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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.

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The University’s minimum academic requirement is a 2:1 (upper second class) UK Bachelor's Honours Degree or its international equivalent. Many of our courses require applicants to have a higher level, such as a high 2:1 or a 1st class UK Bachelor’s Honours Degree, or their international equivalents.

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The PhD programme

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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 (except 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]

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Registration

Monitoring progress, intermission, working away, preparation of thesis, questionnaires.

Research students are expected to be in residence in Cambridge pursuing their research between terms, except during periods of holiday agreed with their supervisor, normally up to 8 weeks in a 12 month period. Students who make time to take some holidays, or a break away from their studies, tend to do better.

PhD candidates may submit their theses after nine terms (three years) of research, and MLitt candidates after six terms (two years). The Student Registry and the Degree Committee expect a thesis to be a piece of work which can be produced by a capable, well-qualified and diligent research student, properly supervised and supported, within those times. It is very important that you design your project with these time-limits firmly in view. It is good both for morale and for your CV to submit your thesis within the stated times – and most PhD funding runs out after three years.

If your PhD research is suitably related to your MPhil work, you will usually be allowed to count some or all of your three MPhil terms towards the residency requirements of the PhD, if you are ready to submit your thesis before the minimum terms of study have elapsed. This means that you may submit a PhD thesis after only six more terms, if you wish. Please see the following webpage for further information:

https://www.cambridgestudents.cam.ac.uk/your-course/postgraduate-study/your-student-status/allowanceexemption-research-terms

The Student Registry and the Degree Committee recognise, however, that original research is liable to unforeseen difficulties and delays, so all PhD students are allowed 4 years in which to complete and submit their thesis (3 years for the MLitt). Unless there are extenuating circumstances, which would permit a student to apply for an extension to their submission date, candidates who do not submit by these final deadlines would be asked to withdraw from the University, until such time as they are ready to submit, and apply for reinstatement .

All students accepted for the PhD are on probation for their first year. In your third term of research, the Degree Committee will decide whether to register you as a candidate for the PhD (the registration then being backdated to your date of admission). You will have a registration interview with two Faculty assessors, other than your Supervisor. Central University information on the requirements of a registration review is here:

https://www.cambridgestudents.cam.ac.uk/self-evaluation

In some (rare) cases, your assessors may decide that you should be registered for the MLitt degree, instead of the PhD, at this stage. This registration interview cannot be delayed without good cause (e.g., illness). With your supervisors’ help, you start working out your plan of research, and the topic or topics of your written work, as soon as possible after you arrive.

Before registering you as a PhD candidate the Degree Committee must be satisfied (i) that you have a suitable plan of work and (ii) that you have begun to write about some part of it, in a sustained way, at a standard likely to get you the degree in a reasonable time. You are therefore required to email the following documents to your two assessors and the Postgraduate Administrator by the last day of Lent full term*:

a statement (1,000 words) of your plan of research.
a piece of recent written work (6,000-10,000 words) on some topic within this plan; and
an account of research already completed (1,000 words)

These submissions must be properly written up: rough drafts are not acceptable. The registration interview will take place shortly after the end of Lent Term, with your two assessors who will have read the submitted documents. The exact date of the review will be agreed on by the two assessors and the student. The requirements for registration are as outlined above. Students will be sent a copy of their review report once it has been approved by Degree Committee at their May meeting.

Prospective PhD candidates whose work does not show sufficient progress will be given the opportunity to submit an improved set of work by the last day of Easter full term*. A further interview will then take place with the two Faculty members writing independent reports for the Degree Committee in late June/early July*.

The Degree Committee will recommend that prospective PhD candidates whose resubmitted work is still deemed to be unsatisfactory either withdraw from the University or, less severely, be registered only as MLitt candidates. In the latter case they may later be re-registered as PhD candidates (with registration again backdated to the date of admission) if they submit sufficiently improved work at the same time in their second year (i.e. at their fifth term review).

The Degree Committee will recommend that prospective MLitt candidates whose resubmitted work is still deemed to be unsatisfactory withdraw from the University.

