Teaching

Although the course is a research degree, PhD students are entitled to attend lecture courses within the Department. They should discuss with their supervisors which courses would be most beneficial to their research. Attendance patterns would also need to be discussed with industrial partners.

First-year students are normally required to take one master's-level taught modules (selected from a list of approximately 80 modules) as part of their first-year assessment. Students will also be required to participate in a series of seminars to equip them with essential skills in research practice and communication over the course of the PhD. Students may also be expected to engage in additional researcher development activities. Employers must permit students to be absent from work for up to:

· First year: 4 weeks for all students, and

· Subsequent years: 2 weeks per year for full-time students and 1 week per year for part-time students.

All doctoral research usually takes place in facilities belonging to the University of Cambridge, or to the industrial partner, for the duration of the degree. However, the Department and its supervisors have strong links to other institutions both in the UK and around the world. After their first year, students may, therefore, apply for permission to undertake a period of essential research in another institution. All necessary practical arrangements are the responsibility of students and their supervisors.

One to one supervision	Students will have regular contact with an industrial supervisor. In addition, students will have at least eight one-to-one meetings with their University supervisor annually. The University of Cambridge publishes an annual Code of Practice which sets out the University’s expectations regarding supervision.
Seminars & classes	Over the course of the PhD, students will attend approximately 24 hours of seminars targeted at developing their research and communications skills.
Lectures	Most students will attend one 16-hour lecture course in the first year.
Taught/Research Balance	Entirely Research

Placements

Students would be expected to undertake most of their research in a specific industrial setting (that of their existing employer), although University facilities may also be available for limited periods. With the support of both the industrial partner and the University supervisor, placements to undertake essential research in an alternative industrial setting (which could be outside of Cambridge) could be permitted for a limited period after the first year. Leave to work away would be required in this case.

Feedback

Throughout the PhD, students can expect to receive feedback from their University supervisor, who they will meet for regular supervisions, as well as their industrial supervisor. University principal supervisors will also submit termly reports on students' progress, which will be made available via an online system. Students also have an annual opportunity to submit a self-evaluation report, on which their principal supervisor may comment.

Every student is also allocated an adviser, who is available for consultation alongside the supervisors. Additionally, in the first year, students will receive feedback from the Researcher Development Course leaders, and will receive feedback on coursework assignments if relevant modules are chosen.

Assessment

Thesis / Dissertation

The outcome of the PhD programme is determined through the submission and examination of a 65,000-word thesis. Examination will include an oral examination on the thesis and the general field of knowledge within which it falls by two examiners.

Other

All PhD students are probationary in the first year and progression to the second year (and registration for the PhD) depends on a successful first-year review.

The first-year probationary review involves consideration of a student's understanding of a taught module, in addition to a written progress report submitted at the end of the year. The module is selected from a list of approximately 80 published in the student handbook. Most modules will be examined through submission of an essay reflecting on the relevance of the module content to the student's PhD research.

The report will cover the research work completed during the first year, as well as a review of appropriate literature and a clear indication of how the PhD will develop in the second and third years (i.e. future work). An oral examination will be held to discuss the contents of the report and the plans for the remainder of the project.

Students are also likely to be asked to produce a report on their progress at the end of each subsequent year, to be used as the basis of a progress discussion between the student, supervisor and industrial partner, and to ensure that there is alignment between all parties on expectations for the further progress of the PhD.