NEW! Please note that the Degree Committee Office has moved to The School of the Physical Sciences Office (March 7th 2012). Please see our contact information for further details.

The Degree Committee for the Faculty of Physics and Chemistry oversees the admission, progress and examination of graduate students in the Departments of Chemistry, Materials Science & Metallurgy, Physics and the Institute of Astronomy. The Degree Committee is responsible for the appointment of supervisors and examiners and the approval of theses titles.

Dr Laurie Friday is the Degree Committee Secretary. Details of Membership of the Committee and Dates of Meetings (including Board of Graduate Studies and Congregation dates) can be found here.

The Degree Committee Office has moved to Mill Lane.  Please see our contact information for further details. If your question is not answered within these pages, individual enquiries can be emailed to Degree Committee and will receive a reply within 2 working days. This is our preferred means of contact but if your question requires immediate attention you can visit our office or telephone.

Below is a list of our most frequently asked-about topics and our answers. Please take a look at these before contacting us. Let us know if you can think of any other Degree Committee information you would like to see on this page.

Undergraduate Admission

Our office cannot help with undergraduate enquiries. The Cambridge Admissions Office acts as a central enquiry point for prospective students from the UK and around the world who are thinking of applying for an undergraduate degree and their advisors, teachers and parents.

Graduate Admission

Applications for admission to the Departments of the Faculty of Physics and Chemistry (Chemistry, Materials Science & Metallurgy, Physics and the Institute of Astronomy) can be made either on paper or online - see the Board of Graduate Studies website for full information about the admission process. Please note that most of the Board of Graduate Studies information is now web-based and automated. To obtain specific subject information and advice from a real person it is probably more efficient to contact the Admissions Administrator of the Department whose subject area interests you. If you are at a complete loss, the Degree Committee Office may be able to point you in the right direction!

The Degree Committee of the Faculty of Physics and Chemistry sets the academic requirement for graduate admissions in this Faculty. For admission to M.Phil.courses (taught and by research) the minimum academic requirement is the equivalent of a UK Bachelor's (Honours) degree at 2:i level in a relevant subject. For Ph.D. applicants, the minimum academic requirement is the equivalent of 2:i level in a UK 4-year undergraduate Master's Degree in a relevant subject, or a 2:i in a UK 3-year Bachelor's (Honours) degree plus a good one/two year relevant Master's degree.

CPGS - what is it?

The Certificate of Postgraduate Study (the CPGS) is used by all our departments to some extent as an "end of first year assessment exercise". Students who intend to study for a period of either 3 or 4 years to obtain a Ph.D. Degree are not registered for that qualification on admission. Rather, they are usually registered for the CPGS and, after fulfilling the requirements, are registered for the Ph.D. Degree, backdated to their date of admission. Other potential Ph.D. students, not initially registered for the CPGS, will also be subject to a similar first-year assessment exercise.

CPGS requirements and deadlines

Word Limits

Writing within the word limit is important. It is part of the discipline of producing reports. When you submit your dissertation you will be required to sign a Statement of Word Length to confirm that your work does not exceed the limit of length prescribed in the Special Regulations for the CPGS examination. There is no provision in the Regulations for exceeding the prescribed word limit.

Institute of Astronomy:

Not more than 12,000 words, inclusive of tables, bibliography and appendices.

Chemistry:

Not more than 12,000 words, inclusive of tables, bibliography and appendices.

Materials Science & Metallurgy:

Not more than 15,000 words, including tables, figure legends, and appendices but excluding bibliography.

Physics:

Not more than 12,000 words, inclusive of tables, bibliography and appendices.

Originality of dissertation

Your attention is drawn to the University's guidance concerning plagiarism. The University states that "Plagiarism is defined as submitting as one's own work that which derives in part or in its entirety from the work of others without due acknowledgement. It is both poor scholarship and a breach of academic integrity." The University's guidance concerning plagiarism and good academic practice can be found at www.admin.cam.ac.uk/univ/plagiarism/students/.

Please note the following which is quoted from the Board of Graduate Studies website:

"When you submit your dissertation, you must state, generally in a preface and specifically in notes or in a bibliography, the sources from which your information is derived, the extent to which you have availed yourself of the work of others, and the portions of the dissertation which you claim are your own original work.

When submitting your dissertation you must declare for what purpose, if any, other than for the Certificate of Postgraduate Study (one-year course), the whole or part of it has already been or is concurrently being submitted. The Board cannot accept a dissertation that is substantially the same as one that you have submitted, or are concurrently submitting, for any other degree, diploma, or similar qualification at any university or similar institution, but they may accept a dissertation which you have submitted, or are concurrently submitting for some other purpose".

