| Postgraduate Study

The educational aims of the MPhil in Global History of Art and Architecture are as follows:

provide an overview of current interdisciplinary research and challenges in the global history of art and architecture;
provide critical and analytical tools to engage with the forefront of academic knowledge, methods and applications in this area;
develop the skills and abilities to identify, address and approach practical cross- and interdisciplinary research challenges, particularly with regard to collections-based work.
Prepare students for further research, e.g. at doctoral level, and equip them with transferable skills relevant to the workplace.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

By the end of the course students will have acquired:

Advanced specialist subject knowledge and understanding of the history of art and architecture in a global context;
Systematic and comprehensive conceptual knowledge and critical understanding of relevant historiographical, methodological and theoretical frameworks for the history of art and architecture in a global context;
Ability to utilise specialist subject and conceptual knowledge and understanding in students’ own original written work, successfully engaging with and/or contributing to critical debates in the field;
Language tuition that enhances student access to relevant subject knowledge, sources, methods and analytical tools for studying the history of art and architecture in a global context.

Skills and other attributes

Students will be able to:

Synthesise and analyse advanced research and scholarship across the field of history of art and architecture and relevant academic disciplines in a global context;
Put relevant theoretical and academic knowledge into practice, applying it to specific objects and case studies;
Utilise acquired transferable language skills to access relevant scholarship and conduct art historical research as necessary;
Structure extended pieces of written work and present arguments clearly and effectively;
Demonstrate self-direction, originality and ability to act autonomously through successfully completing an independent research project;
Deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively and tackle and solve problems independently;
Contribute constructively within an international environment, exercising initiative, personal responsibility and demonstrating independent learning ability.

Continuing

To be eligible to proceed to doctoral study following the MPhil in Global History of Art and Architecture, students must achieve an overall average of 70% or above across all summative assessments of the degree. Continuation is also subject to the approval of the proposed PhD research proposal and the availability and willingness of an appropriate Supervisor. There is no automatic continuation from MPhil to PhD study: candidates are required to formally apply to the PhD programme and spaces are limited.

Open Days

The University hosts and attends fairs and events throughout the year, in the UK and across the world. We also offer online events to help you explore your options:

Discover Cambridge: Master’s and PhD study webinars - these Spring events provide practical information about applying for postgraduate study.
Postgraduate Virtual Open Days - taking place in November each year, the Open Days focus on subject and course information.

For more information about upcoming events visit our events pages.

The German Section is one of the very few departments in the UK that can offer postgraduate supervision in literary and cultural topics across the full historical range from the medieval period to the present day. It also has significant coverage of topics in intellectual, social, and political history and the history of the German language.

Many members of the Section also have comparative and interdisciplinary interests, and combinations of German studies with other disciplines are welcomed. The Section has a dynamic research culture, with lecture and seminar series, frequent invited speakers, and a lively postgraduate research seminar.

The Section also has partnerships with the Friedrich Schlegel Graduate School (Freie Universität, Berlin) and the German Department of the University of Chicago, with joint events and exchanges. It offers generous funding for postgraduate research travel, conference participation, and the organisation by its postgraduate students of research activities and events.

In British universities, the PhD (Doctorate of Philosophy) is traditionally awarded solely on the basis of a thesis, a substantial piece of writing in English that reports original research into a closely defined area of enquiry. The completion of the PhD thesis is generally expected to take three to four years, and most funding is based on this assumption. It's also possible to take a part-time route through research degrees, and the expected timeframe would be four to seven years.

During the PhD, you will have the opportunity to work closely with a Supervisor who is a specialist in your research area. In addition to your Supervisor, you will normally also be able to draw on the help and support of one further academic advisor and consult other academics working in related fields. You might reasonably expect to see your Supervisor fortnightly or at least three times per term.

In addition to providing specialist supervision, the Faculty runs a programme of professional training for the benefit of all research students. The programme includes seminars and workshops on library resources, giving conference papers, publishing, applications and interviews, teaching skills and specialist linguistics training. The School of Arts and Humanities runs a central programme covering a range of topics from PhD skills training, to language training and writing and editing skills. In German, we aim to give you the opportunity to teach language (translation into English) and to give a lecture in your area of expertise; and you are likely to gain further experience of small-group teaching in Colleges.

Continuing

For Cambridge students applying to continue from the MPhil by Advanced Study to a PhD, the minimum academic requirement is an overall Distinction in the MPhil.

For Cambridge students applying to continue from the MPhil by Thesis to a PhD, the usual academic requirement is a Pass in the MPhil.

All applications are judged on their own merits, and students must demonstrate their suitability to undertake doctoral-level research.

Open Days

The University hosts and attends fairs and events throughout the year, in the UK and across the world. We also offer online events to help you explore your options:

Discover Cambridge: Master’s and PhD study webinars - these Spring events provide practical information about applying for postgraduate study.

Postgraduate Virtual Open Days - taking place in November each year, the Open Days focus on subject and course information.

