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Supervision

Candidates work closely with their supervisor who is assigned to them after a candidate has been accepted and before the commencement of their studies. The supervisor will be a specialist in the general field in which you propose to work, although they may not be an expert on your particular topic of research. Your supervisor will assist you in refining your research topic, oversee the general direction of your work, and ensure that what you are doing is up to the standard expected for the degree towards which you are working. You can expect to meet your supervisor on average once a month to report on your progress, and more frequently than this if necessary. How much you write in a given period will vary, but as a rule of thumb you will usually be expected to produce at least one substantial piece of written work each term.

Prospective PhD students should research the Faculty thoroughly before applying to ensure that there is a Faculty member with appropriate expertise to oversee the proposed project. The Faculty’s research map might be of use as a starting point here, as will the Faculty academic staff profiles .

In addition to their supervisor, PhD students are assigned an advisor, who is a member of the Faculty with expertise in the student’s field. The student has a formal advisory meeting with the supervisor and the advisor once a year. The advisor is also available for less formal consultation from the outset.

The Postgraduate Office 9 West Road Cambridge CB3 9DP United Kingdom

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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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You may be considering Cambridge and seeking information about what you can study, our entrance requirements, how to apply and how much it costs. This section pulls together information from many sources across the website about applying to the University, and related matters, from an international student perspective and provides links to more detailed guidance.

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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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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

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PhD in Economics

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This is the most advanced programme of graduate studies in Economics at Cambridge. Upon its completion, candidates are awarded a PhD degree for producing a thesis of high-quality, original, and publishable research over a period of four years (full-time) and seven years (part-time).

A good number of our PhD students receive full or partial funding for their studies, from a variety of funding bodies, such as the ESRC and the Gates Foundation .

Our PhD students receive high quality training on a variety of research methods and are exposed to cutting edge research conducted by our own Faculty members, as well visitors to the Faculty (via the Cambridge-INET Institute , seminars, PhD workshops, locally organised conferences, etc.). Faculty members can supervise a wide range of topics from six broadly defined research areas: microeconomic theory, macroeconomics, econometrics, applied microeconomics, economic history and alternative approaches to economics.

PhD students in Cambridge benefit from a high faculty-to-student ratio and therefore form close relationships with many Faculty members. They also forge strong links with our post-doctoral researchers, and they actively participate in the Faculty’s vibrant research life. They have access to a wide range of facilities, such as their own desk/office space in the same building as regular Faculty members, computing equipment, a variety of software and access to a wide range of databases.

PhD students are encouraged to attend academic conferences and showcase their research work in a variety of ways. Upon completions of their studies, many of our PhD students become academics, or researchers at international or government research institutions (see recent job market placements here ).

Explore here the profiles of our current PhD students.

To obtain the degree of PhD in Economics, students need to:

1. Obtain the Certificate of Postgraduate Study (CPGS) . If accepted for the PhD degree, you will be registered initially for the Certificate of Postgraduate Study (CPGS) in Economics. Students registered for the CPGS are required to:

Attend the 'How to do Economics' lecture course. Other postgraduate courses in research methods are organised by the Schools of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Physical Sciences, and are available to all PhD students.
Undertake a minimum of four courses from PhD or MPhil Modules from at least two subject areas. You must achieve a pass mark (60%) on each component of the coursework. Students who fail any examinations will be called for a viva on the coursework.

Write a research proposal (maximum length 10,000 words) that should include a review of the relevant literature, a research question, and outline of a research design and methods. The expectation is that this proposal will be for a piece of research that could form the basis of one chapter of a PhD dissertation. You will be given an oral examination on this piece of work and must perform to a satisfactory standard.
Attend (a) one of the three research workshops (on microeconomics, macroeconomics or econometrics) at which research students present both their own work and recent papers in the literature - assessment of workshops will be arranged by course organisers; (b) attend at least one of the Faculty's general seminars in which papers are given both by outside speakers and Faculty members;
To be registered for the PhD submit an acceptable piece of research (first year chapter) of not more than 20,000 words. The piece of research submitted must be of a standard that would enable it to form the basis of one-third of your eventual PhD thesis. This means that it must contain research that could be expanded upon to constitute one-third of the PhD thesis.

2. Once upgraded to PhD status, a student concentrates on her or his PhD dissertation. In general the thesis format is either in the form of a book divided into chapters, or of three or more connected articles; in either case, the Faculty has a strict limit of 60,000 words. As research progresses, there will be opportunities to present work in progress at research workshops attended by Faculty members and research students. PhD students will also be required to attend research seminars given by outside speakers and Faculty members.

Upon completion and submission of the PhD thesis, students do an oral examination (viva) with two examiners, one internal to the University of Cambridge (not the supervisor or research advisor), and one external (from any other University in the UK or the rest of the world).

After a successful thesis defence, the examiners recommend awarding the degree of PhD.

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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.

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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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The University of Cambridge Acceptance Rate: Know Your Chances

Are you curious to know about the Cambridge University accceptace rate? If you’re an aspiring college student from America, chances are you know all about the Ivy League . It includes the country’s oldest and most prestigious higher education institutions.

But if you want to go even older (and equally as prestigious), you can do no better than the University of Cambridge .

Based in England, Cambridge is the second-oldest English-speaking university in the world. It has turned out hundreds of Nobel prize winners, heads of state, and pop culture icons — not to mention it’s renowned by all the league tables as one of the world’s top schools.

In this guide, I will explain everything you need to know about the University of Cambridge. I will explore how you can get into Cambridge as an undergrad or postgraduate student and examine the Cambridge application process in depth. I will also discuss the Cambridge University acceptance rate and walk you through Cambridge’s 31 colleges and how they work.

Table of Contents

About the University of Cambridge: A Brief History

If you’re keen on attending an English university with a pedigree, you belong at the University of Cambridge.

Cambridge University acceptance rate—University of Cambridge

Founded in 1209, Cambridge University was granted a royal charter by King Henry III in 1231. If you care to do the math, Cambridge is the second-oldest university in the English-speaking world.

Because not all of the world’s ancient universities have survived the test of time, Cambridge is now the fourth-oldest surviving university on earth.

Over the last 800 years, Cambridge has churned out 121 Nobel laureates, 11 Fields Medalists, 7 Turing Award winners, and 14 prime ministers. But Cambridge isn’t all about academics, either. The school also has an excellent reputation in sports, with university alums having bagged 194 Olympic medals.

Today, Cambridge University is composed of almost 25,000 students. Those students are split between 31 colleges, which serve as social and academic hubs as a central part of student life.

Notable University of Cambridge Alumni

As one of the oldest universities on the planet, Cambridge University has been host to countless notable alums who have made a massive impact on the world. It comes as no surprise because the University of Cambridge is one of the best-ranking and highest-quality schools today.

There are plenty of instantly recognizable names in Hollywood and entertainment alone. Huge names like Sasha Baron Cohen, Thandie Newton, Hugh Laurie, Tilda Swinton, and John Oliver are all Cambridge alums. And if you were ever a fan of Monty Python, members John Cleese, Eric Idle, and Graham Chapman are products of the university as well.

Of course, beyond those who became famous for movies and television, there are literary geniuses like E.M. Forester and J.G. Ballard and visual artists like Quentin Blake, Sir Roy Yorke Caine, and Lord Antony Armstrong-Jones. Then you have plenty of politicians, including fourteen British prime ministers like William Lamb, Stanley Baldwin, and Robert Walpole.