Monitoring progress

Your supervisor is required to report termly to the Student Registry and the Degree Committee on your progress. You will also be invited to submit self-evaluation reports on your progress on CamSIS. More information on the Feedback and progress reporting systems for postgraduate students is here:

In addition, there are the following reviews:

Fifth Term Review

This review takes place in the fifth term for a student who is registered for the PhD or MLitt. For this review you need to email the following documents to your supervisor, advisor, and Postgraduate Secretary by the last day of Lent full term*:

an account of research you have already completed (1,000 words)

These submissions must be properly written up: rough drafts are not acceptable. The review will take place shortly after the end of Lent Term, normally with the supervisor and advisor, who will report in writing to the first meeting of the Degree Committee in the Easter Term. The exact date of the review will be agreed on by the two assessors and the student. Students will then be sent a copy of their review report once it has been approved by Degree Committee at their May meeting.

In the unlikely event that your work does not show sufficient progress you will be given the opportunity to submit an improved set of work by last day of Easter full term*. A further interview will then take place with the supervisor and advisor writing independent reports for the Degree Committee in late June/early July*.

Seventh Term Review

This review takes place in the seventh term for a student who is registered for the PhD. For this review you are required to email the same three documents as are described above, again demonstrating ongoing progress, to your supervisor and advisor by the last day of Michaelmas full term*.

The review will take place shortly after the end of Michaelmas Term, normally with the supervisor and adrvisor, who will report in writing to the first meeting of the Degree Committee in the Lent Term. The exact date of the review will be agreed on by the two assessors and the student. Students will then be sent a copy of their review report once it has been approved by Degree Committee at their January meeting.

If the supervisor and advisor are not happy with a student's progress they may recommend to the Degree Committee that a student's registration be changed from PhD to MLitt. They may also recommend that candidates who are not making satisfactory progress towards completing their theses withdraw from the University. The student will be fully consulted before any such recommendation is made. Note also that students withdraw from the University for this reason (or because they have failed to submit on time), but who manage to complete their theses on their own, may apply to be reinstated in order to submit their theses for examination. Please see:

https://www.cambridgestudents.cam.ac.uk/your-course/postgraduate-study/your-student-status/reinstatement

Although this monitoring may sound onerous, experience shows that most often the reviews function as useful markers of progress, and as good opportunities to take stock and to talk about useful ways forward, in a forum slightly different from that of a normal supervision.

If your work is hindered or interrupted by medical, financial or other problems you may apply for leave to intermit your research for a period of time from 2 weeks, to up to 3 terms (for full time students). Terms intermitted do not count towards the above deadlines. Consult your Supervisor and the Postgraduate Secretary if you would like to discuss this option at any point in your studies. You can also find further information here:

https://www.cambridgestudents.cam.ac.uk/your-course/postgraduate-study/your-student-status/medical-intermission

Working away from Cambridge

It is possible to apply for leave to work away from Cambridge for a maximum of 3 terms at a time Some PhD students find this is useful if they wish to work with a supervisor who is external to the University of Cambridge for some of their PhD study. More information on the process of how to apply for leave to work away can be found here:

https://www.cambridgestudents.cam.ac.uk/your-course/postgraduate-study/your-student-status/work-away

To support students working away from Cambridge, it is recommended that students apply to the University for free travel insurance: https://www.insurance.admin.cam.ac.uk/travel-insurance/travel-insurance-students

The Faculty has a small allocation of funding for fieldwork, that students can apply for via the Postgraduate Office. As part of this application process, students will also be required to complete a risk assessment: https://www.safety.admin.cam.ac.uk/risk-assessment

The Faculty can provide a template risk assessment – please ask the Postgraduate Secretary for further information.

Preparation of theses

PhD (MLitt) theses in philosophy must not be more than 80,000 (60,000) words long. The word count includes appendices and footnotes but excludes bibliography. See here for further information:

https://www.cambridgestudents.cam.ac.uk/your-course/examinations/graduate-exam-information/submitting-and-examination/phd-msc-mlitt/word#philos

The University’s regulations require that to qualify for the award of the PhD degree, a thesis has to be in English (apart from quotations and technical formulae), to be clearly written, to take due account of previously published work on the subject, and to represent a significant contribution to learning (for example through the discovery of new knowledge, the connection of previously unrelated facts, the development of new theory, or the revision of older views). The Degree Committee of Philosophy, in its advice to examiners, adds as an informal gloss on this that an acceptable thesis should contain some material of sufficient originality to merit publication and this material should be adequate to form the basis of, for example, at least two articles (together amounting to 15,000 - 20,000 words) or of a short monograph.

