Applications for October 2026 entry are now open! Find out about our application process below.
We welcome applicants with subject backgrounds from across the physical sciences, including Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science, and Engineering.
Applicants should expect to have:
International applicants should refer to this link to find out the equivalent of a first class degree in their country/institution before applying.
For entry in October 2026, applications will be considered at two internal review deadlines for shortlisting and interviews:
Early applications are strongly encouraged, as offers may be begin to be made after the First Deadline.
Given the high volumes of competitive applications we receive each year, applicants will be considered via a two-stage process: Stage 1) shortlisting, followed by Stage 2) technical interviews. Consideration of applications will take into account qualifications, abilities, aspirations and experience.
Competitive applicants will first be invited to a complete an individual written task, followed by a virtual group interview (together with other applicants).
N.B. Stage 1 invitations will be made to applicants after both first AND second application deadlines. Early applications by the First Deadline are therefore strongly encouraged. For successful applications submitted by the First Deadline, Stage 1 shortlistings will be held early to mid December. For those submitted by the Second Deadline, shortlistings will be held early to mid January.
Applicants who are successfully shortlisting for interviews after Stage 1 will be invited to a fully remote two-day interview event (mid-late Jan), which will include:
Applicants who receive offers will also be offered a chance to visit us in person at our offer holders visit day (towards end of March, 2026). Visits before this date can be arranged upon request.
Your completed application must include the following before we can consider it:
Beginning in 2024, the NanoDTC has offered a small number of cohort places to “affiliated students” – incoming Cambridge PhD students whose research topic sits within the field of nanoscience, but who have not joined the NanoDTC through its regular admissions route (as outlined above). If you are a new PhD student with a confirmed supervisor and project in an area that aligns with NanoDTC research themes, you may be eligible to affiliate with the NanoDTC and participate in the programme’s training and activities alongside the core NanoDTC cohort throughout your PhD.
Apply for your PhD as normal
Submit your application directly to your intended Department and supervisor, following the usual departmental admissions process.
Discuss affiliation
Once you have a confirmed, funded PhD offer, reach out to your supervisor to discuss your interest in NanoDTC affiliation.
Conversation about fit
A discussion between the student, supervisor, and NanoDTC academic team will help assess whether the project and training interests are a good match for the programme.
Affiliation offered
Selected students are invited to join the NanoDTC as affiliated members and can then agree, with their supervisor and the NanoDTC team, what level of participation in training and activities would be most appropriate.
Funding information below applies to standard NanoDTC applicants. Students joining via our Affiliation process (tab above) are expected to have funding in place through their departmental PhD admission.
A number of fully funded studentships are available each year for Home students, covering University fees and a maintenance stipend.
Eligible applicants considered for:
No separate scholarship application is needed. However, applicants must ensure that they tick the relevant funding boxes on their application main form in order to be considered for the Scholarship. Please also make sure to submit your application by 3rd Jan 2026 to be considered for full University-based funding.
No – As of the academic year starting Oct 2024, we no longer offer an MRes+PhD (1+3) format. The NanoDTC now offers a 3.5 year PhD programme, where incoming cohorts undertake an initial 6-month bespoke training curriculum before commencing their PhD project. These changes have been made to keep the same cohort based approach and breadth of training and PhD selection process, while allowing for more applied learning (no examinations) and more extended research on the main PhD project.
We operate two main internal review deadlines for shortlisting and interviews (dates seen above section “Deadlines, Shortlisting & Interviews”)
We may continue to review applications beyond these two deadlines, but most offers are normally made after the first two deadlines, so early applications are strongly encouraged.
The NanoDTC programme doesn’t expect you to have chosen your precise research topic in advance of applying to Cambridge.
However, as you may know, “Nanoscience” is a very broad term that encompasses multiple disciplines. Therefore, in order for us to understand your research interests better, we would like you to explain any research areas that you are particularly excited by and may want to peruse if you were to be admitted to our programme. As part of that, you may wish to draw on your previous research experiences, or learning opportunities from your degree so far.
Both references should ideally be academic so that a fair assessment of your academic performance can be made. However, references from professionals in industry who can speak to your technical ability can be considered. Receiving a reference from a PhD student is strongly discouraged, unless they are reasonably established with many years of supervisory experience.
Please contact the Postgraduate Admissions Office at Submit a request – University of Cambridge (zendesk.com) as they can help with your enquiry.
I am afraid we are no longer running the Nano Future Scholars Internship programme.
However, the Physics Department have now consolidated the internships into one programme. Please see this link for full details:
Please follow these steps:
Please note that the passport copy should be uploaded under the ‘Passport’ category while your ‘Share Code’, if any, should be uploaded under the ‘Immigration’ category. All other supporting documents will need to be uploaded under the ‘Fee Status’ category on your Self-Service Portal.
Please understand that this course has many applications of high standards, so there is fierce competition. Therefore, please keep in mind that you are less likely to be shortlisted for interviews if you do not meet our minimum requirements.
Details regarding the language requirements for admission to the University of Cambridge, and what tests are accepted, can be found on the following webpages:
Evidence of Competence in English | Postgraduate Admissions (cam.ac.uk)
Competence in English | Postgraduate Admissions (cam.ac.uk)
What Tests Are Accepted? | Postgraduate Admissions (cam.ac.uk)
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you need more information or have any questions!