Let’s not forget the brilliant minds of physicist Neils Bohr, philosopher Bertrand Russell, and astrophysicist Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar. As previously mentioned, Cambridge University was home to more than 121 Nobel laureates, demonstrating the quality of the education you’d find there.

If athletics are your thing, you’d be interested to know that the University of Cambridge produced many Olympians like Stephanie Cook and Harold Abrahams.

Not all Cambridge alumni became famous, but for every notable alum, there are likely thousands more who have impacted the world in one way or another.

Ready to join their ranks? Read on as we discuss the Cambridge University acceptance rate, application requirements, and more.

What Is the Cambridge University Acceptance Rate?

Looking at newer information from the reports available from the Cambridge University admissions statistics , we can establish that in the 2021-2022 cycle, there were 22,795 undergraduate applications overall. Of those who applied, 4,260 got an offer of acceptance. Using these figures, we can compute that the Cambridge University acceptance rate was about 18.70% during that cycle.

We know the Cambridge acceptance rate in 2022 is 18.70% for undergraduate students, but can we figure out the Cambridge acceptance rate for 2023?

Unfortunately, the university has yet to release the data for the current cycle, which means we can’t figure out the undergraduate Cambridge acceptance rate for 2023 just yet.

But what is the Cambridge University acceptance rate for graduate school?

I managed to locate the latest report made available by the institution. This report contains the graduate school admissions statistics ( master’s and doctorate levels) for the 2020 – 2021 admissions cycle. Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear that Cambridge has released the 2021 – 2022 cycle data yet.

That said, during the 2020/21 cycle, there was a total of 25,346 graduate-level applications. Out of those, 8,563 received offers of admission. Using both figures, I can compute that the grad school for Cambridge University’s acceptance rate is approximately 33.79%.

That said, it’s worth mentioning that not all graduate programs will be as easy to get into — some are far more competitive than others (particularly the ones with very limited slots open). If you’re using the grad school Cambridge University acceptance rate to gauge your chances of acceptance to your program of choice, you may not get an accurate picture.

The best way to estimate your chances of acceptance is to look into the specific program’s statistics. For example, if you’re looking for the Cambridge Medical School acceptance rate, you may find that the rates differ for the undergraduate and graduate programs .

Cambridge University Acceptance Rate for International Students

Now that we’ve figured out the total Cambridge University acceptance rate for undergraduate and graduate students, let’s discuss the acceptance rate for international students.

If we look at the admissions statistics from the 2020 to 2021 cycle, Cambridge received 7,038 international applications from various countries worldwide. Out of this number, 875 international students were offered admission. Thus, that year’s acceptance rate for international applicants was 12.4% — at least for undergraduate students.

What is the Cambridge University acceptance rate for US students?

Using the same admissions statistics report, we can see that during the 2020 cycle, 401 students applied from the United States. Of the 401, 41 received an offer of admission from the university. Therefore, the Cambridge University acceptance rate for international applicants from the US during that cycle was 10.2%.

How Much Does It Cost to Study at the University of Cambridge?

There is no question that Cambridge is one of the best universities in the world. As you might imagine, the University of Cambridge is costly because of its pedigree and the quality of education you’ll earn.

Pricing for local or home students is £9,250 for a year. However, rates may change in the coming years since the UK government determines rates at national schools (including the University of Cambridge). It’s worth noting that rates may increase further, given that the UK recently left the European Union.

For international students , the rates are different. Unfortunately, they’re much higher and depend on the degree you apply for. For example, a degree in Philosophy will cost international students £25,734. However, a Chemical Engineering or Computer Science degree will cost you £39,162 per year. Med school and veterinary science will set you back a whopping £67,194 each year.

These rates do not include your living expenses, which the University of Cambridge estimates to be around £14,600 for the 2024-2025 academic year.

It’s worth noting that undergraduate international students (and even Home students earning a second degree) also have to pay an additional annual fee to the Cambridge College they attend. This fee can vary — for example, you’ll have to pay £10,290 every year at Christ College, while at King’s College, that yearly fee is £10,887.

As an international student, you could look at a yearly investment of around £85,000 or more if you want to earn an undergraduate veterinary degree.

Grad school fees at the University of Cambridge vary from program to program. However, international students pay around £29,000 to £42,000 each year for tuition alone.

But before you balk at the price, you should know that financial aid opportunities are available (even for students from the US — though you may need to look for them yourself).

How Do Students Apply to Cambridge?

It’s worth mentioning that the University of Cambridge uses a holistic admissions process. This type of process considers all aspects of your application rather than just your academic track record. So, if you have a well-rounded application but a not-so-stellar academic track record, you may still have a good chance at acceptance!

But how exactly do you apply?

Before I discuss the Cambridge admissions requirements, let’s take a quick look at the application process.

When you apply to colleges and universities in the US, there are two application services you may need to go through: Common App and the Coalition App .

So, it is no surprise that the UK has its own version — the UCAS . The UCAS, or the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, is a web-based platform you must apply through if you want to study in the United Kingdom. It was created in 1992 and has since made college applications more convenient.

If you’re looking to apply to Cambridge, here’s what completing the UCAS looks like:

Register with UCAS – The first step to completing your UCAS is registering for an account on the platform. Once you have created your account, you must input your personal details before receiving your username. Then, you must create a secure password (and make sure you remember it!) and set your password recovery/security questions. If your high school provided a buzzword, you may also need to add that to your new UCAS account.
Complete the form – Once you have created your account, you must answer all the mandatory questions within UCAS. You cannot skip any questions, though it’s worth mentioning that some are for UK-based applicants only. Other things to note include being asked to provide more personal details, your financial circumstances, how you intend to fund your studies abroad, and your current residency.
Input your academic career details – When completing your UCAS, ensure you provide all the details of your past academic career. Mention if you went to college or university right after you graduated high school, even if you didn’t finish the program. Include any other qualifications you may have, even if some are still pending (i.e., exams or grades).
Fill out your employment history – If you have had any part-time or full-time paid jobs, list them all in UCAS. The system allows you to put in as many as five jobs (and their related information). Don’t include any volunteer or unpaid experience in this section.
Choose your courses – You can choose up to five courses in UCAS or start with one or two and choose the rest later. There’s no need to worry about selecting the courses in any particular order — UCAS has no preference.

Once you’ve gone through each of those steps, the next thing you’ll need to do is write your personal essay . Your essay must be 1,000 characters minimum. Note also that you cannot go over 47 lines or 4,000 characters (whichever comes first). Your essay’s focus must be to try to convince the admissions office of why you deserve to be accepted into Cambridge University. You may want to write your essay in a different program like Microsoft Word or Google Docs, as UCAS does not offer a native spellcheck tool.

Don’t forget to ask your mentors for letters of recommendation ! Reference letters can come from your teachers, guidance counselor, coach, or other academic mentors. It’s a good idea to ask multiple people for their recommendations as some institutions require multiple in their application processes.

Upon completing all the steps above, the last thing to do is submit your completed UCAS and pay the application fee.

The University of Cambridge Admission Requirements

University of Cambridge requirements screenshot

The admission requirements sought by Cambridge vary depending on your home country. For this article, I will focus on the University of Cambridge requirements for US students.

