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Teaching
The course is a research course so there are no taught elements.
Some PhD students are able to teach undergraduate students but you will have to discuss this with your supervisor and arrange directly with the Colleges, this is not arranged with 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 adviser 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. |
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| Seminars & classes | A student seminar is held every Friday, at which two 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 PhD 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. |
| Journal clubs | Our students are encouraged to organise journal clubs facilitated by their student representative team. |
| 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.
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Feedback
All students attend regular laboratory meetings with their research group, have one-on-one meetings with their supervisor, and give annual seminar presentations 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
All PhD students are required to submit a thesis of no more than 60,000 words within a maximum of four years of study (full-time). This is examined at a viva by two examiners, usually one internal and one external.
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.