For more information about upcoming events visit our events pages.

Departments

This course is advertised in the following departments:

Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics

Department of German

The MPhil in Geography is a 12-month full-time programme of research that introduces students to research skills and specialist knowledge.

The course aims to develop general transferable skills and act as a bridge between first degree and PhD. Through the supervision process and the writing of an MPhil thesis students develop their skills in assessing contrasting theories, explanations and policies; collecting, critically judging, evaluating and interpreting varied forms of evidence; preparing maps and diagrams; employing various methods of collecting and analysing spatial and environmental information; combining and interpreting different types of evidence to tackle specific problems; and recognising the ethical and moral dimensions of study.

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;
to give students the opportunity to acquire or develop skills and expertise relevant to their research interests;
permit close analysis of existing original research data.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the programme, students will have:

a comprehensive understanding of techniques, and a thorough knowledge of the literature, applicable to their own research;
demonstrated originality in the application of knowledge, together with a practical understanding of how research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge in their field;
shown abilities in the critical evaluation of current research and research techniques and methodologies;
demonstrated some self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems, and acted autonomously in the planning and implementation of research.

Continuing

Students wishing to continue to a PhD in Geography must reapply for admission to a PhD via the University admissions process, taking the funding and application deadlines into consideration. Readmission is not automatic.

In addition to passing the MPhil, a student must demonstrate suitability to undertake a PhD and make a full specification of their research proposal which allows the suitability of the topic to be assessed. They must also have the agreement of a supervisor to supervise the PhD student, based on the appropriateness of the PhD proposal to the expertise of the academic staff in the department.

Open Days

The Department of Geography hosts an online Q&A session for each course during the Postgraduate Virtual Open Days. Please visit The Department of Geography website to sign up for the sessions.

The University hosts and attends fairs and events throughout the year, in the UK and across the world. We also offer online events to help you explore your options:

Discover Cambridge: Master’s and PhD study webinars - these Spring events provide practical information about applying for postgraduate study.
Postgraduate Virtual Open Days - taking place in November each year, the Open Days focus on subject and course information.

For more information about upcoming events visit our events pages.

The Department of Geography welcomes applications from well-qualified candidates with previous training in geography or a related discipline and, normally, a relevant master's qualification. The PhD is a full-time, three-year research degree (or four-seven years part-time) examined by a thesis.

In the first year, students attend a training programme based around seminars and workshops dealing with the debates in geography, the practice of developing and designing research projects, and the methods and techniques required to undertake the empirical elements of research. Research in geography embraces both natural sciences (physical geography) and the social sciences and humanities (human geography). This PhD can, in principle, be taken in any of the topics covered by the Department of Geography and may, in part, be delivered through cooperation with other departments in social sciences, humanities, and physical sciences depending on each student's individual needs. The University also offers a comprehensive range of training courses for personal and professional career development.

Open Days

The Department of Geography hosts an online Q&A session for each course during the Postgraduate Virtual Open Days. Please visit The Department of Geography website to sign up for the sessions.

The University hosts and attends fairs and events throughout the year, in the UK and across the world. We also offer online events to help you explore your options:

Discover Cambridge: Master’s and PhD study webinars - these spring events provide practical information about applying for postgraduate study.
Postgraduate Virtual Open Days - taking place in November each year, the Open Days focus on subject and course information.

For more information about upcoming events visit our events pages.

The MRes in Genomic Medicine addresses the perceived skills deficit in data science and computational skills that is common in many postgraduate students. The MRes in Genomic Medicine allows students to complete a research focussed degree incorporating a large element of data science-related teaching. The MRes will first equip research students with the skills necessary to undertake computational genomics projects through a taught programme. Students then utilise these skills to plan and complete a research project.

It is hoped the MRes in Genomic Medicine will contribute to the training of scientists in data science skills to work within the framework established by Genomics England and the NHS Genomic Medicine Service.

By contract the MPhil in Medical Science (Medical Genetics) is entirely by Research and does not include these taught elements.

The overall educational aims of the programme are to:

provide a research environment where students can learn the practical skills required for performing research in Genomic Medicine;

prepare and upskill students with the most up to date computational and bioinformatic knowledge for performing genomic research;

develop students independent research skills and understanding of research methodologies and clinical opportunities relevant to genomic medicine;

develop researchers competence in using genomic and data science technologies for biomedical research;

prepare students for either higher study (PhD/MD) or career roles in a research-intensive environment in genomic medicine-related fields;

develop a cohort of students who are proficient in the wide variety of research skills necessary to plan and deliver Genomic Medicine research projects;

encourage a commitment to intellectual challenge and evidence-based clinical practice informed by the latest conceptual and theoretical knowledge of genomic medicine;

develop students' intellectual, practical and transferable skills related to genomic medicine;

encourage critical thinking related to genomic medicine;

develop good scientific practice and record keeping;

increase employability in the local genomics industry centred around Cambridge, where data science skills are highly valued;

provide professionally relevant teaching and learning informed by research in an integrated clinical and research environment;

conduct systematic literature reviews relevant to their research areas;

equip students for entry into health care professional training schemes including postgraduate entry medicine courses;

provide training for clinician scientists who wish to work on data produced from Genomics England and the NHS Genomic Medicine service as part of the diagnostic and treatment pathway.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

to enhance the students’ knowledge and critical understanding of recent developments in genomic medicine

to develop students’ knowledge in genomics research skills relevant to variant interpretation, rare disease, cancer and basic biomedical science.