As an applicant from the United States, you’ll face the following requirements:

Five or more AP Exam Scores (each must be a minimum score of 5 to count)
High ACT or SAT results (32-36 cumulative for the ACT and 1460-1500 cumulative for the SAT)

Despite the standard requirements, Cambridge University actually takes a more individual approach. This means any program or college can modify its requirements at its discretion.

Cambridge University GPA Requirements for Undergraduate Applicants

If you’re a student from the UK applying to Cambridge, the grading system works differently than America’s grade point average (GPA) system. But let’s stick with GPA requirements for American applicants.

Regarding the GPA requirement for admissions, Cambridge is very competitive — but it’s important to note that there’s no formal requirement.

Cambridge will consider students with any GPA. But because it’s one of the best schools in the world, your chances of admission will be higher if you’ve got an outstanding GPA.

Some advice is floating around: the “unspoken” GPA requirement is about 3.7 on a 4.0 scale. However, because Cambridge uses a holistic admissions approach, even if you don’t have the best GPA, you may still have a chance — as long as your application is well-rounded and has a lot to offer.

Does Cambridge Require SAT/ACT Scores?

If you’re applying to the University of Cambridge as an American undergraduate, Cambridge requires you to have at least five AP Test scores with a grade of 5 .

And yes, you’ll also be expected to submit either SAT or ACT scores .

Cambridge expects a score of at least 750 in each component to give a combined SAT score of 1,500 for applicants to its science or economics courses.

But if you’re applying for other courses, the admissions department will want a 730 in the evidence-based reading and writing section and a 730 in math to give a combined SAT score of at least 1,460 .

If you choose the ACT, you’ll need a composite ACT score of at least 32 for arts and humanities courses. If you’re applying for a science-related degree, you’ll need an ACT score of at least 33 .

How to Apply to Cambridge University as a Postgraduate Student

If you want to be eligible to apply to Cambridge as a graduate student, you’ll need to have a minimum of an upper second-class degree from a UK university or an equivalent from an overseas school.

From there, the application process is pretty simple.

You’ve got to submit your application through the university’s online Applicant Portal. First, select your course, and click the ‘Apply’ button. From there, you’ll be guided to the online postgraduate application.

To complete that application, you must include various supporting documents and references alongside an application fee. After an admissions officer processes your application, you may be invited to take part in an interview.

Prospective students apply to Cambridge’s central Graduate Admissions Office and then pick two college preferences on their application. If accepted, your first college choice will automatically get your application. If you don’t pick a college, you’ll be assigned one.

The exception to the rule is if you’re applying for a PGCE, MBA , or Clinical Medicine course. Then, you must apply to the relevant department instead.

Postgraduate Application Requirements

If you’d like to apply to the University of Cambridge as a postgraduate student, there are 31 colleges affiliated with it.

All Cambridge students become members of a college — and it’s necessary to be a member so that you can be registered and enrolled as a master’s or Ph.D. student.

It’s difficult to pinpoint the exact application requirements for each program, as they may require different things. One postgraduate program may have additional Cambridge GPA requirements than others. However, you can expect to submit the standard requirements such as your transcripts, employment history, letters of recommendation, personal statement, and so on.

The best way to know the requirements for your program is to find the relevant information from the specific colleges in question. The 31 Cambridge colleges are below.

The University of Cambridge Colleges

Christ’s college.

Christ’s College was founded in 1505 by Lady Margaret Beaufort, the mother of King Henry VII. College alums include poets John Milton and Charles Darwin.

The college is composed of 85 fellows, 395 undergraduates, 160 Ph.D. students, and 115 master’s students.

Christ’s admits grad students from all courses on both a part-time and full-time basis, but the school is particularly keen to admit Ph.D. students. Most years, the college admits about 100 new postgraduates — making it a little smaller than the average Cambridge college.

Churchill College

Churchill College was formed in 1960 as the national and Commonwealth memorial to former Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill.

The college comprises 897 undergraduates, 390 postgrads, 256 fellows, and 160 staff. Churchill College is particularly well-known for its beautiful 42-acre parkland campus.

Clare College

Clare College was founded in 1326, and it was the first college between Cambridge and Oxford to combine master’s students, fellows, and scholars into a single community.

Today, Clare College comprises 120 fellows, 482 undergrads, 137 Ph.D. students, and 266 master’s students.

Clare Hall was founded in 1966 as a more modern offshoot of Clare College. Clare Hall is well-known amongst the Cambridge colleges because it’s one of just two colleges open only to grad school students.

With around 255 postgraduate students, Clare Hall is Cambridge’s smallest college.

Corpus Christi College

Corpus Christi College was formed in 1352 due to the Black Death that killed many of the country’s clergy. It was the sixth college to join Cambridge.

Today, Corpus Christi comprises 60 fellows, 277 undergraduates, 212 Ph.D. and other postgraduate students.

Darwin College

Darwin College was founded in 1964 as Cambridge University’s first-ever graduate-only college. After Clare Hall was formed two years later, Darwin became one of two postgrad-only colleges.

It was also the first Cambridge College to admit both men and women.

Darwin College comprises 71 fellows, 750 Ph.D. and other postgrad students.

Downing College

Downing College was founded in 1800 at the request of Sir George Downing — a famous English statesman and one of nine graduates of Harvard ’s first-ever graduating class of 1642.

Downing College is composed of 55 fellows, 439 undergrads, 260 doctoral students, and 530 other postgrads.

Emmanuel College

Emmanuel College was created in 1584 by Sir Walter Mildmay, Chancellor of the Exchequer to Elizabeth I.

It was built on the site of a Dominican priory. Today, the college comprises approximately 94 fellows, 500 undergraduates, 200 doctoral students, and 128 master’s students.

Fitzwilliam College

Fitzwilliam College was developed in 1869 specifically to help students who couldn’t afford tuition fees.

Today, the college comprises 56 fellows, 450 undergraduates, 137 Ph.D. students, and 300 grad school students.

Girton College

Girton College was founded in 1869 by Emily Davies and Barbara Bodichon. It’s important because it was Britain’s first-ever residential college for women.

Girton College is now home to 500 undergrads, 128 fellows, 165 Ph.D. candidates, and 116 other postgraduates.

Gonville & Caius College

Edmund Gonville founded Gonville & Caius College in 1348. but it was then refounded in 1557 by John Caius.

Gonville & Caius College is one of Cambridge’s most prominent colleges. It has 110 fellows, 550 undergrads, 280 Ph.D. students, and 70 other postgrads.

Unlike most Cambridge colleges, Gonville & Caius College doesn’t accept part-time students.

Homerton College

Homerton College was founded on Homerton Street, London, in 1768 by a group of Protestant dissenters.

In 1894, the college moved to Cambridge. Today, it comprises approximately 61 fellows, 618 undergraduates, 175 doctoral students, and 746 master’s students.

Hughes Hall

Hughes Hall was initially founded for postgraduates only. It now accepts mature undergraduates — any undergrad over 21 years old.

Hughes Hall is home to 85 fellows, 175 mature undergrads, 260 Ph.D. students, and 300 grad students.

Jesus College

Jesus College was founded in 1496, and its full name is “the College of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint John the Evangelist and the glorious Virgin Saint Radegund, near Cambridge.” Its nickname comes from the college chapel.

