
• Exploring Law Course: Studying Law at University
• Exploring Law Conference overview
• Attending the conference
• Testimonials
• Exploring Legal Futures Webinars
• Student recruitment events
• #getincambridge
• Life at Cambridge/Applying
• Finding out more: Helpful links
• Alumni & development overview
• Alumni events overview
• Cambridge Women in Law (CWIL) overview
• Statement of aims and objectives
• CWIL Advisory Board
• CWIL mailing list
• Our benefactors
• Ways to give overview
• Squire Law Library appeal

The PhD programme

• International links
• Access & outreach
• Alumni & development

Finance overview    Funding    How to apply

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.

The Faculty of Law The David Williams Building 10 West Road Cambridge CB3 9DZ United Kingdom

Telephone: +44 1223 330033 Email: [email protected]

Terms and Conditions

Connect with us.

Quick links

© 2024 University of Cambridge

• University A-Z
• Contact the University
• Accessibility
• Freedom of information
• Terms and conditions
• Undergraduate
• Postgraduate
• Spotlight on...
• About research at Cambridge

Study at Cambridge

About the university, research at cambridge.

• Undergraduate courses
• Events and open days
• Fees and finance
• Postgraduate courses
• How to apply
• Postgraduate events
• Fees and funding
• International students
• Continuing education
• Executive and professional education
• Courses in education
• How the University and Colleges work
• Term dates and calendars
• Visiting the University
• Annual reports
• Equality and diversity
• A global university
• Public engagement
• Give to Cambridge
• For Cambridge students
• For our researchers
• Business and enterprise
• Colleges & departments
• Email & phone search
• Museums & collections
• New students
• Manage your student information
• Postgraduate students
• Cambridge students
• New students overview
• Pre-arrival courses
• Student registration overview
• Information for New Students
• Information for Continuing Students
• Frequently Asked Questions overview
• Who needs to register
• When to register
• Received registration in error/not received registration email
• Problems creating an account
• Problems logging in
• Problems with screen display
• Personal details changed/incorrectly displayed
• Course details changed/incorrectly displayed
• Accessing email and other services
• Miscellaneous questions
• Contact Form
• First few weeks
• Manage your student information overview
• Student record overview
• Camsis overview
• Extended Self-Service (ESS)
• Logging into CamSIS
• What CamSIS can do for you
• Personal information overview
• Changing your name
• Changing Colleges
• Residing outside the University's precincts
• Applying for person(s) to join you in Cambridge
• Postgraduate students overview
• Code of Practice for Master's students
• Code of Practice for Research Students
• Postgraduate student information

