How to apply

Full Job Description

Applications for 2027 entry are now open Deadline: Tuesday 8 December 2026

This is a fully funded programme supported by the BBSRC Doctoral Landscape Awards. An offer of a place includes full funding for your stipend (currently £21,805 for the 2026–27 academic year), as well as payment of the University tuition fees. For the 2027 intake, approximately 25 studentships will be available.

You can apply for a Targeted and/or iCASE studentship in the same application. You can select up to two projects. Your choices can be from the same or different research areas and can be any combination of project types, including two Targeted projects, two iCASE projects, or one of each.

Prospective applicants are welcome to contact supervisors directly to discuss their project and find out more about the research opportunity before applying. However, contacting a supervisor is not a requirement, and any pre-application discussions will not form part of the applicant assessment or selection process.

The programme is also open to international students (EU and non-EU).

Apply For A Targeted Studentship

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

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

Before You Apply

Check your eligibility

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

Read more information about the eligibility criteria.

Applying

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

Completing the application form

• Project reference

Enter the project reference** (e.g. TRG-YYY-XX or ICS-XXX-YY) in the required field.

Please check that the project reference is correct and matches your chosen project. We recommend copying and pasting the reference directly from the project advertisement to avoid typing errors.

• Project title

Enter the project title exactly as it appears in the project advertisement.Please make sure that the title matches the project reference you entered in the previous field.

• Statement of interest

For each project you have selected, provide a brief statement explaining why you are interested in the project. Your statement should:

• Explain your interest in the research topic and project.
• Include any relevant information from discussions you have had with the project supervisor, if applicable.
• Highlight relevant research projects, experience, skills or coursework that have prepared you for this research area.

As part of your application, you will be asked to provide short written responses covering your motivation for pursuing a PhD, innovative thinking and problem-solving, ability to work independently, knowledge of recent developments in your research area, understanding of the research process, and relevant technical skills.

Applicants to this course have the opportunity to provide additional contextual information about their undergraduate study. The information you provide in the contextual form will allow us to better understand the circumstances of your undergraduate study and achievement. It is not compulsory to provide this information. Find out more about Contextual Admissions.

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

After You Apply

Applications are considered together as a gathered field after the closing date in December. Admissions will follow a two-stage selection process. Supervisors and departments/institutes will first review applications for their projects and shortlist candidates for an initial interview. Candidates who are successful at this stage will then be invited to a second interview with the DTP Research Committee. All interviews will be conducted online. Please see the Application Timeline.

Apply For An Icase Studentship

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

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

International Students

International students, including those from the EU and outside the EU, are eligible to apply for Research Council-funded postgraduate studentships.

The Cambridge Biosciences DTP can offer a limited number of studentships to international candidates, up to 30% of the cohort. For example, for a cohort of 25 students, up to 7 studentships may be awarded to international candidates.

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

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