University of Cambridge postgraduate applicants for 2026 entry

Reply 20

20

Original post

by Anonymous

Hi, I'm arriving Cambridge at Lent term 2026 for PhD in Engineering. There's no induction events held for lent term by my college, but will there by induction or orientation events at university? And when should I arrive considering registration and other stuff? Before Jan 5th or 20th, one is term start date another is full term start date.

No, there will be nothing in the way of induction from the university, your department or research team is the only hope. Sorry, but starting mid-year is something that had to happen during covid because so many offer holders had results and therefore confirmation delayed. However, they don't really believe in it or get organized. I'd suggest arriving as early as possible because you might have to patch things together yourself a bit. I've seen a few Engineering PhDs starting in Jan though, so that gives hope that they are set up to handle it. Maybe start reaching out before the end of term if you've got any specific questions though.

Reply 21

Anonymous #5

Hi All. I am applying for population health sciences. I submitted my application on at the end of Sept and had both my references submitted by the second week of October. My portal is showing as 'submitted' rather than under review. Should I take any action? Thanks

Reply 22

threeportdrift

Careers Forum Helper

20

Original post

by Anonymous

Hi All. I am applying for population health sciences. I submitted my application on at the end of Sept and had both my references submitted by the second week of October. My portal is showing as 'submitted' rather than under review. Should I take any action? Thanks

Read the FAQ on the previous page, this is perfectly normal.

Reply 23

Anonymous #4

Hi, I have some question related to housing application in Lent 2026. What's the general procedure for housing application and when should I start applying for University Accomodation? The accomodation officer of my college is on annual leave and will not reply until 3/Nov. Should I start to apply for University Accomodation right now or should I check the college accomodation availability from college first (till 3/Nov onwards)?

Reply 24

Anonymous #5

Original post

by threeportdrift

Read the FAQ on the previous page, this is perfectly normal.

Ah ok, thank you. Good to know. I was just wondering if I should message given I have reached the 3-4 week threshold. Will hold off in that case! Thanks

Reply 25

Anonymous #6

Original post

by theharrisbenji

Finally! Been waiting for a long time for this thread and my application window. Previously applied 2 years ago for a master's program at Cambridge and got in, but didn't get funding. Am back and applying for a PhD so let's get it!
Prospective course: Social Anthropology, Sociology (both PhD programs)
Achieved (or expected) grade: 4.9/5
Nationality: Singaporean
Current (or last) university: National University of Singapore
Current (or last) course: Sociology
College preferences: Hughes Hall, Wolfson College
Other universities you’re applying to: Edinburgh, UCL, LSE, University of Amsterdam, Johns Hopkins, UPenn, UCLA, Duke (all Anthropology)

Prospective course: integrated immunology
Achieved grade: 2:1
Nationality: Cameroonian
Last university: University of Buea
Last course: medical laboratory science

Reply 26

Sakhaavu

4

Thank you for the making the thread.
Prospective course: MPhil in modern South Asian studies

Achieved (or expected) grade: 1,3 in German system (first class honours in UK I think)

Nationality: Indian

Current (or last) university: Ludwig Maximilian University Munich (LMU Munich)

Current (or last) course: BA history with a minor in Asian Studies.

College preferences: Trinity and Jesus

Other universities you’re applying to: Oxford’s MSc program in modern South Asian studies.

Reply 27

Anonymous #7

Prospective course: MPhil Economics
Achieved (or expected) grade: Equivalent to UK first class with honours
Nationality: Indian
Current (or last) university: University of Mumbai
Current (or last) course: Bachelors in Economics
College preferences: King's & Churchill
Other universities you’re applying to: Oxford, LSE & UCL

Reply 28

exeuntgenera

3

Hi all, I'm very grateful for this thread. (: If any other people applying for a History PhD would like to connect, let me know!

Prospective course: History PhD
Achieved (or expected) grade: 1.2 German scale (equivalent to a first)
Nationality: German
Current (or last) university: Freie Universität Berlin
Current (or last) course: B.A History and Philosophy, M.A. Public History
College preferences: Christ College and Jesus College
Other universities you’re applying to: Oxford and UCL

Reply 29

Sakhaavu

4

Original post

by exeuntgenera

Hi all, I'm very grateful for this thread. (: If any other people applying for a History PhD would like to connect, let me know!
Prospective course: History PhD
Achieved (or expected) grade: 1.2 German scale (equivalent to a first)
Nationality: German
Current (or last) university: Freie Universität Berlin
Current (or last) course: B.A History and Philosophy, M.A. Public History
College preferences: Christ College and Jesus College
Other universities you’re applying to: Oxford and UCL

Good luck! What area/ topic would you be working on though?