Jesus College contains 120 fellows, 580 undergraduates, 300 Ph.D. students, and 180 master’s students.

King’s College

King Henry VI founded King’s College in 1441. The college gets its name from King’s Chapel, one of Cambridge’s most iconic buildings.

King’s takes students from all subjects, including Veterinary Science, Land Economy, and Education.

It comprises 134 fellows, 463 undergraduates, 326 Ph.D. students, and other postgraduate students.

Lucy Cavendish College

Lucy Cavendish was founded in 1965 as a college for women only. Since October 2021, the college has agreed to admit men and have an equal gender balance.

Lucy Cavendish currently houses approximately 65 fellows, 350 undergrads, 136 Ph.D. students, and 450 other postgraduates.

Magdalene College

Magdalene College was founded in 1428. Every year, it admits about 100 undergrads and 80 postgrads across all subjects.

Magdalene College contains approximately 113 fellows, 383 undergraduates, 123 doctorate students, and 199 other postgrads.

Murray Edwards College

Founded as “New Hall” in 1954, Murray Edwards College is one of Cambridge’s women-only colleges.

Murray Edwards College comprises approximately 84 fellows, 397 undergraduates, and 172 Ph.D. and other postgraduate students.

Newnham College

Newnham College was founded as a women’s college in 1871 — when women technically weren’t allowed to attend the University of Cambridge. One of its co-founders was Dame Millicent Garrett Fawcett, a famous women’s suffragette.

Today, the college contains 70 fellows, 400 undergraduates, and 300 postgrads.

Pembroke College

Pembroke was founded in 1347 — making it Cambridge’s oldest college to survive on its original site with an unbroken constitution.

Pembroke College is home to 88 fellows, 444 undergraduates, 185 Ph.D. students, and 90 master’s students.

Peterhouse Queens’ College

Founded in 1284, Peterhouse Queens’ College is the oldest college at Cambridge. It was founded by Hugo de Balsham, Bishop of Ely.

It’s the smallest college in terms of fellows and students and offers several fully-funded postgraduate studentships for MPhil and Ph.D. students from overseas.

The college has 45 fellows, 290 undergraduates, and 70 postgrads.

Queens’ College

Queens’ College was founded in 1448 by Margaret of Anjou. It has some of the most iconic and recognizable buildings on campus.

Queens’ houses 84 fellows, 520 undergraduates, 243 Ph.D. students, and 323 other postgraduates.

Robinson College

Founded in 1981, Robinson is one of the newest colleges at Cambridge. It was created with a donation from entrepreneur Sir David Robinson.

Today, the college has approximately 100 fellows, 428 undergraduates, 180 Ph.D. students, and 300 other postgrads.

Selwyn College

Selwyn College was opened in 1882 and took its name from George Augustus Selwyn, the first Bishop of New Zealand.

The college has approximately 64 fellows, 370 undergraduates, 141 doctorate students, and 166 grad students.

Sidney Sussex College

Sidney Sussex was founded in 1596 by Lady Frances Sidney, the Countess of Sussex.

It’s one of Cambridge’s smaller colleges and traditionally excels in math, history , engineering, and law.

Sidney Sussex is home to 67 fellows, 355 undergraduates, and 275 Ph.D. and master’s students.

St Catharine’s College

St Catharine’s College was founded in 1473. This medium-sized college caters to all subjects, but undergrads weren’t allowed in until the 16th century. It’s more commonly known on campus as “Catz.”

St Catharine’s contains 63 fellows, 493 undergraduates, and 296 postgraduates.

St Edmund’s College

St Edmund’s was founded in 1896, making it the second-oldest of the four Cambridge colleges for mature students.

Most St Edmund’s students are pursuing a higher degree like a Ph.D., MPhil, or LLM.

The college comprises approximately 89 fellows, 188 mature undergraduates, and 528 Ph.D. and other postgraduate students.

St John’s College

St John’s was founded in 1511 and is one of Cambridge’s most prominent colleges.

The college comprises 156 fellows, 637 undergraduates, 368 doctoral students, and 77 other postgrads.

It’s important to note that St John’s College doesn’t allow applications from existing members of other Cambridge Colleges.

Trinity College

Trinity College was founded in 1546 by King Henry VIII after he combined two other existing colleges with seven hostels.

Today, it’s one of the largest colleges at Cambridge. It has the most considerable financial endowment of any college at either Cambridge or Oxford.

It consists of 180 fellows, 730 undergraduates, and 350 postgrads.

Trinity Hall

Trinity Hall was founded in 1350 by Bishop Bateman for the study of law — but it now accepts students from all subjects.

The college comprises 71 fellows, 401 undergraduates, 149 Ph.D. students, and 75 postgrads.

Wolfson College

Wolfson College was founded in 1965 as a postgraduate-only college. But it now allows mature undergraduates.

The college has 106 fellows, 150 mature undergrads, 297 Ph.D. students, and 240 postgrads.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it hard to get into cambridge university.

Knowing that Cambridge is one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious universities, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and intimidated by the idea of trying to get in. However, although Cambridge admissions are highly competitive, the school is not as challenging to get into as other similarly prestigious universities like Harvard. Look at Harvard’s, Princeton’s, and Yale’s acceptance rates in 2022 — 4.6%, 5.5%, and 6.3%, respectively. On the other hand, the Cambridge acceptance rate this year is 18.70%.

Do you need straight As to get into Cambridge?

How hard is it to get into Cambridge, exactly? The Cambridge University acceptance rate varies from country to country. You certainly need high grades to get in, considering the unspoken GPA requirement is 3.7 minimum on a 4.0 scale. For US applicants, you’ll need a minimum of five grade 5 AP scores and passing (high) marks on your transcript. You’ll also need high standardized testing scores. That doesn’t mean all your grades must be As — as long as you meet all the other requirements.

Is Cambridge similar to Harvard?

In many ways, yes. Harvard and Cambridge are both highly prestigious old universities that produce top-notch graduates. But if we go by the current QS world rankings , Cambridge University currently ranks at two, while Harvard is at five. That doesn’t necessarily mean that Harvard is any worse than Cambridge — there’s no doubt the quality of education in both institutions is superb.

Does Cambridge give credit for AP exams?

When you apply to Cambridge from the USA, you are required to have five AP exam scores. Otherwise, the institution will not consider your application at all. However, it’s also not enough to have five scores — they must each be a score of five, as those are the only scores Cambridge will credit. You can take AP exams without taking the respective Advanced Placement courses.

The Cambridge University acceptance rate is high, challenging to get into, and rightfully so. This institution currently sits at the rank of #2 best University in the world, so it only makes sense that it is the dream school for many. If it’s your dream school, too, don’t let the acceptance rate of Cambridge intimidate you.

Despite the University of Cambridge’s pedigree, it’s not the most challenging school to get into — in 2020/21, the undergraduate acceptance rate was 18.70%. Compare that to Harvard’s, which was around 5% during the same cycle.

All that to say, don’t worry too much about the University of Cambridge’s acceptance rate. As long as you meet the admission requirements, go ahead and give it a shot!

Unsure of whether you want to earn your PhD locally or overseas? Check out the top 20 best PhD programs in the US .

Chriselle Sy

Chriselle has been a passionate professional content writer for over 10 years. She writes educational content for The Grad Cafe, Productivity Spot, The College Monk, and other digital publications. When she isn't busy writing, she spends her time streaming video games and learning new skills.

