How to apply

Apply for our MPhil and PhD courses via the Postgraduate Admissions website. 

Simply search for ‘Sociology’ in the course directory.  

Deadlines 

You can apply throughout the year for postgraduate study in Sociology. We process applications in 'gathered fields'. Applications for the MPhil close on 26 February 2026, applications for the PhD close on 29 April 2026.

We encourage applicants to apply as early as possible. The availability of supervisors will decrease from round to round as places are awarded. Only applications received by 2 December can be considered for University funding opportunities.
 

PhD in Sociology

	Deadlines for applications	Funding Competition	Outcomes of applications
1st Round	2 Dec 2025	Yes	Early February
2nd Round	26 Feb 2026	No	early April
3rd Round	29 April 2026	No	Early June

MPhil in Sociology

	Deadlines for applications	Funding Competition	Outcomes of applications
1st Round	2 Dec 2025	Yes	Early February
2nd Round	26 Feb 2026	No	early April

Eligibility 

• We set minimum entry requirements for all postgraduate applicants.
• MPhil: High 2.1 (3.6/4 GPA) or international equivalent, in a bachelor’s degree in Sociology or a related field.  
• PhD: Merit grade or international equivalent, in a Master’s degree in Sociology or a related field. Cambridge MPhil students must achieve an MPhil mark of 70%, and a dissertation mark of 70%.  
• Related fields include degrees in the social sciences and humanities. Depending on your chosen course, this could include psychology, politics, economics, social anthropology, media and/or communications with a sociology component.  

International students 

• If you have not studied in the UK before, check your qualifications are suitable for entry to your chosen course.
• Alongside your Grade Point Average (GPA), we also consider your research proposal, research and work experience, references, and written sample.
• If English isn’t your first language, you will need to submit evidence that you meet our English language requirement.
• We do not use Graduate Record Examination (GRE) results. 

Find a supervisor 

All postgraduate students are assigned an academic supervisor during their studies. We ask all applicants to indicate their preferred supervisor on their application form.  

How to find a supervisor 

Research proposal 

Your application needs to include a clear research proposal. Excluding references, this should be around: 

• 1,000 words for MPhil applicants
• 2,000 words for PhD applicants 

You need to include:  

• a viable and well-motivated research question
• a brief literature review outlining your chosen subject knowledge, and the gaps your research intends to fill
• the data and research methods you propose to use
• your interest in the project
• any skills or experience which will help you do the work
• no special formatting or appendices  

References 

• You need to supply at least two references in your application.  
• You should ensure you have your referees’ consent before you apply. Your referees will receive an automated reference request when you submit their details.
• To be considered for funding, your references must be received before the funding deadline. If references are not received by the course deadline, your application will be withdrawn.  

How to select and contact referees

Interviews 

We usually interview all competitive PhD applicants.  

If you are shortlisted, expect a discussion relating to your research proposal. We are also keen to discover your motivations for doctoral study and for joining our department. 

You can also ask any questions you have about the University, department or course.