to develop students’ knowledge and understanding of genomic medicine informed by research in a rapidly-changing integrated clinical and research environment.

to enable deployment of new knowledge in a research environment.

to develop an understanding of genomic technologies and where genomic information is used as part of the diagnostic and treatment pathway.

to develop students’ knowledge so that they have the confidence to propose and design high quality research.

to update and extend students’ understanding of research methodologies and clinical opportunities.

to demonstrate knowledge, abilities and skills to engage in focused, professionally-relevant, independent learning, and through the production of a dissertation.

Skills and other attributes

students will be taught an up-to-data basic toolkit of skills needed for Genomic Medicine as a data science including the use of the Unix command line, R and Galaxy.

students will gain practical experience in the central computational techniques in genomics; WGS, WES, variant interpretation, and RNA-seq.

students will be taught the skills to access genomic tools and datasets from the EBI and Genomics England.

students will gain understanding of experimental techniques for variant interpretation, including PCR, qRT-PCR, and techniques for exploring splice variants.

students will gain understanding of the experimental techniques for NGS library preparation.

students will develop the skills necessary to locate, read, interpret and analyse primary and secondary sources of material enabling the development of a conceptual and theoretical understanding of recent developments in genomic medicine.

students will enhance their skills to evaluate current scholarship and research critically and to place this knowledge within the context of their own situation and practice as clinical leaders.

students will develop the ability to formulate a research topic relevant to their clinical context, to collect and analyse primary and/or secondary sources of data, and to undertake professionally relevant research.

students will enhance the facility to communicate the results of their ideas, research and its conclusions in a written form acceptable as a work of scholarship potentially publishable in a professional or academic journal.

Continuing

Progression to the PhD is not automatic, and those who wish to progress to a PhD after completing the MRes will be required to submit an application, and satisfy their potential supervisor, Head of Department, and the Faculty Degree Committee that they have the skills and ability to achieve the higher degree.

Open Days

The University hosts and attends fairs and events throughout the year, in the UK and across the world. We also offer online events to help you explore your options:

Discover Cambridge: Master’s and PhD study webinars - these Spring events provide practical information about applying for postgraduate study.

Postgraduate Virtual Open Days - taking place in November each year, the Open Days focus on subject and course information.

For more information about upcoming events visit our events pages.

The programme of study aims to:

provide professionally-relevant teaching and learning informed by research in an integrated clinical and research environment;

develop and create a cohort of doctors and other professionals allied to medicine able to pursue and develop their roles in the rapidly-changing and challenging environment of genomic medicine;

prepare healthcare professionals for the adoption of genomic technologies and the increasing use of genomic information as part of the diagnostic and treatment pathway;

develop researchers competent in the use of genomic technologies for biomedical research;

develop a cohort of health care professionals with the ability and confidence to lead service improvement for safe and high quality patient care;

develop a cohort of health care professionals allied to medicine with an understanding of research methodologies and clinical opportunities relevant to genomic medicine;

encourage a commitment to intellectual challenge and evidence-based clinical practice informed by the latest conceptual and theoretical knowledge of genomic medicine;

develop students' intellectual, practical and transferable skills related to genomic medicine;

encourage critical thinking related to genomic medicine;

equip students for entry into health care professional training schemes including graduate entry medicine courses;

prepare students for undertaking research degrees (PhD) in genomic medicine-related research fields;

provide students from the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and other industries with an understanding of the relevance of advances in genomics for current and future health care.

Learning outcomes

As a result of studying this programme students should meet the following learning outcomes:.

Knowledge and understanding

1. Demonstrate a broad understanding of key concepts in genomics

2. Appraise the factors contributing to disease causality

3. Critically evaluate the role of genomic technology in healthcare

4. Demonstrate an understanding of the use of patient data in healthcare 

5. The ability to engage in focused, professionally-relevant, independent learning (all awards), and (for the MSt) produce a dissertation. 

Skills and other attributes

1. The skills necessary to locate, read, interpret and analyse primary and secondary sources of material enabling the development of a conceptual and theoretical understanding of recent developments in genomic medicine. 

Open Days

Please refer to the PACE Website for more information about our previous and upcoming events and Open Days. These are a great way of finding out more about our courses, including content and delivery, and hearing from our academics and students. Recordings of these open events are also available to view on our YouTube channel.