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Registration

Monitoring progress, intermission, working away, preparation of thesis, questionnaires.

Research students are expected to be in residence in Cambridge pursuing their research between terms, except during periods of holiday agreed with their supervisor, normally up to 8 weeks in a 12 month period. Students who make time to take some holidays, or a break away from their studies, tend to do better.

PhD candidates may submit their theses after nine terms (three years) of research, and MLitt candidates after six terms (two years).  The Student Registry and the Degree Committee expect a thesis to be a piece of work which can be produced by a capable, well-qualified and diligent research student, properly supervised and supported, within those times.  It is very important that you design your project with these time-limits firmly in view. It is good both for morale and for your CV to submit your thesis within the stated times – and most PhD funding runs out after three years. 

If your PhD research is suitably related to your MPhil work, you will usually be allowed to count some or all of your three MPhil terms towards the residency requirements of the PhD, if you are ready to submit your thesis before the minimum terms of study have elapsed. This means that you may submit a PhD thesis after only six more terms, if you wish. Please see the following webpage for further information:

https://www.cambridgestudents.cam.ac.uk/your-course/postgraduate-study/your-student-status/allowanceexemption-research-terms

The Student Registry and the Degree Committee recognise, however, that original research is liable to unforeseen difficulties and delays, so all PhD students are allowed 4 years in which to complete and submit their thesis (3 years for the MLitt). Unless there are extenuating circumstances, which would permit a student to apply for an extension to their submission date, candidates who do not submit by these final deadlines would be asked to withdraw from the University, until such time as they are ready to submit, and apply for reinstatement .

All students accepted for the PhD are on probation for their first year. In your third term of research, the Degree Committee will decide whether to register you as a candidate for the PhD (the registration then being backdated to your date of admission). You will have a registration interview with two Faculty assessors, other than your Supervisor. Central University information on the requirements of a registration review is here:

https://www.cambridgestudents.cam.ac.uk/self-evaluation

In some (rare) cases, your assessors may decide that you should be registered for the MLitt degree, instead of the PhD, at this stage. This registration interview cannot be delayed without good cause (e.g., illness). With your supervisors’ help, you start working out your plan of research, and the topic or topics of your written work, as soon as possible after you arrive.

Before registering you as a PhD candidate the Degree Committee must be satisfied (i) that you have a suitable plan of work and (ii) that you have begun to write about some part of it, in a sustained way, at a standard likely to get you the degree in a reasonable time. You are therefore required to email the following documents to your two assessors and the Postgraduate Administrator by the last day of Lent full term*:

  • a statement (1,000 words) of your plan of research.
  • a piece of recent written work (6,000-10,000 words) on some topic within this plan; and
  • an account of research already completed (1,000 words)

These submissions must be properly written up: rough drafts are not acceptable. The registration interview will take place shortly after the end of Lent Term, with your two assessors who will have read the submitted documents. The exact date of the review will be agreed on by the two assessors and the student. The requirements for registration are as outlined above. Students will be sent a copy of their review report once it has been approved by Degree Committee at their May meeting.

Prospective PhD candidates whose work does not show sufficient progress will be given the opportunity to submit an improved set of work by the last day of Easter full term*. A further interview will then take place with the two Faculty members writing independent reports for the Degree Committee in late June/early July*.

The Degree Committee will recommend that prospective PhD candidates whose resubmitted work is still deemed to be unsatisfactory either withdraw from the University or, less severely, be registered only as MLitt candidates. In the latter case they may later be re-registered as PhD candidates (with registration again backdated to the date of admission) if they submit sufficiently improved work at the same time in their second year (i.e. at their fifth term review).

The Degree Committee will recommend that prospective MLitt candidates whose resubmitted work is still deemed to be unsatisfactory withdraw from the University.

Monitoring progress

Your supervisor is required to report termly to the Student Registry and the Degree Committee on your progress. You will also be invited to submit self-evaluation reports on your progress on CamSIS. More information on the Feedback and progress reporting systems for postgraduate students is here:

In addition, there are the following reviews:

Fifth Term Review

This review takes place in the fifth term for a student who is registered for the PhD or MLitt.  For this review you need to email the following documents to your supervisor, advisor, and Postgraduate Secretary by the last day of Lent full term*:

  • an account of research you have already completed (1,000 words)

These submissions must be properly written up: rough drafts are not acceptable.  The review will take place shortly after the end of Lent Term, normally with the supervisor and advisor, who will report in writing to the first meeting of the Degree Committee in the Easter Term. The exact date of the review will be agreed on by the two assessors and the student. Students will then be sent a copy of their review report once it has been approved by Degree Committee at their May meeting.

In the unlikely event that your work does not show sufficient progress you will be given the opportunity to submit an improved set of work by last day of Easter full term*. A further interview will then take place with the supervisor and advisor writing independent reports for the Degree Committee in late June/early July*.

Seventh Term Review

This review takes place in the seventh term for a student who is registered for the PhD. For this review you are required to email the same three documents as are described above, again demonstrating ongoing progress, to your supervisor and advisor by the last day of Michaelmas full term*.