Requirements for research degrees

• Terms of study
• Your progress
• Rules and legal compliance overview
• Freedom of speech
• Public gatherings
• Disclosure and barring service overview
• Cambridge life overview
• Student unions
• Extra-curricular activities overview
• Registering societies
• Military, air, and sea training
• Food and accommodation
• Transport overview
• Bicycles and boats
• Your course overview
• Undergraduate study
• Postgraduate study overview
• Changes to your student status (postgraduates only) overview
• Applying for a change in your student status (postgraduates only)
• Changing your mode of study
• Withdrawing from the University
• Allowance/exemption of research terms
• Withdrawal from Study
• Reinstatement
• Changing your course registration
• Changing your department/faculty
• Changing your supervisor
• Exemption from the University composition fee
• Confirmation of Study: Academic Verification Letters
• Extending your submission date
• Medical intermission (postgraduates)
• Non-medical intermission (postgraduates)
• Returning from medical intermission
• Working away
• Working while you study
• Postgraduate by Research Exam Information
• Research passports
• Engagement and feedback
• Student elections
• Graduation and what next? overview
• Degree Ceremonies overview
• The ceremony
• Academical dress
• Photography
• Degree ceremony dates
• Eligibility
• The Cambridge MA overview
• Degrees Under Statute B II 2
• Degree certificates and transcripts overview
• Academic Transcripts
• Degree Certificates
• After Graduation
• Verification of Cambridge degrees
• After your examination
• Exams overview
• Undergraduate and Postgraduate Taught overview
• All students timetable
• Undergraduate exam information overview
• Postgraduate examinations overview
• Examination access arrangements overview
• Research programmes
• Taught programmes
• Writing, submitting and examination overview
• PhD, EdD, MSc, MLitt overview
• Research Best Practice
• Preparing to submit your thesis
• Submitting your thesis
• Word limits
• The oral examination (viva)
• After the viva (oral examination)
• After the examination overview
• Degree approval and conferment overview
• Final thesis submission
• Examination allowances for certain Postgraduate degrees (except PhD, MSc, MLitt and MPhil by thesis degrees)
• Requesting a review of the results of an examination (postgraduate qualifications)
• Higher degrees overview
• Higher doctorates
• Bachelor of divinity
• PhD under Special Regulations
• Faith-provision in University exams
• Publication of Results
• Exam Support
• Postgraduate by Research
• EAMC overview
• Annual Reports of the EAMC
• Dates of meetings
• Frequently asked questions
• Guidance notes and application forms
• Resources overview
• Build your skills
• Research students
• Fees and financial assistance overview
• Financial assistance overview
• General eligibility principles and guidance
• Cambridge Bursary Scheme funding overview
• What you could get
• Scottish students
• EU students
• Clinical medics and vets
• Independent students
• Extra scholarships and awards
• Undergraduate Financial Assistance Fund
• Postgraduate Financial Assistance Fund
• Realise Financial Assistance Fund
• The Crane Fund
• Loan Fund I
• External Support 
• Support from your Funding Sponsor
• Guidance for Academic Supervisors and College Tutors
• Fees overview
• Funding overview
• Mosley, Worts, and Frere Travel Funds
• Support for UKRI Studentship Holders overview
• Student loans overview
• US loans overview
• Application procedure
• Entrance and Exit Counselling
• Cost of attendance
• What type of loan and how much you can borrow
• Interest rates for federal student loans
• Proof of funding for visa purposes
• Disbursement
• Satisfactory academic progress policy
• In-School Deferment Forms
• Leave of absence
• Withdrawing and return to Title IV policy
• Rights and Responsibilities as a Borrower
• Managing Repayment
• Consumer information
• Submitting a thesis — information for PhD students
• Private loans
• Veteran affairs benefits
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Student support
• Complaints and appeals
• Student record
• Personal information

Doctorate (PhD, EdD, EngD, PhD by Special Regulations)

Doctoral degrees are awarded to those who have demonstrated all of the criteria below: 

• a significant contribution to the field of study through the creation and interpretation of new knowledge, connection of previously unrelated facts or the development of new theory or revision of older views;
• submission of work of a quality in whole or in part of a standard to merit publication (whether or not subsequently published);
• provides evidence of the acquisition of knowledge and a detailed understanding of applicable techniques for research and advanced academic enquiry;
• is of a quality and quantity to reflect three years of full-time postgraduate study/five years part-time postgraduate study.

Master of Science/Master of Letters

The Master of Science or Master of Letters degrees are awarded to those who have demonstrated all of the criteria below:

• provides evidence of a useful contribution to the field of study;
• systematic understanding of knowledge and critical awareness of current problems and/or new insights in the field of study
• includes critical evaluation of current methodologies and wider research in the area of study;
• provides evidence of an understanding of applicable techniques for research and advanced academic enquiry;
• submission of work of a quality and quantity expected for two years of full-time postgraduate research and study

Master of Philosophy

The Master of Philosophy degree is awarded to those who have demonstrated all of the criteria below:

• understanding of knowledge and critical awareness of current problems and/or new insights in the field of study;
• submission of work of a quality and quantity expected for one year of full-time postgraduate research and study

Form of work

All students are expected to submit a thesis.  Content of a thesis may differ by subject, but it is expected to include critical review, reworking of existing material providing the provenance of such material is clearly identified, and the results of the original investigation carried out during the course.  In some cases it may also include submission of compositions or recorded work (e.g for a degree in Music).

