Graduate Admissions - The Application Process

General information for new applicants

To be considered you will need to submit a formal University application. You can submit a paper or on-line application. If making a paper application you can download the application forms from the University's Graduate Admissions pages. You can either print the forms and complete and post them as instructed or you can request for them to be posted to you by filling in your address details online.

The Graduate Studies Prospectus includes information about living and studying at the University of Cambridge. In particular, it contains information on the Colleges and Departments and explains the conditions that must be observed for admission and subsequent work as a graduate student. In addition, the prospectus provides information on costs and funding. A more detailed list can be found online in the pages. This is not a complete list and you should consider exploring other means of obtaining funding and apply to as many different fund sources as is applicable.

To gain admission to the University you will also need to be accepted by a College. Section A(4) on the paper application form, and a corresponding section on the online form, asks you to indicate your College preferences. Information about the Colleges is included in the Graduate Studies Prospectus and also in the College Index. Should you intend to apply for a studentship at a particular College it is advisable to put that College as your first choice.

Applying to the Department of Physics Graduate programmes

The first step in the application procedure is to submit your formal University application to the Department of Physics. As detailed above you may apply in one of two ways, by paper application or online; both methods incur an application fee of £35. Further details can be found on the Application and Admissions Process pages. If you choose to apply online you will still be required to send paper copies of certain documents. Only originals or certified copies of supporting documents will be accepted.

Please note that all application materials for the Department of Physics are to be submitted directly to Graduate Admissions in the Department.

On your application, please clearly indicate which of the Research Groups you would prefer to work with. If you are unsure state in Section A(3) whether it is Condensed Matter Physics, Astrophysics, High Energy Physics or another topic within the Department that interests you. In Section A(12) you may list more than one area of interest and, if doing so, should indicate your order of preference. You will find information about the research interests for the Department of Physics on the Research pages.

When your completed application forms are received they will be made available to appropriate academic staff. UK residents may be asked to attend an interview. Arrangements for interviews will be made in advance usually through the Graduate Students Secretary, regardless of whether or not you have had prior communication with academic staff.

After due consideration of your application a recommendation concerning your admission may be made by the Department to the Board of Graduate Studies.

Applications

To begin your application please visit the Apply Now page of the Graduate Studies Prospectus.