Reply 30

exeuntgenera

3

Original post

by Sakhaavu

Good luck! What area/ topic would you be working on though?

Thank you! I research at the intersections of modern East German and Northern English women’s history with an emphasis on class and economic transition. (:

Reply 31

outstanding-cata

1

Hi! I’ve just graduated from an MPhil in neuroscience at Cambridge and have recently applied for the AstraZeneca funded PhD at the department of pharmacology. I have a 15 minute interview this Friday. Has anyone had any experience with this?

Reply 32

GeorgeMoncaster

4

Original post

by pinkberries44

Prospective course: PhD in History
Achieved or Expected Grade: High pass
Nationality: Home/English
Current (or last) university: Cambridge
Current (or last) course: History MPhil
College preferences: Jesus & Corpus Christi (though thinking I might change either to Churchill for access to the archives)
Other universities you’re applying to: also applying for non-PhD courses & waiting for AHRC studentships to be advertised in 2026.
If any historians want to chat, please message me! I don't know anyone applying for this year's entry - most of my friends have either joined the workforce or already started their PhDs - and it would be great to speak to others also trying to navigate this!

Would be great to talk, have also applied for the PhD, having taken a year out.

Reply 33

Hyperil

9

Thanks for making the thread! It would be great to talk to anyone who has applied to this course or other STEM MPhil courses!
Prospective course: MPhil Scientific Computing
Achieved (or expected) grade: First
Nationality: British
Current (or last) university: University of Glasgow
Current (or last) course: Theoretical Physics
College preferences: Darwin College
Other universities you’re applying to: N/A

Reply 34

atashpully

Original post

by outstanding-cata

Hi! I’ve just graduated from an MPhil in neuroscience at Cambridge and have recently applied for the AstraZeneca funded PhD at the department of pharmacology. I have a 15 minute interview this Friday. Has anyone had any experience with this?

Hello! I can't help much on your question, but I recently applied and got interviewed for the cognitive neuroscience Mphil at Cambridge. I was wondering if you did that program or a different neuroscience program at Cambridge?

Reply 35

outstanding-cata

1

Original post

by atashpully

Hello! I can't help much on your question, but I recently applied and got interviewed for the cognitive neuroscience Mphil at Cambridge. I was wondering if you did that program or a different neuroscience program at Cambridge?

Hi! I did the MPhil in basic and translational neuroscience but had some lectures with the cognitive MPhil course !

Reply 36

Wired_1800

20

Original post

by outstanding-cata

Hi! I’ve just graduated from an MPhil in neuroscience at Cambridge and have recently applied for the AstraZeneca funded PhD at the department of pharmacology. I have a 15 minute interview this Friday. Has anyone had any experience with this?

Hello, I don't have direct experience of this, but I would suggest the following;

Go prepared with answers for your motivations, academic background, interest in the proposed topic and possible methodologies. Keep it flexible as PhD research can change when you get there.

Try to make it interactive and if you don't know the answer to a specific question, I suggest that you offer to get back to them but share your initial thoughts e.g. “I am not super familiar with this specific area and I’d be happy to get back to you with a more informed response. However, my initial thoughts are…”

Have some questions ready for them towards the end. I’d suggest 1 technical question and 1 general question.

For example:
Technical:

•

Something technical and specific to your research area.

General:

•

“One of my personal interests is teaching and I was wondering whether there would be opportunities to teach or supervise students such as undergrads during my programme”.

Finally, offer your thanks for the opportunity e.g. “I really appreciate your time and the opportunity that you have given me today. It’s been great speaking with you”. Then follow up with a thank you email afterwards.

Good luck

Reply 37

offtrack_

7

Thanks for the thread!
Prospective course: PhD in Film & Screen Studies
Achieved (or expected) grade: 4.0/4.0 GPA (US)
Nationality: US (NYC)
Current (or last) university: Columbia University (B.A. Film & Media Studies + M.A. in Journalism, Arts & Culture) + MFA Hunter College (Integrated Media Arts-Film)
College preferences: Wolfson College and Clare Hall (also applying for college-specific postgraduate studentships, so that could change)
Other universities you’re applying to: Tisch, NYU (NYC); Yale (New Haven, CT); UCL (London); Trinity (Dublin); University of Toronto (all PhD programs).
Good luck to all! 🍀

(edited 3 weeks ago)

Reply 38

Anonymous #8

Has anyone else turned DP over the past weeks and has already heard back regarding the application outcome?

Reply 39

Anonymous #9

Does the timing of degree committee meetings actually have any bearing on application status? I feel like I submitted my application too late for the next one for my department (I think it’s next week?).

University of Cambridge postgraduate applicants for 2026 entry

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