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Teaching
| One to one supervision | The course consists of individual supervisions and guided research. Students are given guidance in areas specific to their subject area and in advanced research methods. Supervision is a very individual teaching method; students are therefore encouraged to contact their supervisors and discuss how regularly they will meet, how contact will be maintained, whether the supervisor or student should initiate contacts, and what kinds of work should be submitted and when. 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 | In the first year of their PhD, students might be required to attend the core postgraduate paper for the area of studies they are working in. |
Feedback
Students will normally receive feedback about the progress of their research during supervisions. Feedback can be received orally and/or in written format. The supervisor also submits termly supervision reports on the designated platform.
Assessment
Thesis / Dissertation
The PhD thesis must not exceed 80,000 words exclusive of footnotes, appendices and bibliography subject to an overall word limit of 100,000 words exclusive of bibliography. An oral examination (viva voce) is required. More details can be read in the Postgraduate Handbook.
Essays
In the Easter term of the first year, students submit a PhD progress examination, which usually consists of a critical essay and a general statement about progress to date and the likely course of their future research. More details can be read in the Postgraduate Handbook.
The PhD progress examination is an important element of the PhD programme. Two examiners will assess the written work and send reports for consideration by the Degree Committee. The possible outcomes are as follows:
- The work presented is sufficient to recommend that the student be registered for the PhD.
- Recommendation that the student rewrites and resubmits the essay, the statement, or both if one or both of the examiners recommends this in their reports.
- Recommendation of registration for a lower degree, such as an MLitt.
- Failure and termination of study at the University.