BBSRC DTP PhD in Biological Sciences (2027 Entry) – University of Cambridge

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. Applicants are not required to apply to any additional funds (i.e. GATES). For the 2027 intake, approximately 25 studentships will be available across the Targeted and iCASE route.
Read more about the Targeted & iCASE studentships, including programme structure, Professional Internships, training and networking.
Important information for applicants
Academic qualifications and supporting documents
We are unable to assess or comment on individual applicants' academic qualifications or suitability for the programme before an application is submitted. Please do not email us transcripts, CVs, or other supporting documents, as we will not consider them. All required documents must be submitted through the University of Cambridge Applicant Portal.
International applicants
A limited number of studentships up to 30% of the cohort can be offered to international candidates, including those from the EU and outside the EU. 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.
Before you apply
Before applying, please check the University of Cambridge's entry requirements.
- Applicants should normally hold, or be expected to achieve, a high upper second-class honours degree (High 2:1) or its equivalent.
- A pass in a UK-equivalent Master's degree in a relevant subject will exceed the University's minimum academic entry requirement.
- If you obtained your qualifications outside the UK, please check the University's International Qualifications guidance to confirm the equivalent qualification for your country.
English language requirements
You do not need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency when submitting your application. However, if you are offered a place, if applicable you will need to provide evidence that you meet the University's English language requirements.
When you apply, the Applicant Portal will indicate whether you are likely to need to submit an English language test result. For full details of the requirements and accepted tests, please visit the University's English language requirements webpage.
Choosing project(s)
You can apply only to projects advertised on our website, Targeted and/or iCASE.
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.
Contacting supervisors
You are welcome to contact supervisors directly to discuss their projects and learn more about the research opportunities before applying. However, this is not required, and any pre-application discussions will not be part of the applicant assessment or selection process.
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. TGRXX-YYY-ZZZ or ICSXX-YYY-ZZZ) 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.
References
- 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.
Interview workshop sessions
All applicants will be invited to attend two online interview workshop sessions, taking place on the following dates:
- First session: Thursday 17 December, at 2 pm (UK time)
- Second session: Thursday 7 January, at 2 pm (UK time)
A third session will be offered to applicants invited to the second-stage interview only:
- Third session: Wednesday 11 February, at 2 pm (UK time)
The sessions will provide an overview of the interview process and an opportunity to ask questions and prepare for the interviews.
Joining links will be shared with applicants after the application deadline.

Qualifications

• Applicants should normally hold, or be expected to achieve, a high upper second-class honours degree (High 2:1) or its equivalent.
• A pass in a UK-equivalent Master's degree in a relevant subject will exceed the University's minimum academic entry requirement.
• Applicants with qualifications from outside the UK should check the University's International Qualifications guidance.
• English language evidence is not needed when applying; if offered a place, applicants may need to show they meet the University's English language requirements.

Additional Information

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