Chriselle Sy https://blog.thegradcafe.com/author/chriselle-sy/ When to Apply for Grad School: Easy Monthly Timeline [2025-2026]
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Chriselle Sy https://blog.thegradcafe.com/author/chriselle-sy/ The Best Academic Planners for 2024/2025
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Hi Chriselle, Nice article, thank you! I must just point out that you say the acceptance rate for Harvard is lower than that for Cambridge (and therefore harder to get into), but this does not indicate that Harvard is more difficult to get into, only that more students apply to Harvard and thus give it an acceptance rate of around 5% compared to Cambridge’s rate of around 18%. The acceptance rate is surely the percentage of students that apply and are accepted into that university out of the total number that apply. Harvard would, of course, want to fill all of their places, so if they only accept 4 out of every 100 that apply it means that a huge number of students apply to Harvard compared to Cambridge. This could be because students are more intimated by the thought of applying to Cambridge or that as the population of the United States is 330 million, many more in actual numbers will apply to them, compared to the population of the UK which is around 67 million. Of course the number of foreign students applying to each makes a huge difference but maybe more foreign students apply to Harvard…that would take some further research. I just thought I would make this point, because I am a little biased as my daughter is currently studying at Cambridge! :)) Thanks again for all your research. Kiran

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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.

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How to Get Into Cambridge: A Guide for US Students

In the Best Global Universities rankings by US News, the University of Cambridge is number nine. On the other hand, it is number three in the 2022 Top 100 Universities in the World by the QS World University Rankings. The good news is that you could be a student at this prestigious research institution in the UK if you are from the US.

Filling out the UCAS form is the first step for US students to apply to Cambridge University. They must also have high GPAs, AP exams, and standardized test scores. Undergoing the interview is a necessary step, too, if they are among around 75% of applicants chosen by Cambridge to go through it.

There are many prestigious institutions for higher education in the US. Because they are highly selective, gaining admission into them can be a herculean task for most college-bound teenagers.

Cambridge University is one of the most elite schools on the face of the planet. And since it is located in an entirely different continent, you may find it very challenging to receive an acceptance letter from a UK-based institution.

But it’s doable, especially if you are one of the less than 10% of US applicants who are welcomed to its campus.

So, do you plan to apply to it and believe that you got what it takes to get accepted?

Don’t stop reading now. You got the grades, guts, and gusto — and now it’s time to know what you need to apply to the University of Cambridge and become one of its students.

What is the Acceptance Rate at Cambridge?

For academic years starting from 2010 to 2021, the acceptance rate for undergraduate students at Cambridge University is 23%. That’s equivalent to about one out of four applicants getting an offer from the institution. The acceptance rate for international students at Cambridge is 21.4%.

Many students, especially those who are not fully confident with their transcript, test scores and the rest of their application, get intimidated by the low acceptance rates at top-notch colleges and universities in the US.

Selective schools outside the nation have some of the lowest acceptance rates, too. Case in point: the acceptance rate at the University of Cambridge, which accounts to less than a quarter of all applicants. It’s true that the UK-based school has a low acceptance rate. However, its acceptance rate is not the lowest on the planet.

Here are colleges and universities across the globe whose acceptance rates are lower than Cambridge’s:

UNIVERSITY
Hanyang University	South Korea	3%
University of Campinas	Brazil	4%
	US	5%
Stanford University	US	5%
	US	6%
Princeton University	US	7%
University College London	UK	7%
Columbia University	US	7%
Hautes Etudes Commerciales (HEC) Paris	France	8%
National Autonomous University of Mexico	Mexico	8%
	US	8%
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	US	8%
California Institute of Technology	US	9%
London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)	UK	9%
Brown University	US	10%
RWTH Aachen University	Germany	10%
	US	10%
University College Dublin	Ireland	10%
University of Edinburgh	UK	10%
University of Nottingham	UK	11%
	US	11%
	US	11%
Dartmouth College	US	11%
Far Eastern Federal University	Russia	12%
	US	13%
King’s College London	UK	13%
Johns Hopkins University	US	13%
Imperial College London	UK	14%
University of Liverpool	UK	14%
Amherst College	US	14%
University of Warwick	UK	14%
	US	14%
College of the Ozarks	US	14%
Tufts University	US	14%
Rice University	US	15%
	US	15%
Nara Medical University	Japan	15%
Colorado College	US	16%
University of Bremen	Germany	16%
National University of Singapore	Singapore	16%
University of California Berkeley	US	17%
University of California Los Angeles	US	17%
	US	17%
Washington University in St Louis	US	17%
University of Helsinki	Finland	17%
Waseda University	Japan	17%
	US	17%
University of Southern California	US	17%
	US	17%
University of Oxford	UK	18%
Wesleyan University	US	18%
	US	19%
Colby College	US	19%
Davidson College	US	20%
University of Abertay Dundee	UK	20%
Aalto University	Finland	20%

There are many higher education institutions with lower acceptance rates than Cambridge University. Despite this, an acceptance rate of 23% (21.4% for international applicants) still makes the school selective.

How Do Students Apply to Cambridge?

Students, whether from the US or elsewhere, should complete and submit the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) app. It is a web-based platform through which everyone who wishes to study in the UK has to apply. The Supplementary Application Questionnaire (SAQ) should be filled out, too.

In the US, two of the most popular and widely used application systems by students applying to colleges and universities are the Common App and Coalition App. Some schools accept only one, while others accept both.

The counterpart of the Common App and Coalition app in the UK is UCAS. Created in 1992, UCAS is younger than the Common App, which came into being in 1975.

However, it is older than the Coalition App, which was created in 2015. It was only in 2011 when a UCAS app for mobile devices was invented.

Here’s what it’s like to complete UCAS if you are planning to apply to Cambridge University anytime soon:

Like when using any other college application platform, you need to create a UCAS account first.

The system, after gathering some personal details, will provide you with a username. You will then have to create a password and set your security questions. Also, you will have to add the buzzword your high school has provided, if available.

Complete the details

All mandatory questions should be answered. Needless to say, skipping any of them is not allowed. Some questions are specific for UK residents only. Some important details you will have to provide include personal circumstances, funding your studies abroad and residency status.

Add education history

Did you go to a college or university after getting your high school diploma?

Then you should provide all your qualifications when completing UCAS. This is true whether you didn’t finish the course or completed the program successfully. You should also include any qualifications even if you are waiting for further details such as exams and grades.

Complete employment history

It’s no secret that having a job makes for a wonderful extracurricular. UCAS will ask you to provide information if you have had any paid jobs, be it part-time or full-time.

You can enter up to five different jobs and their respective details. There is no need to include in this part of UCAS any voluntary or unpaid work.

Pick courses

UCAS will allow you to select as many as five courses.

It’s completely up to you whether you will indicate five or not — you can always add additional courses at a later time to complete all five slots. Worry not about choosing courses in order. That’s because there is no preference order, which means that you prefer all five equally.

Write a personal essay

You have at least 1,000 characters or up to 4,000 characters (or 47 lines, whichever comes first) to convince Cambridge University’s admissions officers that you are exactly what they are looking for.

Since UCAS doesn’t have a spell check, it’s a good idea to compose your personal essay in MS word or something similar and paste it into your application.

Get a reference

When applying to colleges and universities, more often than not, students are asked to submit recommendation letters.