The review will take place shortly after the end of Michaelmas Term, normally with the supervisor and adrvisor, who will report in writing to the first meeting of the Degree Committee in the Lent Term. The exact date of the review will be agreed on by the two assessors and the student. Students will then be sent a copy of their review report once it has been approved by Degree Committee at their January meeting.

If the supervisor and advisor are not happy with a student's progress they may recommend to the Degree Committee that a student's registration be changed from PhD to MLitt. They may also recommend that candidates who are not making satisfactory progress towards completing their theses withdraw from the University. The student will be fully consulted before any such recommendation is made. Note also that students withdraw from the University for this reason (or because they have failed to submit on time), but who manage to complete their theses on their own, may apply to be reinstated in order to submit their theses for examination. Please see:

https://www.cambridgestudents.cam.ac.uk/your-course/postgraduate-study/your-student-status/reinstatement

Although this monitoring may sound onerous, experience shows that most often the reviews function as useful markers of progress, and as good opportunities to take stock and to talk about useful ways forward, in a forum slightly different from that of a normal supervision.

If your work is hindered or interrupted by medical, financial or other problems you may apply for leave to intermit your research for a period of time from 2 weeks, to up to 3 terms (for full time students). Terms intermitted do not count towards the above deadlines. Consult your Supervisor and the Postgraduate Secretary if you would like to discuss this option at any point in your studies. You can also find further information here:

https://www.cambridgestudents.cam.ac.uk/your-course/postgraduate-study/your-student-status/medical-intermission

Working away from Cambridge

It is possible to apply for leave to work away from Cambridge for a maximum of 3 terms at a time Some PhD students find this is useful if they wish to work with a supervisor who is external to the University of Cambridge for some of their PhD study. More information on the process of how to apply for leave to work away can be found here:

https://www.cambridgestudents.cam.ac.uk/your-course/postgraduate-study/your-student-status/work-away

To support students working away from Cambridge, it is recommended that students apply to the University for free travel insurance: https://www.insurance.admin.cam.ac.uk/travel-insurance/travel-insurance-students

The Faculty has a small allocation of funding for fieldwork, that students can apply for via the Postgraduate Office. As part of this application process, students will also be required to complete a risk assessment: https://www.safety.admin.cam.ac.uk/risk-assessment

The Faculty can provide a template risk assessment – please ask the Postgraduate Secretary for further information.

Preparation of theses

PhD (MLitt) theses in philosophy must not be more than 80,000 (60,000) words long. The word count includes appendices and footnotes but excludes bibliography. See here for further information:

https://www.cambridgestudents.cam.ac.uk/your-course/examinations/graduate-exam-information/submitting-and-examination/phd-msc-mlitt/word#philos

The University’s regulations require that to qualify for the award of the PhD degree, a thesis has to be in English (apart from quotations and technical formulae), to be clearly written, to take due account of previously published work on the subject, and to represent a significant contribution to learning (for example through the discovery of new knowledge, the connection of previously unrelated facts, the development of new theory, or the revision of older views). The Degree Committee of Philosophy, in its advice to examiners, adds as an informal gloss on this that an acceptable thesis should contain some material of sufficient originality to merit publication and this material should be adequate to form the basis of, for example, at least two articles (together amounting to 15,000 - 20,000 words) or of a short monograph.

To qualify for the award of the MLitt degree, a thesis must be clearly written, take due account of previously published work on the subject, and represent a useful contribution to learning.

Candidates may get an idea of the standards expected of PhD and MLitt theses in philosophy by reading the copies of successful theses deposited in the University Library.

The detailed procedure for submitting PhD and MLitt theses for examination, which candidates should follow carefully, is at:

https://www.cambridgestudents.cam.ac.uk/your-course/examinations/graduate-exam-information/submitting-and-examination/phd-msc-mlitt/prepare

In what follows only a few salient points are picked out.

Candidates should apply for the appointment of examiners, through the Philosophy Postgraduate Secretary, when—but only when—their theses are nearly complete. (In particular, if they are going to submit their theses during the Long Vacation they should apply in good time for the late June/early July meeting of the Degree Committee*.) Together with the candidate, the supervisor should compete the form found here:

https://www.phil.cam.ac.uk/curr-students/postgraduates/Graduate-Forms

and submit this by e-mail to the Postgraduate Secretary. The candidate will also need to email the Postgraduate Secretary a one page summary of the thesis, to guide the Degree Committee in appointing suitable examiners. This abstract should be around 300 words in length – a candidate’s supervisor can provide further guidance on the expected content of the abstract.         

Theses are examined independently by two examiners, one of whom will normally be from outside Cambridge. Candidates are required to submit their thesis initially via Moodle, the University’s Online Teaching Platform. The Postgraduate Secretary will provide further information on the process for softbound submission. As of 1 st October 2017, once their PhD has been approved, students are also required to submit an electronic copy of their PhD thesis to the University’s repository, Apollo. At the point of upload, students are given the choice of different access options, including the choice to make their thesis available Open Access immediately or to embargo access for an initial 12 months . The upload of the thesis can be done via the upload form in Symplectic Elements .

