To carry out a PhD, you must obtain financial support to cover both the University Composition Fee and a maintenance stipend for the duration of your studentship. Details of these fees are available on the Cambridge University website, including funding deadlines.

The University of Cambridge Postgraduate Admissions Office has further information to help applicants determine their fee status on the web page ‘What is my Fee Status?’.

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MRC Studentships

The MRC Epidemiology Unit has funding for 2 to 3 MRC Studentships each year. These cover University fees at the Home student level and a tax-free stipend (currently £21,122 per annum) – please check if you are eligible for the University Home student fee level.

Studentships commence in October 2025. These are 3-year positions if you have a Masters degree, or equivalent training, in an appropriate scientific discipline. Opportunities also exist for 1+3-year funding to undertake the University’s MPhil in Population Health Sciences in your first year.

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Funded PhD projects

We also receive specific project funding for some PhD studentships each year. Eligibility criteria will be specific to the nature of each project and its funding source. Projects will be added here when they are available.

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Other funding for PhD studies

There are many other funding opportunities at Cambridge from a wide variety of sources including the Cambridge Trust, Gates Cambridge, Colleges, Departments, Research Councils and central University funds. These can also supplement MRC Studentships for those ineligible for Full Funding. Note that these will have differing deadlines for applications. See also www.graduate.study.cam.ac.uk/finance/funding

We also welcome students who are funded through Public Health England and the School for Public Health Research. Such opportunities will be featured on our news website.

We very much welcome expressions of interest from prospective candidates and we will support selected candidates to apply to external funding sources.

Please any enquiries to graduatestudies@mrc-epid.cam.ac.uk. Alternatively, you may contact one of our principal investigators directly.