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The BBSRC DTP Scholarship 2027 is a fully funded route into a PhD in the biological sciences at the University of Cambridge, and it is one of the most sought-after doctoral opportunities in the United Kingdom for 2027 entry. Applications are open now for a course that starts on 1 October 2027, and the closing date is Tuesday 8 December 2026. With around 25 studentships available across the Cambridge Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership, competition will be strong, so applicants need a clear plan and a careful application.
This guide explains what the programme offers, who can apply, how the application works, and what to prepare before the December deadline. It covers the stipend and fees, the academic standard expected, the two project choices allowed in a single application, and the support available for international candidates. The BBSRC DTP Scholarship 2027 is aimed at graduates in relevant scientific subjects who want to train as researchers in a leading biosciences environment.
What the BBSRC DTP Scholarship 2027 Offers
The programme is the Cambridge Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership PhD Programme, supported by the BBSRC Doctoral Landscape Awards. It provides doctoral training at the University of Cambridge across a broad range of biological sciences, from molecular and cellular biology to ecology, evolution, plant sciences and related fields. Students join a cohort of fellow doctoral researchers and take part in training alongside their research.
Funding is the heart of the offer. The BBSRC DTP Scholarship 2027 is fully funded, which means it pays the University tuition fees and provides a stipend for living costs. The stipend is currently £21,805 for the 2026–27 academic year, and that figure is the latest published rate. The rate for 2027–28 has not yet been stated, so applicants should treat £21,805 as the most recent confirmed figure rather than a promise for the coming year.
Around 25 studentships are available for the 2027 intake, offered across two routes: Targeted studentships and iCASE studentships. The iCASE route stands for Industrial Collaborative Awards in Science and Engineering, and it involves working with an industrial partner as part of the doctorate. Students on Targeted studentships also complete a three-month professional internship with an organisation of their choice, a placement that gives experience of a professional setting and a chance to test a career direction. The BBSRC DTP Scholarship 2027 therefore offers breadth as well as depth, and applicants should weigh both routes when they compare projects.
Who Can Apply
The academic requirement is clear and demanding. The BBSRC DTP Scholarship 2027 normally asks applicants to hold, or be expected to achieve, a high upper second-class honours degree, known as a High 2:1, or its equivalent in a relevant scientific subject. That standard reflects the preparation needed for doctoral research at Cambridge, where students are expected to work independently, read the literature critically and design sound experiments. A degree in a closely related subject can qualify, provided the applicant can show the scientific grounding the project needs.
International candidates are eligible, and the BBSRC DTP Scholarship 2027 is open to both EU and non-EU applicants. Up to 30 per cent of the cohort can be offered to international candidates, which means up to seven places can go to international students in the 2027 intake. This is an important detail for applicants outside the United Kingdom, because it confirms that the programme is open to them while also showing that international places are limited and competitive.
There is no published age limit for this programme, and no single test score is named as a requirement in the official application guidance. Applicants should not assume that any test score or grade figure is required unless the University states it for their circumstances. For international recruits, the funding also covers student visa costs and the Immigration Health Surcharge where applicable, which removes a major cost for those who are offered a place.
How to Apply for the BBSRC DTP Scholarship 2027
Applications for 2027 entry opened on 9 September 2026, and the BBSRC DTP Scholarship 2027 closes on Tuesday 8 December 2026. No closing time is published, so applicants should not leave their submission to the last day. A sensible target is to finish the application several days early, leaving time to check every section, upload documents and deal with any technical problem. Late applications are a needless risk when the deadline is fixed and the field is gathered afterwards.
Applications are made through the University of Cambridge Applicant Portal, which is reached through the University’s graduate study pages at Cambridge Graduate Study. The course is listed as “BBSRC DTP PhD in Biological Sciences”, and the BBSRC DTP Scholarship 2027 applicant should make sure to select that exact course name when starting an application. Choosing the wrong course is an easy mistake that can cost time, so it is worth double-checking the course title before submitting anything.
Applicants apply only to advertised projects, and they may select up to two projects in the same application. That means the first task is to read the project list carefully and identify the projects that match your background and interests. A strong application fits the project: your degree, experience and motivation should connect clearly to what the project asks for. The official guidance is set out on the Cambridge Biosciences DTP How to Apply page, and applicants should read it in full before they begin.
