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Postgraduate Study

Teaching

The PhD in Physics is a full-time period of research and involves minimal formal teaching. Students are expected to attend an appropriate subset of the Department’s programme of research seminars and other postgraduate courses but most research training is provided within the group structure and overseen by their supervisor. Informal opportunities to develop research skills also exist through mentoring and other opportunities offered by fellow students and members of staff.

One to one supervision

The supervisory team consists of the principal supervisor (normally referred to as the supervisor) and an adviser. The supervisor is the main person appointed to oversee and help with a student's PhD study and an adviser is appointed to act as a second point of contact for academic advice.

The University of Cambridge publishes an annual Code of Practice which sets out the University’s expectations regarding supervision.

Seminars & classes

Students will be advised by their supervisor which seminars and classes to attend based on their relevance to the chosen research project and also to best facilitate integration into the host research group.

Lectures

Students will be advised by their supervisor which lectures to attend based on their relevance to the chosen research project and also to best facilitate integration into the host research group.

Journal clubs

Students will be advised by their supervisor which journal clubs to attend based on their relevance to the chosen research project and also to best facilitate integration into the host research group.

Posters and Presentations

The Cavendish Postgraduate Student Conference is held annually, organised by postgraduate students, and is a one-day event of talks and poster presentations by postgraduate students from all research groups.

Feedback

Supervisors report termly on the progress of their students and these reports are available to the student.

Postgraduate students are represented on the Department's Postgraduate Student Consultative Committee, which normally meets five times a year, and consists of one or more student representatives from each of the research groups. The committee exists to enable discussion of any issue affecting postgraduate studies and students may approach any member of the committee to suggest items for discussion.

Assessment

Thesis / Dissertation

The final PhD assessment will be of a submitted thesis of 60,000 words and subsequent viva voce examination.

Other

All PhD students are probationary in the first year and progression to the second year (and registration for the PhD) depends on a successful first-year review.

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Key Information


3-4 years full-time

4-7 years part-time

Study Mode : Research

Doctor of Philosophy

Department of Physics

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.


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