A thesis may contain previously published material as an integral part of the thesis. This material should be set in the context of an overall thesis (as part of a connected argument) with suitable introductory and concluding passages to link the published material to the rest of the work.   Although permissible, it is not expected that a thesis submitted for the awards of MSc, MLitt or MPhil will include published works.

The amount of previously published material to include is up to each candidate, however included publications must refer to research carried out as part of a candidate’s degree and the thesis must keep within the word limits specified by the relevant Degree Committee . 

Candidates for the PhD by Special Regulations and, with the approval of the relevant Degree Committee, candidates for the PhD (by general regulations) and the EdD may submit a thesis consisting of a number of previously published papers.  In these cases the thesis must also contain a substantial introductory summary statement summarising rationale; placing the work in the context of the wider field of study;  clarifying the extent to which works represent a consistent body of research, and the original contribution to knowledge they make; and providing clear detail on the exact contribution of the student to each included paper.  It would not be necessary for any published work to be re-written prior to inclusion in a thesis.  The amount of published material to include is up to each candidate, however with the exception of candidates for the PhD by Special Regulations the included publications must refer to research carried out as part of a candidate’s degree.  All candidates must also keep within the word limits specified by the relevant Degree Committee .

Works will be considered as ‘published’ if they are traceable in ordinary catalogue and copies are obtainable at the time of application or were at some previous time by members of the public through normal channels. 

The thesis must also be submitted in the approved  format .

Assessment  

The examination shall consist of submission of a thesis embodying the results of the candidate’s approved course of research, and examination on the general field of knowledge within which it falls.

Examiners will assess on the extent to which the thesis:

• is clearly written;
• fulfils the requirements for the degree.

  The oral examination should allow:

• the candidate to defend his or her thesis and clarify any matters raised by the Examiners;
• the Examiners to probe the candidate’s knowledge in the general field;
• the Examiners to assure themselves that the work presented is the candidate’s own and to clarify matters of any collaboration; and
• the Examiners to come to a definite conclusion about the outcome of the examination.

For MPhil programmes where the supplementary programme regulations state requirements for the examination, these shall be supplementary to the guidance detailed above.

© 2024 University of Cambridge

• Contact the University
• Accessibility
• Freedom of information
• Privacy policy and cookies
• Statement on Modern Slavery
• Terms and conditions
• University A-Z
• Undergraduate
• Postgraduate
• Research news
• About research at Cambridge
• Spotlight on...

Study at Cambridge

About the university, research at cambridge.

• Undergraduate courses
• Events and open days
• Fees and finance
• Postgraduate courses
• How to apply
• Postgraduate events
• Fees and funding

International students

• Continuing education
• Executive and professional education
• Courses in education
• How the University and Colleges work
• Term dates and calendars
• Visiting the University
• Annual reports
• Equality and diversity
• A global university
• Public engagement
• Give to Cambridge
• For Cambridge students
• For our researchers
• Business and enterprise
• Colleges & departments
• Email & phone search
• Museums & collections
• Before you apply
• Undergraduate Study
• Student life overview
• Why Cambridge
• Accommodation
• Sport and societies
• Courses overview
• Choosing a course
• How you will learn
• Careers and graduate prospects
• Subject A-Z
• Colleges overview
• What is a College?
• Choosing a College
• College contacts
• Area links scheme
• Finance overview
• Tuition fees
• Living costs
• Financial support
• Music awards
• Applying overview
• Application timeline
• After you apply
• International overview
• Chat with our students
• Why Cambridge?
• What can I study?