Projects, Internships and the Gathered Field
The project list is the starting point for every applicant. Each advertised project describes the research question, the supervisors involved and the skills the work will need. Some projects are laboratory based, some involve fieldwork or computation, and some combine several approaches. Reading the descriptions closely, and looking at the supervisors’ recent work, helps you judge whether your background is a good match. The BBSRC DTP Scholarship 2027 is awarded for specific advertised projects, so a focused application that explains why a particular project suits you will always beat a generic one.
Applications are considered together as a gathered field after the December closing date. That means there is no advantage in applying on the first day, and no rolling judgement that rewards early submission. Every application received by the deadline is considered alongside the others, so the standard is set by the whole field. Your application needs to stand out on its own merits, not on its timing.
Funding, Fees and Visa Support
The funding package is straightforward and generous. The BBSRC DTP Scholarship 2027 pays University tuition fees in full, so a successful applicant does not need to find fee funding from elsewhere, and it pays a stipend for living costs, currently £21,805 for the 2026–27 academic year. As noted above, the 2027–28 rate has not yet been stated, so applicants should plan on the published figure and watch for an update from the University or the DTP.
Living in Cambridge is not cheap, and a stipend needs careful budgeting. Accommodation, food, travel and study costs all have to be covered from the same payment, so it helps to look at typical rents and living costs before you arrive. Many students live in college accommodation or shared housing, and many cycle to keep travel costs low. Planning ahead makes the stipend go further.
If you are also considering other fully funded routes at Cambridge, our guide to the Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2027 explains a separate scholarship that covers fees and maintenance for international postgraduate students at the University. Comparing the two can help you decide which fits your plans, since the DTP route is tied to advertised biosciences projects while the Gates route is university-wide, with different deadlines and requirements. For a fully funded master’s in humanitarian action, see our guide to the NOHA Erasmus Mundus Scholarship 2027.
Key Dates and Deadlines
The timeline for 2027 entry is short and fixed. Applications opened on 9 September 2026, giving applicants about three months to prepare, and the BBSRC DTP Scholarship 2027 deadline is Tuesday 8 December 2026, with no closing time published. Applicants should aim to submit well before that date, because a last-minute rush leaves no room to fix a missing document or a technical error.
The course starts on 1 October 2027, which leaves a long gap between the December deadline and the start of the programme, during which applications are assessed, interviews are held and offers are made. Successful applicants will have time to arrange accommodation, visas and any move to Cambridge. Current final-year students can apply in their last year, provided they are on track for the required result.
Tips for a Strong Application
A strong application starts with the project choice and the people who will support it. Read every project that interests you, and be honest about whether your degree and experience match what it needs. Choose referees who know your academic work well, such as a tutor or a research supervisor, and ask them in good time. The BBSRC DTP Scholarship 2027 rewards a focused, well-evidenced application, so give your referees the project details and the deadline, and thank them once the reference is submitted.
Use the personal statement to show why biosciences research matters to you. Write about the questions that interest you, the experience that shaped that interest and what you hope to learn during the PhD, and be specific rather than general. Before you submit, confirm the course name, confirm your two project choices, confirm that every document is uploaded in the right format, and read the whole application once more for errors. For a funded doctorate in Europe outside the United Kingdom, our guide to the ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship 2027 is also worth reading if you are weighing more than one country. For another Erasmus Mundus joint master’s, see our guide to the Mundus MAPP Scholarship 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the deadline for applications?
Applications close on Tuesday 8 December 2026. No closing time is published, so you should submit well before the final day and not rely on a last-minute submission.
How many studentships are available?
Around 25 studentships are available for the 2027 intake, across the Targeted and iCASE routes. Up to seven of those places, or 30 per cent of the cohort, can be offered to international candidates.
What funding does the programme provide?
The BBSRC DTP Scholarship 2027 is fully funded. It pays University tuition fees in full and provides a stipend, currently £21,805 for the 2026–27 academic year. The 2027–28 rate has not yet been stated. For international recruits, the funding also covers student visa costs and the Immigration Health Surcharge where applicable.
What degree result do I need to apply?
You should normally hold, or be expected to achieve, a high upper second-class honours degree, known as a High 2:1, or its equivalent in a relevant scientific subject. Your degree should be relevant to the project you choose.
When does the course start, and how do I apply?
The course starts on 1 October 2027. You apply through the University of Cambridge Applicant Portal, selecting the course listed as “BBSRC DTP PhD in Biological Sciences”, and you may choose up to two advertised projects in the same application. For applicants weighing a funded route in the United States as well, our guide to the SMART Scholarship USA 2027 explains a separate American programme with its own rules and deadlines.