To qualify for the award of the MLitt degree, a thesis must be clearly written, take due account of previously published work on the subject, and represent a useful contribution to learning.

Candidates may get an idea of the standards expected of PhD and MLitt theses in philosophy by reading the copies of successful theses deposited in the University Library.

The detailed procedure for submitting PhD and MLitt theses for examination, which candidates should follow carefully, is at:

https://www.cambridgestudents.cam.ac.uk/your-course/examinations/graduate-exam-information/submitting-and-examination/phd-msc-mlitt/prepare

In what follows only a few salient points are picked out.

Candidates should apply for the appointment of examiners, through the Philosophy Postgraduate Secretary, when—but only when—their theses are nearly complete. (In particular, if they are going to submit their theses during the Long Vacation they should apply in good time for the late June/early July meeting of the Degree Committee*.) Together with the candidate, the supervisor should compete the form found here:

https://www.phil.cam.ac.uk/curr-students/postgraduates/Graduate-Forms

and submit this by e-mail to the Postgraduate Secretary. The candidate will also need to email the Postgraduate Secretary a one page summary of the thesis, to guide the Degree Committee in appointing suitable examiners. This abstract should be around 300 words in length – a candidate’s supervisor can provide further guidance on the expected content of the abstract.

Theses are examined independently by two examiners, one of whom will normally be from outside Cambridge. Candidates are required to submit their thesis initially via Moodle, the University’s Online Teaching Platform. The Postgraduate Secretary will provide further information on the process for softbound submission. As of 1 st October 2017, once their PhD has been approved, students are also required to submit an electronic copy of their PhD thesis to the University’s repository, Apollo. At the point of upload, students are given the choice of different access options, including the choice to make their thesis available Open Access immediately or to embargo access for an initial 12 months . The upload of the thesis can be done via the upload form in Symplectic Elements .

Once the award of the degree is approved, students should submit one hard bound copy to be deposited in the University Library. More information on the submission of electronic theses can be found on the Office of Scholarly Communication website:

http://osc.cam.ac.uk/theses

It is important that thesis examiners actually receive theses when they expect to do so; otherwise their other commitments may seriously delay the examination. In giving submission dates, candidates should therefore take care to be realistic, and not underestimate the time it takes to complete writing up, make final corrections, check references and proofs, and get their theses printed and bound.

What to expect from the viva

The examination is undertaken with two examiners, and may include an independent chair if the Degree Committee has deemed it appropriate. There are no rules for its duration, but as an approximate guide, the examination will normally take at least 90 minutes and is likely to conclude within three hours at a maximum.

The oral examination should allow:

The defence of your dissertation and the clarification of any matters raised by the examiners
the examiners to probe your knowledge in the field
the examiners to assure themselves that the work presented is your own and to clarify matters of any collaboration
the examiners to come to a definite conclusion about the outcome of the examination

What to bring with you to the viva

You can take a (marked up) copy of the thesis in with you. You may want to take a tablet or notepad and pen to make notes.
Water will be available in the room where you will be examined but you may like to take your own with you.

The default viva format is an in-person examination held in Cambridge, but students will have the option to choose an online viva if they wish. The University has provided additional information about the online viva process, which can be found here:

https://www.cambridgestudents.cam.ac.uk/files/guide_to_conducting_vivas_online.pdf

Examiners write independent reports on theses for the Degree Committee, making recommendations, which may or may not be conditional on the results of the oral examination. Because it often takes a considerable time for examiners to get round to, and to complete, this assessment, candidates must expect to wait (or return) for their oral examination up to two months (but no more than four months) after submitting their theses. Examiners may allow candidates who have had to return, e.g., to America or Australasia, the option of conducting the oral examination by video conference; but they are under no obligation to do so, and candidates must not assume that they will. If a candidate would like to request adjustments to their viva on the grounds of disability, they should complete a ‘voluntary disclosure form’ and return this to the Postgraduate secretary. The form can be found here: https://www.cambridgestudents.cam.ac.uk/files/voluntary_disclosure_form.pdf

An examiner who thinks that a PhD or MLitt thesis fails to reach the required standard, but could do so with suitable revision, may recommend allowing the candidate to submit a revised thesis. This can only happen once; a thesis which has already been resubmitted once cannot be submitted again.

