PhD in Sociology - University of Cambridge

The Department of Sociology at the University of Cambridge offers the Ph.D. in Sociology program with the aim of providing a world-class program of research study in the sociology field. 

The program is offered full-time for 3-4 years. The course aims to provide all students with the skills they need to be professional researchers and academics.

In the first year, students are encouraged to take research methods courses offered by the Department and the Social Science Research Methods Programme (SSRMP) to build the methodological grounding of their individual research projects. 

The Department also offers a program of seminars covering transferable skills such as academic writing, presentation skills, and in-depth information about how to progress the Ph.D. and the academic career. Ph.D. students are supported by their supervisor and a faculty adviser and their research will be supervised by experts in their respective fields.

Admission Requirements

The minimum admission requirement is a merit grade or international equivalent, in a master’s degree in Sociology or a related discipline. For country-based requirements visit the link. 

Applications will be judged on past academic performance, but also on the quality and originality of the research proposal; the university may also take into account your employment history, previous research experience or publications, etc.

English language requirements:

• IELTS (Academic): A total of 7.5 with a minimum score of 7.0 in each component.
• TOEFL Internet Score: A total of 110 with a minimum score of 25 in each component. 

Course Structure 

There is an organized program of courses for first-year Ph.D. students, which has three major components:

• Basic academic and research skills, designed to provide the essential tools of academic work.
• The core training program, which covers issues of social science research in general.
• Issues of research specific to particular disciplines or areas of interest, and research design, including the integration of methodological, theoretical, and substantive issues.

Students will be expected to participate fully in the core training program, and in the departmental seminar series. At the beginning of your third term, your progress is examined on the basis of a 10,000-word piece of written work to determine whether the student can proceed to a full program of Ph.D. research.

Tuition Fees

The cost of studying for a postgraduate degree at the University of Cambridge is broken down into two areas:

1. University Composition Fee: a payment made via your College to the University to cover the cost of your education and your College membership.
2. Maintenance: the estimated minimum cost of living during your time at the University.

These, along with any additional costs, make up the minimum financial commitment you will be required to demonstrate before you can be admitted to the University. 

Tuition fees for international postgraduate students at the Department of Sociology include: 

• University Composition Fees: $37,159.49
• Maintenance: $20,950.98
• Settling In: $480.84
• Total Maintenance: $21,431.83

That’s a total of 58,591.32 US dollars of annual commitment.

Scholarships

The Department of Sociology puts first-round applicants forward for the Postgraduate Funding Competition, which comprises a number of sources of funding including the ESRC, Gates, Cambridge, and Harding Trusts. The process is streamlined so that applicants are automatically considered for the Postgraduate Funding Competition providing that:

• The application is made in time for the University funding deadlines.
• Applicants check the relevant boxes in the Applicant Portal relating to the funding for which they would like to be considered/are eligible.
• Applicants ask for an extra reference (only if applying for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship).

Gates Cambridge Scholarship

Each year Gates Cambridge offers c.80 full-cost scholarships to outstanding applicants from countries outside the UK to pursue a full-time postgraduate degree in any subject available at the University of Cambridge. Approximately two-thirds of these awards will be offered to Ph.D. students, with approximately 25 awards available in the US round and 55 available in the International round.

The Gates Cambridge mission is to build a global network of future leaders committed to improving the lives of others. It aims to achieve this mission by selecting outstanding scholars, providing them with financial and non-financial support at one of the world’s leading universities, and facilitating community building at and beyond Cambridge.

A Gates Cambridge Scholarship covers the full cost of studying at Cambridge. It also provides additional, discretionary funding.

Core components

• the University Composition Fee at the appropriate rate
• a maintenance allowance for a single student ($24,386 for 12 months at the 2021-22 rate; pro rata for courses shorter than 12 months) – for Ph.D. scholars, the award is for up to 4 years
• one economy single airfare at both the beginning and end of the course
• inbound visa costs & the cost of the Immigration Health Surcharge