Submission deadlines

Institute of Astronomy:

For students admitted 5 January 2011, submission deadline will be 29 October 2011
For students admitted 1 October 2011, submission deadline will be 31 July 2012

Chemistry:

For students admitted 5 January 2011, submission deadline will be 30 September 2011
For students admitted 17 April 2011, submission deadline will be 10 January 2012
For students admitted 1 October 2011, submission deadline will be 29 June 2012

Materials Science and Physics:

For students admitted 5 January 2011, submission deadline will be 2 December 2011
For students admitted 17 April 2011, submission deadline will be 16 March 2012
For students admitted 1 October 2011, submission deadline will be 15 June 2012

Submission arrangements

CPGS at the Institute of Astronomy:

two soft-bound books, together with the Board of Graduate Studies Certificate of Dissertation Submission form, to be submitted to the Degree Committee Office, Room H56, Institute of Astronomy by 16:00

CPGS in Chemistry:

two soft-bound books, together with the Board of Graduate Studies Certificate of Dissertation Submission form, to be submitted to Mrs Julie Lee, Department of Chemistry by 16:00

CPGS in Materials Science & Metallurgy:

two soft-bound books, together with the Board of Graduate Studies Certificate of Dissertation Submission form, to be submitted to Dr Rosie Ward, Department of Materials Science & Metallurgy by 16:00

CPGS in Physics:

two soft-bound books, together with the Board of Graduate Studies Certificate of Dissertation Submission form, to be submitted to the Degree Committee Office, Room H56, Institute of Astronomy by 16:00

M.Phil requirements and deadlines

General Regulations

See general regulations for the Master of Philosophy taken from Statutes and Ordinances of the University of Cambridge: www.admin.cam.ac.uk/univ/so/pdfs/cso_4_ordinance07_444_569.pdf.

Special Regulations for each course:

CHEMISTRY

The scheme of examination for the one-year course of study in Chemistry for the degree of Master of Philosophy shall consist of a thesis, of not more than 15,000 words in length, exclusive of tables, footnotes, bibliography, and appendices, on a subject approved by the Degree Committee for the Faculty of Physics and Chemistry. The examination shall include an oral examination on the thesis and on the general field of knowledge within which it falls. The thesis shall provide evidence to satisfy the Examiners that the candidate can design and carry out investigations, assess and interpret the results obtained, and place the work in the wider perspective of the subject.

MICRO- AND NANOTECHNOLOGY ENTERPRISE

The scheme of examination for the one-year course of study in Micro- and Nanotechnology Enterprise for the degree of Master of Philosophy shall be as follows:
1. The Degree Committee for the Faculty of Physics and Chemistry shall publish, not later than the end of the Easter Term each year, a list of not more than fifteen mandatory modules in Micro- and Nanotechnology Enterprise for the examination to be held in the following academical year. In publishing the list of modules the Degree Committee shall announce the form of examination for each module, which shall be an exam, an essay, course-work, or a combination of these.
2. The examination shall consist of:
(a) two unseen written examination papers, which may cover all core scientific projects prescribed in the syllabus;
(b) no more than eight essays, each of not more than 3,000 words in length, covering the fields of science, ethics, law, and policy, and the interface of micro- and nanoscience and business as specified by the Degree Committee;
(c) course-work prescribed by the Degree Committee (which may include written work, group work, and class participation);
(d) a literature survey report of not more than 5,000 words in length on a scientific topic, to be followed by either a major research project in the same field (see (e) below), or a business-, ethics-, law-, or policy-related case study, concerning the scientific topic (see (e) below);
(e) a thesis of not more than 15,000 words in length (including tables, figure legends, and appendices, but excluding bibliography) on a major project, involving (i) in-depth scientific research (following a literature survey in the same scientific field submitted under (d) above), or (ii) an in-depth case study concerned with a topic in science, business, ethics, law, or policy (related to the topic covered during the literature survey submitted under (d) above), approved by the Degree Committee.
The work submitted under (d) and (e) shall be on a topic or project, respectively, approved by the Degree Committee.
3. The examination shall include an oral examination on the thesis or other work submitted by the candidate under Regulation 2(e) and on the general field of knowledge within which they fall.

PHYSICS (including Physics (Astronomy) and Materials Science)

The scheme of examination for the one-year course of study in Physics for the degree of Master of Philosophy shall consist of a thesis of not more than 15,000 words in length, exclusive of tables, footnotes, bibliography, and appendices, on a subject approved by the Degree Committee for the Faculty of Physics and Chemistry. The examination shall include an oral examination on the thesis and on the general field of knowledge within which it falls. The thesis shall provide evidence to satisfy the Examiners that the candidate can design and carry out investigations, assess and interpret the results obtained, and place the work in the wider perspective of the subject.

