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I am deeply grateful for the intellectual breadth and academic support I received during my PhD in Chinese Studies at Cambridge. One of the most rewarding aspects of the programme was its interdisciplinary orientation. The faculty encouraged us to engage with research and seminars across a wide range of disciplines, allowing me to attend lectures well beyond my immediate research area. This not only broadened my academic horizons but also enriched my own work by introducing new theoretical and methodological approaches.
The collegial atmosphere within the department was another key strength. The small cohort size fostered a strong sense of community, enabling meaningful discussion, peer support, and mutual learning. I was especially fortunate to have an exceptionally dedicated supervisor, whose guidance was instrumental throughout my PhD journey. Her attentive mentorship, intellectual generosity, and consistent encouragement—both academic and personal—enabled me to develop my work to a standard I could not have achieved alone. I remain profoundly appreciative of the rigour, support, and collaborative spirit that defined my experience at Cambridge.
Jingyi Veronica Wang (April 2, 2025)
My experience doing a PhD at the University of Cambridge was uniformly positive, despite the difficulties caused by lockdowns in the UK. My supervisor gave me a constant stream of wise and timely advice; other tutors from the department were equally generous with their time; and the framework provided by the University was helpful—for instance, the required submissions at the end of my first two years were rigorous enough to be of value to my studies but not sufficiently time-consuming to interfere with work on the PhD itself. The University’s flexibility was particularly helpful for me in that I suffered from poor health during my PhD, which the University helpfully made provisions to accommodate.
James Bejon (April 1, 2025)
My time as a PhD student at the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at Cambridge, under the supervision of Professor Andrew Marsham, was both intellectually enriching and personally transformative. The faculty provided an incredibly supportive environment, not only for academic research but also for professional growth. I was given the freedom to explore my ideas, access to world-class resources, and the opportunity to engage with leading scholars in my field. These experiences shaped me into a more confident, independent researcher and laid a strong foundation for my future career.
Aliya A Ali (March 28, 2025)