Course summary

This programme is designed to allow clinical health professionals to reach their full potential and pursue a successful academic career. Up to seven fellowships are offered each year with a single round of admissions. Fellowships, supported either by the University or Wellcome Sanger Institute, cover the broad themes of Genetic and Molecular Basis of Disease; Pathogens, Infectious Disease and Immunity; Physiology, Pathophysiology and Experimental Medicine; Behaviour, Mental Health and Neurological Diseases; Epidemiology, Prevention and Public Health; Health Care Delivery and Improvement. Interdisciplinary research, with doctoral projects co-supervised by biomedical researchers and university investigators in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics, is also encouraged. To be eligible to apply for the fellowships, you must be qualified in clinical, dental or veterinary medicine, or be a non-medical health professional registered with a national professional regulatory body in the UK [see programme website for more info]. In addition, medical, dental and veterinary applicants must be in a training grade (i.e., not a Consultant, University Faculty or equivalent position). Although veterinary postgraduates are not eligible for a Sanger Institute fellowship, they can undertake research at the Sanger Institute supervised either solely or jointly by a Sanger faculty member, whilst supported by another fellowship from the programme. Non-medical healthcare professionals may be at different stages in their clinical careers, but should possess relevant research experience to be able to take advantage of this opportunity. They would also not be expected to be University Faculty or equivalent positions. For medical graduates who do not hold academic clinical fellowships (ACFs) and non-medical health professionals, there is the opportunity to undertake a three-month pre-doctoral research placement. During this time, you can undertake mini-projects with research groups in your area of interest, enabling making an informed choice of PhD project and supervisor(s), and formulation of a “Project Proposal” leading to a PhD. At the start of the Programme, all fellows attend induction events for postgraduate students organised at the University of Cambridge, the University of East Anglia or Wellcome Sanger Institute. The programme includes lectures, workshops, and taught modules, constituting a personal portfolio of training. Throughout the Programme and after completion, you will be mentored by one or more individuals from the Faculty and Management Committee of the PhD programme.