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Teaching
The taught elements include the core modules “A Transdiciplinary Introduction to Existential Risk Studies” and “An Interdisciplinary Survey of Risk Drivers, Multipliers, and Mitigation Challenges”, and a selection of elective specialisation modules, covering specialist topics. These topics vary year by year, reflecting the current research interests of staff. Students should attend the core modules plus at least 2 elective modules.
There are Work in Progress seminars, where students present and discuss their individual dissertation research. Students will also take part in, and evaluate, a participatory futures/foresight exercise on a key aspect of global risk, giving them hands on experience with the methods developed and utilised by the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk.
For their supervised research, students work individually with supervision from domain experts to produce three pieces of written work: two essays of up to 5,000 words and a dissertation of up to 12,000 words. Students will also be assessed based on their contributions to the futures/foresight exercise and the Work in Progress seminars.
In addition, students are encouraged to integrate themselves into the research culture of CSER and the Institute for Technology and Humanity by attending research seminars, reading groups, conferences and other events, as well as other lectures, seminars and events relevant to their interests within the wider University.
| One to one supervision | 10 hours in total. Students will have 2 hours of supervision for each of their essays in Michaelmas and Lent terms, and 6 hours of supervision for their dissertation in Lent and Easter terms. 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 | At least 36 hours of taught seminars in total. The taught elements include core modules “A Transdisciplinary Introduction to Existential Risk Studies” and “An Interdisciplinary Survey of Risk Drivers, Multipliers and Mitigation Challenges” (24 hours of teaching) and two elective specialisation modules (6 hours of teaching each). In addition there will be 22 hours of student-led research seminars related to dissertation research topics. Students will also receive briefings, continuous support, and an evaluation session for the futures/foresight exercise. |
| Lectures | Students are encouraged to attend lectures, research seminars and reading groups relevant to their interests. |
| Practicals | 8 hours on a participatory foresight/scenario exercise. |
| Posters and Presentations | Students will deliver a Work in Progress presentation during Lent or Easter term (1 hour). |
Feedback
Students receive marks and examiners' reports for each piece of assessed written work as well as their Work in Progress presentation.
Assessment
Thesis / Dissertation
Dissertation: up to 12,000 words (excluding appendices and bibliography), 50% of final mark.
Essays
Core module 1 and core module 2 and/or one of elective specialisation modules: coursework including two 5,000 word essays, 40% of final mark.
Other
Quality of presentation in the work in progress seminar, 5% of final mark.
Quality of written contributions to the participatory foresight/scenario exercise, including a maximum of 2,500 words of original contribution as well as evaluation and reflections of the exercise, 5% of final mark.
Students will have the opportunity to submit an essay for formative assessment and feedback (of up to 5,000 words for the two core modules, or 3,000 words for elective specialisation modules).
Submission deadlines:
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Coursework for Michaelmas elective modules: Michaelmas week 8
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Coursework for Lent’s elective modules: Lent week 8
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Participatory foresight/scenario exercise material: Lent week 6
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Seminar presentation: Lent and Easter
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Dissertation: Submit Easter week 8