This MPhil provides initial research training and aims to develop students' linguistic and methodological skills. It also provides a foundation for students wishing to continue their research at the doctoral level. This MPhil is only suitable for those with demonstrable experience and ability in independent academic research.

This PhD degree is offered at the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies to students who wish to study Chinese Studies, East Asian Studies, Korean Studies, Japanese Studies, Hebrew Studies, and Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies (Arabic or Persian).

Our researchers are engaged in internationally recognised work in the history, literature, linguistics, social anthropology, sociology, politics, and contemporary culture of the Middle East, North Africa, China, Japan, and the two Koreas. In addition, the work of several staff members crosses traditional boundaries, both geographical and subject-based. Please see our Research pages for more information about the kind of research carried out by the Faculty.

Before you apply, it is essential that you contact your prospective Supervisor to discuss your proposed research.

The PhD in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies is a three to four-year course consisting of individual supervision and guided research. Students are given guidance in areas specific to their subject and in advanced research methods. In the third term (Easter) of the first year, students submit a PhD progress examination, which usually consists of a critical essay and a general statement about progress to date and the likely course of their future research. At the end of the programme, students submit a PhD thesis, followed by a viva (oral examination).

Further information about the programme and the supervisors can be found on our Faculty's website.

The MPhil degree by thesis 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

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

The department welcomes applications from postgraduates to undertake research towards an MPhil in most areas, including Urban Studies, History and Theory of Architecture and Urbanism, Digital Media Design and Communication, Design, Technology, Planning and Environment. However, the department cannot accept candidates for whom no supervisor is available. Unless the candidate is part of a research group, the research is undertaken entirely by the candidate on their own, with regular supervision of progress with the supervisor. To be eligible for consideration, applicants will need an appropriate level of architectural expertise and a clear idea of the area in which the thesis will be written.

This MPhil is not a taught programme. Instead, it admits applicants who meet the academic admissions criteria and whose research interests match those of an available academic staff member willing to act as the student's supervisor. In addition to the research and skills training programme offered by the Department of Architecture, candidates have the opportunity to attend numerous training and personal development courses.

The department is one of the leading institutions in architectural research units in the UK, with over four decades of successful global research. Research typically crosses traditional research boundaries.

Candidates are asked to note that the MPhil in Architecture (by Thesis) does not offer a direct pathway to PhD study, and those interested in a future PhD may wish to consider the taught MPhil in Architecture and Urban Studies. Students wishing to proceed to a PhD at Cambridge after completion are required to apply in the usual way and will be treated equally alongside all the other candidates, internally or externally.

The MPhil in Architecture and Urban Studies (MAUS) is a programme of sustainability science and design for buildings and cities, and advanced study on modern and contemporary architecture and the continued development of cities around the world. Students from a variety of academic backgrounds work in an interdisciplinary environment with urbanists, environmental and technology specialists, architectural theorists and historians and design practitioners. Students will explore a wide range of ideas, research methods and theoretical approaches in order to undertake a critical and rigorous analysis of issues relating to both architecture and the challenges and complexities of the world’s rapidly changing cities. The course offers a flexible structure that is tailored to the needs of individual student’s research interests. Seminars and lectures are organised along two basic streams: 1) A Theoretical Stream focusing on the socio-political and cultural context of architecture and cities with an approach rooted in the humanities and social sciences; 2) A Technical and Sustainability Stream offers a more quantitative approach to architecture and urban planning (including transport, health and well-being, sustainability and environmental design, artificial intelligence (AI) and technology for society). Students are encouraged to participate in and draw from or combine both streams. In the second term, there is a choice of more specialist seminars within both streams. Students are actively encouraged to explore issues across these basic disciplinary boundaries. The course asks students to expand upon their own experiences by pursuing research in their areas of interest. Teaching in the course is closely integrated with the Department’s research groups which cover a wide range of issues and geographical areas. The MPhil benefits from direct input in the form of lectures, seminars and individual supervision.

The Cambridge Department of Architecture has been Ranked 2nd in the Times Higher Education Supplement World Rankings for Architecture 2025. It is one of four Cambridge University disciplines to have achieved first place in their respective Units of Assessment in the Research Excellence Framework. A doctoral degree at the Department of Architecture offers the opportunity for independent research under the supervision of a departmental staff member. Unless the candidate is part of a research group, the research is undertaken entirely by the candidate on their own, with regular supervision on progress with their supervisor. The department welcomes applications from qualified postgraduates with a suitable background in architecture, science, history and theory, and/or engineering to undertake research towards a PhD in areas such as Urban Environmental Design and Technology, Computational Social Sciences, Digital Media Design and Communication, Design, Technology and Natural Materials, Urban Planning, History and Theory of Architecture and Urbanism, Urban Studies, and other related fields. However, the department cannot accept candidates for whom no supervisor is available. The department does not offer a taught PhD programme. Instead, it admits applicants who meet the academic admissions criteria and whose research interests match those of an available academic staff member willing to act as the student's supervisor. In addition to the research and skills training programme and undergraduate teaching opportunities offered by the Department of Architecture, candidates have the opportunity to attend numerous training and personal development courses offered by the university. The examination constitutes the oral examination of a thesis not exceeding 80,000 words for the PhD on a subject approved by the Degree Committee for the Faculty.

The PhD in Archaeology 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 subject within the field of Archaeology, 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 Archaeology must represent a significant contribution to knowledge. Students may be required to complete courses in research design, statistical analysis, interpretation, communication and safety during their first Michaelmas term at Cambridge, and attend such lectures and courses as are considered appropriate by their supervisor.