Once the award of the degree is approved, students should submit one hard bound copy to be deposited in the University Library.  More information on the submission of electronic theses can be found on the Office of Scholarly Communication website:

http://osc.cam.ac.uk/theses

It is important that thesis examiners actually receive theses when they expect to do so; otherwise their other commitments may seriously delay the examination. In giving submission dates, candidates should therefore take care to be realistic, and not underestimate the time it takes to complete writing up, make final corrections, check references and proofs, and get their theses printed and bound.

What to expect from the viva

The examination is undertaken with two examiners, and may include an independent chair if the Degree Committee has deemed it appropriate.  There are no rules for its duration, but as an approximate guide, the examination will normally take at least 90 minutes and is likely to conclude within three hours at a maximum.

The oral examination should allow:

  • The defence of your dissertation and the clarification of any matters raised by the examiners
  • the examiners to probe your knowledge in the field
  • the examiners to assure themselves that the work presented is your own and to clarify matters of any collaboration
  • the examiners to come to a definite conclusion about the outcome of the examination

What to bring with you to the viva

  • You can take a (marked up) copy of the thesis in with you.  You may want to take a tablet or notepad and pen to make notes.
  • Water will be available in the room where you will be examined but you may like to take your own with you.

The default  viva  format is an in-person examination held in Cambridge, but students will have the option to choose an online  viva  if they wish.  The University has provided additional information about the online viva process, which can be found here:

https://www.cambridgestudents.cam.ac.uk/files/guide_to_conducting_vivas_online.pdf

Examiners write independent reports on theses for the Degree Committee, making recommendations, which may or may not be conditional on the results of the oral examination. Because it often takes a considerable time for examiners to get round to, and to complete, this assessment, candidates must expect to wait (or return) for their oral examination up to two months (but no more than four months) after submitting their theses. Examiners may allow candidates who have had to return, e.g., to America or Australasia, the option of conducting the oral examination by video conference; but they are under no obligation to do so, and candidates must not assume that they will. If a candidate would like to request adjustments to their viva on the grounds of disability, they should complete a ‘voluntary disclosure form’ and return this to the Postgraduate secretary. The form can be found here: https://www.cambridgestudents.cam.ac.uk/files/voluntary_disclosure_form.pdf

An examiner who thinks that a PhD or MLitt thesis fails to reach the required standard, but could do so with suitable revision, may recommend allowing the candidate to submit a revised thesis. This can only happen once; a thesis which has already been resubmitted once cannot be submitted again.

An examiner who thinks that a PhD thesis fails to reach the standard required for that degree, but does reach the standard required for the MLitt, may recommend approving the candidate for that degree. A PhD examiner who thinks both of the above may recommend giving the candidate the alternative of submitting a revised thesis or of taking the MLitt (but not both).

If the examiners’ recommendations agree, the Degree Committee will normally accept them, unless the examination has been improperly conducted in some way, in which case new examiners may have to be appointed. If the original examiners’ recommendations disagree, the Degree Committee may resolve the disagreement by appointing a third examiner.

The University’s statement on academic misconduct, including plagiarism can be found at:

http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/univ/plagiarism/students/statement.html

We ask PhD & MLitt students to provide their feedback at regular intervals throughout their course, in the form of a questionnaire sent from the Postgraduate Office. Usually there is one questionnaire sent at the time of each review. Feedback from students is important in helping us to improve the course, and we ask that all students complete all questionnaires.

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Theses & dissertations: home, access to theses and dissertations from other institutions and from the university of cambridge.

theses

This guide provides information on searching for theses of Cambridge PhDs and for theses of UK universities and universities abroad. 

For information and guidance on depositing your thesis as a cambridge phd, visit the cambridge office of scholarly communication pages on theses here ., this guide gives essential information on how to obtain theses using the british library's ethos service. .

On the last weekend of October, the British Library became the victim of a major cyber-attack. Essential digital services including the BL catalogue, website and online learning resources went dark, with research services like the EThOS collection of more than 600,000 doctoral theses suddenly unavailable. The BL state that they anticipate restoring more services in the next few weeks, but disruption to certain services is now expected to persist for several months. For the latest news on the attack and information on the restoration of services, please follow the BL blog here:  Knowledge Matters blog  and access the LibGuide page here:  British Library Outage Update - Electronic Legal Deposit - LibGuides at University of Cambridge Subject Libraries

A full list of resources for searching theses online is provided by the Cambridge A-Z, available here .

University of Cambridge theses

Finding a cambridge phd thesis online via the institutional repository.

The University's institutional repository, Apollo , holds full-text digital versions of over 11,000 Cambridge PhD theses and is a rapidly growing collection deposited by Cambridge Ph.D. graduates. Theses in Apollo can be browsed via this link . More information on how to access theses by University of Cambridge students can be found on the access to Cambridge theses webpage.   The requirement for impending PhD graduates to deposit a digital version in order to graduate means the repository will be increasing at a rate of approximately 1,000 per year from this source.   About 200 theses are added annually through requests to make theses Open Access or via requests to digitize a thesis in printed format.

