We invite applications from students from a wide range of backgrounds – interaction with a diverse student body is one of the strengths of the programme; we have welcomed students with undergraduate degrees varying from physics to politics, mathematics to medicine, social sciences to biological sciences, and many more. We are looking for people with the potential to excel on the course, who have demonstrable success in previous educational and/or work endeavours. We hope to recruit people who are committed to a career in Population Health Sciences (whether that is academic or public/private sector settings).

Explain what you think the subject is, and discuss at least one specific aspect of it that you find interesting/important. Pay close attention to our advice for applicants.

No, research experience is not necessary. On the application form you will be asked about relevant experience, which may be academic, work, research, voluntary, etc – see advice for applicants.

Applications are considered on a rolling basis, and are typically processed within 12 weeks. If you are invited for interview, you can expect to be informed of the outcome within approximately 4 weeks of your interview. For more information see the Postgraduate Admissions: What Happens Next.

It will be via Zoom (you will be sent a link if invited for interview). It will focus on your reasons for applying for this MPhil at this university, your understanding of the general scope of the theme you’ve chosen, and on your responses to the course specific questions. You may be asked about specific details from your application, and you will be offered an opportunity to ask us questions. It will last about 20 minutes.

The Academic Year commences on 1 October and finishes on 30 September each year.

For 2021, Michaelmas term: October 4^th to December 17^th inclusive
Lent term: January 4^th to April 8^th
Easter term: April 25^th to July 31^st.
(Note: our teaching dates may not always reflect standard university term dates.)

An indicative timetable for 2021-2022 is available here.
Students are expected to be in attendance at all of their classes.
Students may also need to attend a viva in September.

We’d rather you didn’t. Induction in the first week includes important learning and relationship building that is essential for your success on the course.

Most classes are held in dedicated classrooms on the East Forvie Building on the Biomedical Campus near Addenbrookes hospital in Cambridge. Some smaller groups may meet in other rooms in nearby locations, either within the East Forvie building, at Strangeways Research Laboratory, or in the Clinical School.

Students are expected to bring their own laptops, ideally with the following specifications (or equivalent):

• Intel Core i5 or newer processor (students planning to follow the HDS theme will need i7 9th generation or newer) (or synonymous AMDs)
• 8GB (HDS, 16GB) of RAM
• Disk capacity of 250GB or more (HDS, 512GB or 1TB)
• Windows 10 x86-64 (ideally Windows 10 Pro x86-64) or an up to date x86-64 Linux distribution (ideally Ubuntu x86-64) installed.
• Built-in gigabit ethernet port or supported ethernet adapter
• Built in wireless network controller or supported wireless network adapter
• Built in web cam, microphone and speakers or supported external devices

For students experiencing financial hardship and unable to access their own computer, the department has some, very limited, capacity to be able to lend out a laptop. If you are accepted on to the course and you believe that lack of a suitable laptop would be a barrier to your attendance, please contact the course administrator.

All reasonable accommodations are made to ensure the course is accessible to all successful applicants. We work with the University’s Disability Resource Centre to ensure appropriate provision for all students.

Yes. We adhere to and actively promote the University’s statement on equality and diversity:
The University of Cambridge is committed in its pursuit of academic excellence to equality of opportunity and to a proactive and inclusive approach to equality, which supports and encourages all under-represented groups, promotes an inclusive culture, and values diversity.