Entry requirements

• Tuition fees and costs
• International visits and events
• Visas and immigration
• Year abroad
• Get in touch!
• Open Days and Events overview
• Upcoming events
• Cambridge Open Days
• Virtual Tour
• Think Cambridge
• Applicant Webinar Series
• Subject Masterclasses
• Teachers and advisers' events
• HE fairs and exhibitions
• Find out more overview
• Sign up to our Newsletter
• Widening participation

Parents and supporters

Teachers and advisers

• Getting here
• Why Cambridge overview
• Study facilities and libraries
• Cambridge explained
• Support overview
• College welfare

Disabled students

Mature students

• Counselling
• Care leavers overview
• Realise student snapshot
• Travel Fund
• Young carers
• Student parents and childcare
• Estranged students
• Area links scheme overview
• East Midlands overview
• Leicester City
• Leicestershire
• Lincolnshire
• Northamptonshire
• Nottinghamshire
• East of England overview
• Bedfordshire
• Cambridgeshire
• Hertfordshire
• Peterborough
• Southend-on-Sea
• Greater London overview
• Barking and Dagenham
• City of London
• City of Westminster
• Hammersmith and Fulham
• Kensington and Chelsea
• Tower Hamlets
• Waltham Forest
• North East overview
• Middlesbrough
• North Tyneside
• Northumberland
• Redcar and Cleveland
• South Tyneside
• Stockton-on-Tees
• North West overview
• Blackburn with Darwen
• Telford and Wrekin
• Northern Ireland
• South East overview
• Bracknell Forest
• Milton Keynes
• Oxfordshire
• Southampton
• Isle of Wight
• Buckinghamshire
• West Berkshire
• South West overview
• Bath and North East Somerset
• Bournemouth
• Gloucestershire
• North Somerset
• South Gloucestershire
• Wales overview
• North Wales
• Mid and South Wales
• West Midlands overview
• Herefordshire
• Staffordshire
• Warwickshire
• Wolverhampton
• Worcestershire
• Yorkshire and Humber overview
• East Yorkshire
• Huddersfield and Kirklees
• Kingston-upon-Hull
• North East Lincolnshire
• North Lincolnshire
• North Yorkshire
• Isle of Man
• Living costs overview
• Study costs
• Financial support overview
• Cambridge financial support
• Government financial support
• Family contribution
• Outreach Scholarships overview
• Stormzy Scholarship
• Formula 1 Scholarship
• Geography Scholarship
• Student Funding and Sharia Law
• Music awards overview
• Choral awards overview
• Instrumental awards overview
• Organ scholarships overview
• College vacancies and course restrictions
• When are the auditions and interviews?
• What do the Organ Trials involve?
• How do I apply?
• Further information
• Choosing high school subjects
• Improve your application
• Entry requirements overview
• Qualifications we accept
• Sixth Term Exam (STEP)
• International entry requirements
• Application statistics
• Mature student applications
• Second undergraduate degrees
• UCAS application
• Admission tests overview
• Clinical aptitude test (UCAT)
• Law test (LNAT)
• Engineering and Science test (ESAT)
• Mathematics test (TMUA)
• College admission assessments
• My Cambridge Application
• Disruption to your studies
• Written work and portfolios
• Cambridge interviews overview
• Prepare for an interview
• Application decisions overview
• Admissions Policy
• Unspent criminal convictions
• Contextual data
• Outcome of your application overview
• Terms of Admission
• Admissions complaints
• After you get your exam results overview
• Information for new students
• Applying for reconsideration overview
• Reconsideration eligibility criteria
• Tuition fees and costs overview
• International financial support
• Tuition fee status
• International visits and events overview
• International webinar series
• Teachers and advisers' events overview
• Teachers and Advisers' Webinars
• Teachers and Advisers' Conference
• Widening participation overview
• Access and Participation Plans
• Insight Discover
• Insight Explore
• Sutton Trust Summer Schools
• Apply: Cambridge
• Safeguarding
• Parents and supporters overview
• Parents' Newsletter
• Teachers and advisers overview
• How similar are Oxford and Cambridge?
• Helping students prepare
• School/college reference
• Teachers' Newsletter
• Events for Teachers and Advisers
• Inspiring Educator Awards

You need to have top grades to study at the University of Cambridge.

You'll need to check the entry requirements for your course before you apply . You may need to have qualifications in a particular subject and achieve certain grades. The entry requirements for your course may differ between Cambridge Colleges.