In some instances, they have to submit multiple ones, with one coming from a high school counselor. Before submitting UCAS, you must complete a reference who knows you academically, such as a teacher, advisor or coach.

Before submitting, you will be shown your completed UCAS and asked to review and make the necessary edits.

You will also be asked to check out the declaration. Agreeing to the declaration will allow UCAS to process all the pieces of information you have provided and send it to Cambridge University and/or your other chosen schools.

Pay the application fee

Most of the time, college applications in the US don’t come free of charge.

Applying to the University of Cambridge, which is thousands of miles away, comes with a price tag, too. In 2022, the application fee costs £22 or $30.50 USD (single choice) or £26.50 or $37 (more than one choice). You can only pay if your application is complete.

Related Article: How to Get Into Oxford From the US?

What GPA Do You Need to Get Into Cambridge?

The GPA requirement for admission into the University of Cambridge is 3.7 at least. However, it doesn’t mean that the possession of the minimum GPA requirement guarantees acceptance. The same is true with the possession of a higher GPA. Cambridge, like many schools, has a holistic admissions policy.

Admissions officers at Cambridge and other colleges and universities look for applicants who have higher chances of succeeding in college and beyond. To help them choose, they take a look at the GPAs of students.

In the US, it’s no secret that the GPA requirement at the Ivy Leagues and other competitive schools such as MIT and Stanford University is a 4.0 or something very close to it.

Well, Cambridge University, since it’s one of the most elite schools on the planet, has a high minimum GPA requirement of 3.7.

Let’s take a look at some US schools where an average GPA of 3.7 could get you into:

Boston College
Brigham Young University Provo
Emory University
Florida International University
Florida State University
George Washington University
Johns Hopkins University
Loyola Marymount University
Princeton University
Purdue University
Stony Brook University
University of Central Florida
University of Georgia
University of Michigan
University of Southern California
University of Texas at Austin
Vanderbilt University

Related Article: How to Get Into McGill as an American

As mentioned earlier, just because you have a 3.7 GPA or higher doesn’t mean that you will surely gain admission into Cambridge.

Likewise, it doesn’t mean that you will certainly get a rejection letter from the UK-based research university simply because you have a GPA that’s lower than the stated minimum requirement.

Cambridge has a holistic admissions process, just like many US colleges and universities.

This means that its admissions officers look at the whole applicant and not just his or her GPA. According to Cambridge University itself, it wants to give applicants as many opportunities as possible to demonstrate their strengths and potential.

It adds that the following are used when considering each application individually and holistically:

Academic record
School reference
Personal essay
Any written work submitted
Performance in any written assessment
Contextual data
Performance at interview

Does Cambridge Require SAT or ACT Scores?

The University of Cambridge requires applicants from the US to submit their SAT or ACT scores. The SAT score required is at least 1460 or 1500, depending on the course. On the other hand, the ACT score required is at least 32 or 33, depending on the course. Cambridge is not a test-optional school.

In the US, around 1,600 colleges and universities are test-optional, which means that applicants may or may not submit their test scores.

Almost 60 higher education institutions in the country are test-blind. So, in other words, they do not include SAT or ACT scores in the admissions process, even if applicants choose to submit them.

Applicants from the US applying to Cambridge University have to submit their test scores. Besides submitting test scores, they also have to meet minimum SAT or ACT scores , which vary from one course to the other.

You should have a SAT score of at least 1500 for most science courses, such as:

Chemical Engineering
Computer Science
Engineering
Manufacturing Engineering
Natural Sciences
Veterinary Medicine

For other courses, applicants should have a minimum SAT score of 1460.

You should send in results of all section scores from a full sitting of the SAT instead of individual section scores from various sittings. So, in other words, unlike many US colleges and universities, Cambridge does not superscore SAT scores.

On the other hand, you need to have a minimum ACT score of 33 for science courses (Engineering, Computer Science, Medicine, etc.) or a minimum ACT score of 32 for Arts and Humanities and other courses.

Keep in mind that the University of Cambridge does not prefer one standardized test over the other.

This means that you can submit either your SAT score or ACT score, depending on which test you have taken.

If you took both exams, it’s a good idea to submit the higher of the two (or the highest across all test dates). This is most especially true if you plan to take science courses, which require a higher minimum test score.

Related Article: Is It Harder to Get 36 on ACT or 1600 on SAT?

Does Cambridge Give Credit for AP Exams

Cambridge University requires US applicants to have at least five Advanced Placement (AP) exam scores of five. This means that it will not give credit to AP exam scores lower than five. Since it’s possible to take AP exams without taking AP courses, US applicants may submit AP exam scores only.

In the US, many prestigious schools have a preference for applicants who have taken AP courses and taken AP exams, too, in high school. That’s because completing them and getting good grades indicate college readiness.

What’s more, it allows those with high grades to earn college credits and graduate from college faster, too.

If your plan is to become a Cambridge student, you should take not less than five AP exams to be considered.

But it’s not enough that you take five AP exams — it’s also a must that you get a score of five on each one of them. Needless to say, the prestigious school in the UK is looking for nothing but the most college-ready US students.

The University of Cambridge also welcomes AP Capstone, which is a diploma program from the College Board, consisting of AP courses that take two years to complete.

It encourages applicants from the US to do so as it will help them develop independent study and research skills, both of which are valuable for higher education success.

Related Article: Can You Get Into A Good School Without APs or honors?

Just Before You Apply to Cambridge

Cambridge University is just as prestigious as some of the most elite colleges and universities in the US. Because of this, it doesn’t come as a surprise why it’s selective and looks for applications that can impress.

Using the application-related details mentioned above, you can determine whether or not you have a chance of getting accepted into it.

Clearly, applying to Cambridge is just as challenging to apply to an elite school in the US. You need to have a high GPA, SAT or ACT score and AP exam grades to have increased chances of getting accepted into it.

Keep in mind that you cannot apply to the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford in the same academic year. So, in other words, you can apply to only one of the two elite UK schools in a single year.

Related Article: How to Get Into St. Andrews from the U.S.

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Current Scholars

Each year Gates Cambridge offers c.80 full-cost scholarships to outstanding applicants from countries outside the UK to pursue a postgraduate degree in any subject available at the University of Cambridge. Approximately two-thirds of these awards will be offered to PhD students, with approximately 25 awards available in the US round and 55 available in the International round.

The selection criteria are:

outstanding intellectual ability

reasons for choice of course

a commitment to improving the lives of others

leadership potential

There are approximately 250 Scholars from c. 50 countries studying in Cambridge at any one time who pursue the full range of subjects available at the University and are spread across its departments and Colleges, as well as forming their own distinctive community.

There is also a community of more than 1,700 Gates Cambridge Scholar Alumni spread across the world.

The Gates Cambridge mission is to build a global network of future leaders committed to improving the lives of others. It aims to achieve this mission by selecting outstanding scholars, providing them with financial and non-financial support at one of the world’s leading universities and facilitating community building at and beyond Cambridge.

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship programme was established in October 2000 by an historic donation of US$210m from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to the University of Cambridge. The first class of scholars came into residence in October 2001. Since then, the Trust has awarded over 2,000 scholarships to scholars from more than 100 countries.

A Gates Cambridge Scholarship covers the full cost of studying at Cambridge. It also provides additional, discretionary funding.

