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Teaching
This MPhil is a research-only course. The supervisor and details of the proposed research project are determined during the application process.
Most research training is provided within the structure of the student’s research group and is overseen by their principal supervisor. The student should expect to receive one-on-one supervision at least weekly in term time.
To enhance their research, students are expected to attend seminars and postgraduate courses relevant to their area of interest. Students are also encouraged to undertake transferable skills training provided by the Postgraduate School of Life Sciences Researcher Development Programme.
At the end of the course, the examination for the MPhil degree involves the submission of a written thesis, followed by an oral examination based on both the thesis and a broader knowledge of the chosen area of research.
| One to one supervision | The principal supervisor should meet formally with their student approximately once a week in term time, to discuss progress. Meetings may be more or less frequent depending on how well the project is progressing, but there is an expected minimum of eight hours per term. The University of Cambridge publishes an annual Code of Practice which sets out the University’s expectations regarding supervision. The supervisor will provide written feedback to the student each term with progress reports submitted online. The feedback will relate to the progress the student has made and include a specific comment on their research project. This will be discussed with the student in advance of the submission of the report to the University. |
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| Seminars & classes | Students will be expected to participate in a weekly series of seminars in cognitive neuroscience presented by senior researchers during Michaelmas and Lent terms, ie 12 hours per term. |
| Lectures | Students will be expected to attend lectures relevant to their field of research. |
| Practicals | The department offers an annual 'MPhil Thesis Writing' workshop to all MPhil students. |
| Literature Reviews | Literature search training, covering literature search, reference management and ways of getting hold of full-text papers is organised at the Medical Library. |
| Posters and Presentations | Students are encouraged to present at least once a year, both to their group and at national and international conferences. |
Feedback
The student will receive the following feedback on their progress:
- After starting the course, the principal supervisor will meet with the student to discuss a preliminary thesis plan, and to provide direction and constructive input.
- Throughout the course, the principal supervisor and student should meet formally weekly to discuss how the research is progressing (meetings may be more or less frequent, depending on how well the research project is going).
- Principal supervisors will submit online supervision reports each term, to which the student has access.
- Three months before the end of the course, students are required to produce a final thesis plan and meet with their principal supervisor, who is expected to provide constructive input.
- Feedback is also provided by the principal supervisor on any work to be published.
- There is furthermore oversight of student progress by the departmental Postraduate Education Committee, which operates within the policies directed by the Degree Committee for the Faculty of Clinical Medicine and the Postgraduate Committee.
Assessment
Thesis / Dissertation
Examination for the MPhil degree involves submission of a written thesis not more than 20,000 words in length, excluding figures, tables, footnotes, appendices and bibliography, on a subject approved by the Degree Committee. This is followed by an oral examination based on both the thesis and the wider field of knowledge of the chosen area of research.
The oral examination is conducted by two examiners, usually one from the University of Cambridge and one external to the University of Cambridge, neither of whom may have any direct involvement with the student or the work being examined. The thesis should provide evidence to satisfy the examiners that the student can design and carry out investigations, assess and interpret the results obtained, and place the work in the wider perspectives of the subject.