An examiner who thinks that a PhD thesis fails to reach the standard required for that degree, but does reach the standard required for the MLitt, may recommend approving the candidate for that degree. A PhD examiner who thinks both of the above may recommend giving the candidate the alternative of submitting a revised thesis or of taking the MLitt (but not both).

If the examiners’ recommendations agree, the Degree Committee will normally accept them, unless the examination has been improperly conducted in some way, in which case new examiners may have to be appointed. If the original examiners’ recommendations disagree, the Degree Committee may resolve the disagreement by appointing a third examiner.

The University’s statement on academic misconduct, including plagiarism can be found at:

http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/univ/plagiarism/students/statement.html

We ask PhD & MLitt students to provide their feedback at regular intervals throughout their course, in the form of a questionnaire sent from the Postgraduate Office. Usually there is one questionnaire sent at the time of each review. Feedback from students is important in helping us to improve the course, and we ask that all students complete all questionnaires.

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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.

Applicants MUST contact and identify a Supervisor who is working in their area of interest and is a staff member of the Faculty of Economics prior to sending their application. The Faculty Academic Staff Page outlines a broad range of staff and their research interest, which may provide a suitable basis for a PhD thesis.

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.

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About research at Cambridge

We house over 30 research groups working in fundamental science, engineering, and mathematics fields, with an overarching drive to deliver real impact in the areas of sustainability and healthcare. Our multidisciplinary expertise is centered on five key competencies: biology, materials, reactions and processes, sensor technologies and big data. Most of our research groups accept applications for PhD study.

Postgraduate Admissions Timeline

3-12 months before formal application.

Review our Research Groups webpage to determine the Department’s current areas of research
For those interested in our research-based MPhil or part-time PhD study , review the groups who are currently able to consider such applications.
Make informal contact with the group head before making a formal application; guidance on what you should include in your initial contact is on our PhD page (relevant also for MPhil applicants).

Early September

Typically between the 1st and 15th the Admissions Portal will open for applicants. Refer to Postgraduate Prospectus for more up to date information.

Deadline for US Gates applications is normally early October.* * Confirm all funding & application deadlines on the University of Cambridge's Postgraduate Prospectus and Funding Portal

Deadline for the main University Funding Competition, e.g., Cambridge Trust, Gates (International), etc.
Deadline for PhDs and research-based MPhils in Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology (our research-based MPhil) is normally early December.*

* Confirm all funding & application deadlines on the University of Cambridge's Postgraduate Prospectus and Funding Portal

January - May

We will continue to accept applications for admission through the Michaelmas and Lent Term applications deadlines.
Funding outcomes normally announced during this period, but some may take longer.

End of July

Applicant Portal Closes for Lent Term Applications

Accepted students for Michaelmas need to meet their offer conditions.

Entry requirements

You are normally expected to hold, or to be about to achieve, a First Class or high 2.i Honours Degree (or the equivalent from an overseas institution, please see the International Qualifications page) in chemical engineering, engineering, chemistry, biochemistry, applied mathematics, physics, biological science or related subjects. Alternatively, candidates with an appropriate Master's qualification may be considered, but please be advised that we would still normally expect a First Class or high 2.i Honours (or overseas equivalent) undergraduate degree. The admissions manager initially screens applications to ensure that all essential information is provided.

In addition, if English is not your first language, you may need to take a language proficiency test. You do not need to take a test before you apply, but if you are made an offer, it could be a requirement that you obtain a passing score. To determine if you are likely to need an English test, please see ' Will I Have a Language Requirement '.

How to apply

University of cambridge postgraduate admissions.

To study for a PhD in Chemical Engineering or Biotechnology at the University of Cambridge, you must formally apply to University of Cambridge Postgraduate Admissions. Please see their website for more information about applying online : University of Cambridge Postgraduate Admissions.

