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Postgraduate Study

Teaching

One to one supervision

The University of Cambridge publishes an annual Code of Practice which sets out the University’s expectations regarding supervision. All students have a departmental mentor in addition to their core supervisory team and College tutor.

Seminars & classes

Students are encouraged to attend internal departmental seminars (e.g. the Bradford-Hill Seminar series) and those organised within the University.

Lectures

The PhD has no formal lectures, but (space-permitting) students are able to attend specific modules from our MPhil in Population Health Sciences course if they require additional training in certain areas.

Posters and Presentations

Students are encouraged to present their research locally, nationally and internationally when an appropriate opportunity arises.

Feedback

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.

Assessment

Thesis / Dissertation

The PhD is assessed by submission of a thesis and oral examination.

The thesis should not exceed 60,000 words (or 80,000 by special permission of the Degree Committee). These limits exclude figures, photographs, tables, appendices and bibliography. 

The content and format of the thesis should be discussed with your supervisor.

Other

All PhD students are probationary in their first year and are required to undergo formal assessment (by written report and viva) at the end of their first year, which they must pass.

If successful, the student moves from being 'probationary' to being formally registered for the PhD and can proceed with their project.

There is also an informal assessment to check on the student's progress at the end of the second year. First and third year PhD students are encouraged to present their work at the Department's annual PhD presentation days in June.

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Key Information


3-4 years full-time

4-7 years part-time

Study Mode : Research

Doctor of Philosophy

Department of Public Health and Primary Care

Course - related enquiries

Application - related enquiries

Course on Department Website

Dates and deadlines:

Applications open
Sept. 15, 2022
Application deadline
Oct. 4, 2023
Course Starts
Jan. 5, 2024

Some courses can close early. See the Deadlines page for guidance on when to apply.

Applications open
Sept. 15, 2022
Application deadline
Jan. 15, 2024
Course Starts
April 17, 2024

Some courses can close early. See the Deadlines page for guidance on when to apply.

Michaelmas 2024

Applications open
Sept. 4, 2023
Application deadline
May 16, 2024
Course Starts
Oct. 1, 2024

Some courses can close early. See the Deadlines page for guidance on when to apply.

Applications open
Sept. 4, 2023
Application deadline
Oct. 2, 2024
Course Starts
Jan. 5, 2025

Some courses can close early. See the Deadlines page for guidance on when to apply.

Applications open
Sept. 4, 2023
Application deadline
Jan. 15, 2025
Course Starts
April 17, 2025

Some courses can close early. See the Deadlines page for guidance on when to apply.

Course Funding Deadline
Dec. 5, 2023
Gates Cambridge US round only
Oct. 11, 2023

These deadlines apply to applications for courses starting in Michaelmas 2024, Lent 2025 and Easter 2025.