Our course pages refer to our A level and International Baccalaureate requirements. You can find out more about how we consider A level and IB qualifications and the other qualifications that we accept on our qualifications page .

Check the course pages for entry requirements

You also may need to:

• check that we accept your qualifications , if you aren't studying A levels or IB. There may be qualification specific requirements you need to meet
• have English language qualifications if you are not from a majority English speaking country (as defined by the UK Home Office)
• be over 18 to study some courses , for example Medicine
• check how to apply if you want to transfer from another UK university

Making an offer to study at Cambridge

Offers above the minimum requirement.

The minimum offer level and subject requirements outline the minimum you'll usually need to achieve in your qualifications to receive an offer from Cambridge.

In some cases you’ll receive a higher or more challenging offer.

Colleges set higher offer requirements for a number of reasons. This could be because:

• there is strong competition for places on the course. In this case, we may make more offers and make them more challenging. This gives more applicants a chance to prove themselves through their exam performance, rather than not being made an offer
• you have taken some exams early. We need to ensure you will achieve the highest grades in your remaining exams. This helps us to assess whether you will be able to manage the academic challenge of sitting exams in a single exam period, which is how we assess students at Cambridge
• you have a less common combination of subjects or we want to encourage you to continue with the best combination of subjects
• you performed less well in some parts of the application process

Where we set more challenging offers this is to better ensure that you will be able to cope with the academic level of the course and thrive at Cambridge.

English language requirements

If you're not from a majority English speaking country ( as defined by the UK Home Office ), your English language skills must be good enough for you to:

• take part in an academic interview
• study a Cambridge course that is taught and examined in English

Cambridge offers that include an English language condition

Offers from Cambridge may include an English language condition either as part of any visa requirements or if there are any concerns raised during your application.

We’ll assess you on:

• your qualifications
• written assessment or pre-submitted work
• interview performance
• educational background

The Cambridge College that makes you an offer will decide what the condition is. The condition may be based on your grade in a high school qualification or an approved English language test.

As a guide, you would be expected to achieve a good C1 standard within the Common European Framework for Languages (CEFR) in all four competencies by the time you start at Cambridge University. Commonly, this is demonstrated by one of the qualifications listed below.

Minimum English language requirements

• IELTS Academic – normally a minimum overall grade of 7.5, usually with 7.0 or above in each element
• TOEFL Internet Based Test (IBT) – normally a minimum overall score of 110, with 25 or above in each element
• EU students – competence in English at C1 standard in the appropriate component of a school-leaving exam (for example, the Abitur)
• Cambridge English: C2 Proficiency – accepted with a minimum overall score of 200, with no element lower than 185
• Cambridge English: C1 Advanced – accepted with a minimum overall score of 193, with no element lower than 185, alongside other evidence of competence in English

If you have followed the Singapore Integrated Programme (SIP), contact your chosen College admissions office for advice.

Visas and Secure English Language Tests (SELT)

For some visa types, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) requires a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as 'IELTS for UKVI (Academic)'. However, under UKVI policy, as a Higher Education Provider (HEP), we can accept other English language qualifications when sponsoring a student visa.

If you take an approved English language test to meet the English language requirements:

• the test is only valid for visa purposes for two years from the date of the exam
• the results should still be valid on your first day of your Cambridge course
• the component scores should normally be achieved in a single sitting of the test.

If you’re under 18 when you start at Cambridge

If you’ll be under 18 when you join us, you should talk to a College Admissions Office as early as possible to discuss your application.

If you’re considering Medicine, you should also read the advice about age requirements on the Medicine course page .

If you'll be under the age of 16 on admission, you may need to meet additional requirements and restrictions to comply with legislation.

Transferring to Cambridge from another UK university

We normally do not consider applications from students enrolled on a degree course at another UK university.

We’ll only consider this if:

• you have exceptional circumstances
• you want to change the subject you're studying
• need strong support from your course director
• need a written reference or letter of support to the Cambridge College you apply to
• be assessed in the same way as any other applicant

If you transfer to Cambridge from another UK university, you will need to start your chosen Cambridge course from the beginning (first year). It is not possible to transfer credit to Cambridge from another university.

