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How to Apply

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Application Guidelines, Deadlines, and Interview Dates 
 

  • Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and possess a Bachelors degree by the start of the program
     
  • Applications for the NIH Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program open every year in August. Applications for fall 2025 admission will open August 19, 2024 and close December 2, 2024 at noon ET. To submit an application, visit the NIH Graduate Partnerships Program (GPP) Application Center.
     
  • Prospective students must first submit the NIH GPP Application for admission consideration. If desired, interested candidates may delay submission of the UK University application until notification of program acceptance. Please note that students seeking consideration for external scholarships such as Rhodes, Marshall, or Gates-Cambridge must submit the UK application by the University deadline. For additional information, visit the External Fellowships webpage.
     
  • Applicants are strongly encouraged to identify potential research advisors prior to submitting an application. Students are recommended to locate research advisors across a range of (preferably 3-5) NIH Institutes/Centers, as funding availability for trainee costs can vary by year. Prearranged projects are available on the Research Opportunities webpage. Individuals may search NIH Investigators by their scientific focus area here. If desired, applicants may contact potential PIs directly to discuss the research in more detail. 
     
  • Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to read the FAQs prior to submitting an application.
     
  • There is no application fee for the NIH GPP application. However, applications for the UK University may have an application fee.
     
  • Students selected to interview will be notified by late-January.
     
  • Interviews for the NIH Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program will occur February 2025. Interviews will be held in-person at the NIH in Bethesda, MD. Invited interviewees are expected to participate all three days.
     
  • Interviews may occur virtually or in-person at the NIH in Bethesda, Maryland. If program interviews are held in-person, the NIH OxCam Program will arrange travel and cover the transportation and lodging costs during interviews.
     
  • Students admitted into the Program will be notified by the end of February.

 

Informational webinars about the program application process will start this May. Please check the Upcoming Events page for details such as the webinar dates/times.

 

Diversity and Inclusion

Diversity strengthens our community. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds and strongly encourage applications from:

  • people from racial and ethnic groups that are underrepresented in biomedical research and healthcare fields
     
  • people with disabilities
     
  • Students who are/were Pell Grant-eligible in college
     
  • Students who are/were enrolled in Tribal Colleges and Universities, community colleges, Hispanic-serving institutions, or Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
     
  • people who identify as LGBTQ+
     
  • people who were disadvantaged by circumstances that have negatively impacted their educational opportunities

 

Program Application and Partnership Selection

Candidates interested in admission to the NIH Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program must submit the NIH GPP application. To start an application:

1.  Create your account username and password, then select “Apply Now”

2.  Select the GPP APPLICATION (Long Form) option

3.  Indicate the desired GPP and/or training pathway under "Partnership Selection". A full list of the available NIH Institutional Partnerships is provided here.

             a.  To apply for the NIH Oxford-Cambridge Scholars (PhD Only) Program, select:  University of Oxford (England)/University of Cambridge (England)/NIH - PhD

             b.  To apply for Track 1 of the MD/PhD Partnership Training Program, select:  University of Oxford (England) / University of Cambridge (England) / Consortia of Universities - NIH - MD/PhD - Track-1

             c.  To apply for Track 2 of the MD/PhD Partnership Training Program, select:  University of Oxford (England)/University of Cambridge (England)/NIH - MD/PHD - Track 2

4.  Applications for fall 2025 admission must be submitted by the December 2024 as stated on the NIH GPP website.

 

MD/PhD Program Application Components

Please note the NIH MD/PhD Partnership Training Program application process has changed. A general overview of the new process is provided below.

  1. Apply to medical school and/or MD/PhD programs (via AMCAS)
    • Candidates who are applying to/enrolled in any U.S. clinical program or MD/PhD program are eligible to participate in the NIH Medical Scientist Partnership Program (MSPP)
       
  2. Apply for MSPP funding (via the FM1 fellowship application)
    • The funding application opens July 8, 2024 and closes August 8, 2024
    • Track 1 applicants should contact NIAID staff at least 90 days before the submission deadline by sending an email to NIHMSPPQuestions@niaid.nih.gov to receive specific instructions on how to apply.
    • Track 2 applicants should contact their school's business or grants administration staff at least 90 days before the submission deadline.
       
  3. Apply for the desired NIH MD/PhD program pathway (via the NIH GPP Portal)
    • The NIH GPP application portal will open in August 1, 2024 and close December 1st
    • There is no application fee
    • MCAT scores are required for admission consideration



 

GPP Application Components

CV/Resume

Research Interests include:

  • Field(s) of research you are interested in (e.g. neuroscience, imaging, immunology, biostatistics)

Research Experience include:

  • Research project title and goal
  • Research internships
  • Independent undergraduate research
  • Major accomplishments and findings
  • Research techniques learned

Publications and Presentations include:

  • Papers with author list and citation
  • Thesis, abstracts, meetings, etc.

Awards & Honors include:

  • Undergraduate awards and recognitions
  • Dean’s list
  • Research fellowships
  • Community citations

Extracurricular Activities include:

  • Leadership roles
  • Memberships in professional associations


Additional Information

  • GRE scores are not required and will not be considered.
     
  • MCAT scores are required for MD/PhD Track 1 applicants only.
     
  • List any scholarships (Marshall, Rhodes, Gates-Cambridge, NIH Cambridge Trust, Churchill, Fulbright, etc.) that you are in the process of applying for or have already submitted an application to.
     
  • List potential mentors at the NIH and Oxford and/or Cambridge whose research you are interested in. You can search for NIH faculty members on the individual NIH institute web sites, which can be found through the NIH Intramural Research Program site.


Letters of Recommendation

  • Requests for letters of recommendation are sent after the application is submitted. If an earlier reference request is desired, the applicant may submit his/her application. Doing so will prompt the application system to send the recommendation requests to the  letter writers. Also, the applicant may continue to edit/update the application until the December 1st deadline.
     
  • The deadline for letters of recommendation is Thursday, December 5th at noon ET 
     
  • Recommenders must submit the letters of recommendation by the December deadline. Applications with less than three letters of recommendation are incomplete and will not be considered for admission.
     
  • Letters must be written and dated within the last 12 months.
     
  • Only letters uploaded to the on-line application site will be accepted.
     


 

Questions

Questions related to the OxCam Program application may be directed to the NIH OxCam Office at oxcam@od.nih.gov. 

 

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