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Postgraduate Study

Teaching

There is no formal teaching as part of the MPhil. All students are expected to take part in the department's Postgraduate Education Programme and the Postgraduate School of Life Science's Skills Training Programme

One to one supervision

Students will meet regularly with their supervisor and their lab team. How often they meet will change during the year, with more meetings at the beginning, during planning, and when writing up. All students should be able to get formal feedback from their supervisor.

The University of Cambridge publishes an annual Code of Practice which sets out the University’s expectations regarding supervision.

Seminars & classes

The department hosts a number of seminar series, which all students are invited to attend.

Taught/Research Balance
Entirely Research

Feedback

Students will get regular oral feedback and guidance from their supervisor throughout the course. They also receive a formal feedback report each term through the online system.

Assessment

Thesis / Dissertation

The MPhil is examined by a thesis of no more than 20,000 words, not including tables, footnotes, the bibliography, or appendices. Students also take an oral exam on their thesis and the wider subject area it relates to.

Other

Any methods or statistics courses may have assessments, but they are for personal development only and not part of the MPhil.

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Key Information


Michaelmas 2027
Applications open
Sep. 9, 2026
Application deadline
Mar. 25, 2027
Course starts
Oct. 1, 2027
Some courses can close early. See the Deadlines page for guidance on when to apply.
Funding Deadlines
Course Funding Deadline
Dec. 8, 2026
Gates Cambridge US round only
Oct. 14, 2026

These deadlines apply to applications for courses starting in Michaelmas 2027, Lent 2028 and Easter 2028.