Please be aware that if you have previously studied at another university, this may impact your eligibility for student finance and/or a student visa.

Cambridge Admissions Office

• Cambridge Admissions Office Student Services Centre New Museums Site Cambridge CB2 3PT
• 01223 333308
• [email protected]
• www.cao.cam.ac.uk

About this site

Our website

Privacy policy

Participant data and booking policies

Information for

Care leavers and estranged students

© 2024 University of Cambridge

• Contact the University
• Accessibility
• Freedom of information
• Privacy policy and cookies
• Statement on Modern Slavery
• Terms and conditions
• University A-Z
• Undergraduate
• Postgraduate
• Research news
• About research at Cambridge
• Spotlight on...

Medicine (Graduate Course)

• Director of Studies Dr Nick Evans (Pre-Clinical Yr 1&2), Dr Thomas Pulimood (Clinical Yr 3&5) & Dr Jeremy Webb (Clinical Yr 3&4)
• Faculty Website School of Clinical Medicine

The Graduate Course in Medicine is an accelerated four-year programme. Admissions are co-ordinated across four Colleges.

Graduate Medicine at Wolfson

Wolfson offers places to students for the Graduate Course in Medicine at the University of Cambridge.

The emphasis is the acquisition of clinical skills by direct patient contact in hospital and community environments, and the integration of core medical science with clinical medicine.

You can find further information about studying Graduate Medicine on the University's course  pages . Detailed information is also available on the Clinical School's Prospective Undergraduates  page .

The Graduate Course in Medicine (A101) is open only to applicants who qualify for Home fee status.  For information about fee status, see here .

International graduates may apply for affiliated entry to the Standard Course (A100); Home fee status graduates may apply to both courses.

Please note that you must complete a separate Graduate Course in Medicine application form in addition to your UCAS application to apply for this course. The deadline to submit this additional form is 22 October.

Due to the competitive nature of the course, it is important that you make sure you meet or will meet the below pre medical requirements and that you have appropriate healthcare experience before you apply for the course.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for students who are highly motivated and enthusiastic about medicine and have the academic ability to learn very fast in a demanding course. You should have a strong scientific interest in medical sciences and a realistic view of Medicine as a career.

At the same time, we seek applicants who exhibit the human qualities of excellent clinicians, such as compassion, empathy, integrity and drive. Accordingly, the admissions process evaluates the applicants’ academic background and scientific aptitude, as well as evidence of exposure to relevant medical environments through volunteering or shadowing experiences.

Entry Requirements

There are two sets of requirements.

1. Must already be met in order for your application to be considered: 

• A Levels: A*A*A (if you graduated with a 2.1 or have yet to complete your first degree); OR
• A Levels: ABB (if you have graduated with a 1st class degree)

2. To be met before starting the course;

• A level Chemistry at grade A or above, normally passed within 7 years of entry to the course; AND
• At least one of Biology, Physics, Mathematics, at A level or AS level (no time restrictions).

We will consider qualifications equivalents to A Levels. If you took pre-degree qualifications outside of the UK please see the University website for equivalencies.

Postgraduate qualifications are not included in the entry requirements. Entry requirements are based on your first Bachelors degree.

Please consult the University's entry requirements for Graduate Medicine for further information.

Healthcare Experience

We strongly recommend obtaining some healthcare experience as a paid or volunteer worker, since we particularly value experience in a caring role. Typically, students who are made offers for this course have varied and consistent hands-on patient care experience, over a number of years. Applicants whose experience is largely based on shadowing are unlikely to be competitive. Where applicants are already qualified healthcare workers, it is essential that they have a range of experience outside of their own discipline.

Applications

Applications to study Graduate Medicine at Wolfson are submitted through UCAS and completing the separate Supplementary Application Form, which will be emailed to applicants following receipt of their UCAS application. 

A set of Applicant Instructions for 2025 Entry and an Healthcare Experience Log will be available in due course.

For more information about making an application, please visit our  application webpages .

