You can apply for funding via a number of different routes to help cover your postgraduate study costs.
University funding for postgraduate study
You can apply to be considered for most University funding through the Applicant Portal. Some University funds may ask for a separate application form.
More information can be found at Postgraduate Funding provided by the Postgraduate Admissions Office.
Funding sources
- Cambridge Trust (including The Vice Chancellor's Award, The Cambridge International Scholarship Scheme, etc.)
- Harding Distinguished Postgraduate Scholars Programme
- UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funding
- Medical Research Council (MRC) funds studentships across the School of Clinical Medicine and the School of Biological Sciences. You must apply to specific projects that fall under the following themes:
- Data Science for Health
- Molecular and Cellular Medicine
- Neurosciences and Mental Health
- Infection and Immunity
- Medical Research Council (MRC) funds studentships across the School of Clinical Medicine and the School of Biological Sciences. You must apply to specific projects that fall under the following themes:
- Gates Cambridge
- Some department and College funds (including Postdoctoral Bye Fellows at Murray Edwards College, etc.)
Funding deadlines
There are 3 main University funding deadlines for the 2025/26 academic year:
- 16 October 2024 (for US citizens applying to the Gates Cambridge Scholarship)
- 3 December 2024
- 7 January 2025
Deadlines are course-specific so check the Course Directory to see which funding deadline applies to your course. Your full application (including references) must be submitted by 23:59 GMT on the relevant funding deadline.
Department and College funding may have different deadlines. Check their funding information for details.
Funded programmes and projects
The PhD in Immunity and Infection at the Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology and Infectious Disease (CITIID) is a 4-year programme, offering students a unique opportunity to harness our excellent mix of capabilities in basic research and clinical facilities to tackle some of the biggest global health challenges.
Our PhD programme aims to equip the next generation of scientists with:
-
thorough understanding of the pathogenesis of immune and infectious disorders
-
necessary skills and broad insight to bring novel and innovative approaches to the study of immunity and infection
-
ability and opportunities to develop therapeutic strategies for better patient outcomes and global health
The Programme is offering three fully funded studentships at the Home fee rate, for projects commencing in October 2025. International students may apply to the Programme, but will need to obtain funding and should therefore also apply to the University’s funding competition, by the relevant deadline. In addition to excellent research facilities, students will have access to a wide variety of training and researcher development activities, many of which are offered through the Postgraduate School of Life Sciences and the wider University.
The Home-fee rate studentships provide an annual stipend for 4 years, full Home fees and research costs of £5k per year.
The goal of the Cambridge PhD programme in Cardiovascular Research is to train scientists in cross-disciplinary research related to cardiovascular disease, particularly those who can work effectively across traditional disciplines and lead collaborative research projects. The programme combines formal training in molecular and cellular biology, physiology of model organisms, human physiology, and human genetics and genomics.
The programme brings together world-leading expertise, drawing on faculty at the University of Cambridge’s School of Clinical Medicine and School of Biological Sciences and several interdisciplinary institutes: the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, the Babraham Institute, the Wellcome-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, the MRC Biostatistics Unit, the MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit the MRC Epidemiology Unit and the Institute of Metabolic Science.
The programme’s principal investigators are at the international forefront of their scientific disciplines, and provide breadth of expertise from molecules and cells through animals to human studies. The training provides an excellent environment for cross-disciplinary research with a sharp focus on translational implications for human health.
The programme comprises three interlinked research areas:
1. Cardiovascular Biology
2. Stem Cell and Developmental Biology
3. Genetics and Genomics
Whilst each of these areas has its own particular expertise, there is extensive collaboration both within and across research areas, providing a multidisciplinary approach to cardiovascular research. Details of principle investigators by theme.
Next intake 2026
US citizens only
This innovative programme was established in 2002 as a collaboration between the University of Cambridge and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the US. Its aim is to train outstanding students in biomedical research, taking advantage of the excellent research environments in Cambridge and the US. Students work on collaborative projects organised by co-supervisors in Cambridge and the NIH, spending two years at each institution. Students have access to all NIH facilities and are paid by the NIH. The PhD is awarded by the University of Cambridge.
PhD in Medical Science (CRUK CI)
Our PhD in Medical Science at the University of Cambridge is a research course that offers each student full integration into one of our world-leading Research Groups, guided by a Group Leader and working closely with postgraduate and postdoctoral colleagues. Each student will pursue a well-defined, specific project which will be aligned with and contribute to the overall objectives of the lab.
MRC Doctoral training partnerships (DTP) provide funding for doctoral training across a broad research range relevant to MRC’s remit, strategic research and skills priorities. DTPs also provide a breadth of professional development training opportunities to enhance the capabilities of doctoral candidates and develop a world-class, highly skilled workforce for the UK.
MRC funding for industrial Collaborative Awards in Science and Engineering (iCASE) studentships allow postgraduate research students to receive high quality research training, with the additional benefit of working closely with an industrial partner. These collaborations will provide MRC iCASE students with unique technical and transferable skills, as well as an insight into how commercial science is conducted, and entrepreneurial opportunities.
The industry partner specifies a research project of importance to them, and provides a placement at their premises for the student of at least 3 months, together with an additional non-academic supervisor. For further details on the application process, please refer to the MRC DTP iCASE website.