Locating and obtaining a copy of a Cambridge PhD thesis (not yet available via the repository)

Theses can be searched in iDiscover .  Guidance on searching for theses in iDiscover can be found here .   Requests for consultation of printed theses, not available online, should be made at the Manuscripts Reading Room (Email:  [email protected] Telephone: +44 (0)1223 333143).   Further information on the University Library's theses, dissertations and prize essays collections can be consulted at this link .

Researchers can order a copy of an unpublished thesis which was deposited in print form either through the Library’s  Digital Content Unit via the image request form , or, if the thesis has been digitised, it may be available in the Apollo repository. Copies of theses may be provided to researchers in accordance with the  law  and in a manner that is common across UK libraries.  The law allows us to provide whole copies of unpublished theses to individuals as long as they sign a declaration saying that it is for non-commercial research or private study.

How to make your thesis available online through Cambridge's institutional repository

Are you a Cambridge alumni and wish to make your Ph.D. thesis available online? You can do this by depositing it in Apollo the University's institutional repository. Click here for further information on how to proceed.    Current Ph.D students at the University of Cambridge can find further information about the requirements to deposit theses on the Office of Scholarly Communication theses webpages.

university of cambridge phd english

UK Theses and Dissertations

Electronic copies of Ph.D. theses submitted at over 100 UK universities are obtainable from EThOS , a service set up to provide access to all theses from participating institutions. It achieves this by harvesting e-theses from Institutional Repositories and by digitising print theses as they are ordered by researchers using the system. Over 250,000 theses are already available in this way. Please note that it does not supply theses submitted at the universities of Cambridge or Oxford although they are listed on EThOS.

Registration with EThOS is not required to search for a thesis but is necessary to download or order one unless it is stored in the university repository rather than the British Library (in which case a link to the repository will be displayed). Many theses are available without charge on an Open Access basis but in all other cases, if you are requesting a thesis that has not yet been digitised you will be asked to meet the cost. Once a thesis has been digitised it is available for free download thereafter.

When you order a thesis it will either be immediately available for download or writing to hard copy or it will need to be digitised. If you order a thesis for digitisation, the system will manage the process and you will be informed when the thesis is available for download/preparation to hard copy.

university of cambridge phd english

See the Search results section of the  help page for full information on interpreting search results in EThOS.

EThOS is managed by the British Library and can be found at http://ethos.bl.uk . For more information see About EThOS .

World-wide (incl. UK) theses and dissertations

Electronic versions of non-UK theses may be available from the institution at which they were submitted, sometimes on an open access basis from the institutional repository. A good starting point for discovering freely available electronic theses and dissertations beyond the UK is the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (NDLTD) , which facilitates searching across institutions. Information can also usually be found on the library web pages of the relevant institution.

The DART Europe etheses portal lists several thousand full-text theses from a group of European universities.

The University Library subscribes to the ProQuest Dissertations and Theses  (PQDT) database which from August 31 2023 is accessed on the Web of Science platform.  To search this index select it from the Web of Science "Search in" drop-down list of databases (available on the Documents tab on WoS home page)

PQDT includes 2.4 million dissertation and theses citations, representing 700 leading academic institutions worldwide from 1861 to the present day. The database offers full text for most of the dissertations added since 1997 and strong retrospective full text coverage for older graduate works. Each dissertation published since July 1980 includes a 350-word abstract written by the author. Master's theses published since 1988 include 150-word abstracts.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The University Library only subscribes to the abstracting & indexing version of the ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database and NOT the full text version.  A fee is payable for ordering a dissertation from this source.   To obtain the full text of a dissertation as a downloadable PDF you can submit your request via the University Library Inter-Library Loans department (see contact details below). NB this service is only available to full and current members of the University of Cambridge.

Alternatively you can pay yourself for the dissertation PDF on the PQDT platform. Link from Web of Science record display of any thesis to PQDT by clicking on "View Details on ProQuest".  On the "Preview" page you will see an option "Order a copy" top right.  This will allow you to order your own copy from ProQuest directly.

Dissertations and theses submitted at non-UK universities may also be requested on Inter-Library Loan through the Inter-Library Loans department (01223 333039 or 333080, [email protected] )

  • Last Updated: Dec 20, 2023 9:47 AM
  • URL: https://libguides.cam.ac.uk/theses

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Each year the University holds a Postgraduate Open Day where potential applicants can ask staff their questions, find out more about the application process, and explore Cambridge virtually.

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In order to successfully complete their course it is crucial that students have a high standard of fluency in English. 

If English is not your first language you will be asked to submit evidence that you meet the University's language requirement before your place on the course is confirmed. This is usually through the provision of an English language certificate, although if you have studied in an English speaking country for a minimum of three years within two years prior to the course start date, a transcript will be sufficient. Please note that you do not need to provide evidence of a language test prior to submitting your application, the Postgraduate Admissions Office will inform if you require one (and how to submit your results) when you receive an offer from us.

Note that you cannot upload English language test results whilst your application is under consideration. If you do not upload one at the time you submit the application, you will have to wait until you have been made an offer.

