Course structure
The PhD course at the Bennett School of Public Policy is a research-based degree, involving independent work under the guidance of a Principal Research Supervisor, followed by the submission of a thesis. The Principal Research Supervisor, whose research expertise will fall closely within the aims of your planned PhD research topic, will provide regular feedback to their students and submit a termly progress report.
Doctoral research students are admitted on a probationary basis, and the decision on registration for a degree is made following a mandatory probationary assessment. This assessment, known as the First Year Review, is designed to focus a student’s mind on the stages necessary for completion of their research within the normal time limit, and to address any problems that have arisen during the first year. The First Year Review consists of the submission of a written report of up to 10,000 words followed by an oral assessment conducted by two academic members of staff. It is only following the successful completion of this process that students are registered for the degree.
The formal assessment for a doctoral research degree is solely by examination of a thesis, and an oral examination. Students will have to write a thesis of between 55,000 and 80,000 words. The thesis must represent a significant contribution to learning, for example through the discovery of new knowledge, the connection of previously unrelated facts, the development of a new theory, or the revision of older views, and must take account of previously published work on the subject.
Modes of study
The admit term for full-time applicants is Michaelmas Term (October) each year. Full-time PhD students will have a University ‘Terms of Residency’ requirement to fulfil. The ‘Terms of Residency’ requirement means that (i) Research students must live within ten miles of the city centre for at least nine consecutive terms (three years); and (ii) Research students are required to live in Cambridge throughout the year, apart from when they take pre-arranged short breaks agreed with their supervisor, or when they are conducting fieldwork research away from Cambridge.
The Bennett School welcomes applications for part-time study from candidates wanting to further their academic abilities, who would also like to remain in employment. The admit term for part-time students is Michaelmas Term (October) each year. PhD students can study part-time at either a rate of 0.6FTE (15 terms) or 0.75FTE (12 terms).
It is important to note that the part-time PhD course at Cambridge is not a distance-learning course, and part-time PhD students will have a University ‘Terms of Attendance’ requirement to fulfil. Students will be expected to (i) fully engage with the department; (ii) integrate themselves into the research culture of the University and, (iii) attend supervisions (either in person or remotely), study & skills training, research seminars and workshops for a minimum of 45 days per year, as agreed with their supervisor.
For additional information on part-time study, please read through the Part-Time Postgraduate Study Guide before you apply.
Training, support and development
While you are likely to start the PhD course with a background of suitable research and training skills, you will be encouraged to develop these skills further. Students will discuss their training needs with their Principal Research Supervisor at an early stage of their course and will be supported in the creation of a training plan to develop the skills needed for their research. Students will be required to report on the training undertaken when they submit their First Year Review report. Participation in any research and training development opportunities will not be formally examined or assessed, nor will they be a requirement for the continuation in the course. Students will be encouraged to attend some of the other training opportunities provided across the University. For example:
- Postgraduate Researcher Development Programme: This programme offers all PhD students the opportunity to receive training on topics such as writing skills and publications, presentation skills and effective communication, managing your research, and teaching and supervising skills.
- Cambridge Research Methods Programme (CaRM): This programme is an interdisciplinary initiative offering high-quality research methods training to postgraduate students. The courses offered by CaRM cover skills relevant across the social sciences in a range of qualitative and quantitative research methods, from basic training to advanced statistical analysis.
- Seminars and events: The Bennett School hosts regular seminars and events, and PhD students are strongly encouraged to participate these.
- Personal and professional development: The University’s Skills Portal provides information on the transferable skills PhD students may wish to cultivate and enhance, and lists training opportunities available across the University, together with links to useful resources outside the University.
- The Language Centre supports the teaching and learning of languages throughout the University and is an excellent resource for academic purposes, whether you need to improve your language skills to help with your research or before undertaking fieldwork.
Additionally, PhD students would be expected to attend the Bennett School’s regular ‘Brown Bag’ seminars; and they will also be invited to present a seminar on their research at some point in their course. There may also be opportunities to undertake academic work such as the provision of undergraduate supervisions, or skills sharing with MPhil students.