Originality of dissertation

Your attention is drawn to the University's guidance concerning plagiarism. The University states that "Plagiarism is defined as submitting as one's own work that which derives in part or in its entirety from the work of others without due acknowledgement. It is both poor scholarship and a breach of academic integrity." The University's guidance concerning plagiarism and good academic practice can be found at www.admin.cam.ac.uk/univ/plagiarism/students/.

Preparing your MPhil thesis

See the Board of Graduate Studies website for details. The form in which the thesis is presented, and the care with which it has been prepared and illustrated, are in themselves evidence of your capabilities, and will receive consideration as such. You are strongly advised to check your theses carefully, prior to submission, for typing errors, spelling mistakes and poor English. The thesis, apart from quotations and recognised technical formulae, must be written in English.

Appointment of Examiners and Approval of Title

Three or four weeks before you intend to submit your dissertation, please email the Degree Committee with "Appointment of Examiners" in the subject heading, stating your full name, Supervisor's name, proposed submission date and title. Having consulted with your Supervisor, the Degree Committee staff will arrange for your Examiners to be appointed (one internal and one external) and your title approved. Your request will be acknowledged within 2 working days but you will not hear further unless we encounter any difficulties in appointing your Examiners.

Submission deadlines

M.Phil in Chemistry, Physics (including Astronomy & Materials Science):

For students admitted 1 October 2011, submission deadline will be 31 August 2012

M.Phil in Micro- and Nano Technology Enterprise:

For students admitted 1 October 2011, submission deadline will be 19 July 2012

M.Phil in Scientific Computing:

For students admitted 1 October 2011, submission deadline will be 31 August 2012
Students who have applied to continue for a further degree from 1 October 2012 may submit from 1 August 2012

Submission arrangements

M.Phil in Physics (Astronomy):

two soft-bound books, together with the Board of Graduate Studies Certificate of Dissertation Submission form, to be submitted to the Degree Committee Office, Room H56, Institute of Astronomy by 16:00.

M.Phil in Chemistry:

two soft-bound books, together with the Board of Graduate Studies Certificate of Dissertation Submission form, to be submitted to Mrs Julie Lee, Department of Chemistry by 16:00.

M.Phil in Physics (Materials Science & Metallurgy):

two soft-bound books, together with the Board of Graduate Studies Certificate of Dissertation Submission form, to be submitted to Dr Rosie Ward, Department of Materials Science & Metallurgy by 16:00.

M.Phil in Micro- and Nano Technology Enterprise:

two soft bound books, together with the Board of Graduate Studies Certificate of Dissertation Submission form, to be submitted to Mrs Janet Herdman, Department of Materials Science & Metallurgy by 12:00.

M.Phil in Physics:

two soft-bound books, together with the Board of Graduate Studies Certificate of Dissertation Submission form, to be submitted to the Degree Committee Office, Room H56, Institute of Astronomy by 16:00.

M.Phil in Scientific Computing:

please consult your Course Administrator.

After the Oral Examination of soft-bound dissertations

After your Examiners have deemed the work to be satisfactory and a successful oral examination has been held, you will be asked to make any corrections required by the examiners but you do NOT need to produce a corrected copy for the Degree Committee or Board of Graduate Studies. No hard bound copy is required by the Degree Committee or Board of Graduate Studies but you should consult your Department to determine whether they require a copy.

Recommendations for the Award of the MPhil Degree

Reports from Examiners can only be considered at full meetings of the Degree Committee. Degree Committee meetings are scheduled to take place during term time with an additional meeting in September (9 September 2011) so that students continuing on to Ph.D. programmes can receive confirmation of their continuation before the start of Term. If the Degree Committee approves you for the M.Phil Degree,  you will be sent a letter within a day or two of the meeting formally confirming that you have been approved. If the Degree Committee decides to take other action, you will also be notified promptly.

Applying for intermission, deferment, working away from Cambridge etc.

A list of the forms which are available through your CamSIS Self-Service page can be found on the Board of Graduate Studies website under the heading "Guidance and Procedures". It is your responsibility to see that all parts are completed up to the Degree Committee section. Once you have obtained all the signatures except from the Degree Committee and the Board of Graduate Studies, send the form to the Degree Committee Office (UMS is fine) and we will complete our section and forward it to the Board. If for any reason your form cannot be processed straight away we will email you and explain the reason for the delay.

Overrunning: Extending the deadline for submission of your Ph.D.

Anyone who is not ready to submit for the Ph.D. by the last day of their fourth year of full-time study must apply (using your CamSIS self-service as outlined above) for an extension to the deadline (now referred to by BGS as "Extending your End of Registration Date"). An extension beyond this date will be granted only where there is good reason.

The Degree Committee is likely to recommend that the name of any student who does not apply for an extension, or exceeds the 12th term deadline without good reason, be removed temporarily from the register until such time as they are ready to submit. Once the work is complete, candidates should write to the Secretary of the Board of Graduate Studies asking to be re-instated on the register.

