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 4 January 2024.
Some funding providers may require you to meet earlier deadlines (e.g., the BBSRC DTP deadline is 5 December 2023) 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
The deadline for applications for departmental studentships is 4 January 2024.
Please note that you will need to approach a supervisor from the Department before making your application for a PhD in Zoology.
Eligible applicants who have applied by the deadline will be automatically considered. Interviews are likely to be held in February 2024.
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.
Balfour Studentship (PhD)
The Department will be offering one John Stanley Gardiner PhD Studentship for entry in October 2024. The studentship will cover the University Composition Fee at the Home rate, a stipend at the UKRI rate for 4 years, and a contribution towards research costs.
John Stanley Gardiner Studentship (PhD)
The Department will be offering one John Stanley Gardiner PhD Studentship for entry in October 2024. The studentship will cover the University Composition Fee at the Overseas rate, a stipend at the UKRI rate for 4 years, and a contribution towards research costs.
Whitten Studentship (Aquatic Biology, PhD)
The Department will be offering one Whitten PhD Studentship on the ecology, natural history and conservation of marine or freshwater habitats, and the organisms that live there, in any part of the world.The studentship will cover the University Composition Fee at the Home rate, a stipend at the UKRI rate for 4 years, and a contribution towards research costs.
Candidates of any nationality/residency may apply, but a successful Overseas applicant would need to secure additional funds from other sources to cover the higher fee level.
Find out more about the Whitten Programme 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.
Cambridge Natural Environment Research Council Doctoral Training Partnerships (NERC DTP)
The University of Cambridge is offering a number of 3.5-year NERC funded studentships starting in October 2024. Find out more about NERC DTP studentships and eligibility information on the NERC DTP website.
Many of our Zoology projects are available as NERC Studentships and details are listed in our departmental Project List here.
Cambridge Biosciences DTP PhD Programme (BBSRC DTP)
The University of Cambridge is offering between 25 - 30 fully-funded BBSRC DTP Studentships starting in October 2024. Funding includes a comprehensive training programme, including a 12-week internship with an industrial or other partner and a sizeable research project consumables budget. Applications for the 2024 intake are now open, please note the earlier deadline of Tuesday 5 December 2023. You can see full details on the BBSRC DTP website. Several researchers in the Department of Zoology are participating on this PhD programme and can therefore supervise a student funded via this programme – ask your prospective supervisor about this.
Cambridge Trust Scholarships (PhD/MPhil)
Academically outstanding applicants might gain funding support via one of the Cambridge Trust Scholarships. Eligible applicants who have applied by the funding deadline (4 January 2024) will be automatically considered.
Alexander Crummell Scholarships (PhD and MPhil)
The School of Biological Sciences is currently inviting applications for the Alexander Crummell Scholarships for students with Black or Black-Mixed Ethnicity. Applications are open both for PhD and MPhil. More details about these, including deadlines for application 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 Lizzie Burgess, Postgraduate Administrator, at graduate@zoo.cam.ac.uk