Postgraduate Training and PhD Studentships
UK Residents and EU Citizens
UK residents and EU citizens are eligible for the following funding sources:
- The Alexander James Keith Fund - and how to apply for the Studentship
• The AJ Keith Fund provides only ONE studentship every three years
• The next studentship is offered for commencement in the academic year 2012-13
• Applicants may be of any nationality
• A Studentship shall be tenable for one year in the first instance
• A Student may be re-elected subject to good progress, but the award ceases at the end of the third year
• Fees are paid at the appropriate University and College rates
• A living allowance at the level for UK Research Councils is paid, plus a research allowance of up to £1,300 per year
• An award normally begins in October, but may be deferred to the following January or April, subject to approval by the University and Electors, but cannot be deferred to a later academic year - Research Council (e.g. BBSRC, EPSRC and NERC) Studentships:
If your supervisor confirms that you are being considered for one of these studentships, you do not need to make a separate application to the Research Councils for funding. Studentships are normally awarded for 3 or 4 years subject to a satisfactory progress review at the end of the first year.Some of the BBSRC studentships may be CASE (Co-operative awards in science and engineering) studentships. CASE students will spend time in an industrial or government laboratory and will receive an enhanced stipend from the co-operating company or institution.
Genes to Organisms: PhD Programme in Integrative Biology
The Department of Plant Sciences is offering up to three or four, three year PhD studentships, funded by BBSRC and jointly administered with the Department of Physiology, Neuroscience and Development and the Department of Zoology, for the academic year 2012/13. These awards are available to UK nationals and EU students who meet the UK residency requirements.
Full information can be found at, including full details of the Department's research interests: http://www.pdn.cam.ac.uk/g2o/.
Applicants should contact a potential supervisor and agree a project before applying.
How to Apply: All applications must be made online using the University GRADSAF. Full instructions can be found at: http://www.biomed.cam.ac.uk/gradschool/apply/student/.
The closing date for receipt of all documentation is Friday 13 January 2012. Interviews for shortlisted candidates will take place on Thursday 9 February 2012
UK and EU applicants who are unsuccessful in obtaining research council funding might be considered for a Cambridge Home and EU Scholarship Scheme (CHESS) / Millenium Scholarship. The Department will automatically enter those candidates it considers are eligible and that have a good chance of success. Applicants must have completed and submitted an online application by 13th January 2012 for the academic year 2012/13. Candidates who have been successful in securing university wide funding will be informed between April and June of 2012. For further information please views the links on the right hand side of this page. - Lewin-Fritsch Studentship in Phycology:
This three year fully funded studentship is administered by The Department, Downing College and the British Phycological Society. The student must be a member of Downing College. Applicants must select a project that addresses algal biology. This studentship is currently filled. However, we propose to accept applications from October 2012 for entry to the Department in 2013/14.
If you are a UK resident or EU citizen and you have secured funding for your post graduate studies (self-financing or sponsorship), then the application deadlines for the academic year 2012/13 are as follows: 30 June, 30 September, 31 December for starts in October, January and April respectively
An application consists of the following items; incomplete applications will not be considered:
A completed application to the University - The two academic references supplied in respect of your application to the University, and the transcript you upload with your application will be available to the AJ Keith Electors.
Once you have applied, you will be given a University Student Number, which you must quote on this form (see above).
You must submit a GRADSAF application online by 31 January 2012.
Please go to: http://www.biomed.cam.ac.uk/gradschool/apply/student/ for full detail of how to apply for admission to a research degree in Life Sciences.
This coversheet and your research proposal - in the SAME document
Your c.v.
**The last two items should be emailed together to the Secretary (gradbiol@mole.bio.cam.ac.uk) by 31 January 2012**
The Department in which you wish to study will be made aware that you have applied for the AJ Keith Studentship. If the department wishes to shortlist you for admission to the University, you will be interviewed and they will write a supporting statement in support of your application to the AJ Keith Electors.
The Electors will make a decision based on their assessment of academic achievement and promise and the relevance of the research project to the purpose of the fund. The Electors hope to announce an election by mid-March 2012.
Overseas Students
Overseas students must apply for funding from external bodies to support their studies. The Board of Graduate Studies will provide assistance in obtaining scholarships from the Cambridge Trusts. Further funding information can be found on the Board of Graduate pages.
The closing date for all Overseas students applying for funding through the Cambridge Trusts is the 2nd December 2011 for the academic year 2012/13. Candidates who have been successful in securing funding from the Cambridge Trusts will be informed between April and June 2012. For further information please views the links on the right hand side of this page.
The Lewin-Fritsch Studentship in algal biology is also open to overseas applicants.
Other Funding Opportunities
Other funding opportunities will be announced as they become available.
- Quick Links for UK Residents and EU Citizens
- Graduate School of Life Sciences fees and funding
- Cambridge Home and EU Scholarship Scheme (CHESS) [formerly DRS]
- Funding provided by the University
- Quick Links for overseas students
- Cambridge Commonwealth Trust and Cambridge Overseas Trust
- How to apply to the Cambridge Trusts
- University of Cambridge Graduate Studies Prospectus
- Dorothy Hodgkin Postgraduate Awards
- Arts and Humanities Research Council
- Gates Cambridge Scholarships