"The Film and Screen Studies MPhil has easily been one of the most exciting challenges of my life. Not only is it a thorough overview of film and screen theory in general, it is an opportunity to really challenge the perceptions one is used to, especially in fields one would call oneself an expert. From ontology to haptic theory, passing through the historical and political implication of the use of film and screen media, there is a plethora of themes (un)covered. My one crucial piece of advice for anyone thinking of applying to the MPhil: don't waste anytime, read as much as possible, dive in head first and remember that for most applicants this is a chance to open your eyes and write about film and visual media for an intense nine months. What more could you ask for in a world-renowned research centre, where you might meet the very academic who inspired you to extend a specific field of cinematic/screen media research?"​ Elizabeth Orrin - Former MPhil Student (2017-18)

Introductory meeting

The course starts with an introductory meeting at the beginning of the first term, at which time you will be told about the structure of the course and be given a pack of useful information.

Supervision 

Normally, students will have the MPhil Director as their initial supervisor. Once the dissertation topic has been decided in Lent Term, a subject-specific supervisor will be allocated. For equity, there are norms for the amount of supervision each student can expect to receive. It is expected that a student will be capable of largely independent work.

Faculty support

For MPhil students the key contact for advice and guidance on academic matters is the MPhil Course Director. For PhD students this is the Graduate Teaching Education Officer. The MMLL Postgraduate Secretary is available for help and support on administrative and non-academic matters. In addition, the Chair of the Degree Committee has overall responsibility for postgraduate affairs in the Faculty. The Faculty Postgraduate Office Team are also on hand for guidance on Faculty-wide matters.

College and other support

Colleges provide a range of social and sporting facilities, as well as varying levels of accommodation and of computing support. Colleges usually have a Tutor for Postgraduates, who can offer advice with personal or financial difficulties. If for any reason students find it difficult to discuss a problem with their supervisor, a college Graduate Tutor can often provide an additional level of support. Some Colleges may also have some funds available for attending conferences and similar academic needs. The University Counselling service also offers confidential support to postgraduate students.

Postgraduate Guide 2020/21

The digital Postgraduate Guide provides useful information about the Cambridge postgraduate application process and is a useful document for prospective applicants.