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Description Contents Requirements Funding

An 11 month (October - August) full-time course of research, culminating in the submission of a thesis and viva voce examination. There are no taught components to this course but students do attend appropriate lectures and courses such as those involving transferable skills training.

Zoology is a Department that brings together researchers from a great diversity of disciplines, ranging from cell biology to field ecology. What unites us is an interest in the whole organism, and in how systems interact across different levels of organization to generate the complexity of form, function and behaviour that are observed in the living world. Evolution is a theme that underpins and unites much of our work, as does an appreciation of the interaction between living organisms and their environments.

Students are directly supervised by one of our Group Leaders, who will support them in developing an independent and novel project in their field of interest. Students will learn how to review relevant literature, to phrase and answer scientific questions, and how to report their findings to the scientific community, at conferences and through peer-reviewed scientific publications. We very much encourage students to get experience in undergraduate teaching, which can be either as demonstrators during practical classes or supervisors teaching small groups. At the end of their degree, students will produce a written thesis, which will be assessed by independent experts during a viva.

The course introduces students to research skills and specialist knowledge. Its main aims are:

to give students with relevant experience at first-degree level the opportunity to carry out focussed research in the discipline under close supervision; and
to give students the opportunity to acquire or develop skills and expertise relevant to their research interests.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the programme, students will have:

a comprehensive understanding of techniques, and a thorough knowledge of the literature, applicable to their own research;
demonstrated originality in the application of knowledge, together with a practical
understanding of how research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge in their field;
shown abilities in the critical evaluation of current research and research techniques and methodologies;
demonstrated some self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems, and acted autonomously in the planning and implementation of research.

Continuing

Students completing the MPhil cannot automatically continue to PhD - it is a separate course that must be applied for in the normal way.


One to one supervision	The Principal Supervisor’s role is to give advice, encouragement and constructive criticism to research students. Principal Supervisors and students should meet every 1-2 weeks, when the student is working in Cambridge. They will: Assist the student in drawing up a research topic and a viable written research timetable, preferably in the initial meetings with the student. Ensure that the student is aware of relevant lectures and seminars in the field. Ensure that the student is aware of relevant training programmes and opportunities (including the Department's Graduate Training Programme) and discuss transferable and teaching skills the student may benefit from and make provision for appropriate training in these areas. Ensure that the student is aware of the range of facilities available for research and learning at the University of Cambridge. Introduce the student to other senior and graduate members working in a similar area. Assist the student in preparing research trips and archival visits within the UK and/or abroad. Encourage the student to keep systematic records of the research, including back-up copies of electronically-stored material. Discuss the research in person and offer constructive written comments and criticism. Consistently monitor progress and time management. Provide the student with adequate indication of his or her progress and challenges still to be met. Make termly and annual reports on the student’s progress using the Cambridge Graduate Supervision Reporting System (CGSRS). Encourage the student to present his or her work at appropriate internal and external conferences, seminars and workshops. Advise on ethical issues, such as plagiarism. Advise on the writing up and presentation of the dissertation. Assist the student's applications for funding by the writing of letters of reference. Give the student guidance on the publication of their work.

One to one supervision

The Principal Supervisor’s role is to give advice, encouragement and constructive criticism to research students. Principal Supervisors and students should meet every 1-2 weeks, when the student is working in Cambridge.

They will:

Assist the student in drawing up a research topic and a viable written research timetable, preferably in the initial meetings with the student.
Ensure that the student is aware of relevant lectures and seminars in the field.
Ensure that the student is aware of relevant training programmes and opportunities (including the Department's Graduate Training Programme) and discuss transferable and teaching skills the student may benefit from and make provision for appropriate training in these areas.
Ensure that the student is aware of the range of facilities available for research and learning at the University of Cambridge.
Introduce the student to other senior and graduate members working in a similar area.
Assist the student in preparing research trips and archival visits within the UK and/or abroad.
Encourage the student to keep systematic records of the research, including back-up copies of electronically-stored material.
Discuss the research in person and offer constructive written comments and criticism.
Consistently monitor progress and time management.
Provide the student with adequate indication of his or her progress and challenges still to be met.
Make termly and annual reports on the student’s progress using the Cambridge Graduate Supervision Reporting System (CGSRS).
Encourage the student to present his or her work at appropriate internal and external conferences, seminars and workshops.
Advise on ethical issues, such as plagiarism.
Advise on the writing up and presentation of the dissertation.
Assist the student's applications for funding by the writing of letters of reference.
Give the student guidance on the publication of their work.

Feedback

Students receive formal feedback from two academic advisors following submission of a Feasibility Report (after 1 month), and a Progress Report (after 5 months). Feedback is also provided by the supervisor via termly supervision reports.

Assessment

Thesis

You will be expected to submit a thesis (20,000 words excluding tables, footnotes, bibliography, and appendices) after 11 months, followed by a viva voce examination.

Magistr (Master's Degree) at Pass level. Diploma Specialista (completed post-1991) with a minimum overall grade of good or 4/5 Bachelor's from Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology and other prestigious institutions with an overall grade of 4/5 Bologna Bachelor's from other institutions with an overall grade of 5/5, Excellent
Diploma Specialista (completed post-1991) with a minimum overall grade of Excellent or 5/5 Bachelor's from Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology and other prestigious institutions with an overall grade of 5/5
IELTS (Academic) 7.5
TOEFL Internet Score 110
£50 application fee
First Academic Reference
Second Academic Reference
Transcript
Research Proposal
CV/Resumé
Personal Reference. This is only required if you are applying for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship.