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Postgraduate Study

Course closed:

Sociology (The Sociology of Reproduction) is no longer accepting new applications.

Teaching

The course offers teaching on core modules introducing concepts and methods. Students work towards a written dissertation supported by supervisions and a dissertation workshop.

One to one supervision

Students will typically receive one supervision on each of the topics they choose to study for the field review essay; these supervisions may be in groups and will be part of the teaching provided in Lent term. In addition, students will typically receive approximately eight hours of supervision on their dissertation, spread across the three terms.

The University of Cambridge publishes an annual Code of Practice which sets out the University’s expectations regarding supervision.

Seminars & classes

Substantive modules: four modules of 12 hours.

Research methods: two modules of 12 hours.

(72 hours hours per year.)

Lectures

Students receive 16 hours of lectures on the required core course and can attend any other lectures in other modules across the University.

Practicals

Dissertation workshop: ten hours hours per year.

Journal clubs

Within the department various journal clubs are offered.

Literature_reviews

Written assignments require students to conduct extensive literature reviews in their chosen areas of research. There is also an optional "key texts in the sociology of reproduction" course throughout the year.

Posters

The department runs a dissertation workshop in the second term.

Feedback

Students receive written feedback on each essay and the dissertation. Feedback is also given during the dissertation workshop on the direction and progress of the dissertation research, and feedback is provided on the writing-up of the dissertation.

Assessment

Thesis

Students write a dissertation of not less than 15,000 and not more than 20,000 words on a subject approved by the Sociology Graduate Education Committee, falling within the field of the pathway chosen at the beginning of the course. The dissertation counts for 60 per cent of the final mark.

Essays

Students write:

  • Two research essays (these do not count towards the final mark)
  • Research essay 1 (formative; diagnostic)  of not less than 2,500 and not more than 3,000 words
  • Research essay 2 (formative) of not less than 2,500 and not more than 3,000 words
  • Field review essay of not more than 5,000 words on topics approved by the Sociology Graduate Education Committee. This essay counts for 40 per cent of the final mark

Key Information


9 months full-time

Master of Philosophy

Department of Sociology

Enquiries

Course on Department Website

Dates and deadlines:

Applications open
Sept. 3, 2018
Application deadline
April 26, 2019
Course Starts
Oct. 1, 2019

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

Graduate Funding Competition
Dec. 5, 2018
Gates Cambridge US round only
Oct. 10, 2018

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