You can find out if you are likely to require a language test by selecting your nationality  here . 

Which tests do we accept?

CAE and  CPE

Please note that the test results are valid for two years, so if you have achieved the language scores above within this time period you can submit this result.

It is also important to consider that there might be a long wait for IELTS and TOEFL tests to become available as they are often in high demand. We recommend that if you have been asked to provide a language score as part of your offer that you book your test as soon as you can, so that you also have time to book another test should you not meet the requirement on the first attempt.

If the Postgraduate Admissions Office have informed you that you need to take a test then you will need to do so, and the condition cannot not be changed. No waiver can be offered.

What if I do not meet the required standard on one of the accepted tests?

You do not need to have met the English language criteria before applying, but if you do not upload a valid test certificate that meets the criteria with your application, and you are required to provide a language test certificate , it will be a condition of your offer to provide one before your place on the course can be confirmed.

If you narrowly miss out on passing an English language test, you should still upload the certificate with your application (or to your self-service account, after you have been made an offer). The Postgraduate Admissions Office will determine whether it is a near-miss, and if so, may offer you the opportunity to be assessed by the University's Language Centre. You can only have one Language Assessment per year. If the outcome is that you pass outright, then your English language condition will be met. If you do not pass, or only pass subject to attendance at a pre- or in-sessional language course, then your English language condition will not be met, and your condition will revert to you needing to complete an external English language test, as above.

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English Proficiency

English-language proficiency requirements.

Effective for applications submitted for summer 2024 and later terms only.

The ability to communicate effectively in English—to read, write and speak the language fluently—is vital to your success as a USC student.

International graduate applicants are therefore expected to demonstrate their proficiency in English as part of the application process and should carefully review the guidelines below.

U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents (such as green card holders) are considered to be “domestic” applicants, regardless of where they have studied or reside. Domestic applicants are exempt from the university’s English-proficiency requirements.

Test Score Guidelines

Important: USC does not set university-wide score minimums for graduate admission. The scores listed below are typically used for placement purposes only—to determine if an admitted student will need to take the International Student English (ISE) examination upon arrival at USC.

English-proficiency scores must be dated within 2 years (24 months) of the date you submit your graduate application. For example, a prospective student applying to fall 2024 who submits their USC application in December 2023 will need to have taken the test no earlier than December 2021.

USC students

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)

USC accepts the TOEFL iBT Home Edition, iBT Paper Edition, and the standard in-person TOEFL iBT administered in official test centers. Admitted students are exempt from taking the ISE Exam with the following scores:

Sending official scores to USC: USC must receive scores electronically from the testing service for them to be considered official. Photocopies or paper copies of scores are not acceptable.

USC’s institution code is 4852. No department code is required.

IELTS (International English Language Testing System)

USC accepts IELTS Academic and IELTS Indicator (Online version) scores. Admitted students are exempt from taking the ISE Exam with the following scores:

Sending official scores to USC: USC must receive scores electronically from the testing service for them to be considered official. Photocopies or paper copies of scores from the testing service are not acceptable.

Select “University of Southern California” from the list of available institutions when you register to take the IELTS test. Alternatively, provide this information to your testing center after you have taken the test. Contact information for the USC department to which you are applying is not required.

PTE (Pearson Test of English) Academic

USC accepts PTE Academic and PTE Academic Online scores. Admitted students are exempt from taking the ISE Exam with the following scores:

Select “University of Southern California” from the list of available institutions when you register to take the PTE Academic test. Alternatively, provide this information to your testing center after you have taken the test. Contact information for the USC department to which you are applying is not required.

Special Accommodations

The Educational Testing Service (TOEFL), the British Council (IELTS) and Pearson (PTE Academic) will provide accommodations for those with disabilities.

Score Minimums Set by Programs

Please note that some individual programs may set internal score minimums that are higher than those listed here. Please refer to your intended graduate program(s) for information about their English proficiency requirements.

English-Language Test Waiver

International applicants are exempt from submitting English-proficiency scores under the following circumstances:

  • You hold a degree (bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate) from USC or are currently enrolled in a USC degree program.
  • You have completed a master’s or doctoral degree from a country in which English is both the language of instruction and the only official language. The degree needs to have already been completed at the time you submit your USC application. Applicants who have not yet completed a qualifying master’s or doctoral program at the time they apply will still need to submit English-proficiency scores.
  • Your native language is English. This applies to native English speakers from countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada (except Quebec), where English is both the only official language of the country and the language of instruction.

USC does not waive the English-proficiency requirement based on any other consideration such as work experience, ESL enrollment, amount of time spent in the U.S., etc. It also cannot be waived on the basis of programs taught in English in non-Anglophone countries.

To determine if USC requires TOEFL/IELTS/PTE scores for your country of study, please check our Country Requirements page.

USC International Academy

Students looking to prepare their English and academic skills for the rigors of graduate study at USC may wish to explore the USC International Academy as an option.

