A first-class standard; a Master's highly desirable
Cambridge asks for a first-class honours degree or equivalent. A Master's-level degree or other postgraduate work is also highly desirable.
Doctoral · Cambridge Computer Science
Cambridge PhD in Computer Science: supervisor permission and a probationary first year
The Cambridge PhD in Computer Science asks for a first-class honours degree or equivalent, with a Master's or other postgraduate work highly desirable, and for a conversation with a supervisor before you apply. Cambridge says you should indicate that you have the supervisor's permission to name them, that the research can be done in the department and that they can accept new PhD students. Every student then starts on probation, registered for the Certificate of Postgraduate Study, with a research report of up to 10,000 words and an upgrade at the end of the third term. For a computer science graduate, the decision is whether you can secure that supervisor and thrive in a year that is part research, part assessment. This guide sets out what Cambridge says for the 2027-28 cycle, marks Avandy's judgment separately and ends with next steps.
Official information · last verified for 2027-28 entry
What Cambridge asks for in Cambridge PhD in Computer Science
Taken from Cambridge's PhD in Computer Science course pages (overview, study, requirements and apply tabs) and read on 1 November 2026. The page describes 2027-28 entry. For a 2028-29 start, applied for in 2027-28, every requirement below is last verified for the previous cycle and may change; Cambridge's requirements, dates and funding for 2028-29 are awaiting publication, and none is stated here.
Probation, then upgrade
All research students start on probation, registered for the Certificate of Postgraduate Study. A research report of no more than 10,000 words and an upgrade at the end of the third term decide whether the PhD continues.
A supervisor's permission before you apply
Cambridge says you should have discussed your research with a potential supervisor and indicate that you have their permission to name them, and that they can accept new PhD students.
A proposal, a work sample and a 1500-character reason
The mandatory items include a research proposal, a sample of work, reasons for applying of up to 1500 characters and the proposed supervisors, plus two referees.
A 60,000-word thesis and a viva
The PhD is assessed through a thesis of no more than 60,000 words and an oral examination. Students are expected to complete the substance of the research by the end of the third year.
Official sources
- University of Cambridge: PhD in Computer Science (requirements)postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk
- University of Cambridge: PhD in Computer Science (course page, overview and study)postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk
- University of Cambridge: PhD in Computer Science (how to apply)postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk
Read on 1 November 2026 on Cambridge's PhD in Computer Science course pages (overview, study, requirements and apply tabs), which describes 2027-28 entry. Cambridge's deadline, fee and funding sections, the department's own research proposal guidance, the University's application guidance and international qualifications pages were not used and are not stated. No deadline, fee, funding amount or place number is stated.
The decision
Is the Cambridge CS PhD the right research route for you?
This guide concerns only the Cambridge research degree. The comparison is Avandy's judgment (heuristic), not Cambridge's, and rests on what the pages say about entry and structure.
It fits if
you hold or expect a first, you can already discuss a research topic with a named supervisor and you are comfortable with a first year in which the research report and the upgrade decision are formal checkpoints.
Think again if
you have not yet spoken to a supervisor. Cambridge treats the conversation and the supervisor's permission as part of the application, not as a courtesy.
Master's or no Master's
Cambridge calls a Master's or other postgraduate work highly desirable rather than required. Avandy's reading is that applicants without one should show equivalent research work through the proposal and the work sample.
How the application is read
Permission, proposal and sample work together
Cambridge lists the proposal, the work sample, the reasons for applying and the proposed supervisors as mandatory, alongside a transcript, a CV and two referees. It also says the supervisor must be able to take new PhD students and that the research must be possible in the department. The proposal guidance on the department's own website was not read for this guide, so check it before drafting. Applicants should usually expect a decision within twelve working weeks of a complete application.
