My name My address Date Members of Selection Committee XXXX Institute/Centre/University Address Dear Sir/Madam, Application for PhD studentship

With regard to the matter above, I am writing to apply for the PhD studentship jointly supervised by Profs. XXX and XXX in XXX Institute. I have recently completed my undergraduate study in B. Sc. (Hons.) XXX in XXX University. I have obtained a CGPA of 3.XX (out of 4.00) for the degree, and will be graduating as the top-ranking student in my class in the coming convocation. During the final year of my undergraduate study, I specialized in XXX, and have completed a research project entitled XXX. Through this project, I have mastered a variety of molecular and cell biology techniques, which I believe would be useful for me in undertaking the PhD research project offered by your institution. In addition, I have had the opportunity to gain some hands-on experience in in-vitro culturing of cancer cells during my industrial training in XXX. I believe that my academic background and proficiency in research techniques make me a suitable candidate for the above-mentioned studentship. My motivation in applying for the PhD studentship arises from my strong passion in the field of oncology. This passion has been developed throughout my undergraduate days, during which I have taken several academic courses whose modules placed some emphasis in aspects related to cancer biology and genetics. Apart from that, my enthusiasm for cancer research has been reinforced while performing my final year undergraduate research project, as I was dealing with a gene which is commonly over-expressed in many human cancers. I have also attended a number of talks and seminars on cancer-related topics over the past two years, which have further strengthened my interest in this field. While searching for a suitable PhD studentship in oncology, the research project offered by Profs. XXX and XXX has particularly captured my attention. This is because of its focus on XXX, an important theme in cancer research due to its possible implications in XXX. The lack of an understanding of how XXX are associated with YYY and with ZZZ, which could in turn lead to the development of cancer, has motivated me to undertake the PhD studentship. Based on my academic competency, I believe that I have the capability and potential to accomplish the PhD research project. I have enclosed my curriculum vitae, academic transcript and details of my academic referees for your reference. I look forward to your reply and am available for an interview at your convenience. Thank you. Yours sincerely, My name