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Teaching
The PhD in Physics is a full-time period of research and involves minimal formal teaching. Students are expected to attend an appropriate subset of the department’' programme of research seminars and other postgraduate courses, but most research training is provided within the group structure and overseen by their Supervisor. Informal opportunities to develop research skills also exist through mentoring and other opportunities offered by fellow students and members of staff.
| One to one supervision | The supervisory team consists of the principal Supervisor (normally referred to as the Supervisor) and an advisor. The Supervisor is the main person appointed to oversee and help with a student's PhD study, and an advisor is appointed to act as a second point of contact for academic advice. 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 will be advised by their Supervisor which seminars and classes to attend based on their relevance to the chosen research project and also to best facilitate integration into the host research group. |
| Lectures | Students will be advised by their Supervisor which lectures to attend based on their relevance to the chosen research project and also to best facilitate integration into the host research group. |
| Journal clubs | Students will be advised by their Supervisor which journal clubs to attend based on their relevance to the chosen research project and also to best facilitate integration into the host research group. |
| Posters and Presentations | The Cavendish Postgraduate Student Conference is held annually, organised by postgraduate students, and is a one-day event of talks and poster presentations by postgraduate students from all research groups. |
Feedback
Supervisors report termly on the progress of their students and these reports are available to the student.
Postgraduate students are represented on the Department's Postgraduate Student Consultative Committee, which normally meets five times a year, and consists of one or more student representatives from each of the research groups. The committee exists to enable discussion of any issue affecting postgraduate studies, and students may approach any member of the committee to suggest items for discussion.
Assessment
Thesis / Dissertation
The final PhD assessment will be of a submitted thesis of 60,000 words and subsequent viva voce examination.
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.