PhD Programme in Stem Cell Biology

The PhD in Stem Cell Biology will be carried out under the supervision of a Principal Investigator from within the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, and based in their research group.

At the end of their studies, students write a thesis, which is examined via an oral examination (viva).

The PhD programme introduces students to research skills and specialist knowledge. Its main aims are:

• to give students with relevant experience at a first-degree level the opportunity to carry out focused research in the discipline under close supervision; and
• to give students the opportunity to acquire or develop skills and expertise relevant to their research interests.

Our overarching goal is to produce well-trained and rounded Postgraduates who have generated significant and original research findings and are fully prepared for an ambitious and challenging career, whether continuing in stem cell science or moving to another profession.

Annual Recruitment Timeline (for Michaelmas Term starters)

* Students from the U.S. wanting to apply for Gates funding may have an earlier funding application deadline

Find further details on this course including eligibility requirements, funding possibilities and the application process on their dedicated page. 

All applications must be made via the Applicant Portal. 

• Applicants are required to identify a potential supervisor prior to submitting an application, to discuss the possibility of supervision, their proposed research project and funding options. A list of available projects are listed here, so please review these and get in touch with the relevant supervisors to discuss further. Contact details for our Principal Investigators can be found on the PI page.  
• Once you have had these discussions with a supervisor and been advised by them to make a formal application, you can submit your application via the Applicant Portal
• Please submit only one application to each course. If applying to more than one lab for the same course, please list all proposed supervisor names on your application form (it is a free text box) and include separate paragraphs in the 'Research Summary' to explain the project you'd do in each lab. We recommend applying to no more than 2 supervisors.
• References: It is your responsibility to ensure that your references are provided by the application deadline. We suggest that you notify your referees of this requirement, as soon as possible, before you submit your application. 
• Interviews: Note that the interviews for PhD candidates wanting to be considered for Cambridge funding, take place in January.

Department funding for 2026-27 entry will be updated here.

CSCI offered the following funded PhD opportunities for 2025-26 entry:

The Sybil Eastwood Memorial Trust Scholarship, The Isabelle Bouhon Cambridge International Scholarship, two Doctoral Training Programme in Medical Research (DTP-MR) Scholarships and a Churchill Chinese Medical Studentship in Stem Cell Research.

See funding details here. 

Applicants must tick the box in the application form tobe considered for University funding if you'd like to be considered for these Department funds, as well as various other University funding possibilities. Please note that these are competitive so it's also advised to seek out your own external scholarships. 

NOW CLOSED - Externally funded and self-funded applicants deadline 14 May 2026

NOW CLOSED - Cambridge funding application deadline = 2 December 2025 (for 2026-27 start)

NOW CLOSED - Gates U.S. funding application deadline = mid-October 2025

>> Click here for a list of PhD projects on offer for 2026-27 <<