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Teaching
| One to one supervision | Students are expected to have regular meetings with their Supervisor. In addition, students are assigned an advisor who is a second point of contact regarding academic advice. Students should expect to receive online supervision reports at least termly and will have regular meetings with their Supervisor, who will provide feedback and advice. 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 | Students are expected to attend weekly departmental seminars. During the first year, students attend 'hot topics' and Techniques sessions organised for all first-year students at the IMS-MRL. Students also undertake transferable skills training as part of the Researcher Development Programme organised through the Postgraduate School of Life Sciences. |
| Posters and Presentations | Students participate in and present their data at regular lab group meetings and at the annual IMS-MRL Student Symposium. They may also give 'internal' presentations as part of the regular IMS-MRL seminar series. All students are expected to attend local and national meetings, where they will also have the opportunity to present posters or give a short talk on their research. Most students also have the opportunity to attend at least one international conference during their PhD. |
Feedback
All students should receive regular feedback on performance from their Supervisor during the project itself and can expect to receive an online feedback report each term.
The University of Cambridge publishes an annual Code of Practice which sets out the University's expectations regarding supervision.
The Supervisor will provide written feedback to the student each term, with progress reports submitted online. The feedback will relate to the student's progress and include a specific comment on their research project. This will be discussed with the student in advance of the report's submission to the University.
Assessment
Thesis / Dissertation
The student is expected to submit a thesis of fewer than 60,000 words within four years of starting study (full-time). Post-submission, two examiners will examine the student orally on the content of the thesis and on the wider research area.
Other
All PhD students are probationary in their first year and are required to undergo formal assessment (by written report and viva) at the end of their first year, which they must pass.
If successful, the student moves from being 'probationary' to being formally registered for the PhD and can proceed with their project.
Students are expected to submit a first-year report within nine months of commencing study. The student is examined orally on the content of this report and their understanding of the wider research field and future research plans. Subject to a satisfactory outcome, the student is then fully registered for PhD study.
During the summer of their first year, students are required to present a poster on their work at the Annual Student Symposium. During the summer of their second year, students give a short oral presentation at the same symposium.
Approximately one year before thesis submission, students are required to submit a Thesis Planning document to the Postgraduate Education Committee for approval.