Prospective students interested in pursuing a postgraduate degree course in a subject area related to clinical medicine at the University of Cambridge should consult the School’s individual departmental websites for detailed information about the courses which they run and the University’s Postgraduate Admissions website for information on the application process and on funding opportunities.

For more information on courses available and how to apply please see: University of Cambridge Course Directory

Overview

The MD Degree, on a par academically with the PhD, is aimed at medically-qualified clinicians working in Cambridge who hold suitable research appointments within Cambridge University Health Partners (i.e. the University of Cambridge, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, and Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust).

Research projects, allied to the area in which the candidate is currently employed, can be undertaken across the whole spectrum of medical science from basic biology to clinical therapies. All applicants must be employed by CUHP at the time of their application and have sufficient dedicated research time (full- or part-time) to complete the proposed research.

Applicants are asked to submit a detailed research proposal with their application. If accepted, a University supervisor will be formally appointed and the candidate will be expected to work on the project part-time (usually  alongside their clinical commitments within CUHP), and to submit their thesis within a maximum of six years.

Before you apply, you will need to identify a potential University of Cambridge supervisor who is prepared to supervise your work, and provide termly progress reports, for the duration of the programme.

Like the PhD, the work is examined by thesis and viva. As registered part-time students of the University, MD candidates will have access to a wide range of library and computing facilities, as well as social and pastoral resources in their Colleges.

Eligibility

The essential academic/professional requirements for the MD are:
• a medical degree giving entitlement to provisional or full registration with the General Medical Council
and either:
• a primary degree of the University of Cambridge (e.g. BA, MB BChir, MPhil, PhD – at least 4 years must have elapsed since being awarded your medical degree (MB BChir, MBBS, MB ChirB, etc) before you may apply)
or
• an appropriate contract of employment within a member institution of Cambridge University Health Partners which allows a minimum of normally two-years’ full-time research (or part-time equivalent), plus time to write up the dissertation. Applicants are expected to be at ST1 grade or above.

Fees

In the current academic year the whole fee is £9,111 payable across the first two years of the course.

To Apply  see the MD (CUHP) Application Guide

Apply using the Applicant Portal which can be found on the Graduate Admissions website (see links in the right-hand navigation). You will be able to create and submit your application, and request references.

An application is only complete when:

1. you have submitted your application via the Applicant Portal and paid the £70 application fee
2. you have uploaded the required supporting documents via the Applicant Self-Service
3. your referees have provided their references.

Overview

If you hold a primary Cambridge degree and are working outside Cambridge, you must apply to take the MD by Special Regulations.

You do not become a registered student of the University of Cambridge and you will not have access to University or College resources other than those available to you as an alumnus. Such resources should be available to you at your host institution. You will also be required to show proof that you have the active support of a suitable supervisor at your host institution.

Eligibility

Applicants for this course should have achieved: a medical degree giving entitlement to provisional or full registration with the General Medical Council. In addition, applicants must have a primary degree of the University of Cambridge (e.g. BA, MB BChir, MPhil, PhD – at least 4 years must have elapsed since being awarded your medical degree MB BChir, MBBS, MB ChirB, etc. before you may apply) and be working at an institution outside Cambridge.

How to Apply

If you are interested in applying to the MD by Special Regulations, please review the Application Guide. If you have further queries please contact the Administrative Secretary to the MD Committee at: md-admin@medschl.cam.ac.uk .

Fee

The fee for the MD by Special Regulations is a one-off payment of £1,866. Should your application be unsuccessful, all but £500 will be returned to you. Payment may be made by electronic transfer. The bank details are included in the Application Guide.

Postgraduate Education Office

PLEASE NOTE: Due to very limited staff attendance at the PECATS office during the ongoing COVID situation, please use electronic communications only.

Administrative Secretary to the MD Committee
Email: md-admin@medschl.cam.ac.uk

If necessary, post can be sent to PECATS at the address below, but may not be collected for several days:

University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine
Box 111, Cambridge Biomedical Campus
Cambridge, CB2 0SP

The MPhil by thesis is most commonly taken as a stand-alone research degree by candidates with only one year of funding or who can fit two years of part-time study into their professional training or employment. If this course is taken as part of a route to the PhD a further three years of study and funding are required as well as satisfactory performance in the MPhil.

For more information on courses available and how to apply please see: University of Cambridge Course Directory

The Department of Public Health and Primary Care, the MRC Epidemiology Unit and the MRC Biostatistics Unit jointly run an MPhil in Population Health Sciences, with specialisation themes in Epidemiology, Global Health, Health Data Science, Infectious Diseases, Primary Care Research, and Public Health. More information is available at http://www.phs.masters.cam.ac.uk/

The MPhil in Genomic Medicine is taught by the Department of Medical Genetics, in partnership with Cambridge University Hospitals, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and European Bioinformatics Institute. Read more…

The University of Cambridge Institute of Continuing Education also offers part-time taught Masters programmes. Master of Studies (MSt) degree courses can be taken in a range of subjects, including Genomic Medicine and Healthcare Data.

The MSt in Genomic Medicine is part of the suite of postgraduate courses in Genomic Medicine and designed to educate suitably qualified NHS healthcare professionals from across the multi-professional team to prepare for the future adoption of genomic technologies and the increasing use of genomic information as part of the diagnostic and treatment pathway. Read more…

The MSt in Population Health Sciences offers specialisation themes in Epidemiology, Global Health, Health Data Science, Infectious Diseases, Primary Care Research, and Public Health.

The MSt in Healthcare Data: Informatics, Innovation and Commercialisation is aimed at developing individuals with the necessary knowledge and skills to be able to understand and critically evaluate electronic healthcare data in a manner compatible with innovative commercialisation opportunities. Read more… 

Doctor of Medical Science (MedScD)

Doctor of Science (ScD)

For further information please see: http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/students/studentregistry/exams/higher/phdspecial.html

Doctor of Medicine (MD) by Special Regulations

See above for further information.

PhD by Special Regulations

In order to qualify for the PhD by Special Regulations you will need to demonstrate that: your published work comprises a significant contribution to scholarship; and you meet the eligibility criteria for the degree.

For further information please see: http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/students/studentregistry/exams/higher/phdspecial.html