PhD in History and Philosophy of Science

The Department of History and Philosophy of Science has around 45 PhD students at any one time, their thesis topics covering the full range of history and philosophy of the sciences and medicine. PhD students are part of an exceptionally lively interdisciplinary community, with unparalleled opportunities to learn from and exchange ideas with staff, postdoctoral researchers and visitors here and across the University, and to use the outstanding facilities.

Before a student can be admitted, a member of the Department's teaching staff, approved by the Degree Committee, needs to agree to supervise the PhD. The supervisor is responsible for guiding the student's studies throughout their years at Cambridge, including by giving regular and detailed feedback on written work. In addition, each student is assigned an advisor by the end of the first term who then continues as part of the supervisory team throughout the PhD.

Students are encouraged to attend the research seminars, workshops and reading groups that make the Department a hive of intellectual activity. The Department also offers graduate training workshops, which focus on key research, presentation, publication and employment skills.

Assessment

Thesis

The doctoral thesis should contain material of sufficient originality to merit publication. The word limit is 80,000 excluding the bibliography. An oral examination ("viva") is compulsory.

Before a student can be admitted, a member of the Department's teaching staff, approved by the Degree Committee, needs to agree to supervise the PhD. The supervisor is responsible for guiding the student's studies throughout his or her years at Cambridge, including by giving regular and detailed feedback on written work. In addition, each student is assigned an advisor by the end of the first term who then continues as part of the supervisory team throughout the PhD. Students are encouraged to attend the research seminars, workshops and reading groups that make the Department a hive of intellectual activity. The Department also offers graduate training workshops, which focus on key research, presentation, publication and employment skills.

Applicants for this course should have achieved a UK First class Honours Degree. Applicants will only be admitted directly to PhD studies if they have an exceptionally strong background in the field and have prepared an appropriate research proposal. Unless they have completed a similar course at another university, applicants are normally advised to apply for the MPhil first. A first-class MPhil mark is required in order to progress to the PhD.