Course summary
The Italian Section in Cambridge has seven full-time faculty members available to supervise doctoral research. Their research interests span a broad range of topics in the languages, literatures, visual cultures and history of the Italian peninsula, from the medieval period to the present day. Details of individual specialisms can be found on the section’s webpages. We have a lively group of doctoral students in the section at any one time working across periods and topics, supported by careful one-on-one supervision and mentoring, in the context of a rich research culture of seminars, symposia, conferences, lectures, and postgraduate training. Visiting scholars and students from other institutions regularly contribute to the section’s research culture. Students are also free to undertake comparative work across languages and national boundaries, supported by the wide range of expertise within the Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Cambridge as a whole. In British universities the PhD (Doctorate of Philosophy) is traditionally awarded solely on the basis of a thesis, a substantial piece of writing in English which reports original research into a closely defined area of enquiry. The completion of the PhD thesis generally expected to take three to four years, and most funding is based on this assumption. It's also possible to take a part-time route through research degrees, and the expected timeframe would be five to seven years. During your research, you will have the opportunity to work closely with a Supervisor who is a specialist in your research area. In addition to your supervisor, you will normally also be able to draw on the help and support of one further academic advisor and to consult other academics working in related fields. You might reasonably expect to see your supervisor fortnightly or at least three times per term. In addition to providing specialist supervision, the Faculty runs a programme of professional training for the benefit of all research students. The programme includes seminars and workshops on library resources, giving conference papers, publishing, applications and interviews, teaching skills, specialist linguistics training, and film-making. The School of Arts and Humanities runs a central programme covering a range of topics from PhD skills training, to language training and writing and editing skills. If you wish, you are likely to be given the opportunity of gaining experience in small group teaching from colleges. There may also be opportunities to gain some experience in language teaching in the Faculty.
Assessment method
Thesis / Dissertation The thesis typically has a limit of 80,000 words (including footnotes and appendices but excluding the bibliography). The thesis should represent a significant contribution to learning through the discovery of new knowledge, through the connection of previously unrelated facts, and/or through the development of a new theory. In writing the thesis, the candidate is expected to consider previously published work on the subject. The thesis should be clearly and accurately written, paying due attention to English style and grammar. Candidates for the PhD in Cambridge are guided by a Supervisor, and they will also discuss their work with other experts in their field. Following the submission of the thesis, an oral (viva) examination is held. Other Regular interviews constitute a system for the formal monitoring of student progress towards the PhD by the Degree Committee. Postgraduate students are admitted in the first instance for a probationary period during which they are not registered as a candidate for the PhD degree. At the registration interview in the third term (or fifth term for part-time candidates), formal registration as a candidate for the PhD is formally considered. Satisfactory progress is a condition for being registered as a doctoral student. In preparation for the review, students submit a plan of the thesis, an account of research undertaken over the past year and forward planning, and a piece of written work (e.g. a draft chapter or preparatory study of some aspect of the research topic) of 10,000 words.
Entry requirements
Applicants for this course should have achieved a UK Masters (Distinction). If your degree is not from the UK, please check International Qualifications to find the equivalent in your country. Applicants should normally hold a distinction or equivalent in a master's degree and a strong honours degree in a relevant field, with clear evidence of research potential. Doctoral research for PhD programmes in French, German, Italian, Polish/Russian/Ukrainian and Spanish/Portuguese requires the study of material in the original language. Consequently, applicants must have an honours degree in that language, be native speakers of that language, or be able to produce evidence of a reading knowledge of it equivalent to level C1 in the Common European Framework of Reference of Languages (CEFR).[1] [2] [3] This evidence must be provided either by indicating that you have completed, or will complete, an honours degree in the relevant language and uploading the appropriate documentation, or by submitting a supporting document such as a certificate of proficiency, which can be uploaded under 'Language Attainments' in the Applicant Portal. Alternatively, a written testimonial from an academic referee confirming your language proficiency may also be accepted. All evidence must be submitted at the time of application. [1] The Slavonic Section permits applicants with knowledge of one Slavonic language, but who are interested in pursuing research that will require knowledge of another Slavonic language, to take on the study of the second language/s while in Cambridge. The Slavonic Section also permits applicants who, short of a good reading knowledge of a Slavonic language, nevertheless have a clear plan to acquire this as part of the training requirements of the PhD. Evidence must be provided at the time of submitting the application, while training requirements and needs will be discussed at the admission interview. [2] The Italian Section permits applicants who, short of a good reading knowledge of Italian, nevertheless have a clear plan to acquire this as part of the training requirements of the PhD. Evidence must be provided at the time of submitting the application, while training requirements and needs will be discussed at the admission interview. [3] The above language requirements do not apply to the separate PhD programme in Film.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
No fee information has been provided for this course
Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .
Additional fee information
No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.
Provider information
University of Cambridge
The Old Schools
Trinity Lane
Cambridge
CB2 1TN