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Politics and International Studies is no longer accepting new applications.
Teaching
Taught courses
Candidates take six 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):
Latin America in the International Order
Religion and Politics
International Constitutional Law
The Middle East in Global Politics
From the Printing Press to Facebook & Twitter
Politics of China
The Crisis of Party Democracy: Origins, Consequences, Remedies
Individual course options differ in how they are taught. Some options are taught by a combination of lectures and seminars.
| One to one supervision | Circa 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. |
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 20,000 words maximum in length.
Essays
Students are assessed in five modules in total.
Research Methods is the core module that runs over Michaelmas and Lent terms. It is assessed by a statistics exam in Michaelmas Term and a 2,000-word essay in Lent Term.
In both Michaelmas and Lent terms, students pick three optional module. Of these six modules, they are assessed in four by a 3,000 word essay or a take-home exam.
Written examination
Students are assessed in five modules in total.
Research Methods is the core module that runs over Michaelmas and Lent terms. It is assessed by a statistics exam in Michaelmas Term and a 2,000-word essay in Lent Term.
In both Michaelmas and Lent terms, students pick three optional modules. Of these six modules, they are assessed in four by a 3,000 word essay or a take-home exam.