Outline
If you already have a Master's Degree, or are able to start research without one, the Cambridge German Section has an outstanding range of facilities and expertise to guide you through research for the PhD. If you wish, you are likely to be given the opportunity of gaining experience in small-group teaching for colleges, and the Section also offers the opportunity for training in the delivery of lectures and language classes.
The German Section is the only such department in the UK which has always been placed in the top grade in research assessment exercises and it can fairly claim to be the best in the country. The collegiate structure of the University also makes for a supportive environment.
The Section has an officer (PTEO) responsible for postgraduate matters, currently Prof. Andrew Webber (email: ajw12@cam.ac.uk) and from January 2024, Dr Leila Mukhida (lm783@cam.ac.uk). You may consult them for advice on any aspect of your postgraduate course.
In British universities the PhD ('Doctorate of Philosophy') is traditionally awarded solely on the basis of a dissertation, a substantial piece of writing which reports original research into a closely defined area of enquiry. Candidates for the PhD in Cambridge are guided by a supervisor, with additional support from an adviser, though they will normally also discuss their work with a number of other experts in their field.
The Section welcomes applications for the part-time PhD course, and enquiries should be directed to the PTEO in the first instance (email details above).
There is a regular Graduate Seminar and a Research Colloquium which brings together all members of the Section.
Topics and supervisors
The Section welcomes PhD students, particularly those who wish to work on topics which fall within the specialist interests of teaching members of the Section (see Teaching and Research Areas of German Staff).
Who should apply
The requirement for admission to the PhD is a strong honours degree in a relevant field, with clear evidence of research potential, and a distinction or equivalent at Master's level.
How to apply
Prospective applicants should consult the Faculty's graduate webpages for information on entry requirement, application deadlines, fees, funding opportunities, and further information relating to graduate study in MMLL.
UK applicants for the PhD usually seek funding from the AHRC (Arts and Humanities Research Council), or the equivalent sources of grants for postgraduate humanities courses in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Applicants from abroad normally seek funding in their home countries or from various Trusts and College sources, information on which is provided on the Faculty graduate website. PhD registration begins in October, with funding deadlines in October, December and January for a start the following October.
The Section also has some sources of funding for PhD students working in relevant fields.
Applicants for the PhD will, wherever possible, be interviewed by members of the Section in January or February of the year in which they wish to begin their doctoral studies. The interview will seek to establish not only the suitability of the candidate and their project for supervision within German Studies at Cambridge, but also gives an opportunity for candidates to ask questions about the PhD programme and what the Section can offer.