Exceptions: The Office of Graduate Admission does not have the authority to grant exemptions to the university’s English-proficiency policies on the basis of applicant requests. Exemption requests submitted directly to our office by applicants themselves are automatically denied. If you have extraordinary circumstances that you believe may merit an individualized exemption, please contact your intended graduate program to discuss available options.

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The MPhil in English Studies

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Specialisation

In Michaelmas (autumn) term students are typically required to take one Research Frameworks seminar, one Specialist seminar, and the Research Training course. In Lent (spring) term students take one Research Frameworks seminar, two Specialist seminars, and the Research Training course. In Easter (summer) term there is some further Research Training but students otherwise focus on the dissertation.

Ugolino

William Blake, Ugolino and his Sons, Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.

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For indicative information about seminar content, see here .

Each seminar runs six, two-hour classes in Michaelmas, and six in Lent. Each course in each term is free-standing; Lent courses do not presuppose prior acquaintance with the Michaelmas course of the same name. Subject to availability, students can therefore request to follow the same seminar across both terms; or they can choose a different seminar each term. Research Frameworks seminars are intensively taught with set programmes of reading and may involve student presentations and other kinds of participatory activity. However, they do not involve any coursework. Sign-up for these seminars is in late August, when students are asked to list an order of preference.

Specialist Seminars

Alongside Research Frameworks seminars students follow Specialist seminars in a selection of their areas of interest. Characteristically, these seminars range widely in topic, for example from Middle-English contemplation to contemporary British and Irish poety, or from the invention of literary critical practice to writers’ notebooks. The Faculty has produced an indicative list of Specialist seminars as an example of options that may be available. Information about a given year’s seminar provision, seminar content, and timetabling is provided to offer-holders prior to admission, in August, when students are asked to list an order of preference.

Rossetti

Dante Gabriel Rossetti’s portrait of Christina Rossetti, Fitzwilliam Museum.

Each Specialist seminar comprises five, two-hour classes per term. Students opt for one Specialist seminar in Michaelmas term and two in Lent. Coursework essays are attached to Specialist seminars as described below in the section on Assessment.

Students may if they wish substitute one Specialist seminar with an equivalent course from another Faculty. Borrowed courses are subject to availability in the host MPhil and to timetabling constraints. Students may have to satisfy specific requirements set by the host MPhil (such as a language qualification or prior undergraduate training in the field).

The Research Training course provides training essential to postgraduate researchers in the humanities. It is taught by means of lectures and of associated workshops based in our libraries.

The Research Training course is compulsory unless students are following a Textual and Related Studies course, in which case it is available but optional. Work towards this course is not formally assessed.

Textual and Related Studies Courses

Students intending to opt for a Textual and Related Studies course should indicate this on their application form when applying for the MPhil.

It is possible for students to write the majority of their dissertation on a Medieval or Renaissance topic without choosing to take the associated Textual and Related Studies course.

Textual and Related Studies: Medieval Literature - More information about Medieval studies at Cambridge

Monk

Chaucer's The Monk's Tale from The Canterbury Tales, Cambridge University Library, ms. Gg.4.27.

This course is intended primarily to give students a practical introduction to the study of English manuscripts in the period 1100-1500. Students work with original manuscripts from Cambridge collections, selected to illustrate various aspects of the subject. The course provides the foundation for the knowledge and skills necessary to read, transcribe and study medieval texts in their manuscript form. It provides the technical, practical and intellectual expertise necessary in the growing field of manuscript studies and medieval handwritten culture, covering a wide range of topics, including writing, cataloguing and circulation of medieval books and texts.

For those who select it, the Medieval Textual and Related Studies course runs in the place of Research Frameworks seminars in Michaelmas term in order to keep the workload manageable. Students following the Medieval Textual and Related Studies course also take one Specialist seminar in Michaelmas. In addition, they have the option of attending the Research Training course as well. (In Lent, when Textual and Related Studies courses do not operate, all students take one Research Frameworks seminar, two Specialist seminars, and the Research Training course.)

Students who take the Medieval TRS course can choose to be assessed on it instead of submitting a Michaelmas term coursework essay based on a Specialist seminar. The knowledge and skills taught during the course are assessed by means of an exercise in Textual and Related Studies. For this exercise students are required to choose, in consultation with the course convenors, a manuscript from a Cambridge library either (i) in Middle English or (ii) in another language but made or used in England between c.1100 - c.1550. They then write a full codicological description of the manuscript, and a diplomatic transcription of a short passage from it. Should students wish, a short extract from these projects can be published as a blog on The Manuscripts Lab at the end of the examination period.

Sidney

From the Sidney Psalms by Philip and Mary Sidney, Trinity College Library, Cambridge, ms. R.3.16.

The Renaissance Textual and Related Studies course equips students with the skills and understanding needed to study early modern manuscript material and to conduct research using material printed in the period 1500-1700. The course is, where possible, ‘hands-on’, making use of the University Library’s collections. Its sessions cover both Renaissance palaeography and textual studies. The palaeography sessions teach students to read the scripts in which Renaissance literature was written. They introduce techniques for analysing manuscripts and for making deductions of literary consequence from handwritten material. The textual studies sessions advise students how to locate and gain access to manuscripts and early modern printed material, and how to understand the contexts of their production; provide instruction in how early modern printed books were made, and how to describe and analyse them using the principles of descriptive and textual bibliography; and equip students to explore the uses made of early modern printed books, including features such as binding and annotation. Overall, the course enables literary study that is informed by a clear understanding of the particularities of the production, transmission, and editing of early modern texts.