Core components

the University Composition Fee at the appropriate rate*

a maintenance allowance for a single student (£21,000 for 12 months at the 2024-25 rate; pro rata for courses shorter than 12 months) – for PhD scholars the award is for up to 4 years

one economy single airfare at both the beginning and end of the course

inbound visa costs & the cost of the Immigration Health Surcharge

* The University Composition Fee varies for different types of students; applicants should see the Graduate Studies prospectus for full details about precise amounts. Where a student has been successful in gaining a fee award from public authorities (such as the UKRI ) they should accept this award and the Trust will not pay their fee or may share their fee and maintenance costs.

Discretionary components

The Trust also considers applications for several types of additional funding on a discretionary basis:

Academic development funding – from up to £500 to up to £2,000, dependent on the length of your course, to attend conferences and courses.

Dependent Children Allowance – up to £11,604 for one child and up to £16,548 for two or more children (2023-24 rate). No funding is provided for a partner.

Fieldwork – you may apply to keep up to your normal maintenance allowance while on fieldwork as part of your PhD (the Trust does not fund other fieldwork costs as these should be funded by the University Composition Fee).

Maternity/Paternity funding – should you require it, you may apply to intermit your studies for up to 6 months and continue to receive your maintenance allowance during this time

Hardship funding – for unforeseen difficulties facing the scholar

Receiving a salary or substantial other scholarship?

If you are receiving a salary from an employer or have another substantial scholarship, the Trust reserves the right to reduce or not pay the standard maintenance allowance. You should let the Trust know ASAP if you are awarded any funding towards your degree at Cambridge.

What is not covered?

Most costs are covered by the Scholarship but Gates Cambridge does not cover bench fees or the costs of scientific equipment or similar academic resources. The Trust expects such core course costs to be covered by the academic department at Cambridge.

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Doctoral Degrees

A doctoral degree requires the satisfactory completion of an approved program of advanced study and original research of high quality..

Please note that the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Doctor of Science (ScD) degrees are awarded interchangeably by all departments in the School of Engineering and the School of Science, except in the fields of biology, cognitive science, neuroscience, medical engineering, and medical physics. This means that, excepting the departments outlined above, the coursework and expectations to earn a Doctor of Philosophy and for a Doctor of Science degree from these schools are generally the same. Doctoral students may choose which degree they wish to complete.

Applicants interested in graduate education should apply to the department or graduate program conducting research in the area of interest. Some departments require a doctoral candidate to take a “minor” program outside of the student’s principal field of study; if you wish to apply to one of these departments, please consider additional fields you may like to pursue.

Below is a list of programs and departments that offer doctoral-level degrees.

Program	Application Opens	Application Deadline
	September 1	December 1
	September 15	January 7
	September 15	December 15
	October 1	December 1
	September 1	December 1
	September 15	December 1
	September 15	December 1
	September 15	December 1
	October 1	December 1
	September 15	December 1
	September 1	December 1
	September 15	December 15
	September 16	December 1
	August 1	December 1
	September 10	December 10
	September 15	December 15
	September 15	December 15
	September 1	December 1
	September 14	December 15
	September 15	December 15
	September 15
	October 1	December 1
	September	December 1
	October 1	December 15
	September 15	December 15
	September 1	December 15
	September 15	January 2
	September 15	December 15
	October 9	December 15

	October 1	January 15
	September 5	December 15

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PhD in Human-Inspired Artificial Intelligence

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This exciting PhD in Human-Inspired Artificial Intelligence will train the next generation of AI researchers, technologists, and leaders in the development of human-centred, human-compatible, responsible and socially and globally beneficial AI technologies. The course offers research training in areas such as fundamental human-level AI, social and interactive AI, cognitive AI, creative AI, health and global AI, and responsible AI. Students will be educated in an interdisciplinary environment where they can get access to expertise not only in the technical but also human, ethical, applied and industrial aspects of AI.

This programme is distinct from other PhD programmes in that it takes a strongly interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary approach to technical AI. It will be based at the Centre for Human-Inspired Artificial Intelligence (CHIA) within the Institute for Technology and Humanity (ITH) where PhD students will have access to both a large community of scholars and students tackling similar questions and to the active research events programme that constitutes a key part of CHIA’s work. The course addresses the broader need for experts equipped to develop more responsible and human-centred AI as academia, industry, government and non-profit sectors increasingly recruit AI specialists and is a logical next step for students moving through AI-related master’s programmes and wishing to specialise in human-inspired AI. The interdisciplinary nature of human-inspired AI means that the programme will involve working closely also with other units of the University, including co-supervision arrangements, access to research seminars, and access to facilities.

The PhD in Human-Inspired AI aims to equip students with the skills and knowledge to contribute critically and constructively to research in human-inspired AI. It introduces students from diverse backgrounds to research skills and specialist knowledge from a range of academic disciplines and provides them with the opportunity to carry out focused research under close supervision by domain experts at the University.

The programme will train the next generation of researchers and leaders in AI by

providing them with educational infrastructure and interdisciplinary research environment and world-leading training in human-inspired AI,
providing them with the critical tools to engage with the forefront of academic knowledge, methods and applications in this area,
developing the advanced skills and abilities to identify, approach and address practical interdisciplinary research challenges,
supporting students to develop a broad and deep understanding of the technical, ethical, applied and human aspects of AI,
developing the ability and initiative to identify, address and approach relevant and complex challenges across sectors and society.

The course will benefit

students wanting to engage with human-inspired AI by enabling them to hone critical, methodological and technical skills, develop new approaches and test them out, and specialise,
students locating themselves in other home disciplines who wish to develop advanced projects including CHIAs approaches and orientations,
students entering into or returning to careers in academia, tech industry, and other sectors by giving them the advanced skills, critical perspectives, and methodological insights to pursue these pathways.

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

By the end of the PhD programme our graduates will demonstrate:

The ability to create and interpret new knowledge, through original research or other advanced scholarship of a quality to satisfy peer review, extend the forefront of the discipline, and merit publication.
The general ability to conceptualise, design and implement a project for the generation of new knowledge, applications or understanding at the forefront of human-inspired AI, and to adjust the project design in the light of unforeseen problems.
A detailed understanding of applicable techniques for cross-disciplinary research and advanced academic enquiry in the field of human-inspired AI
The ability to make informed judgements on complex issues in human inspired AI, often in the absence of complete data.
A critical perspective on the governance and ethical challenges that arise from applications of human-inspired AI and how these sit within and interact with wider society.
A systematic acquisition and understanding of a substantial body of knowledge in relation to the history, methods, and applications of human-inspired AI.

Skills and other attributes

Graduates of the course will be able to:

Continue to undertake pure and/or applied research and development at an advanced level, contributing substantially to the development of new techniques, ideas or approaches.
Communicate their ideas and conclusions clearly and effectively to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
Contribute constructively within national, international and cross-disciplinary environments.
Transfer skills and qualities acquired during the programme to successfully engage in employment requiring the exercise of personal responsibility and largely autonomous initiative in complex and unpredictable situations, in professional or equivalent environments.

