StudyQA — PhD: Social Anthropology — University of Cambridge

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The PhD course is intended for students who have already substantial theoretical background in Social Anthropology. It includes intensive fieldwork training in the first year, a research period of 12 to 18 months, and a further year for writing the dissertation (a maximum of four years is allowed in total). Students work with a main supervisor and an adviser, and the Division also provides training and specialist seminars. Opportunities are available for teaching practice for senior PhD students.

All first-year PhD students are admitted on a probationary basis. Successful completion of three Research Training Papers, a 7,000 word Research Proposal Portfolio and clearance to proceed to fieldwork from the PhD Committee are necessary for the Degree Committee to consider recommending that you be registered for the PhD degree.

The PhD course consists in the first place of nine months training in research issues and methods culminating in the preparation of a research proposal. This training can either be undertaken through the nine-month (three-term) Pre-Fieldwork Course or through the one-year MRes in Social Anthropology. If you are doing the Pre-Fieldwork Course, you can expect to leave for field research at the end of your third term (June-July). If you are doing the MRes course, you can expect to leave for fieldwork in your fourth term (October-December).

The taught element of this course consists of these compulsory streams:

The Pre-fieldwork seminar;
The Ethnographic Methods Course, Parts I (Michaelmas) and II (Lent);
Statistics for Social Anthropologists (workshop in Michaelmas term).

You are also strongly encouraged to attend other optional elements:

The ‘Experiences from the Field’ seminar, run by writing-up students recently returned from the field;
Ad hoc sessions in transferable skills or anthropological method, such as journal publication, technologies of research and data management, film-making and research with children;
Senior Research Seminar, scheduled for Fridays during term time.

Students then usually undertake 12-18 months of ethnographic fieldwork.

On return to Cambridge, students devote the remainder of their research time to writing their PhD dissertation in close consultation with their supervisor.

Upon return from fieldwork, writing-up students are expected to attend the following seminars during term-time:

The PhD Writing-up seminar;
The Senior Research seminar;
The Senior Research Seminar analysis session.

Thesis

A PhD dissertation must not exceed 80,000 words, and will normally be near that length. The word limit includes appendices but excludes footnotes, references and bibliography. Footnotes should not exceed 20% of the dissertation. Discursive footnotes are generally discouraged, and under no circumstances should footnotes be used to include material that would normally be in the main text, and thus to circumvent the word limits. Statistical tables should be counted as 150 words per table. Only under exceptional circumstances, and after prior application, will the Degree Committee allow a student to exceed these limits. Applications should be made in good time before the date on which a candidate proposes to submit the dissertation, made to the Graduate Committee. A candidate must submit, with the dissertation, a statement signed by her or himself attesting to the length of the dissertation. Any dissertation that exceeds the limit will be referred back to candidate for revision before being forwarded to the examiners.

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. This is a vital document and it is not sufficient to simply fill in the proposal box (12A) on the application form. Applicants should head the document with their name and the title of their intended project. Proposals are usually a minimum of 1,000 words in length (excluding references) and should give a clear idea of the viability and importance of the research area. It should take note of relevant academic literature, and some thought should be given to the methodology by suggesting appropriate research methods.
Sample of Work. 3,000 - 5,000 words. Applicants may submit a longer piece of work, but must highlight the section to be considered.
CV/Resumé
Personal Reference