You can also find useful information on our  Application FAQs  page. 

Financial Support

Financial support is available for students studying the four-year Graduate Course in Medicine (CGCM) details of which can be found here . 

Graduate Medicine

Graduate medicine course.

Directors of Studies: Dr Vian Azzu (pre-clinical), Dr Kevin Loudon (pre-clinical), Dr Ben Challis (clinical) & Dr Anna Spathis (clinical)

The Graduate Course in Medicine is an accelerated four-year programme. The emphasis is the acquisition of clinical skills by direct patient contact in hospital and community environments, and the integration of core medical science with clinical medicine.

Please note that this course is only open to applicants who would be eligible for Home fee status at the point of application. International graduates may apply for affiliated entry to the Standard Course (A100). Home fee status candidates can apply to both the standard (A100) and graduate-entry (A101) courses but must apply to the same college for both.

Please note that you must complete a separate Graduate Course in Medicine   application form   in addition to your UCAS application to apply for this course. You will be given access to this form once you have applied via UCAS. The form will ask for more details about you and your educational history. You will also be asked to upload a Healthcare Experience Log documenting your work experience and to give details of a second referee in addition to your UCAS referee. Instructions on completing the form are provided .

The deadline to complete your Graduate Course in Medicine application for 2023 entry is 22 October 2022. The deadline for receipt of your UCAS application is 15 October 2022.

Due to the competitive nature of the course, it is important that you make sure you meet or will meet the below pre-medical requirements and that you have appropriate healthcare experience before you apply for the course.

Course Requirements

There are two sets of academic requirements for this course. The first is your academic performance to date, based on A levels (or equivalent) and your first degree. The second set relates to the subject requirements which must be met before studying medicine at Cambridge.

Academic requirements

Academic requirements must be met in order for your application to be considered – you must have contextualised A level results of:

• A*A*A (if you graduated with a 2.i or have yet to complete your first degree)
• ABB (if you have graduated with a 1st class degree).

If you didn’t take A levels we will consider your performance in equivalent qualifications such as the IB, BTECs or Access courses.

Our contextualisation of A level results (or equivalents) will take account of personal circumstances and any educational disadvantage you may have experienced. This is done on a case-by-case basis taking all the available information provided in your application into account.

If you took pre-degree qualifications outside of the UK the please see the University website for equivalencies.

We would expect contextualisation of degree outcomes to have been undertaken by the awarding university: owing to the competitive nature of this course we cannot accept a final degree award of less than a 2.i (or equivalent).

Where universities classify degrees differently, we would usually follow the equivalencies given on the University website.

Dentists with a distinction will be considered to have a first-class degree; merit is considered equivalent to a 2.i.

Postgraduate qualifications are not considered. Please note that all pending qualifications must be completed by 30th August. For current PhD students this means completion of all examination and corrections and the submission of the final thesis.

Applications

Applicants should apply online through   UCAS   as well as by completing the separate Graduate Course in Medicine Application Form, which can be found on the course page on the University website .

UCAS applications received without the form will be regarded as invalid.

Applicants to the graduate course are required to register for and sit the UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test).

Applicants meeting the academic requirements are scored on the duration and variety of their work experience, reflection, and references. Applicants are scored by at least 2 assessors in parallel to minimise bias. The top scoring 90 or so candidates are then invited to interview.

We strongly recommend obtaining some healthcare experience as a paid or volunteer worker, since we particularly value experience in a caring role. Typically, students who are made offers for this course have varied and consistent hands-on patient care experience, over a number of years. Applicants whose experience is largely based on shadowing are unlikely to be competitive. Where applicants are already qualified healthcare workers, it is essential that they have a range of experience outside of their own discipline.

The interview is in the multiple mini interview format (normally 10 stations), with each station lasting 5 minutes. The interviewers include clinicians, medical sciences experts and lay academics.

Further information on the course can be found on the   Clinical School   and the   University of Cambridge   websites.

Study at Cambridge

About the university, research at cambridge.