All first-year PhD research students are registered for no formal registration (NOTAF) until satisfactory progress has been made. Offer letters from the Board of Graduate Studies to such students will say that they have either been registered for a PhD (Probationary) or NOTAF in the first instance. Research students are registered for the PhD only after a satisfactory progress assessment at the end of three terms.

Close the Gap and AIM

The Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology welcomes applications from underrepresented groups, and we are proud to participate in Close the Gap , the Oxford and Cambridge University's initiative to transform doctoral student selection to develop a socially and epistemically just and inclusive environment for world-leading research.

We additionally participate in AIM, a 6-month online programme to assist applicants from underrepresented groups with their application to doctoral study at the University of Cambridge. Eligible applicants receive personalised support from admissions staff and students who have been through the application process themselves, giving you the confidence to make a competitive application to Cambridge.

Please see the University of Cambridge's AIM PhD website for further information.

Completing the Graduate Admissions Application Form

Please note that the postgraduate admission process can take 2 - 3 months.

Proposed Supervisor, Title of Research and Research Summary

Before choosing a research area, please see the Department's Research Group page to become familiar with our current research and to see the number of available PhD and MPhil student positions available. Prospective applicants are expected to contact potential supervisors before applying. The purpose of this initial contact is to understand the process, develop an application, and enquire on a supervisor’s capacity and willingness to supervise/see if there is a good fit between your interests and theirs. When you contact a supervisor, please be sure to include your CV, a statement of your research interests/proposal, and any other relevant materials. Before applying, please carefully review the information available on our website; familiarize yourself with the work conducted by our department and the research interests and projects of potential supervisors. This will help you identify the academic staff whose expertise aligns with your own research interests. In your proposal, demonstrate your familiarity with related academic work in the field. Identify and describe a novel research direction, considering why it is both interesting and relevant to pursue research in that particular area. Write clearly and concisely. Your proposal should be approximately 300 words and written in English. Structure your proposal with sections such as introduction, prior research/gaps, problem/proposed research, and methodologies. Provide some specific details of what is expected of each section. Demonstrate feasibility and an anticipated plan/schedule of work for the first year. Strive for precision in what you intend to do in your PhD. Please note that the department has a policy of rejecting unsolicited applications—those that do not mention a specific supervisor and include a research proposal. Therefore, it is crucial for prospective students to first identify a potential supervisor. When reaching out to a supervisor, include a brief statement outlining what excites you about their research and why you believe you are an ideal candidate for that particular field. Once you have successfully engaged the interest of a supervisor, most will be willing to assist in crafting a strong PhD application and can offer advice on funding opportunities. They can also write a letter of support for your application should your marks be below the high 2:1 level, but they find you have the right skills to complete a PhD in their group. If a supervisor does not respond to your emails, do not take it personally. Some supervisors are extremely busy and receive numerous inquiries, often having only one or two spots available in their group. Continue searching for a good match. The busiest supervisor may not necessarily be the best fit for you. When you are ready to apply, you must enter the name of a prospective supervisor and a research proposal; we are unable to consider applications without them. A degree of flexibility on both sides (the department and you) is helpful. Students frequently come to the department and work in a slightly different area to their original preference.

Research Groups Offering Part Time Study

Some groups are able to consider applicants for part-time study; please see the list below:

Sebastian Ahnert’s research group -- Structural Complexity

Graham Christie’s group -- Molecular Microbiology

David Fairen-Jimenez’s group -- Adsorption & Advanced Materials

Adrian Fisher’s group -- Electrochemical and Microengineering

Clemens Kaminski’s group -- Laser Analytics Group

Markus Kraft’s group -- Computational Modelling

Alexei Lapkin’s group -- Sustainable Reaction Engineering

Ewa Marek's group -- Energy Reactions and Carriers

Róisín Owen’s group -- Bioelectronic Systems Technology

Sam Stranks’ group -- Optoelectronic Materials and Device Spectroscopy

Ian Wilson’s group -- Particles, Soft Solids and Surfaces Group (PS3G)

Axel Zeitler’s group -- Terahertz Applications

Scholarships Please see the University's Postgraduate Prospectus for details on funding opportunities and deadlines. Scholarship rounds at Cambridge are highly competitive, and we encourage all our applicants to search for funding sources that are external to the University.

