Frequently Asked Questions
We hope the following questions and answers will help with any general questions you may have when applying for a PhD position at the LMB.
When is the deadline for completed applications for a PhD at the LMB?
US applicants: 16 October 2012 (for US Gates Scholarship funding), UK, EU and overseas applicants: 4 December 2012, César Milstein Studentship for Argentinian applicants: 29 March 2013.
How do I apply for a PhD position at the LMB?
Please click
here to see full details on how to apply.
What are the University of Cambridge entrance requirements?
Please click
here for full details.
My first language is not English. What are the language requirements for the LMB PhD programme?
Please click
here for details.
I am an overseas student, am I eligible for a full MRC Studentship?
No. The MRC will only fund UK residents and EU students (fees only). However, we do have a small number of LMB Cambridge Scholarships, which you will automatically be considered for.
How much financial support would I need as an overseas student to study for a PhD at the LMB?
The University requires proof that, to cover your expenses for 2013/14, you will have financial support amounting to at least £32,890 per year for the whole course, which includes all fees (click
here for details).
I am an EU student, am I eligible for a full MRC Studentship?
Only if you are an EU/EAA national who has migrant worker status, or have been resident in the UK for at least three years at the time of application. If not, you will only be eligible for an MRC fees-only studentship, which covers University and College fees and does not provide living expenses. See
MRC student eligibility requirements for further details.
How much financial support would I need as an EU student to study for a PhD at the LMB?
The University requires proof that, to cover your fees and living expenses for 2013/14, you have financial support amounting to at least £17,986 per year for the whole course (click
here for details).
How much is the MRC Studentship and LMB Cambridge Scholarship stipend?
The LMB will pay an annual tax-free stipend of £15,275 (and covers the University and College fees in full).
If I am an overseas/EU student and have been employed in the UK for more than 3 years, would I be eligible for an MRC Studentship?
The MRC rules state that EU/EEA citizens must have migrant worker status or have been resident in the UK for more than 3 years at the time of application to be eligible for a full MRC Studentship. Overseas citizens must have been resident in the UK for 3 years at the time of application and have been granted UK citizenship, immigrant status, or granted humanitarian protection.
I am only interested in one of the PhD projects available, can I just apply for that?
Yes. We ask that applicants choose up to three projects, not necessarily in order of preference – please specify this when you apply.
Who can provide my two academic references?
Who can provide a personal reference (needed for those wishing to be considered for an LMB Cambridge Scholarship)?
The personal referee must be able to comment on your academic ability and personal attributes. Most applicants choose either a third academic referee who knows them well, or one of their two academic referees, who can write a second (different) reference letter for the personal reference. Relatives cannot act as personal referees.
If called for interview, will the LMB pay my travel expenses?
Yes, the LMB will pay reasonable travel expenses: up to £100 for UK students; up to £150 for EU students and up to £450 for overseas students, taking into account any other Institutes you may be visiting whilst in the UK, with whom we will share total costs. All claims require receipts.
When and where will the interviews take place?
Interviews will take place at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (Cambridge, UK) in late-January 2013.
I have not heard whether I have been invited to the Recruitment Day for interview.
If you do not receive an invitation for interview by email, you must assume that you have not been selected as a potential candidate by any supervisor on your list. Some supervisors have many applications and this can lead to disappointment.
After the PhD Recruitment Day, when will I know whether I have been successful?
For UK applicants, we try to let you know within 2-3 weeks of the PhD Recruitment Day. Applicants for the LMB Cambridge Scholarships will be informed formally by the end of March.
If successful, when would I start my PhD?
The majority of students start their PhD on 1 October, but it is possible to start in the following January.
For questions and answers relating to registering with the University of Cambridge please click here.
For further information on registering with the Open University please click here.