After admission
Certificate first, PhD upgrade at the end of the third term
Registration for the Certificate of Postgraduate Study involves research skills training, practical work, a research report of up to 10,000 words and attendance at workshops and seminars. Students whose performance suggests they could complete a PhD in a reasonable time are upgraded at the end of the third term; those who are not will normally be awarded the Certificate alone and will not submit a PhD thesis. Students also complete units from the Research Skills Programme and are encouraged to teach. This is the 2027-28 page and may change.
Avandy's judgment
Where an application can go wrong
These points are Avandy's heuristic reading of the pages. They are not Cambridge rules and carry no probability.
Naming a supervisor who has not agreed
Cambridge asks you to indicate permission and capacity. A name without either may leave the application unsupported.
A proposal written without the department's guidance
The page points to the department's research proposal guidance. This guide did not read it, so read it before you write.
Treating the upgrade as automatic
The first year is formally probationary. A research report and a clear plan for the first three terms matter as much as the application.
Overlooking ATAS
Cambridge says an ATAS certificate will be required for a visa if you are made an offer, and not to apply for one before an offer.
Next steps
A sensible order of work
The order is Avandy's suggestion, built from the pages' own steps.
Find the supervisor
Read the department's research themes and staff, and discuss your idea with someone who could take you.
Read the proposal guidance
Use the department's own guidance before you draft.
Prepare the sample and the reasons
Choose a sample of your best work and draft the 1500-character reasons.
Arrange referees
Choose two referees, academic or professional.
Planning for 2028-29 entry
Planning for 2028-29 entry: what carries over and what awaits publication
Cambridge's course pages describes entry in 2027-28. A start in 2028-29 means applying in the 2027-28 cycle, under rules Cambridge has not yet published. Each item below is either last verified for 2027-28 entry, which means Cambridge published it for the previous cycle and it may change, or awaiting publication for 2028-29 entry.
The structure of the route and the application items
The first-class standard, the supervisor permission, the probationary Certificate year and the thesis rule are described on Cambridge's pages for the 2027-28 cycle. Cambridge has not published the following cycle.
Deadlines, places, funding and fees
This guide states none of them. Cambridge publishes them per cycle on the course pages; read them again when they show 2028-29.
What to do now
Discuss your idea with a potential supervisor, read the department's proposal guidance and draft the proposal and reasons for applying.
Support
Independent support with the research statement and fit
Avandy provides independent academic and admissions support. It is not affiliated with the University of Cambridge or any of its departments, and it has no relationship with any member of staff. Support sits within the Avandy Trinity Advisory Model: a Strategic Admissions Consultant and a PhD-level Academic Mentor help the applicant test a research idea against the department's published research areas and plan their own statement. Support here is limited to testing a research idea against the department's published themes and planning the applicant's own proposal; it does not extend to contacting staff on the applicant's behalf. Avandy does not write or submit any part of an application, cannot arrange a supervisor and promises no outcome or funding.
Questions
Questions applicants ask
Do I need a Master's for the Cambridge PhD in Computer Science?
Cambridge asks for a first-class honours degree or equivalent and calls a Master's-level degree or other postgraduate work highly desirable. This is the 2027-28 wording.
Do I need a supervisor's permission before applying?
Cambridge says you should have discussed your research with a potential supervisor and indicate that you have their permission to name them.
What is the Certificate of Postgraduate Study?
All research students are registered for it first, on a probationary basis, with a research report of up to 10,000 words. Cambridge upgrades suitable students to PhD status at the end of the third term.
How long can the thesis be?
Cambridge says the thesis must not exceed 60,000 words including footnotes, tables and equations, excluding appendices and bibliography.
Does the PhD include funding?
This guide did not read Cambridge's funding sections and states no funding. Check the course pages for the cycle you apply in.
Students and families
Talk to us about the Cambridge PhD in Computer Science
Tell us about your degrees, your research experience, the research question you want to pursue and the supervisors or groups you have in mind. A senior adviser will review the academic profile before recommending how to develop the research statement.