Reasons for applying We would like your reasons for applying to Cambridge itself, for example, why Cambridge is an ideal fit for your proposed research.

Statement of interest Let us know why you're interested in the course, why you feel you're an ideal candidate for it, and what you would do with your degree after its completion.

College preferences The application form asks you to indicate a choice of College; the Postgraduate Admissions website has information on the College system and choosing a College .

Letters of Reference When selecting referees, please refer to the guidelines provided by Postgraduate Admissions on who to nominate to be your referees.

What happens after you apply

Please note that it normally takes 2-3 months for a decision to be made.

Your most current information on your application will be on the Applicant Portal ; please check there regularly for the latest updates.

Before your application is sent electronically from the Postgraduate Admissions Office to the Department, two academic references and copies of your transcripts must be provided by you via the Applicant Portal. You should notify your referees immediately that you have applied for admission to Cambridge, and they should expect to receive an email that will contain instructions on uploading the reference. Please ask them to check their spam/junk mail folders for this email. In addition, you must upload copies of your most recent transcripts from all your previous degrees. Please note that if you are made an offer of admission, you will be asked to send original versions of your final transcripts.

Once your application is submitted, and all required supporting documents uploaded, your application will be sent to the Department for consideration. If we recommend an offer of admission, your application will be considered by the Degree Committee in Engineering and then the Postgraduate Admissions Office. Provided your application is fully approved, admissions will issue a Conditional Offer, which will outline all the steps you must take to obtain a Confirmation of Admission. You will be able to track each step via the Applicant Portal.

Receiving a conditional offer

In your Conditional Offer, you will see the conditions you must meet before your admission is confirmed. You should complete the tasks associated for each condition as soon as you are able, you do not need to wait until you are able to meet all of them . For example, you can accept your offer, upload a photograph, and complete and upload the Visa Status form (if applicable) straight away. Many applicants will also be able to upload a passport copy immediately. The more conditions you can meet early, the greater your chances of getting a confirmed offer in good time.

Please be advised that when you upload a document onto the Applicant Portal, or if delivery of your original hard copies is signed for at the Postgraduate Admissions Office, your condition will not be automatically met. Your uploaded or hard copies of documents will join a queue with other students' documents to await processing. Once the document is considered by staff at the Admissions Office, they will either update the condition as complete, or they will issue a note on your self-service as to why the condition was not met and the steps you need to take. It normally takes 1-2 weeks, or longer during busy periods such as late summer/early autumn and in December/January, before the document is processed by the Admissions Office.

Withdrawing your offer

If you determine that you will be unable to take up your place at Cambridge, you will need to log-in to your self-service and formally withdraw your application. This will alert the Admissions Office, the Department, and your College of your intentions.

Your fees will vary depending on your nationality (UK or overseas) and your choice of college. Your living expenses (maintenance fees) will also vary depending on the number of dependents accompanying you. For more detailed information on the costs you will incur, please visit the Student Registry .

A full list of deadlines is published on the Deadlines Page of the University's Graduate Admissions Office. Please note that an offer of admission does not guarantee a scholarship, and the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology does not provide funding support towards fees and maintenance from its own resources. Also, under University regulations, it is not possible for students to work as a teaching or research assistant while studying for a PhD.

Due to the highly competitive nature of scholarship opportunities at the University , we encourage all applicants to search for funding outside of the University , i.e., government scholarships offered by your home country.

Students at Cambridge are members of both the University and a College. If you are offered a place of study on one of our graduate courses, you will obtain a place at a College as well. You do not have to be a member of the same college as your supervisor.

The Department is where you will attend lectures, conduct research, etc. The Colleges provide: on-going academic and pastoral support from your Tutor and Graduate Office; accommodation and catering; financial advice and assistance; and social, cultural, and sporting facilities. Colleges administer formal processes, including matriculation (formally joining the University and College), monitoring international students' status for visa purposes, and graduation.

