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Postgraduate Study

Teaching

The course is entirely research-based, so there are no taught elements (lectures etc.)  However, students are encouraged to attend various seminars and courses run by the Department and within the wider University. 

The Student led seminars every Friday are a great source of information and a part of learning the vast breadth of research within the Department. 

One to one supervision

Postgraduate students are expected to meet regularly with their supervisor and update their student log to reflect those meetings. In addition to their principal supervisor, students also have an advisor and sometimes have a second supervisor, depending on the nature of the project. An adviser may be someone who can advise on certain aspects of the thesis,  but can also advise on the overall shape of a student's project. In addition, the Department provides support and annual reviews with the course directors.

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 progress the student has made and include a specific comment on their research project. 

Seminars & classes

A student seminar is held every Friday, at which two or three students present their work to staff and other students in the Department. Students will present once each year they are with us, so three times during a PhD course and once during an MPhil course. The student seminars are an important part of the MPhil journey and a chance to hear about the wide range of research being carried out in the Department. 

Department seminars are also generally held weekly, with talks delivered by researchers within the Department and visiting speakers. 

A student representative team is appointed each year, this team will then organise further events for students in the Department. 

Lectures

Lectures do not form part of the MPhil course, but postgraduate students can attend undergraduate lectures that may be beneficial to their research. 

Posters and Presentations

Each research group holds lab meetings at which staff and students have a chance to present. Depending on the research group, there are often opportunities to attend and present at conferences. 

The Department holds an annual Away Day of talks and networking at one of the Cambridge colleges. As part of this, Postgraduate Students and post-doctoral researchers are invited to submit and present posters. 

 

Feedback

All students attend regular laboratory meetings with their research group, have one-on-one meetings with their supervisor, and give a seminar presentation to the Department, after which audience feedback is given. 

The Education Team meets with each student annually to review progress, and are available at any time to receive feedback from students or meet them to discuss any matters arising. The principal supervisor will write an online progress report at the end of each term, which can be accessed by the student.

Assessment

Thesis / Dissertation

The MPhil in Medical Science is examined by thesis and oral examination (viva). The thesis must be no longer than 20,000 words, exclusive of tables, footnotes, bibliography, and appendices, and must satisfy the examiners that the candidate can design and carry out an original investigation, assess and interpret the results obtained, and place the work in the wider perspective of the subject.

The examination shall include an oral examination on the thesis and on the general field of knowledge within which it falls.

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Key Information


12 months full-time

2 years part-time

Study Mode : Research

Master of Philosophy

Department of Clinical Neurosciences

Course - related enquiries

Application - related enquiries

Course on Department Website

Dates and deadlines:

Applications open
Sept. 4, 2023
Application deadline
Oct. 2, 2024
Course Starts
Jan. 5, 2025

Some courses can close early. See the Deadlines page for guidance on when to apply.

Applications open
Sept. 4, 2023
Application deadline
Jan. 15, 2025
Course Starts
April 17, 2025

Some courses can close early. See the Deadlines page for guidance on when to apply.

Michaelmas 2025

Applications open
Sept. 4, 2024
Application deadline
April 30, 2025
Course Starts
Oct. 1, 2025

Some courses can close early. See the Deadlines page for guidance on when to apply.

Applications open
Sept. 4, 2024
Application deadline
Oct. 2, 2025
Course Starts
Jan. 5, 2026

Some courses can close early. See the Deadlines page for guidance on when to apply.

Applications open
Sept. 4, 2024
Application deadline
Jan. 14, 2026
Course Starts
April 17, 2026

Some courses can close early. See the Deadlines page for guidance on when to apply.

Course Funding Deadline
Dec. 3, 2024
Gates Cambridge US round only
Oct. 16, 2024

These deadlines apply to applications for courses starting in Michaelmas 2025, Lent 2026 and Easter 2026.


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