Graduate funding opportunities in History and Philosophy of Science and Medicine at Cambridge, 2020-21


The Department of History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Cambridge is the largest of its kind in the UK, and has an unrivalled reputation for teaching and research. Staff have expertise in the history and philosophy of a wide range of sciences and medicine.

If you are interested in studying for an MPhil or PhD in History and Philosophy of Science and Medicine at Cambridge, you will find everything you need to know about the Department, the courses, the academic staff (http://www.hps.cam.ac.uk/people/staff.html), and the application process on our website at http://www.hps.cam.ac.uk/studying/graduate/


The Department offers two MPhil options: an MPhil in History and Philosophy of Science and Medicine and an MPhil in Health, Medicine and Society (taught jointly with Social Anthropology and Sociology) as well as the PhD.

For those considering doing a PhD, the Department will be running a workshop at 3-4 pm on Friday 1 November 2019 as part of the University’s Postgraduate Open Day. Led by the Director of Graduate Studies, this workshop will explain the Department's admissions requirements and procedures. Advice will be provided on finding a workable topic and potential supervisors, writing a convincing proposal, securing references and applying for funding. To book a place on the Open Day, please go to https://www.graduate.study.cam.ac.uk/events. If you are interested in the sorts of careers our PhD students go into, please see https://www.hps.cam.ac.uk/study/graduate/phd/placement-record.

Students applying to start MPhil or PhD in 2020-21 have access to the following studentship opportunities:

Cambridge Trust Scholarships
Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Studentships: for UK and EU students
Gates Cambridge Scholarships
HPS Trust Fund Bursaries for all MPhil and PhD students
Wellcome Trust Awards: for HMS MPhil and PhD (students with a focus on human or animal health) If you wish to be nominated for one of these awards please indicate this on your application form.
To be eligible for these awards you will need to submit your graduate applications by 3 December 2019. (US Gates candidates have a deadline of 9 October.)
All applicants will automatically be considered for an HPS Trust Fund Bursary. Initial offers of funding will be made in February, and awards will continue to be allocated until the application deadline has been reached, or all the available funding has been committed.

For more information on these and other awards available through the Department, please visit 

For more general information on funding opportunities available to graduate students at the University of Cambridge: http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/students/studentregistry/fees/funding/index.html

For further information about graduate study at HPS in Cambridge: hps-admin@lists.cam.ac.uk