The MPhil degree offered by the Department of Paediatrics is exclusively research-based; students are integrated into the research culture of the department and the institute in which they are based.

The subject of the research project is determined during the application process and is influenced by the research interests of the student’s principal supervisor, i.e. students should apply to study with a group leader whose area of research most appeals to them. To broaden their knowledge of their chosen field, students are strongly encouraged to attend relevant seminars, lectures and training courses.

At the end of the course, examination for the MPhil degree involves submission of a written thesis (of 20,000 words or less), followed by an oral examination based on both the thesis and the wider field of knowledge.

The course introduces students to research skills and specialist knowledge. Its main aims are:

• to give students with relevant experience at a first-degree level the opportunity to carry out focused research in the discipline under close supervision; and
• to give students the opportunity to acquire or develop skills and expertise relevant to their research interests.

The MPhil degree is offered full-time over 12 months or part-time over 24 months. It is designed to produce postgraduates with rigorous research and analytical skills, who are exceptionally well equipped to go on to doctoral study, postgraduate research, or employment in industry and the public sector.

Students undertake a bespoke research project, which is agreed at the application stage with their Principal Supervisor. Towards the end of their MPhil course, students produce a written thesis about their research project. Assessment for award of MPhil degree is by oral examination of the student's research thesis and their broader knowledge of their chosen area of research.

Each student is assigned a Principal Supervisor who oversees their research project and an Adviser who provides additional support. Our Postgraduate Administrator acts as the first point of contact for any student with a query or difficulty not directly related to their scientific work. All student matters in the department are overseen by our Director of Postgraduate Education and the Cancer Biology Postgraduate Education Committee.

Most research training is provided within the structure of the student’s research group and informal opportunities to develop research skills are available through mentoring by other members of staff and fellow students. Students are encouraged to attend scientific meetings, seminars and postgraduate courses relevant to their area of interest. They are also expected to participate in journal clubs and lab meetings and to take advantage of the numerous training opportunities offered by the University.

The MPhil course introduces students to research skills and specialist knowledge and aims to provide them with:

• the opportunity to carry out focused research in their chosen discipline, whilst under close supervision.
• the opportunity to acquire or develop skills and expertise relevant to their research interests.

The Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology has two broad areas of research activity. The first covers the use of large population sample and data sets to identify key predictive features associated with human pregnancy, such as intrauterine growth restriction, preterm labour and perinatal death.

The second major area focuses on the cellular and molecular aspects of the growth of the placenta and its interaction with the endometrium. This includes a detailed investigation of the immune dialogue occurring between the fetal and maternal compartments. Genetic and epigenetic modulation of placental function is also a key area within this field. Modern genomic methods are utilised in both human samples and in genetically manipulated animal models.

This interdisciplinary work involves complex teams of molecular and cellular biologists, anatomists, mathematicians, bioinformaticians, statisticians and clinician-scientists.

The aim of the MPhil is to carry out a research project which contributes new knowledge to the field.

The course introduces students to research skills and specialist knowledge. Its main aims are:

• to give students with relevant experience at first-degree level the opportunity to carry out focused research in the discipline under close supervision; and
• to give students the opportunity to acquire or develop skills and expertise relevant to their research interests.

The aims of the MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit are to study the biology of the mitochondria, the powerhouses of the cell. There is a growing realisation that the dysfunction of various aspects of mitochondrial biology is connected to major neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, and that as the major source of reactive oxygen species, the mitochondrion is likely also to be involved in ageing. Therefore, the Unit is developing its interests in the cell biology of mitochondria and is linking its activities to clinical science. For students wishing to continue on to the PhD, the MPhil provides a good foundation for future research studies.

The MPhil in Medical Science (MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit) aims to:

• give students with relevant experience at a first-degree level the opportunity to carry out focused research in the discipline under close supervision; and
• give students the opportunity to acquire or develop skills and expertise relevant to their research interests.

Research at the Medical Research Council - Mitochondrial Biology Unit (MBU) at the University of Cambridge aims to understand the fundamental biochemical and biological processes taking place in mitochondria, and the roles and integration of mitochondria within the cell. We aim to learn about the involvement of mitochondria and mitochondrial dysfunction in human diseases and to exploit our understanding and knowledge to develop new therapies to treat them.

