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Teaching
| One to one supervision | Students might reasonably expect to see their Supervisor fortnightly or at least three times a term. Supervisors normally take care to provide written comments on written work and to give constructive criticism, but students should not expect actual marks. There is no need for written work to be provided for every meeting; general discussion and planning are vital, too. The length of a supervision can vary, depending on the stage a student is at and on the nature of the written work, if any, to be discussed. As a rule, however, such meetings last between 30 and 60 minutes. Generally, a student can expect 10-12 hours of supervisions over the course of each academic year. For part-time students, this is 6-7 hours. 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 | Students are encouraged to attend the Section's postgraduate research seminars, as well as other relevant research seminars taking place across the Faculty and the wider University. |
| Lectures | Attending lectures is optional, but students are encouraged to take advantage of lectures offered across the University that are relevant to their research. |
| Taught/Research Balance | Entirely Research |
Feedback
Feedback on progress is provided through regular meetings with the Supervisor. Termly supervision reports are written and are made available to the student online. Yearly progress interviews are held for which written work is submitted.
Assessment
Thesis / Dissertation
The thesis typically has a limit of 80,000 words (including footnotes and appendices but excluding the bibliography). The thesis should represent a significant contribution to learning through the discovery of new knowledge, through the connection of previously unrelated facts, and/or through the development of a new theory. In writing the thesis, the candidate is expected to consider previously published work on the subject. The thesis should be clearly and accurately written, paying due attention to English style and grammar. Candidates for the PhD in Cambridge are guided by a Supervisor, and they will also discuss their work with other experts in their field.
Following the submission of the thesis, an oral (viva) examination is held.
Other
Regular interviews constitute a system for the formal monitoring of student progress towards the PhD by the Degree Committee.
Postgraduate students are admitted in the first instance for a probationary period during which they are not registered as a candidate for the PhD degree. At the registration interview in the third term (or fifth term for part-time candidates), formal registration as a candidate for the PhD is formally considered. Satisfactory progress is a condition for being registered as a doctoral student. In preparation for the review, students submit a plan of the thesis, an account of research undertaken over the past year and forward planning, and a piece of written work (e.g., a draft chapter or preparatory study of some aspect of the research topic) of 10,000 words.