Teaching
This is a research‑based programme with no formal teaching. All students must also 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. |
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| Seminars & classes |
All PhD students must attend certain postgraduate courses and seminars in their first year. They also develop their research skills by taking statistics and methods courses, which are noted in their progress log book. The department also runs extra seminar series that all students can attend. |
| Taught/Research Balance |
Entirely Research
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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
Students must submit a 60,000‑word thesis (or 80,000 words with permission) by the end of their fourth full‑time year. Tables, footnotes, the bibliography, and appendices do not count in the word limit. The PhD is assessed through the written thesis and an oral exam on the thesis and its wider subject area.
Other
Any methods or statistics courses taken for personal development may have assessments, but they are not formal qualifications.
All PhD students are probationary in their first year. To move into the second year and fully register for the PhD, they must pass a first‑year review. This involves submitting a report that explains the work done so far, reviews the key literature, and sets out plans for the rest of the PhD. Two assessors review the report, and the student also has an oral exam based on it.