The MBU takes on talented students from around the world and our PhD in Medical Science degree is awarded by the University of Cambridge Degree Committee for Clinical Medicine.

The MRC Epidemiology Unit is a research department, within the Institute of Metabolic Science, in the School of Clinical Medicine at the University of Cambridge and investigates the causes and prevention of obesity and diabetes.

Our PhD students have the opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research under the supervision of senior scientists supported by postdoctoral researchers and a large team of fieldworkers, data managers, statisticians, study coordinators, technical and administrative staff.

PhD students are members of the wider Clinical School MRC Doctoral Training Programme (DTP), which offers a broad range of training opportunities and support. Students are also members of one of the University’s Colleges, which offers pastoral support and a vibrant learning community.

The primary aim is for our postgraduate students to develop the skills required to submit an excellent PhD thesis in either three or four years (five to seven years if part-time), depending upon the duration of their funding.

To that end, our students design and conduct robust and high-quality experiments and then analyse the results. Alternatively, students may apply sophisticated analyses to existing ‘big data’ sets from large cohort studies. In both cases, an important aim is for our students to learn to communicate their findings in writing and orally to academic or lay audiences. We also aim for our students to be fluent and practised in open science principles and methodologies.

While there is no 'standard' route or model, our experience is that an excellent PhD results from asking a good question and the expertise of our supervisors in combination with the dedicated enthusiasm of our doctoral students.

The primary aim is for our students to develop the skills required to submit an excellent MPhil thesis.

To that end, our students design and conduct robust and high quality experiments and then analyse the results of these experiments. Alternatively, students may apply sophisticated analyses to existing ‘big data’ sets from large cohort studies. In both cases, an important aim is for our students to learn to communicate their findings both in writing and orally to academic or lay audiences. We also aim for our students to be fluent and practiced in open science principles and methodologies.

While there is no "standard" route or model, our experience is that an excellent MPhil results from asking a good question and the expertise of our supervisors in combination with the dedicated enthusiasm of our students.

Studies are carried out by science graduates, medical students combining clinical training and clinically qualified doctors undertaking scientific training. The research covers the whole spectrum of medical science from basic biology to clinical therapies. Along with the specific research training provided in the laboratory in which you work, you receive further training within the department in the form of graduate workshops concentrating on research techniques, research seminars both on the Addenbrooke's site and elsewhere in the University, and graduate student seminars dealing with generic skills such as intellectual property rights, writing a thesis or paper, and entrepreneurship.

The course introduces students to research skills and specialist knowledge. Its main aims are:

• to give students with relevant experience at a first-degree level the opportunity to carry out focused research in the discipline under close supervision; and
• to give students the opportunity to acquire or develop skills and expertise relevant to their research interests.

The Department of Haematology is located on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. Research in the department falls into three main areas with major relevance for human disease: The Haematopoiesis and Blood Cancer Group, the Structural Medicine and Thrombosis Group, and the Transfusion Medicine Group.

The haematology research groups belonging to the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute moved into a brand new purpose-built facility on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus in 2019. The remaining Haematology groups are based across the Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, the NHS Cambridge Blood Centre and the Sanger Institute.

The department offers this Masters (MPhil) programme of research to students under individual supervision of a Principal Investigator based in the Department of Haematology. During their MPhil, students are based in a research group, supported by their Principal Supervisor and associated laboratory staff, as well as the Department Postgraduate Education Committee and Postgraduate Student Committee.

There is no taught / examined course work, but students are encouraged to attend all seminars and events run within the Department, in the Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centra, and elsewhere on the Biomedical Campus.

MPhil students write a thesis, which is examined via an oral examination (viva).

We welcome applications from postgraduates wanting to work towards a Masters (MPhil) degree, in any of the labs belonging to the Department of Haematology. Successful applicants must meet the University's minimum academic admissions criteria, and applicants are required to contact potential supervisors before submitting an application, to discuss their application and funding options. A list of Haematology Principal Investigators can be found on the Department of Haematology website.

The MPhil course introduces students to research skills and specialist knowledge. Its main educational aims are:

to give students with relevant experience at a first-degree level the opportunity to carry out focused research in the discipline under close supervision; and

to give students the opportunity to acquire or develop skills and expertise relevant to their research interests.