The MPhil in Archaeology allows students to gain a critical appreciation of archaeology, the human past, and its place in the modern world, as well as training in research and analytical skills and expertise in a chosen, specialist area. Through research-led teaching, staff and students interact in lectures, seminars, language classes and laboratory-based practicals with the aims of mastering the basics of theory and method. Students may also participate in ongoing research projects.

Students may choose to specialise in any of the following options, if available. Prospective applicants are advised to check with the Department and check the website before applying, to find out which options are available for the forthcoming year:

Archaeology of the Americas

Egyptian Archaeology

European Prehistory

Archaeology of the Global Middle Ages

Mesopotamian Archaeology

Palaeolithic and Mesolithic Archaeology

South Asian Archaeology

African Archaeology

The MPhil in Archaeological Science aims to introduce students to the main theories and research approaches in archaeological science, particularly within the fields of archaeological materials science, environmental archaeology and biomolecular archaeology. The course will:

• provide a wide-ranging and challenging introduction to the theoretical issues involved in archaeological science;

• offer an in-depth understanding of approaches to scientific analysis and interpretation in the context of archaeological research;

• foster the ability to develop original research questions and to explore them effectively using scientific methods;

• offer training relevant to a professional and/or research career in archaeological science.

The MPhil in Archaeological Research aims to give students an excellent grounding in higher-level research, which provides an ideal platform for PhD studies.

It achieves these aims by training students in a particular subject of specialisation through independent, supervised research. By the end of the course, students are expected to have carried out a substantial, independent research project with command of a broad knowledge base and original results or insights into their field of specialisation. It also trains students in the research process via supervised work in its major stages, such as reviewing past work, designing a research project, and collecting and analysing data. By the end of the course, students are expected to be able to conduct independent research at a professional level within archaeology. Further, it gives students training in a range of general, transferable skills, such as writing, presentation, research skills, and formulating and analysing arguments. By the end of the course, students are expected to be able to exercise these skills in any professional-level work which requires them.

This is a three to four-year research programme culminating in submission and examination of a thesis containing substantial original work. PhD students carry out their research under the guidance of a supervisor, and research projects are available from a wide range of subjects studied within the Department. Students admitted for a PhD will normally have completed preparatory study at a level comparable to the Cambridge Part III (MMath/MASt) course. A significant number of our PhD students secure post-doctoral positions at institutions around the world and become leading researchers in their fields.

Prerequisites

Many students in DAMTP are admitted after taking the Cambridge Part III (MMath/MASt) course and others will have completed a comparable Master-level course. Some may already have carried out a small-scale research project. All of our students, therefore, begin their PhD work with a good grasp of advanced material, on which they can build as their research progresses.

Research Areas

Research in DAMTP can be divided into the following broad areas: Applied and Computational Analysis, Astrophysics, Fluid Mechanics, Geophysics, Biophysics and Soft Matter, Mathematical Biology, Quantum Information, High Energy Physics, General Relativity and Cosmology, and Machine Learning (fundamentals and applications to healthcare). The boundaries between such areas are not rigid, however, and many members of staff will contribute to more than one area (this is regarded as a key factor in the continuing success of DAMTP). There are active seminar programmes across all subject areas, attendance at which is an important part of PhD student training.

PhD Supervision

Each PhD student in DAMTP has a supervisor who is responsible for guiding their research and monitoring their progress. Each student is admitted to work within a particular subject area, and often with a specific supervisor. Some students will work in close collaboration with their supervisor, or as part of a larger research group, while others may work more independently (with their supervisor's approval). Collaborative projects may involve other researchers or groups outside Cambridge, in the UK or worldwide.

Progress during the course

Students in DAMTP are admitted on a probationary basis in the first instance and are assessed for registration after roughly one year of work. A review of progress starts before the end of the third term of research when students are asked to submit a short report. A more detailed appraisal and interview are conducted during the fourth term of their research. For the fourth term assessment, two assessors are assigned to consider the academic progress of each student, including a record of their attendance at seminars and other related activities. Progress continues to be monitored throughout their PhD through regular online supervision reports.

Students are encouraged to give talks and seminars within the department, and to present their findings at conferences or meetings, once the time is right. We regard it as particularly important that our students submit their work for publication in leading journals, as well as to web-based archives, and many will already have several papers in circulation when they come to write their thesis. Additional support and advice for students is available at any stage of their PhD through a system of designated departmental advisors, as well as from members of the DAMTP Postgraduate Education Committee.

Working Environment

DAMTP is part of the Centre for Mathematical Sciences or CMS. The site is shared with the Department of Pure Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics and also with the Isaac Newton Institute and the Betty and Gordon Moore Library (the main university mathematical science library). CMS provides a modern, comfortable and well-equipped working environment for PhD students, facilitating day-to-day contact with academic staff and other students.

Additional training and opportunities

All students in DAMTP can benefit from a wide variety of additional courses and training opportunities. In addition to the wide range of lectures and seminars on offer in DAMTP and CMS, the Department actively promotes and encourages researcher development and transferable skills training (e.g. sessions on improving communication skills, organisational and leadership skills, presenting work at seminars or conferences, and applying for postdoctoral positions). Some of these workshops are coordinated with the centrally-run Researcher Development Programme which is open to all students of the University; others are run by the Faculty of Mathematics.

There is no requirement for PhD students to teach but there are plenty of opportunities to do so, such as offering problem-solving classes (college supervisions) for small groups of undergraduate students or offering help with running examples classes for Part III students.

Part-time study

Please note: part-time study may not always be viable and will be considered on a case-by-case basis, so please discuss this option with your proposed supervisor before making an application for this mode of study.