Employability

Students of the programme will graduate with a formal qualification in the rapidly expanding area of AI. The emphasis is on human-inspired AI. The combination of specialist, technical expertise in AI and cross-disciplinary approaches involving a wide range of human-centric disciplines means that our doctoral graduates will be uniquely qualified in the sector. The PhD will, therefore, put them in a strong position to pursue careers in a variety of academic and non-academic settings, for example organisations and consultancies in diverse sectors such as tech, health, environment, education, journalism, civil service among others.

For those intending to continue into an academic career, the course will equip them with the skills, experience and qualification for applying for a postdoctoral research position.

For Cambridge students applying to continue from the MPhil to a PhD, students must achieve a pass in the MPhil by Thesis or an overall distinction in the MPhil by Advanced Study.

All applications are judged on their own merits, and students must demonstrate their suitability to undertake doctoral-level research.

The Centre for Human-Inspired Artificial Intelligence (CHIA) will hold an online webinar 9:00-9:45am on 4 November 2024. Please see the CHIA website for information on how to register for this event.

The Cambridge University Postgraduate Virtual Open Day usually takes place at the beginning of November. It's a great opportunity to ask questions to admissions staff and academics, explore the Colleges virtually, and to find out more about courses, the application process and funding opportunities. Visit the Postgraduate Open Day page for more details.

See further the Postgraduate Admissions Events pages for other events relating to Postgraduate study, including study fairs, visits and international events.

Key Information

3-4 years full-time, 4-7 years part-time, study mode : research, doctor of philosophy, institute for technology and humanity, course - related enquiries, application - related enquiries, course on department website, dates and deadlines:, michaelmas 2025.

Some courses can close early. See the Deadlines page for guidance on when to apply.

Funding Deadlines

These deadlines apply to applications for courses starting in Michaelmas 2025, Lent 2026 and Easter 2026.

Similar Courses

Human-Inspired Artificial Intelligence MPhil
Digital Humanities MPhil
Future Infrastructure and Built Environment (part time) EPSRC CDT PhD
Digital Humanities PhD
Global Risk and Resilience MPhil

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Doctor of Philosophy
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. In most faculties a candidate is expected to have completed one year of postgraduate study, normally on a research preparation masters course, prior to starting a PhD. ...
Applying to Cambridge
Register for the Applicant Portal. Applications to Cambridge are made through the Applicant Portal. Once you have selected your course in the Course Directory, click the 'Apply Now' button to be directed to the Applicant Portal to start your application. You can save your application at any stage and return to it later to complete.
How to get into a PhD at Cambridge (or any top university)
In this video I give you all the tips and strategies you need to get into a PhD at the world's top universities like Cambridge, Oxford, Harvard, MIT etc... T...
Entry requirements
Academic. Postgraduate study at the University of Cambridge is intense and very intellectually demanding, so the University has high academic entry requirements. You are normally expected to hold or to have achieved by the start of your course: minimum of a good upper second class (good 2:1) honours degree from a UK university or an equivalent ...
The PhD
The PhD. Overview The PhD is a research degree examined by a dissertation of up to 80,000 words, usually after three or more years of research. The criteria for obtaining the degree are that the dissertation represent a 'substantial contribution to knowledge' and that it also represents a realistic amount of work for three years' study.
PhD in Chemistry
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 ...
Applying
Applying. You may be considering Cambridge and seeking information about what you can study, our entrance requirements, how to apply and how much it costs. This section pulls together information from many sources across the website about applying to the University, and related matters, from an international student perspective and provides ...
PhD Course Information
The Postgraduate Secretary will provide further information on the process for softbound submission. As of 1st 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.
I got into Cambridge PHD : r/gradadmissions
I got into Cambridge PHD. Computational Sciences. Just got my informal email telling me that I was recommended to the Admissions Office. And I am offered a place on the CDT in Computational Methods for Materials Science 2023-24. Literally broke down in tears. Add a Comment.
The PhD programme
Further information on postgraduate admission to research courses in the Faculty of Law is available from [email protected] or +44 (0)1223 330039. 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 ...
Doctoral Paths: Apply : Faculty of Education
Application process for PhD and EdD. You are required to identify a potential supervisor before submitting your PhD/EdD application. When you contact potential supervisors, you should discuss their availability to supervise and the fit between your proposed PhD project and the area of their research. Indication in principle that the supervisor ...
How do I apply?
Making an application. Go to the Course Directory and find the course you wish to apply for. Click the 'Apply Now' button on the course page (this will open the Applicant Portal). Register for an account or log in to the Applicant Portal. Once you're logged in, you can: create an application. request and track your references.
PhD in Economics
To obtain the degree of PhD in Economics, students need to: 1. Obtain the Certificate of Postgraduate Study (CPGS). If accepted for the PhD degree, you will be registered initially for the Certificate of Postgraduate Study (CPGS) in Economics. Students registered for the CPGS are required to: Attend the 'How to do Economics' lecture course.
PhD in Physics
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 three-year Bachelor's (Honours) degree plus a relevant one/two -year UK Master's degree. All applicants are assessed individually on ...
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 ...
Cambridge University Acceptance Rate: Know Your Chances
Despite the University of Cambridge's pedigree, it's not the most challenging school to get into — in 2020/21, the undergraduate acceptance rate was 18.70%. Compare that to Harvard's, which was around 5% during the same cycle. All that to say, don't worry too much about the University of Cambridge's acceptance rate.
Entry requirements
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.
Postgraduate Study
Postgraduate Newsletter. Contact us. Students discuss their experiences of applying and studying here. 4 of 4. Book your place now for the 2024 Virtual Postgraduate Open Days 1 of 4. Watch our short guide to postgraduate study at Cambridge. 2 of 4. Advice from our students and things to consider before applying. 3 of 4.
How to Get Into Cambridge: A Guide for US Students
Pay the application fee. Most of the time, college applications in the US don't come free of charge. Applying to the University of Cambridge, which is thousands of miles away, comes with a price tag, too. In 2022, the application fee costs £22 or $30.50 USD (single choice) or £26.50 or $37 (more than one choice).
PhD in Philosophy
The PhD culminates in the production of a thesis of up to 80,000 words to be submitted between three and four years from the commencement of study for full-time study. The PhD may also be done part-time, in which case the deadline for completion will be a minimum of five and a maximum of seven years. An oral examination will be conducted on the ...
Postgraduate Cambridge University Scholarship
A Gates Cambridge Scholarship covers the full cost of studying at Cambridge. It also provides additional, discretionary funding. Core components. the University Composition Fee at the appropriate rate*. a maintenance allowance for a single student (£21,000 for 12 months at the 2024-25 rate; pro rata for courses shorter than 12 months) - for ...
Doctoral Degrees
A doctoral degree requires the satisfactory completion of an approved program of advanced study and original research of high quality. Please note that the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Doctor of Science (ScD) degrees are awarded interchangeably by all departments in the School of Engineering and the School of Science, except in the fields of biology, cognitive science, neuroscience, medical ...
PhD in Physics
How To Apply. The PhD in Physics is a full-time period of research that introduces or builds upon research skills and specialist knowledge. Students are assigned a research Supervisor, a specialist in part or all of the student's chosen research field, and join a research group that might vary in size between a handful to many tens of individuals.
PhD in Human-Inspired Artificial Intelligence
students entering into or returning to careers in academia, tech industry, and other sectors by giving them the advanced skills, critical perspectives, and methodological insights to pursue these pathways. Learning Outcomes. Knowledge and Understanding. By the end of the PhD programme our graduates will demonstrate:

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