The Renaissance Textual and Related Studies course is shorter than the Medieval one and those who take it in Michaelmas term also therefore take Research Frameworks and Specialist seminars in common with other students. They have the option of attending the Research Training course too, if they wish.

The Palaeography component of the Renaissance Textual and Related Studies course is assessed by means of a pass/fail test of students’ skills.

Dissertations

Dissertations are long-form research essays prepared independently by students under the guidance of a Faculty supervisor. Students meet supervisors one-to-one throughout the MPhil, and with particular intensity in Easter (summer) term which is devoted to completing the dissertation.

Students are asked to submit a dissertation title and proposed project outline as part of the application process ( the research proposal ).

Providing we can supervise and examine it, we will consider any proposal for a dissertation project falling within the general field of English Studies very broadly defined, from 1066 to the present day.

Williams

Students’ progress throughout the MPhil is supported by regular meetings with their dissertation supervisor, who reads and gives feedback on coursework essays as well as the short written exercise and dissertation.

Examined elements are as follows:

(i) Short Written Exercise

A short essay submitted in Michaelmas term on a topic directly related to the dissertation. Assessed as a pass/resubmission by the supervisor. It does not contribute to the overall mark for the MPhil.

(ii) Coursework Submissions

Two 5,000-word essays related to work pursued in the Specialist seminars, one submitted after Michaelmas term and the other after Lent term. (Those taking the Medieval TRS course may choose to substitute the Michaelmas coursework essay with an exercise in Textual and Related Studies if they so wish.)

Topics are chosen independently by students in consultation with seminar convenors and dissertation supervisors. The lower of the two coursework marks achieved is weighted as contributing 20% towards the student’s overall mark for the degree; the higher-scoring coursework mark contributes 30% towards the overall mark.

(iii) Dissertation

An essay of between 12,000 and 15,000 words, submitted at the end of Easter term. Worth 50% of the overall mark for the degree.

Related Links

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Applying for funding is a key part of the application process. Watch the film above for a quick guide.

Anyone who applies for a postgraduate course at Cambridge can also apply to be considered for funding to help cover their fees and costs .

Students can be fully, partially or self-funded and there are several ways to find funds through the University and from external sources (see box below).

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The main way to find funding is via the University's Postgraduate Funding Search , which contains:

  • University funding opportunities
  • Funded studentships and research projects
  • Research Council (UKRI) studentships

A lot of our students also fund their studies from external funding sources such as charities or government schemes and loans.

Start your search

1. Research early -  Start researching funding opportunities at least a year before your course begins.

2. Apply early -  Many scholarship deadlines are in early December and January for admission in October the following year. If your course starts in January (Lent Term) or April (Easter Term) you may need to apply for funding 18 months in advance.

3. Get funding or arrange finances before you start studying -  Without proof of finances you will not be able to study at the University. Do not expect to be able to find funding after your course starts.

4. Apply to every funding opportunity you can -  Applying to several funding opportunities will not negatively impact your funding applications. We want you to apply to every funding opportunity possible.

Read our guidance on How to apply for funding and browse our Funding FAQ for further information.

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    PhD in English. English is no longer accepting new applications. Cambridge is an outstanding place to work on Anglophone literature. Students and scholars benefit from world-class libraries, and from each other. The PhD cohort is diverse and large in number. No particular area or approach is preferred. Faculty members who act as supervisors and ...

  2. Faculty of English

    The PhD. Overview The PhD is a research degree examined by a dissertation of up to 80,000 words, usually after three or more years of research. The criteria for obtaining the degree are that the dissertation represent a 'substantial contribution to knowledge' and that it also represents a realistic amount of work for three years' study.

  3. Faculty of English

    Information for Prospective Postgraduate Students. We are pleased that you are considering the Faculty of English at the University of Cambridge for your postgraduate studies. We provide opportunities for outstanding postgraduate study in all areas of English Literature. As a postgraduate student here, you can expect to be in regular contact ...

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    We accept IELTS and TOEFL, including their home testing versions, IELTS Online and TOEFL iBT Home Edition. Some courses also accept C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency. You can check the specific requirements of your course in the Course Directory. Tests are only accepted if they have been taken in the two years before the start of your proposed ...

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    An MPhil research proposal should be 500 words long, while a PhD proposal should be 800 words long. It needs to give those assessing your application an impression of the strength and originality of your proposed research, and its potential to make a contribution to knowledge. It should be written in clear, jargon-free prose.

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    Learn more about PhD in English Program including the program highlights, fees, scholarships, events and further course information. ... University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom. Get more details Shortlist Compare Shortlist Compare # 2 QS Subject Rankings. 36 months Program duration.

