The PhD in Biological Anthropology is an opportunity for original research leading to a thesis within a structured research environment that encourages both independence and collaboration. The PhD is normally obtained after three years of study (five years part-time) on an approved topic within the field of Biological Anthropology, and includes an oral examination on the thesis and the general field of knowledge in which it falls.

The thesis topic is normally proposed by the student and then decided between the student and the supervisor, and assistance is provided on elements of methodology and analysis, as well as with the written presentation. A successful thesis will show that the doctoral student can design and carry out investigations, assess and interpret the results obtained, and place the work in the wider perspective of the subject.

A PhD thesis in Biological Anthropology must represent a significant contribution to knowledge. Students may be required to complete courses in research design, statistical analysis, interpretation, communication and safety and to attend such lectures and courses as are considered appropriate by their supervisor.

The MPhil in Biological Anthropological Science is a special course offered to students who already have substantial knowledge in biological anthropology. Students will be trained in a particular specialisation through independent, supervised research. By the end of the course, students will have carried out a substantial research project. The main aims of this MPhil programme are:

to offer students with relevant preparation and experience at first-degree level the opportunity to carry out focused research in the discipline under PhD-style supervision; and

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

By the end of the course, students should demonstrate that they can design and carry out investigations, assess and interpret the results obtained, and place their work in the wider perspective of the subject.

Students are based in a research group and undertake a research project agreed with the principal investigator (supervisor). Each student also has additional mentorship support from an advisor and a Postgraduate Thesis Panel. Although no formal, examined coursework exists, the student's progress is assessed at various stages. The most important is the First-Year Assessment, which comprises submitting a thesis report and an oral examination assessed by two examiners. Registration for a PhD is only possible following a satisfactory outcome from the First-Year Assessment. In their second year, students present their research work in poster form. In the third year, students present their work in a talk given to the whole Department.

The PhD in Biochemistry is designed to train students to be effective research scientists. In addition to developing deep knowledge of a subject area and a broader understanding of the relevant field, students will develop skills in:

• identifying experimentally answerable scientific questions and assessing the value of these questions to both science and society
• designing and executing experiments that test these scientific questions
• analysing and interpreting experimental data
• presenting the aims and outcomes of scientific research in both written and oral form
• sourcing, assessing, and critically evaluating scientific literature
• time, data, and resource management
• collaborative and interpersonal professional behaviour

The students will acquire many of these skills within the research group. Other skills will be developed outside of their research group: such as both in person and virtual training sessions in the department and from the wide range of courses available within the Postgraduate School of Life Sciences and the University. Students will also belong to a Peer Research Group, composed of other postgraduate students, within which workshops, student research projects, and scientific literature are presented and discussed.

The MPhil in Basic and Translational Neuroscience is a stand-alone postgraduate course in neuroscience offering both taught and research components. This one-year neuroscience programme is aimed particularly at those who want to prepare for later studies at PhD level, clinicians and others who want graduate-level research training but for whom a full PhD might not be required or appropriate, and graduates who plan a career in translational neuroscience, including careers in the pharmaceutical industry.

This course offers both taught and research components including a project rotation, research training modules, lectures, seminars and workshops, and the opportunity to undertake a wide variety of generic skills training. Students may participate in a symposium where they will have the opportunity to present their research.

Students selected onto the course will follow the structured MPhil in Basic and Translational Neuroscience research training. The aims of this one-year, full-time research training course are as follows:

• to give the student experience of research work;
• to expose the student to a variety of laboratory environments and the balance of self-sufficiency and teamwork needed in a researcher;
• to introduce the student to the basic skills of experimental design, project management, time management etc. needed in research;
• to familiarise the student with the practicalities of laboratory research, imparting an understanding of the nature of bench research, of record keeping and data handling, and of good laboratory practice;
• to introduce the student to basic analytical techniques needed to understand and contextualise their research;
• to familiarise the student with basic scientific writing and presentation skills.

The additional objectives that are specific to this programme will be:

• to attract students from a wide range of backgrounds into neuroscience by providing a taught module with a basic overview of neuroscience;
• to provide students with thorough training in neuroscience methods, data analysis and statistics techniques;
• to give students the necessary basic yet broad understanding of neuroscience to prepare them for future PhD studies; and
• to provide students with adequate experience in neuroscience research to enable them to make an informed choice of PhD project if they so wish.

