Teaching
Taught courses
Candidates take four course options over the first two terms. In addition, they follow mandatory courses in Research Methods, which provide a graduate-level introduction to a range of approaches relevant to broad-ranging research in politics and international studies.
Examples of the fields of study available on the MPhil in previous years have included the following (but please note that these are subject to change each year and cannot be guaranteed in advance):
Climate, Race and Colonialism
Conspiracy and Democracy
Democratic Backsliding and Resilience
The Middle East in Global Politics
Communication Technology and Politics
Politics of China
Gender, Forced Migration, and Humanitarianism
Individual course options differ in how they are taught. Some options are taught by a combination of lectures and seminars.
| One to one supervision |
Approximately five sessions per year with your own dissertation Supervisor. The University of Cambridge publishes an annual Code of Practice which sets out the University's expectations regarding supervision. |
|---|---|
| Seminars & classes |
Individual course options differ in how they are taught. Most are taught by a combination of lectures and seminars. Each course option involves two hours of teaching per week over its duration. |
| Lectures |
Individual course options differ in how they are taught. Most are taught by a combination of lectures and seminars. Each course option involves two hours of teaching per week over its duration. |
| Taught/Research Balance |
Equal Taught/Research
|
Feedback
For the dissertation, students will receive a joint report from their examiners.
Students can also expect to receive an online feedback report about their progress each term from their thesis Supervisor, as well as feedback on their assessed essays.
Assessment
Thesis / Dissertation
The dissertation is an important element of the MPhil. There is a requirement for originality, which must be met by research using primary sources (documents, interviews, official publications, or the like) or by developing a fresh approach to an existing debate or literature. This supports the general aim of the dissertation, which is to develop advanced skills in research and expression.
Each student is required to submit an original thesis on an approved topic of 15,000 words maximum in length.
Essays
Students are assessed in five modules in total.
Research Methods is the core module that runs over the first two terms (Michaelmas and Lent). It is assessed on a pass/fail basis by a 2,000-word essay in Lent Term.
In both Michaelmas and Lent terms, students choose two optional modules per term. Each of these modules will be assessed either by coursework, or by examination, or by other appropriate modes of assessment (examples of which might include individual presentations or group work). Examiners shall announce the precise forms of assessment at the start of the Michaelmas Term of the academic year of the examination
Other
An oral examination may be held in relation to any of the elements of the examination.