Postgraduate funding
Securing funding to support postgraduate study is a separate, though related, procedure to the academic application. There are a number of funding opportunities available, however all are very competitive. It is not unusual for applicants who are made a conditional offer of a place to find themselves without the necessary funds to commence their study.
University funding
All postgraduate Zoology applicants will automatically be considered for University funding, including departmental studentships, provided that they have:
- applied for admission to the Department by the appropriate funding deadline.
- ticked the 'I want to be considered for funding' box on the Applicant Portal when applying.
Applicants will be considered for funding from multiple sources including the Cambridge Trust, Gates Cambridge Trust, Harding Distinguished Postgraduate Scholars Programme, Research Councils and Colleges, as well as departmental schemes.
The University’s Postgraduate Funding Search is also available to help applicants find information on funding opportunities for which they may be eligible.
For most funding providers, the application deadline is 7 January 2025.
Some funding providers may require you to meet earlier deadlines and/or ask you to provide additional information in your application - please refer to the Postgraduate Funding pages for more information.
Please note that your application is only considered complete when you have submitted your application and supporting documents via the Applicant Portal AND your referees have provided their references.
Departmental Studentships
If you would like to be considered for a departmental studentship, you must submit your application by the funding deadline on 7 January 2025. All eligible applicants who have applied by the funding deadline will be considered.
Please note that you will need to approach a supervisor from the Department before making your application for a PhD in Zoology.
Interviews are likely to be held in February 2025.
The Department actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society. We particularly encourage applications from under- represented groups. Further details about the University’s commitment to widening participation in postgraduate study can be found here.
Other funding routes
Below are just some of the possible funding routes for postgraduate students joining the Department. This is not an exhaustive list - often students come here on scholarships from their home country, or funded by charities or other sponsors.
NERC DLA (NERC-funded PhD Studentships)
The Cambridge Research Experience and Advanced Training for Environmental Scientists (CREATES) is the proposed programme of PhD studentships under the NERC Doctoral Landscape Awards scheme. If funded, the University hopes to offer at least 12 3.5 year NERC-funded PhD studentships for the first cohort in October 2025. Various departments of the University of Cambridge, including the Department of Zoology, are eligible as hosts for students.
More funding and eligibility information can be found on the Cambridge NERC Doctoral Landscape Awards website here.
Cambridge Biosciences DTP PhD Programme (BBSRC DTP)
You may wish to apply to the Cambridge Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership in parallel to a specific PhD project. For more information have a look at the Cambridge biosciences DTP website here.
Cambridge Trust Scholarships (PhD/MPhil)
Academically outstanding applicants might gain funding support via one of the Cambridge Trust Scholarships. Applicants should apply by the funding deadline on 7 January 2025.
Alexander Crummell Scholarships (PhD)
The School of Biological Sciences is currently inviting applications for the Alexander Crummell Scholarships for students with Black or Black-Mixed Ethnicity. More details are available on the Postgraduate School of Life Sciences website.
School of Biological Sciences Master's Bursary Award
Applicants to the MPhil in Biological Sciences by Advanced Study may be eligible to apply for the School of Biological Sciences Master’s Bursary Award. The bursary is aimed at applicants from low-income households with experience of socio-economic or educational disadvantage or disruption and who qualify for the University's Home or UK fee status.
Many MPhil students are partially or fully self-funded. Applicants may also be eligible to apply for a governmental postgraduate loan.
More information on making an application to the Department of Zoology is available in the menu links on the left.
If you have any questions regarding applying for postgraduate study in the Department of Zoology, please contact graduate@zoo.cam.ac.uk