The Institute of Astronomy offers an exciting opportunity for suitably qualified students who have completed a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in astronomy, physics or mathematics to study for a 9-month master's level qualification in astrophysics working alongside fourth-year (Part III) students taking the final year of the integrated master's undergraduate MSci Astrophysics Tripos.

The MASt in Astrophysics consists of a research project which accounts for a third of the total marks available for the course, and includes a written report (85%) and a formal oral presentation (15%) to the Part III/MASt Examiners and a choice of a range of high level specialist courses, most of which are examined in June.

The course aims to provide an intellectually stimulating environment in which students have the opportunity to develop their skills and enthusiasm to the best of their potential. Owing to the demanding level of the course and the competition for a limited number of places, applicants should have achieved (or expect to achieve) a very good performance in their undergraduate degree. Although some bursary funding may be available, applicants should expect to arrange their own funding.

The Institute of Astronomy offers the opportunity to study for the PhD degree, which is normally completed in three years. The format is almost entirely research-based, and while projects may be exclusively theoretical or observational, many combine aspects of both. Many projects incorporate aspects of Data Science, including machine learning and artificial intelligence.

Note: The university also offers a PhD programme in Astrophysics at the Cavendish Laboratory. For further information on this programme and details on how to apply please follow this link www.postgraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/courses/directory/pcphpdphy

It is normal for students to attend several relevant international conferences during their three years of study, often presenting their own research work. Some students working on observational research projects undertake observing trips (s) to major international observatories.

The MPhil is offered by the Institute of Astronomy as a full or part-time period of research and introduces students to research skills and specialist knowledge. The Astronomy MPhil degree is exclusively by research with no taught elements. The aims of the programme are:

• to give students with relevant experience at 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.

Opportunities to develop research and transferable skills also exist through attendance at training sessions organised at Department, School or University level as part of the wider postgraduate programme, and informally through mentoring by fellow students and members of staff.

This MPhil caters both for beginners in Akkadian and those with some previous knowledge of the language. A demanding course, this MPhil delivers competence in the language and specialist knowledge of Mesopotamian culture and social history over a relatively short time. It can be a final degree or serve as the basis for further research using cuneiform documents or material culture.

The aims of the course are to:

provide students with the opportunity to study, at an advanced level, substantive subjects and major debates in the field of ancient Mesopotamia, through lectures, seminars, and language classes; by the end of the course, students are expected to display competence in this field.

prepare students for research in the languages, history, culture and archaeology of Mesopotamia at doctoral level and beyond; by the end of the course, students are expected to be able to pursue independent research in this specialisation.

give students training in a range of general, transferable skills, such as writing, presentation, research design, data analysis, and formulating and analysing arguments. By the end of the course, students are expected to be able to exercise these skills in independent research in historical, archaeological, literary, linguistic and cultural topics, and in any professional-level work which requires them.

The Muslim-Jewish Relations pathway is designed for highly motivated students who would like to develop their knowledge and understanding of Muslim-Jewish relations, together with the research skills necessary to carry out independent research work to a high academic standard through engagement with primary sources in one or more Middle Eastern languages. Graduates will be well placed to pursue further research in a PhD programme, and/or to work in NGOs, charities, government, education, or any other field where cultural understanding, linguistic skills and high-level critical thinking, analysis and communication skills are needed.

The Educational Aims of the course are:

• To give students with a relevant undergraduate degree and sufficient subject-language ability training in research skills and methodologies in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies;
• To develop students’ expertise in relevant aspects of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies;
• To give students the opportunity to carry out focused research under close supervision.

The Modern Middle Eastern Studies pathway is designed for highly motivated students who would like to develop their knowledge and understanding of the Modern Middle East, together with the research skills necessary to carry out independent research work in the Humanities or Social Sciences to a high academic standard. Graduates will be well placed to pursue further research in a PhD programme, to use their skills and knowledge in NGOs, charities, government, education, or in any other field where cultural understanding, linguistic skills and high-level critical thinking, analysis and communication skills are needed.

The Educational Aims of the course are:

• To give students with a relevant undergraduate degree and sufficient subject-language ability training in research skills and methodologies in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies;
• To develop students’ expertise in relevant aspects of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies;
• To give students the opportunity to carry out focused research under close supervision.