• Undergraduate courses
• Events and open days
• Fees and finance
• Postgraduate courses
• How to apply
• Postgraduate events
• Fees and funding
• International students
• Continuing education
• Executive and professional education
• Courses in education
• How the University and Colleges work
• Term dates and calendars
• Visiting the University
• Annual reports
• Equality and diversity
• A global university
• Public engagement
• Give to Cambridge
• For Cambridge students
• For our researchers
• Business and enterprise
• Colleges & departments
• Email & phone search
• Museums & collections
• International qualifications
• Postgraduate Study
• Why Cambridge overview
• Chat with our students
• Cambridge explained overview
• The supervision system
• Student life overview
• In and around Cambridge
• Leisure activities
• Student unions
• Music awards
• Student support overview
• Mental health and wellbeing
• Disabled students
• Accommodation
• Language tuition
• Skills training
• Support for refugees
• Courses overview
• Course Directory
• Department directory
• Qualification types
• Funded studentships
• Part-time study
• Research degrees
• Visiting students
• Finance overview
• Fees overview
• What is my fee status?
• Part-time fees
• Application fee
• Living costs
• Funding overview
• Funding search
• How to apply for funding
• University funding overview
• Research Councils (UKRI)
• External funding and loans overview
• Funding searches
• External scholarships
• Charities and the voluntary sector
• Funding for disabled students
• Widening participation in funding
• Colleges overview
• What is a College?
• Choosing a College
• Terms of Residence
• Applying overview
• Before you apply
• Entry requirements
• Application deadlines
• How do I apply? overview
• Application fee overview
• Application fee waiver
• Life Science courses
• Terms and conditions
• Continuing students
• Disabled applicants
• Supporting documents overview
• Academic documents
• Finance documents
• Evidence of competence in English
• Terms and Conditions
• Applicant portal and self-service
• After you apply overview
• Confirmation of admission
• Student registry
• Previous criminal convictions
• Deferring an application
• Updating your personal details
• Appeals and Complaints
• Widening participation
• Postgraduate admissions fraud
• International overview
• Immigration overview
• ATAS overview
• Applying for an ATAS certificate
• Current Cambridge students
• Competence in English overview
• What tests are accepted?
• International events
• International student views overview
• Akhila’s story
• Alex’s story
• Huijie’s story
• Kelsey’s story
• Nilesh’s story
• Get in touch!
• Events overview
• Upcoming events
• Postgraduate Open Days overview
• Discover Cambridge: Master’s and PhD Study webinars
• Virtual tour
• Research Internships
• How we use participant data
• Postgraduate Newsletter
• Immigration
• Competence in English
• International student views
• Why Cambridge

If you have not previously studied in the UK, it's important to check that your qualifications are considered suitable preparation for entry to your chosen course.

Below provides equivalence guidelines of the University's minimum academic requirements for each country. You should refer to the  Course Directory for the academic requirements for your specific course, as these may be higher than the University's minimum academic requirements.

If you do not meet the requirements for your specific course, please contact the department to check whether they will still consider an application from you.

For many countries, the University recognises significant variance between institutions and this may be reflected in your academic offer condition (for example, a score of 70% from one university may not be considered the same as a score of 70% from another university).

For further information on international qualification equivalency, see the UK ENIC website .

Check the qualifications for your country:

External links.

Adjusting to life and studying in the UK went smoothly thanks for the numerous social communities there are at Cambridge. Alexandre, MPhil in Engineering for Sustainable Development

Postgraduate Admissions Office

• Admissions Statistics
• Start an Application
• Applicant Self-Service

At a glance

• Bringing a family
• Current Postgraduates
• Cambridge Students' Union (SU)

University Policy and Guidelines

Privacy Policy

Information compliance

Equality and Diversity

Terms of Study

About this site

About our website

Privacy policy

© 2024 University of Cambridge

• Contact the University
• Accessibility
• Freedom of information
• Privacy policy and cookies
• Statement on Modern Slavery
• University A-Z
• Undergraduate
• Postgraduate
• Research news
• About research at Cambridge
• Spotlight on...