Choosing a College

As you are completing your application for admission, you may indicate your first and second choices of college, or you may leave your application 'open'. If your application for study is approved, but neither your first nor second College choice will be able to offer you a place, your application will be sent to a randomly selected college. When determining your college choices, it's especially useful to visit the University's Choosing a College page. Here, you will find advice on how to choose a college (and how not to!). You should also look at their Key Facts and Figures link to help you choose.

Visa requirements

The most up-to-date information about visa and ATAS requirements for applicants can be found on the International Student Office's website.

EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Sensor Technologies and Applications in an Uncertain World

We are home to the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Sensor Technologies and Applications in an Uncertain World , established in direct response to an identified training need articulated by major UK industries, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the academic sector. The Sensor CDT delivers a four-year, interdisciplinary, research-focused training programme to outstanding students, ranging all the way from physical concepts of sensing, interpreting, and managing sensory data, to application-focused sensor development.

The programme is structured as a one-year Master of Research (MRes) course followed by a three-year PhD research project.

Find out more about the programme on the Sensors CDT website .

Funded PhD Positions

Whether you’re interested in pushing forward the development of next-generation materials, creating life-changing medical technology or helping to solve the most fundamental problems facing the world today, CEB offers fully-funded PhD studentships. To see our currently available programmes: CEB Studentships

While we are happy to help you with any queries about the application process and conditions of admission, we do ask that you please read the University's Postgraduate Prospectus in the first instance, as it provides information about fees and funding opportunities, entrance requirements, deadlines, and the application process. If you have already been made an offer, you should consult the Offer Booklet for guidance. If you feel that you need assistance, please email [email protected]

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The PhD in Engineering is awarded to students who complete and are successfully examined on a 60,000-word thesis which makes an original contribution to knowledge. This thesis will normally be completed over three years if students study full-time, and five-seven years if they study part-time. The PhD equips students for careers in research in universities and research institutes, industry, and government, and for a wide variety of careers which value the ability to think deeply and rigorously and solve problems.

Applying for the PhD in Engineering

In Cambridge students commence preliminary work on their theses as soon as they begin their studies, so it is important that they have a well-developed proposal for a project by the time they submit their application.

We welcome applications to work on projects across the whole range of engineering sub-disciplines which build on the research being carried out here. To learn more about our research, and to see if you might want to study here, we recommend that you read the websites of the research groups in the Department, the papers our academics are publishing, and the titles of PhDs currently being completed under their supervision. This will help you identify supervisors whom you might wish to work with.

It is important to consider not only the topics a potential supervisor works on, but also their approach: a supervisor who does not have expertise in the methods you want to use, or who takes a different position to yours on the questions animating your field, will not be a good match.

Once you have identified a potential supervisor or supervisors, we strongly encourage you to contact them by e-mail to discuss the possibility of working together. You can explain why you are interested in their research and how your previous studies have prepared you for the PhD and provide a concise but cogent outline of your proposed PhD project.

Applicants are expected to name at least one supervisor on their application forms: applications which do not list a Cambridge supervisor will not be considered.

Further information on applying, including entrance requirements, can be found in the University’s course directory.

Studying for the PhD in Engineering

In order to prepare them for success in their studies, the Department requires its PhD students to complete a Researcher Development Course offered by one of its sub-disciplinary Divisions. These courses examine methodological and conceptual issues which confront researchers in engineering today and help students to become independent researchers.

Students will also select, with the advice of their supervisor, two taught modules which will support their research. An indicative list of modules can be found here:

These modules involve both lectures and practical work, and each will require approximately 80 hours of work. It is sometimes possible to replace an Engineering module with one from another Department of the University, if this is supported by your supervisor and the module co-ordinator.

Over the course of your PhD you will be an active member of the research group of which you are a part, collaborating with other PhD students, postdoctoral researchers and, most importantly, your supervisor, who is responsible for your academic progress. You will meet with your supervisor at least eight times a year, but often much more frequently.

In addition to your supervisor, you will also be assigned an advisor, who will provide additional support and guidance as needed.

The majority of your research will be conducted in laboratory facilities at the University of Cambridge, but our supervisors’ links with universities around the world, and with industry, mean that there may be opportunities to carry out research elsewhere after your first year.