  8. PhD Programmes in Linguistics

    PhD in Computation, Cognition and Language (Course Code: MLAL211) The PhD in Computation, Cognition and Language is a PhD track for students who conduct basic and applied research in the computational study of language, communication, and cognition, in humans and machines.

  9. The Faculty of English

    Here you will find an introduction to the courses we offer, how to apply for postgraduate study, how your application will be processed, immigration and other important information. The University of Cambridge & Faculty of English partners with the BBC National Short Story Award. The Good Death project partners with the Arthur Rank Hospice Charity.

  10. Faculty of English

    English - PhD - Closed. The PhD is a research degree, examined, usually after three or more years of research, by a thesis of 60,000-80,000 words. The criteria for obtaining the degree are that the thesis represent a "substantial contribution to knowledge" and a realistic amount of work for three years' study. More Information.

  11. Applying: PhD

    Evidence of your English ability (if you are not a native English speaker). A sample of writing, of approx 5,000-10,000 words. The sample can be either an essay produced during master's-level studies or a section of a dissertation, and must be a single-authored work. A research proposal, approx 500-1,000 words, written in English.

  12. PhD Course Information

    The Postgraduate Secretary will provide further information on the process for softbound submission. As of 1st October 2017, once their PhD has been approved, students are also required to submit an electronic copy of their PhD thesis to the University's repository, Apollo.

  13. Theses & Dissertations: Home

    Finding a Cambridge PhD thesis online via the institutional repository. The University's institutional repository, Apollo, holds full-text digital versions of over 11,000 Cambridge PhD theses and is a rapidly growing collection deposited by Cambridge Ph.D. graduates.Theses in Apollo can be browsed via this link.More information on how to access theses by University of Cambridge students can be ...

  14. Doctoral Paths: Apply : Faculty of Education

    Application process for PhD and EdD. You are required to identify a potential supervisor before submitting your PhD/EdD application. When you contact potential supervisors, you should discuss their availability to supervise and the fit between your proposed PhD project and the area of their research. Indication in principle that the supervisor ...

  15. PhD

    Cambridge receives new funding to support PhD students in science and engineering 04 Feb 2019 The University of Cambridge has received new government and industrial funding to support at least 350 PhD students over the next eight years, via...

  16. PhD in Education Programme : Faculty of Education

    We currently have over 300 full- and part-time PhD students in the Faculty of Education from more than 65 countries. They make an important contribution to the vitality of the Faculty's research culture and to its outstanding reputation internationally. The Faculty of Education in Cambridge is one of the UK's key centres for educational ...

  17. Research at the Cambridge English Faculty

    Cambridge is one of the largest, best-equipped, and most welcoming centres for literary research in the world. Nearly one hundred scholars pursue teaching and research within the English Faculty and Colleges of the University, as University Teaching Officers, College Teaching Officers, Junior Research Fellows, or Post-Doctoral Fellows.

  18. Postgraduate Study

    04. Cambridge is one of the best universities in the world. Browse our 300+ postgraduate courses, find out how to apply and explore what it's like to study here.

  19. English language requirements

    100. CAE and CPE. Score. CAE. Grade A or B (with at least 193 in each element) plus a language centre assessment. CPE. Grade A, B or C (with at least 200 in each individual element). Please note that the test results are valid for two years, so if you have achieved the language scores above within this time period you can submit this result. It ...

  20. Cambridge sets out to decolonise the dodo

    2024-04-01 - By Craig Simpson. THE University of Cambridge may "decolonise the dodo" in a new taxpayer-backed scheme. The university is seeking a PHD student to investigat­e its collection of plants and animals to root out imperial connection­s in its Museum of Zoology. The successful candidate will be tasked with setting out how ...

  21. Applying to Cambridge

    Register for the Applicant Portal. Applications to Cambridge are made through the Applicant Portal. Once you have selected your course in the Course Directory, click the 'Apply Now' button to be directed to the Applicant Portal to start your application. You can save your application at any stage and return to it later to complete.

  22. Faculty of English

    the University's modern and contemporary art gallery. The Cambridge Faculty of English has a long-standing reputation for excellence in both historical and conceptual work. Members' interests span the full range of literature in English, from medieval to contemporary. Specialisms include environmental humanities; lyric and the history ...

  23. English Proficiency

    English-proficiency scores must be dated within 2 years (24 months) of the date you submit your graduate application. For example, a prospective student applying to fall 2024 who submits their USC application in December 2023 will need to have taken the test no earlier than December 2021.

  24. Faculty of English

    Course Structure. There are four taught elements to the MPhil in English Studies. In addition, our students work on their dissertations for the full length of the course and also participate in some of the Faculty's wide array of research seminars. Research Frameworks seminars are collaboratively taught, typically by a pair of lecturers each ...

  25. Postgraduate funding

    Applying for funding is a key part of the application process. Watch the film above for a quick guide. Anyone who applies for a postgraduate course at Cambridge can also apply to be considered for funding to help cover their fees and costs.. Students can be fully, partially or self-funded and there are several ways to find funds through the University and from external sources (see box below).