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Teaching
Our first-year PhD students undertake a training programme tailored to their own needs and interests, which includes:
- Compulsory training in fundamental academic and research skills: ethics, research integrity, data security, etc.
- Training in research methods appropriate to the student's own area of study
- Honing academic writing skills
- Personal and professional development opportunities
Students are encouraged to continue an active training programme throughout their studies and to attend seminars and other activities in the department and across the University, including any specialist research methods courses run by Cambridge Research Methods (CaRM).
For students in their third and fourth years of study, we run a writing group, as well as a seminar series on publishing, careers, job applications and interviews.
| One to one supervision | The Supervisor and the student meet regularly throughout the PhD. The Supervisor's role is to provide guidance on the planning and execution of the student's research and to provide feedback on progress. The University of Cambridge publishes an annual Code of Practice which sets out the University's expectations regarding supervision. |
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| Seminars & classes | Research students attend the Department's bi-weekly guest seminars, as well as meetings of our research networks and reading groups. |
| Taught/Research Balance | Predominantly Research |
Feedback
Ongoing feedback on students' work is provided by the Supervisor through termly supervision reports.
A formal progress review, centred on a written submission of 5,000-7,500 words, is conducted towards the end of the student's third term of study (or fifth term of part-time study). Each of the two assessors will write a report that gives constructive feedback and offers an overall assessment.
Assessment
Thesis / Dissertation
The PhD in Sociology may be awarded after three to four years of full-time study or five to seven years of part-time study (including a probationary period) of supervised independent research on the basis of a thesis, which must not exceed 80,000 words and will normally be over 60,000 words (in accordance with the Degree Committee requirements).
The Degree Committee will appoint two examiners to examine the student's thesis, normally one internal examiner and one external examiner. Neither examiner may be the student's Supervisor or co-supervisor. An oral examination is compulsory. At the discretion of the Degree Committee, an Independent Chair may also be appointed to attend the oral examination.
Other
A formal progress review, centred on a written submission of 5,000 - 7,500 words and a one-hour meeting with the student's assessors, is conducted towards the end of the student's third term of full-time study or part-time equivalent. Successful completion of this first-year review is a precondition for progressing to the second year of study. A similar formative progress review is also conducted after completing the second year of study.