At the end of your first year, you will write a 15,000 word report on your progress to date, and discuss this with two assessors. If your report is deemed satisfactory, you will be permitted to continue with the PhD.

PhD students may also have opportunities act as laboratory demonstrators for the Department, and to teach small groups of undergraduate students.

Further information, including entrance requirements and how to apply, can be found on the online Course Directory . The Engineering Postgraduate Students website contains resources for current students and may also be of interest to applicants: www.graduate.eng.cam.ac.uk .

Academics accepting PhD Students for 2025/26 can be found via the following links;

Electrical Engineering - https://ee.eng.cam.ac.uk/index.php/graduate-studies/

Mechanics, Materials and Design - http://www.eng.cam.ac.uk/research/academic-divisions/mechanics-materials-and-design/postgraduate-studies-research-students

Civil Engineering - https://civileng.eng.cam.ac.uk/study

Manufacture and Management - https://www.ifm.eng.cam.ac.uk/education/phd/topics/

Information Engineering: http://www.eng.cam.ac.uk/research/academic-divisions/information-engineering/postgraduate-studies

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PhD in Chemistry

Entry requirement: 2.1 Masters degree or equivalent .

Please check international qualifications equivalence guidelines here .

Coming to Cambridge for a PhD in Chemistry means you will be joining a community of over 50 academics, 350 PhD students and more than 200 postdoctoral researchers. The research opportunities are vast and career development is second to none.

The route to a PhD takes up to four years of full-time research, culminating in a substantial thesis of up to 60,000 words which is examined by viva. Along your journey to a PhD, you will be absorbed in the laboratory life of your chosen research group. The postgraduate chemistry lecture series we offer aims to bring everyone up to the same high-level of foundational knowledge; irrespective of prior educational background at Masters level. You will present your research at seminars and conferences as you progress. Most PhD students go to at least one international and national chemistry conference in the course of their studies.

HOW TO APPLY

We strongly recommend that you correspond with potential supervisors early and well in advance of submitting your application. This is also important for maintaining oversight of which project you could be working on. Prospective projects may not always reflect groups publications therefore, we encourage you to discuss this with your potential supervisors to avoid disappointment.

For information about funding please click here .

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Doctor of Philosophy
The degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is the University's principal research degree for graduate students and is available in all faculties and departments. A Cambridge PhD is intellectually demanding and you will need to have a high level of attainment and motivation to pursue this programme of advanced study and research.
Requirements for research degrees
Requirements for research degrees 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
PhD in Computer Science
The University hosts and attends fairs and events throughout the year, in the UK and across the world. We also offer online events to help you explore your options: Discover Cambridge: Master's and PhD study webinars - these Spring events provide practical information about applying for postgraduate study.
Entry requirements
The University's minimum academic requirement is a 2:1 (upper second class) UK Bachelor's Honours Degree or its international equivalent. Many of our courses require applicants to have a higher level, such as a high 2:1 or a 1st class UK Bachelor's Honours Degree, or their international equivalents.
The PhD programme
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).
PhD Course Information
The University's regulations require that to qualify for the award of the PhD degree, a thesis has to be in English (apart from quotations and technical formulae), to be clearly written, to take due account of previously published work on the subject, and to represent a significant contribution to learning (for example through the discovery ...
Entry Requirements
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.
PhD study
University of Cambridge Postgraduate Admissions. To study for a PhD in Chemical Engineering or Biotechnology at the University of Cambridge, you must formally apply to University of Cambridge Postgraduate Admissions. Please see their website for more information about applying online : University of Cambridge Postgraduate Admissions. All first-year PhD research students are registered for no ...
PhD in Engineering
PhD in Engineering The PhD in Engineering is awarded to students who complete and are successfully examined on a 60,000-word thesis which makes an original contribution to knowledge. This thesis will normally be completed over three years if students study full-time, and five-seven years if they study part-time. The PhD equips students for careers in research in universities and research ...
PhD in Chemistry
Coming to Cambridge for a PhD in Chemistry means you will be joining a community of over 50 academics, 350 PhD students and more than 200 postdoctoral researchers. The research opportunities are vast and career development is second to none.

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