Teaching

The taught elements include the core modules “A Transdisciplinary Introduction to Existential Risk Studies” and “Risk Drivers, Multipliers, and Mitigation Opportunities”, 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. In addition to these, students will also submit a 2,500 word reflective essay constituting their evaluation of the participatory futures/foresight exercise and be assessed on their contribution to the Work in Progress seminars.

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/or Easter terms. The University of Cambridge publishes an annual Code of Practice which sets out the University’s expectations regarding supervision.
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 student-led research seminars related to dissertation research topics in late Lent/early Easter terms.
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.
Taught/Research Balance	Equal Taught/Research

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

Two 5,000 word essays based on core and/or elective modules, each 20% of final mark.

Practical assessment

Quality of presentation in the work in progress seminar, 5% of final mark.

Other

A maximum of 2,500 words of original contribution evaluating and reflecting on the participatory exercise, 5% of final mark.