Postgraduate Admissions
Overview
The Department of Pharmacology at the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Cambridge provides a diverse and rich training environment for postgraduate students. We offer a number of courses that have distinct application mechanisms. Please familiarise yourself with process, deadlines, and eligibility requirements for each course. An overview of postgraduate research at Cambridge can be found here.
We want to support the best and brightest students, but securing admission and funding at Cambridge is highly competitive. Therefore, we recommend that you select a suitable programme, supervisor (if applicable), and funding sources well in advance of the respective deadlines and give your referees plenty of time to write and submit their letters of support. It is your responsibility as the applicant to ensure that your application is complete and submitted on time. To be fair to all applicants, late or incomplete submissions will not be considered.
The deadline to apply for research-based and centrally-funded PhD and Master’s (MPhil) programmes starting in in the next academic year (October 2027) is 8 Dec 2026. Please note that it is unusual to start a post-graduate programme at other times of the year.
The application process is outlined below and consists of 3 essential steps: 1) select a course, 2) identify a supervisor willing to accept you into their research group if your application is successful (required for research-based PhD and MPhil but not for taught MPhil courses, and 3) complete and submit your application.
1) Select a course
For applicants wishing to carry out primarily research-based projects at the University of Cambridge, you will first need to identify which department or institute you wish to work in. Research these carefully to ensure that your selected department offers research topics you are fascinated by and potential supervisors you would like to work with. You can find other potential departments here. The Department of Pharmacology offers research-based PhD and MPhil courses, and also hosts students enrolled in taught MPhil courses that combine coursework with research and have a separate application process.
MPhil or PhD by research
The Department of Pharmacology offers MPhil and PhD courses that are primarily research-based. All students are expected to attend weekly seminars, present their work during annual departmental retreats and student talks as a poster or oral presentation, and are marked based on their written thesis and performance during an oral examination (viva voce) at the conclusion of the programme. The courses include:
MPhil in Biological Science (Pharmacology) (1 year): code BLPHM1.
The MPhil programme is 12 months (typically starting in October) and will be based primarily in one of the laboratories of a group leader in the department of Pharmacology.
PhD in Pharmacology (minimum 3 years, maximum 4 full-time): code BLPH22.
There are several different PhD programmes you can apply to that last 3-4 years (typically stating in October). Each of these opportunities has distinct deadlines and funding mechanisms, so please consider these carefully in consultation with your prospective supervisor. Occasionally, there are fully-funded PhD studentships offered by specific research groups that have a separate application process. You can learn more about these here.
Before applying to a research-based MPhil or PhD, please ensure that you have discussed your application with your preferred supervisor, and confirmed that they are happy to accept you into their group should your application be successful. When applying, you must name your supervisor in your application or we cannot process your application.
In rare cases, it may be possible to pursue a part-time MPhil or PhD while employed in your supervisor’s group as a research assistant or technician, provided that your funding is guaranteed for the duration of the degree. You may wish to discuss this option with a potential supervisor.
Taught MPhil
Supervisors in the Department of Pharmacology are able to host MPhil students who have gained admission to a ‘taught MPhil’ programmes that train students using a combination of coursework and laboratory research. You do NOT need to identify a potential supervisor in advance, but should apply directly to the programme and select a project and supervisor after having secured a spot on the programme. You can find and apply for these courses here. If you wish to apply to one of these courses, you do not need to submit a separate application to the department of Pharmacology.
2) Identify a supervisor
Once you have identified a course you are interested in, ensured you have met the course-specific eligibility criteria and can realistically complete your application before the deadline, you will need to secure the support of a potential supervisor if you are applying for a research-based PhD or MPhil in Pharmacology. To identify a supervisor, please take time to carefully read through the research interests of our group leaders. It’s a good idea to contact potential supervisors well in advance of the application deadline since there tends to be high demand for a limited number of spaces, and since some applications require a written proposal developed by you and your supervisor.
3) Complete and submit your application
All applications for postgraduate study are made through the University’s online Postgraduate Applicant Portal.
As part of your application, you must secure two written letters of reference from referees who know you well and can speak to your likely suitability for the course you are applying to. Your application will not be considered complete until both of your referees have submitted their letters of support. The Applicant Portal makes it possible for you to monitor the progress of your application, including when letters of support have been uploaded.
You will likely also need to identify sources of funding to support your study. Course fees vary substantially whether you have ‘home’ or ‘overseas’ status as described in greater detail here. The funding finder can help you identify suitable opportunities to support your studies. The deadlines for funding may differ from those of the application itself, and vary from Nov 2026 to March 2027 for an Oct 2027 start.
Please note that it is your responsibility as a prospective student to ensure that your application is accurate, complete, and submitted on time. After the application deadline, it is unusual for there to be additional postgraduate opportunities until the following year.
FAQs about postgraduate admissions in Pharmacology
Am I eligible to apply for admission to your programmes?
If you are a UK-based (home fee) student wanting to apply, you will need:
- At least a 2.1 in an Honours degree or equivalent in a relevant subject
- Two references from senior university staff at your most recent university (this is usually your supervisor, mentor or course organiser)
If you are an International student, you will need:
- A degree that is equivalent to at least a UK 2.1 (e.g. CGPA 3.5/4.0) in an Honours degree or equivalent in a relevant subject (please visit the International Qualifications page for more information)
- Two references from senior university staff at your most recent university (this is usually your supervisor, mentor or course organiser)
- Confirmation of fluency in the English language as evidenced by a recent IELTS test with an overall band score of at least 7.0 with not less than 7.0 in speaking, listening and writing, and 6.5 in reading. Please visit the English language requirement page for more information.
If you have any further questions about eligibility, please see the University’s entry requirements.
How do I find a topic to study and a supervisor to work with?
The Postgraduate Applicant Portal requires you to choose a course. For research applicants, this means specifying which department or institute you wish to work in. To choose a department, take your time to identify a topic and one or more supervisors in the department with whom you wish to work. If you have already decided on the Department of Pharmacology, you should:
- browse the profiles of the Principal Investigators to identify those whose work is of interest to you and may be willing to support your application. Please note that our Postgraduate team cannot process applications without any supervisor's name specified.
- browse the available fully funded PhD studentships. Please note that the application process for these studentships is distinct from the process described here.
How much will the programme cost?
You can find information about fees for full-time and part-time study for ‘home’ and ‘overseas’ students on the Postgraduate Admissions Fees page.
How do I apply for funding for my studies?
You can find comprehensive information about funding on the How to Apply for Funding page.
To search for funding opportunities that may be available to you use the Funding Search Tool with appropriate filters. If you wish to be considered for funding, you must complete the relevant section of the Applicant Portal in full for your funding application to be considered. Please note that admissions decisions are taken independently of funding decisions, and there can be separate deadlines for applying for funding. There can be separate deadlines for applications and funding for candidates from the USA, for example applicants applying for Gates Cambridge from the USA.
Does the Pharmacology Department offer any funding?
The department does not have additional funding that you can apply to directly, though internal decisions may be made to support students from sources such as the David James Studentship. No direct application to this funding is required.
What happens after I apply?
You can find information on the post-application process on the University's Postgraduate Study website.
What if I have further questions?
You can find additional information about the application process and funding opportunities on the Postgraduate Admissions website, including useful frequently asked questions (FAQs) relevant to postgraduate admission.If you have any queries that are not covered on these sites or above, please email Postgrad@phar.cam.ac.uk. Please contact the proposed supervisor directly in the case of specific queries about projects offered.
Useful links for prospective students