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Published: 10 Dec 2024 656 views
The Wellcome Sanger Institute is one of the world's premier genomics research institutes and is at the forefront of this fast-developing field. We use large-scale DNA sequencing, informatics and analysis of genome variation to further our understanding of gene function in health and disease, and the genomic diversity of complex organisms. The Institute's PhD programme is open to UK and overseas applicants, and we aim to attract the brightest and best young scientists worldwide.
The PhD programme aims to provide training and research opportunities in genomic science that reflect the unique nature of Sanger Institute science. It emphasises large-scale, high-throughput approaches, and the development of a blend of wet-lab and computational skills. The Institute also aims to provide students with general research and transferable skills training in addition to training in their specific research area. Applicants will generally have a bioscience background, but applicants with a computational or mathematical background are also encouraged to apply.
During the first eight months, full-time students on our PhD programme undertake rotations in three different research groups. This ensures exposure to different disciplines in genomics and allows the students to gain an understanding of the full range of science being carried out at the Institute and the different technologies that are available. In particular, all students are required to carry out at least one informatics rotation and one experimental laboratory rotation. This helps students to develop wide-ranging skills both at the bench and in data analysis. The final PhD project is chosen towards the end of the third rotation period, and students start their PhD project on 1 June. Students are expected to submit their PhD thesis within four years of starting the programme.
Students are also expected to attend a number of training courses in transferable and general research skills, the postgraduate student lecture series and the students' journal club. There is an active seminar programme on site and at the University of Cambridge, and students are encouraged to present their work at both national and international scientific meetings, as well as to the Institute. Since our students are registered with the University of Cambridge and are members of a Cambridge college, they are able to take an active part in the University's academic and social life. They have access to events and courses run by the Postgraduate School of Life Sciences, and University facilities such as the library and the careers service. For further details, visit the PhD Programme page on our website.
The course is exclusively by research. All students in this programme will be members of the University’s Postgraduate School of Life Sciences (PSLS), which offers a wide variety of core skills and professional development training
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| Application Deadline | 16 Apr 2025 |
| Value | £29,356 |
| Country to study | United Kingdom |
| School to study | University of Cambridge |
| Type | Postgraduate |
| Course to study | View courses |
| Sponsor | University of Cambridge |
| Gender | Men and Women |
As part of Wellcome's core support, the Sanger Institute normally has funding available for 12 students each year on our PhD programme. These studentships cover the cost of the University Composition Fee (regardless of nationality) and provide a generous tax-free stipend for the student. Students are funded for up to four years. Visa and immigration health surcharge costs can also be reimbursed. Further information can be found on the PhD Programme page on our website.
| Component | Cost |
|---|---|
| University Composition Fee | £10,356 |
| Maintenance | £19,000 |
| Total Annual Commitment | £29,356 |
If you study part-time, the University Composition Fee will be 60% of the annual full-time fee for 5 years; or 75% of the annual full-time fee for 4 years.
Guidance on calculation of your maintenance costs can be found here: Maintenance costs for part-time students | Postgraduate Study (cam.ac.uk)
Applicants for this course should have achieved a UK Good II.i Honours Degree.
If your degree is not from the UK, please check International Qualifications to find the equivalent in your country.
Applicants are expected to hold, or be about to achieve, a 1st class or a good 2:1 UK Honours degree or equivalent overseas qualification in a relevant scientific subject.
University Minimum Academic Requirements
| Element | Score |
|---|---|
| Listening | 7.0 |
| Writing | 7.0 |
| Reading | 6.5 |
| Speaking | 7.0 |
| Total | 7.0 |
| Element | Score |
|---|---|
| Listening | 25 |
| Writing | 25 |
| Reading | 25 |
| Speaking | 25 |
| Total | 100 |
Score: Grade A & B (overall score of 193, with no element lower than 185 plus a Language Centre assessment)
Score: Grade A, B, or C (with at least 200 with no element lower than 185).
If you are made an offer, an ATAS will be required in order to obtain a Visa.
Do not apply for an ATAS unless you have been made an offer.
A CAH3 code, which will be used to make your ATAS application, will be provided in your offer letter.
All applicants applying to the Wellcome Sanger Institute's PhD programme for one of our 12 funded studentships must follow the instructions detailed in the 'How to apply' section on the PhD Programme page on the Wellcome Sanger Institute's website.
Applicants who submit an application directly via the online form on the Sanger Institute's website are automatically considered for one of the Institute's funded places.
Applicants with their own scholarship funding should still apply to the PhD programme via the online form on the Sanger Institute's website to be considered for a place.
Please note that applications submitted directly to the Sanger Institute are not applications to the University of Cambridge. Students who are successful in gaining a funded place through the Sanger Institute will also be subsequently required to submit an application through the University's Applicant Portal.
Applications for the PhD programme are considered part of a gathered field, and the application deadline is at the end of November/beginning of December.
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend our in-person PhD Interview Day on 27 January 2025.
At the PhD Interview Day, the shortlisted applicants will have two or three interviews with individual Sanger Institute Faculty members and one-panel interview with three Sanger Institute Faculty members. Any shortlisted applicants unavailable for the PhD Interview Day can be interviewed via videoconference during the two weeks prior to the Interview Day. Decisions on offers are made shortly after this.
Visit the PhD Programme page on the Wellcome Sanger Institute's website for more details.
In order to apply for this course you'll need to think about getting a few things ready before you apply.
If you wish to be considered for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship you will also need to provide the following:
The Apply Now button on the right will take you to the Applicant Portal. There, you can create and submit your application and supporting documents, and you can also request your references.
An application is only complete when:
If you miss the deadlines specified in this section, you will not be able to submit your application.
When applying to the Wellcome Sanger Institute's PhD programme for one of our 12 funded studentships, applicants must apply directly to the Institute by following the instructions detailed in the 'How to apply' section on the PhD Programme page on the Wellcome Sanger Institute's website. If overseas applicants who have not studied in the UK or an EU country have GRE scores, they should include them in their application.
However, if you are applying for funding from the Gates Cambridge Scholarship Programme, you will need to submit an application directly through the University's Applicant Portal and name a Sanger Institute Faculty member in your application who has agreed to supervise your proposed project.
Depending on the project, part-time study may not be viable and will be considered on a case-by-case basis. If you are considering part-time study, please contact the Sanger Institute Postgraduate Office to discuss this option before making an application for this mode of study.
Applicants to our PhD programme do not need to choose a PhD Supervisor at the point of application since successful students will spend their first eight months undertaking three rotation projects in different laboratories before choosing their final PhD project and Supervisor. Therefore, applicants need to apply to the programme and not individual supervisors.
However, PhD programme applicants are asked to list three Faculty members whose research interests them and should, therefore, visit our Potential Supervisors page for information on our Faculty members and their research areas.
Please note that candidates applying for funding from the Gates Cambridge Scholarship Programme will need to submit an application directly through the University’s Applicant Portal and name a Sanger Institute Faculty member who is willing to supervise their proposed project in their application.
For more details visit: University of Cambridg website.
