Supervision option

The supervision system (one-on-one or small group teaching) is one of the key strengths and advantages of the Cambridge undergraduate teaching system. Supervisions are both academically demanding and rewarding, and best for students with a significant amount of initiative and enthusiasm for the subject they intend to study.

PKP students wishing to experience this unique tutorial system may substitute a supervision for one of the taught courses.

Students attend six supervision sessions (each lasting one hour) spread over the duration of the programme. They are taught either individually or in small groups, by an expert in the subject. The supervisor usually sets about five essays based upon lengthy reading lists. The emphasis is not on 'contact hours' but on closely guided, research-based essay writing and problem-solving. Supervised study is especially popular among students working towards an honours or senior thesis. It is strongly recommended that students choose the supervision option as a way to explore an area covered by one of the lecture courses in greater depth.

Students choose the supervision option when selecting their courses online. There is a non-refundable supplement of £400 charged for the supervision option, in addition to the tuition fee. Please note that once chosen and paid for the supervision option cannot be dropped.

Students interested in doing a supervision must complete the Supervision Proposal Form and upload it through the online application system no later than 1 May 2012. The proposal form requires students (1) to state the working title and subject area of the project; (2) to describe the project, its purpose, main ideas, questions and anticipated results; (3) to outline any relevant reading or research done or classes taken; and (4) to list any books or other sources which may be relevant to the topic. Students may view some sample supervision proposal forms to gain an idea of what information is expected.

In 2011 students worked on such diverse subjects such as:

• The Battle against the Miraculous: Catholic Shrines during the English Reformation
• Molecular Mechanisms of Heart Failure
• TOMS: An Economic Case Study of Philanthropic Capitalism
• China’s Late Imperial History: Ethnicity and “Chineseness"
• The Value of Art in the 21st Century
• Structural Studies on the Mechanism and Regulation of Translation by the Ribosome in various states of Complex with mRNA, tRNA and factors
• Unpunished Crimes in Shakespeare’s Romances
• Reasoning the Divine: An Assessment of Rational Arguments for the Existence of God
• Public Health Policy and the Emergence of Drug-Resistant Bacteria
• Common Land in English Law and History
• Late British Empire in the Caribbean
• The Non-identity Problem and Obligations to Future Generations
• Random Walk Theory and Efficient Market Hypothesis
• Anglo-French Relations and the Gothic Revival Movement
• Human Capital in Pre-Industrial England
• Post-Colonial Critique and Distributive Justice
• Taste, Aesthetic, and Novelty in Victorian England and America

While we make every effort to fulfil supervision requests, in the event that a suitable supervisor cannot be identified students will have the option of having the supervision fee refunded and registering for a third course, or modifying their proposed topic of research.