4-Year PhD programme
How to apply
If you have any questions about the application process, please look at the FAQs. If you need further assistance, contact the Graduate Programme Office.
Academic requirements
Candidates are expected to hold, or be about to achieve, a 1st or an upper 2nd class degree or an equivalent overseas qualification. High GRE scores are recommended for overseas applicants.
Competence in English
If your first language is not English you will need to meet the University of Cambridge's English language requirements, although you do not have to fulfil this requirement before submitting your on-line application to the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute.
Application procedure
You need to:
- Complete the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute on-line application
- Send a copy of your academic transcript(s) as an email attachment (in PDF format if possible) to: phd.transcripts@sanger.ac.uk. Please name the document as follows: transcript.your name
- Ensure that your two chosen referees download and complete the reference request form
Closing date for applications for the 2013-2014 academic year: Tuesday 4th December 2012 (midnight GMT) .
Should you have any difficulties in submission, or if you do not receive an email confirming that your submission has been successful, please contact the Graduate Programme Office.
If you are unable to send your transcripts as an email attachment, please send them by post to the Graduate Programme Office by the closing date for applications.
Selected candidates will be invited to attend our PhD Open Day on 28th January 2013 at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute in Hinxton, where they will have three interviews with individual Sanger Institute Faculty members and one panel interview with three Sanger Institute Faculty members. If overseas applicants are unable to attend the PhD Open Day, they can be interviewed via a series of Skype or telephone interviews (during the two weeks before the Open Day).
If you have not heard from us by 11th January 2013 you should assume that you have not been short listed for interview.
The studentships will be allocated on a competitive basis after the PhD Open Day. All students who are offered a studentship on our 4-year PhD programme will obtain full financial support, including tuition fees, regardless of nationality.
Sanger studentships are extremely competitive, and we encourage you to seek your own funding. Any students with their own funding should still apply to our 4-year PhD Programme via the online application form.
Once a student has been selected for the 4-year PhD programme they have to apply for admission to the University of Cambridge using the University's online GRADSAF (Graduate Admission and Scholarship Application Form). A student cannot take up our award unless they are also successful in securing admission to the University.
Please note that if you wish to be considered for the University of Cambridge's funding competitions you will need to submit a GRADSAF before the relevant deadline, in addition to making an application to our 4-Year PhD Programme.
