Wellcome Sanger Institute 4-Year PhD Programme, 2027 intake
The Wellcome Sanger Institute 4-year PhD Programme funds twelve studentships in genomics with a rotation year, full tuition coverage regardless of nationality, and a University of Cambridge degree.
| Amount / funding | Full financial support including University tuition fees regardless of nationality; tax-free stipends as of October 2026: Year 1 GBP 25,649, Year 2 GBP 26,228, Year 3 GBP 26,806, Year 4 GBP 27,385 per year; visa and immigration health surcharge costs reimbursed for international students; up to GBP 1,500 per year in years 2-4 for conference attendance; 12 funded studentships |
|---|---|
| Deadline | Closing date Tuesday 24 November 2026, 09:00 GMT; interviews Monday 25 January 2027 |
| Start date | 1 October 2027 (per programme notices — confirm on the official page) |
| Level | PhD |
| Funding type | full |
| Field | 05 Natural Sciences |
About this scholarship
The Wellcome Sanger Institute 4-year PhD Programme funds twelve studentships in genomics with a rotation year, full tuition coverage regardless of nationality, and a University of Cambridge degree.
Minimum requirements
4-year PhD programme in genomics and related areas; students apply to the programme rather than to specific faculty members and spend the first eight months on three rotation projects (at least one computational/informatics rotation and one experimental laboratory rotation); University of Cambridge PhD degree and college membership; 12 funded studentships
Application checklist
- Application to the Sanger 4-year PhD Programme first
- Separate application to the University of Cambridge for admission (degree-awarding body, Cambridge college membership)
- 2 referees (check the Sanger application-process page for the reference deadline)
- check the Sanger application-process page for the full document list
Application tips
- Apply by 24 November 2026 at 09:00 GMT — shortlisted candidates are interviewed 25 January 2027
- Note you apply to the programme, not to a specific supervisor: three rotations (at least one computational and one experimental) precede the final lab choice
- If you have not heard by 11 January 2027, assume you have not been shortlisted
- After Sanger selection you must separately apply to the University of Cambridge — do not skip that second step
Always verify deadline, amount and eligibility on the official page before applying. Values marked ESTIMATE are based on a previous cycle and are not confirmed for the current round.
Tags: genomics, computational biology, bioinformatics