How to Apply

• 4 September 2024 - Applications Open
• 16 October 2024 - Gates Cambridge USA Funding Deadline
• 4-15 November 2024 - Postgraduate Virtual Open Days
• 4 November 2024 at 15:00 on Zoom (UK Time) - Faculty session on postgraduate admissions
• 7 January 2025 - Postgraduate Funding Competition (including Gates Cambridge, Other Non-UK) Funding Deadline
• 13 May 2025 - Applications Close
• 1 October 2025 - Postgraduate Courses Begin

Note for MPhil : Even if you are not seeking funding from Cambridge sources, you are strongly encouraged to apply by 7 January 2025.

Note for PhDs: New PhD students can begin their course at the start of any term throughout the year (2024-25). However, the funding timetable is structured around an autumn start, and the same applies to postgraduate seminars, Freshers events, etc.

All applications are made electronically using the Applicant Portal through the University's Postgraduate Admissions Office.

It is important that you read through the information available on the Postgraduate Admissions Office website before submitting your application.

Funding

If you are seeking funding for your course, there are specific deadlines and eligibility criteria for each distinct funding competition. Please check the Postgraduate Admissions web pages for full details. You can use the Cambridge Funding Search to see which competitions you are automatically considered for.

For funding purposes, the deadline refers to the date on which you submit your online application with supporting documents.  It is vital that you submit your application by the earliest relevant deadline for any funding that you wish to be considered for.

Application Checklist

Your application needs to include:

PhD

1. Two academic references
2. Transcripts from your previous degree(s)
3. Research proposal (approximately 750 words plus bibliography) - see note 1
4. One or two samples of recent academic written work - see note 2
5. CV
6. Any relevant additional information - see note 3

MPhil

1. Two academic references
2. Transcripts from your previous degree(s)
3. Research proposal (summary of proposed dissertation/extended essay topic, c. 250 words) - see note 1
4. Sample of academic written work (between 3,000 - 5,000 words)
5. CV
6. (Composition Students Only) Original scores and recordings - see note 3
7. (Performance Studies Only) Audio recordings - see note 3

Additionally, you may need:

• a personal reference (if applying for Gates Trust funding)
• proof of your English Language qualification

1. Once you press submit, your application is forwarded to the Faculty.
2. Two academics (with relevant expertise) will read your application, and decide whether or not to invite you to interview.
3. Interviews are usually held online via Zoom.
4. Afterwards, your interviewers will write a joint report that is sent to the Faculty's Degree Committee.
5. The Faculty carefully examines both the application and the joint report, and then makes its own recommendation to the central University.
6. The University then sends out a notification to the applicant, either of an offer being made, or of rejection.

Due to the unusual structure of Cambridge University, these decisions can take a little while to filter through the various committees and departments that must consider them. As a result it may take several weeks for a decision to come through after your interview. We thank you in advance for your patience.

Please be aware that this process may take several months. You can check the status of your application at any time via your applicant portal but if you have any particular queries or concerns please contact us.

[1] Research Proposals: While there is a box on the application form for a research summary, the space is limited and formatting is very sparse. It is recommended that you upload a research proposal as a separate document.

The best research proposals cover: 

• the subject and proposed research methods;
• an explanation of why the methods are appropriate intellectually and in terms of your own skill set;
• an indication of why the work is important and/or timely; 
• an account of where the work fits within the discipline as it currently stands; 
• a note about feasibility (where are the sources; how accessible are they?); 
• a bibliography. 

Also note:-

PhD Applicants - You should give as much information as possible about your likely subject of specialization. This should outline the basis for your interest in the proposed subject (including some bibliography), situate your own contribution within the current literature, and tell us what you hope to contribute to our understanding of the field through your own research. While your choice of topic may evolve or change later on, this helps us to decide how well we can cater for your needs, whether you are qualified to undertake the research, and who your initial main Supervisor should be. You may state on your application form who your preferred Supervisor would be, and you may find it helpful to contact possible Supervisors before applying.  (You can find on this site a list of Faculty members and their research interests).

[2] Samples of Academic Written Work (PhD): 

The Faculty has no set requirements for samples of work. We typically receive two essays of 2,000 - 4,000 words or an undergraduate or Master's dissertation. Ideally, we want to see recent academic writing (on a relevant subject) in which the applicant examines a question with some degree of depth. That said, we are aware that many degree courses only ask students to write shorter pieces than this, and that is also acceptable.

Work submitted should be in (or translated into) English.

[3] Additional Information:

PhD Applicants -

Applicants who wish to include a performance component in their eventual submission are asked to describe how their scholarly research and performance activity will interrelate and inform each other. In addition, they should submit the following as part of their application:

• three audio recordings each of c5 minutes, demonstrating a contrasting range of repertoires. Audio recordings cannot be uploaded through the University's online application system, but should be submitted directly to the Faculty through Dropbox by sharing files with graduate.applications@mus.cam.ac.uk

• a list of relevant performance activity and details of previous performance tuition.

Candidates for the PhD in Composition are asked to submit:

• between three and five original scores which demonstrate the breadth of their work and which should normally be accompanied by a live recording of at least one of these works. (Composers whose work is primarily electroacoustic may submit recordings of their works in place of scores). Audio recordings cannot be uploaded through the University’s online application system, but should be submitted direct to the Faculty through Dropbox by sharing electronic files with graduate.applications@mus.cam.ac.uk
• a written proposal of around 750 words outlining a proposed programme of work and its end results and clarifying their artistic intentions in terms of both their technical and poetic aspects. In their proposal, candidates are encouraged to consider why  they wish to compose the piece(s) outlined, why now is the right time for them to pursue a PhD in Composition and how the opportunity it would present may deepen their artistic self-awareness.
• a list of works and details of previous studies in composition.

MPhil Applicants -

Applicants wishing to specialise in Composition are asked to submit:

• between two and four original scores which demonstrate the breadth of their work. (Candidates should submit recordings of some or all of these pieces in support of their application; in cases where a representative live recording is unavailable, midi realisations are admissible. Composers whose work is primarily electroacoustic may submit recordings of their works in place of scores. Audio recordings cannot be uploaded through the University's online application system but should be submitted directly to the Faculty through Dropbox, by sharing files with graduate.applications@mus.cam.ac.uk.
• a list of works and details of the candidate's previous studies in composition should be included in a Curriculum Vitae.

Applicants who wish to specialise in Performance Studies with the recital option should additionally include three audio recordings each of c5 minutes, demonstrating a contrasting range of repertoires. Audio recordings cannot be uploaded through the online application system, but should be submitted directly to the Faculty through Dropbox, by sharing files with graduate.applications@mus.cam.ac.uk.