Training graduate students for a scientific career is a priority at the IMS-MRL and we think it’s a great place to do a PhD or MPhil by research. The IMS comprises around 24 research groups at any one time and includes around 40 students. We have a mixture of both basic science students and clinical trainees and aim to provide everyone with a supportive, stimulating research and learning environment.
General enquiries
Enquiries are welcome at any time, but most applications are considered during the period November to February for projects to commence the following October.
Before making a formal application to the University, intending applicants should contact individual investigators (research interests and contact details here), to discuss potential projects and garner support for funding applications.
How to apply
If you would like to study for a 3-year PhD or an MPhil at the Wellcome-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science-Metabolic Research Laboratories, please contact PIs whose work interests you to elicit support for your application before applying formally to the University using the links below. Applications not supported by an MRL PI will not be considered.
Application details for a PhD in Clinical Biochemistry are available here.
Application details for the MPhil in Medical Science (Clinical Biochemistry) are available here.
PLEASE NOTE: USA citizens, resident in the USA, who wish to be considered for Gates funding must have completed their application by 13th October 2021 to be considered for funding to start in October 2022. Non-USA applicants who wish to be considered for Gates, Cambridge Trust and other centralised sources of funding must have submitted their application by 6th January 2022 in order to be considered for funding for entry in October 2022. Further information is available on the funding page of the Graduate Admissions website: https://www.graduate.study.cam.ac.uk/finance/funding
Other funding opportunities:
Many of our PIs also have close links with other PhD programmes at the University, including
We encourage eligible students to apply to the MRC DTP as well as submitting a Departmental application to study with an investigator based at the IMS-MRL to maximise the opportunities of obtaining studentship funding.
Please note: The University application fee allows you to apply to up to three different programmes/courses as long as they each have the same starting date. The fee is automatically waived in your 2nd and 3rd applications.