Part-Time Programmes
- On this page
Information for Prospective Students
For admission requirements, refer to Chapter VI, Graduate Students under the Statutes and Ordinances.
Statutes and Ordinances: Chapter VI: General Regulations for Admission as a Graduate Student.
The PhD, MSc, MLitt and CPGS may all be taken by part-time study. However, not all faculties and departments or colleges participate in the scheme. The EngD is not available by part-time study.
Prospective students should also refer to information under 'Part-Time Study and Research' and in the document 'Information for prospective students on Part-Time Research Degrees'.
Some MPhils are available by part-time study. Where applicable the arrangements for part-time research will be listed in the entry for a course in the Qualifications Directory. Some students register initially for an MSc or MLitt, and upgrade later.
This is not a distance-learning option. Although there is no requirement to reside in Cambridge, part-time research students must attend the University on a regular basis for supervision, study and skills training according to minimum levels set by the Board, or higher requirements specified by the faculty or department. Candidates should contact the part-time degree co-ordinator for the faculty or department to find out what these requirements are.
It is generally not possible for a candidate to register for a part-time degree if:
- he or she requires a student visa to remain in the UK; student visas cannot be obtained for part-time study. However, a candidate who is classified as 'overseas' by virtue of nationality and visa status, but who is employed in the UK with a work permit, or an overseas candidate who is an accompanying dependant of such a person, may be able to register for a part-time degree, providing the extent of the visa is greater than the duration of the course applied for
- he or she resides more than a few hours' travelling time from Cambridge. The Board reserves the right to reject applications where insufficient evidence has been given of a candidate's willingness to engage as fully as possible with the academic life of the faculty, department and college. The Board will not normally approve an application for part-time study requiring travel of more than four hours' total journey time to meet the basic attendance requirements.
All part-time research students must keep a progress log and submit this for routine monitoring of progress.
- candidates will need to check that the department they wish to work in is able to accept part-time students
- candidates should use the same application form as for full-time applicants
- all candidates for part-time research degrees are interviewed by the department
- if the applicant is in employment, they must provide a letter from the employer stating they may take time off if necessary to attend the University as required for the duration of the course.
For requirements for registration of part-time students, refer to the Code of Practice section 5.2. Part-time students may submit their dissertations no earlier than the first day of their fifteenth term, and no later than the last day of their twenty-first term.
Faculties/Departments Wishing to Admit Part-Time Students
A faculty or department wishing to admit part-time research students must apply to the Board of Graduate Studies to do so, setting out their provision of facilities and training to the minimum standards set by the Board or above. These standards are set out in the Board's 'Guidance Notes for Faculties, Departments and Institutes on Part-Time Research Courses'.
Part-time research students have non-standard attendance and work patterns. However, the same research and training requirements apply as for full-time students, with pro-rata time commitment. A local co-ordinator of part-time studies is appointed in each participating institution. He or she is available to advise part-time students encountering difficulties with access to research and training provision; he or she is expected to ensure that facilities are available at appropriate times.
Departments and faculties will be expected to make a realistic assessment of the ability of the candidate to attend regularly in Cambridge and should be aware that the Board reserves the right to decline applications where the journey times involved exceed reasonable limits. Research degrees are not available by distance learning.
Colleges have agreed the provision that they will make for part-time students.
Forms
- Registration of a Department, Faculty or Institute to Admit Candidates for Part-Time Research Courses
- Registration of a Degree Committee to Admit Candidates for Part-Time Research Degrees
The documents below can be customised to suit your purposes.