Teaching
A range of delivery methods is used:
Class teaching: classes are run in one or two hour blocks. Class sessions are lecture, seminar, or practical class based and may require some reading ahead of the session.
Individual teaching: typically bi-weekly meetings between students and appropriate staff members throughout the Michaelmas term and then with their supervisor throughout the Lent and Easter term, the latter of which will introduce students to specific methods required for research.
Teaching consists of around 24 hours of lectures/seminars/practicals, with at least 8 hours in sessions covering skills and research training.
The core and specialist modules are taught in term one. The core module consists of around 12 hours of formal teaching, plus guided reading. The specialist modules each consist of around 12 hours of lectures, seminars or practical classes.
In terms two and three, students work towards their dissertations. Students will be assigned a specialist supervisor for their dissertations, who will provide guidance and training in appropriate research skills, methodologies and techniques to enable the student to undertake their dissertation.
Students also have the opportunity to attend relevant research group seminars (e.g. in Polar Physical Sciences or Polar Social Sciences and Humanities) held in the Institute.
In addition, the course provides additional training on making effective use of electronic resources for polar research, accessing archival and other material, and presentation skills.
| One to one supervision |
Each student is allocated a dissertation supervisor during the Michaelmas term. Generally students may expect up to ten meetings with their supervisor in the Lent and Easter terms, each involving up to one hour of one-to-one supervision. They may also expect briefer meetings when needed. 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 |
Each student can expect to receive 24 hours of teaching in the form of lectures, seminars or practical classes in the first term. Students are also expected to participate in internal and external research seminars, and a research forum. |
| Lectures |
Each student can expect to receive 24 hours of teaching in the form of lectures, seminars or practical classes in the first term. The skills and research training programme comprises up to eight one-hour lectures in the first term and optional lectures in the first and second terms. |
| Practicals |
Each student can expect to receive 24 hours of teaching in the form of lectures, seminars or practical classes in the first term. |
| Small group teaching |
All teaching is in small groups. |
| Posters and Presentations |
Students will present their dissertation research in the SPRI MPhil Forum in the second term (Lent). The SPRI MPhil Forum is open to all SPRI members to attend. |
| Taught/Research Balance |
Predominantly Taught
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Feedback
Written feedback is provided on each piece of submitted work and the dissertation. Online written progress reports are provided each term.
Assessment
Thesis / Dissertation
A dissertation, of not more than 20,000 words in length, excluding footnotes, figures, tables, appendices, and list of references, on a subject approved by the Degree Committee for the Faculty of Earth Sciences and Geography, and to be submitted at a date to be determined by them. The dissertation contributes 55% to the total mark.
The examination may include, at the discretion of the Examiners, an oral examination on the dissertation and the assignments and on the general field of knowledge within which they fall.
Essays
Two assignments, each of not more than 4,000 words in length, excluding footnotes, figures, tables, appendices, and list of references, chosen from a list of topics approved by the Degree Committee. The first will be an essay, drawing on material taught in the core general module. The second will be either an essay or an exercise. Each assignment is worth 20% of the total mark.
Other
A presentation of a dissertation proposal, on a subject approved by the Degree Committee. The presentation contributes 5% to the total mark.