Appointment of Examiners and Approval of Title

Applications for Appointment of Examiners and Approval of a Title are no longer processed on a Board of Graduate Studies form. Instead, three or four weeks before you intend to submit your dissertation, please email Degree Committee with "Appointment of Examiners" in the subject heading and stating your full name, supervisor's name, proposed submission date and title. Having consulted with your supervisor, the Degree Committee staff will arrange for your examiners to be appointed and your title approved. Your request will be acknowledged within 2 working days but you will not hear further unless we encounter any difficulties in appointing your examiners.

Preparing your Ph.D. thesis

Before starting to prepare your thesis for submission you should read the information on the Board of Graduate Studies website, particularly the sections headed "Format of the Thesis" and "Submitting your Thesis".

Your attention is also drawn to the University's guidance concerning plagiarism. The University states that "Plagiarism is defined as submitting as one's own work that which derives in part or in its entirety from the work of others without due acknowledgement. It is both poor scholarship and a breach of academic integrity." The University's guidance concerning plagiarism and good academic practice can be found at www.admin.cam.ac.uk/univ/plagiarism/students/

Most students in this Faculty choose, initially, to submit soft-bound dissertations and produce a final hard-bound version only after any corrections required by the examiners have been made.

Submission of Ph.D. dissertations

Ph.D. dissertations are submitted at the Board of Graduate Studies office where they are checked, logged and forwarded to the Degree Committee Office, usually within 24 hours. Provided your supervisor has responded with suggested examiners and these have been approved on behalf of the Degree Committee, your dissertation will be sent to examiners, again usually within 24 hours of arriving in the office.

The oral examination

In this Faculty, the Internal Examiner arranges the oral examination. We pass on to him/her the contact details which you will have given to BGS when submitting your thesis; you should let us know immediately if these details later change. You should also make known any dates that you will be unavailable for examination. The Internal Examiner will liaise with you and the External Examiner and arrange a mutually convenient date, time and place for your oral examination.

After the Oral Examination of soft-bound dissertations

After your Examiners have deemed the work to be satisfactory and a successful oral examination has been held, you will be asked to make any corrections required by the examiners and produce, normally at your own expense, one final hard-bound copy (remember to follow the guidance on the Board of Graduate Studies website). This book should be sent to whichever examiner has agreed to check it (usually the Internal) together with the Board of Graduate Studies Hardbound Declaration Form. Once satisfied, the Examiner will send the book and all paperwork to the Degree Committee Office and only then will the reports be considered by the Degree Committee. Book and paperwork are then forwarded to the Board of Graduate Studies for their consideration and, finally, the book is passed to the University Library.

Additional Departmental Requirements

Institute of Astronomy Library:

One hard-bound copy of the final version of your Ph.D., any colour binding, to be provided at your own expense.

Chemistry:

Students working in the Theoretical Sector should give one copy to Sue Harding, otherwise it is usual to provide, normally at your own expense, one hard-bound copy of the final version of your Ph.D. for your Supervisor.

Materials Science & Metallurgy Library:

One hard-bound copy of the final version of your Ph.D., any colour binding, to be provided at your own expense.

Physics Library:

The Departmental Library does NOT require a copy of your Ph.D.

Recommendations for the Award of the Ph.D. Degree

Reports from Examiners can only be considered at full meetings of the Degree Committee. Degree Committee meetings are scheduled to take place during term time and with regard to the dates of the Board of Graduate Studies meetings and Congregations. The Degree Committee recommendation is forwarded to the Board of Graduate Studies for consideration at its next meeting. If the Board approves you for the degree you are registered for, you will be sent a letter within a day or two of the meeting formally confirming that you have been approved. If the Board decides to take other action, you will also be notified promptly. Please note that your degree is not approved until the Board of Graduate Studies has formally approved it in writing.

Congregation Dates and Formalities

As soon as you receive your letter of approval from the Board of Graduate Studies (or the Degree Committee for MPhil Degrees)  you should get in touch with the Praelector of your college to arrange when and how you wish to receive your degree (a certificate is issued when the Degree is conferred, either in person at a Congregation, or in absentia). There is no guarantee that you will be able to attend a particular Congregation as not all Colleges attend every ceremony. If you and your family wish to attend a specific congregation we recommend that you inform your College Praelector as early as possible - if you know that your paperwork is straightforward and is with the Board awaiting the next meeting, it is advisable to ask your College to add your name to the list provisionally because, at certain times of the year, the lists close very soon after the Board's meeting. However, it is advisable not to book travel for you or your guests, especially from overseas, until your College has confirmed your attendance at a Congregation.

Departments of the Faculty

Institute of Astronomy
Chemistry
Materials Science & Metallurgy
Physics