On this page:
Application process and eligibility
When should I apply?
You can apply for the 2024–25 academic year from 4 September 2023.
The application deadline is 28 February 2024, but the deadline is earlier if you wish to apply for funding as part of your application:
- 11 October 2023 for US citizens, resident in the US, who wish to be considered for Gates Cambridge.
- 5 December 2023 for all other applicants who wish to be considered in the Postgraduate Funding Competition.
We receive a large number of applications each year, so early application is recommended – however, we consider all applications that are received by the application deadline.
Do I need a degree in a particular subject to apply for this course?
No, we do not require specific undergraduate degrees and our students come from a range of backgrounds across the sciences and humanities. However, you should have some understanding of what the course entails and be able to demonstrate how this fits with your experience and interests.
I am a medical student. Can I apply for this course?
Yes, we accept applications from intercalating medical students at any university. You should have completed at least three years of undergraduate study by the time you start this course and meet our other requirements for admission.
My degree is not graded in terms of class or GPA. Can I still apply?
Yes. We recognise that some degrees - especially medical degrees - follow different grading systems, and we review applications on a case-by-case basis taking this into account.
I did not achieve a first class degree/3.7 GPA in my undergraduate degree. Can I still apply?
Our normal requirement is a first class honours degree from a UK university, or a degree of an equivalent standard from an overseas university. However, we assess all applications in their entirety, taking into account the strength of your references, your statement of purpose, writing sample, and any other relevant information.The MPhil Management Committee may in exceptional cases decide to make an offer of admission to applicants with a 2:1 or its equivalent, where other elements of the application are of a particularly high standard. Applicants who have a less than a 2.1 or its equivalent are unlikely to receive an offer.
We are unable to give you a preliminary assessment of the likelihood of your application being successful, but encourage you to submit a complete application to give us the most complete picture of your suitability for the course.
Will there be an interview?
Yes, admission is subject to an interview. You will be contacted by the course administrator if you have reached the interview stage, to arrange a mutually convenient time to interview with a senior member of academic staff. Interviews are normally conducted via video call, but may also be conducted by telephone or in person.
Can you take additional qualifications (such as previous Masters qualifications) into account?
Yes. You should provide transcripts for all previous or ongoing courses as far as they are available.
Do I need to provide GRE test results?
No. We do not take GRE results into consideration.
Should I get in touch with a potential supervisor before submitting my application/name a supervisor on the application?
No, there is no need to have identified or contacted any potential supervisors at the application stage. Supervising arrangements for each piece of work are confirmed during the academic year.
Can I start this course in January or April?
No. The course lasts for 9 months and starts in October of each year.
How many places are available on the course each year?
We aim to admit approximately 20 students per year.
Where can I find admissions statistics?
We do not publicly release admissions statistics on a course-by-course basis, but data is collected for statistical purposes under the Department of History and Philosophy of Science, and more information can be found on the Postgraduate Admissions website.
Funding
I submitted my application after the funding deadline/did not indicate that I wished to be considered for funding. Can I still be considered for university funding?
You cannot be considered for funding through the Postgraduate Funding Competition unless you indicate that you wish to be considered for funding and submit your application by 5 December 2023. You may still be considered for a Department studentship, and you may also be eligible for other funding, for instance through Colleges. The Postgraduate Admissions website has detailed information about this.
I have not heard whether I have received funding, can you help?
With the exception of the Department studentships, funding decisions are made by separate university funding bodies and they will contact you directly if you have been successful. If you haven't heard by the end of July, typically you have not been successful.
When will I hear the outcome of the decision about Departmental studentships?
We start to allocate these funds from March onwards and aim to let applicants know as soon as possible if they are shortlisted for a studentship. Final decisions may not be made until late summer, but we will keep you informed if your situation changes.
My application is on hold. Will I still be considered for funding?
All applicants who receive an offer will be considered for Departmental studentships. If you receive an offer later than February, you will unfortunately not be considered in the Postgraduate Funding Competition. You can visit the Postgraduate Admissions website for further information about other funding that may be available to you.
After applying
When will I hear from you about an interview/the outcome of my application?
Your application has to pass through several stages and university offices and this can take some time. Detailed information on the selection process and the timescales involved can be found on the Postgraduate Admissions website.
We expect to organise the majority of our interviews and offers around November, January and March, with applications considered as they are received. Early offers are only made to the very strongest applicants, with the remainder of the offers drawn from a gathered field from March onwards. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified as early as possible.
Can you tell me why my application was unsuccessful?
Unfortunately we are unable to provide feedback to individuals on the quality and content of their applications.
I have accepted a conditional offer for this course. When will I receive more details and a reading list?
Preliminary reading lists are normally sent to offer holders in July or August, with further course details and information to help you prepare sent during September. Please make sure your email address is kept up to date so that you continue to receive communications from the course staff and the Postgraduate Admissions Office. This is especially important if you have recently completed a course of study at another academic institution, as your email account may expire over the summer.
If you are unable to take up your offer, you should let us know as soon as possible via your self-service account.
Further information
Who should I contact if I have any other questions?
For questions relating to the application system please contact the Postgraduate Admissions Office.
For all other enquiries please email hmsadmin@hps.cam.ac.uk.