Course Structure

Key Staff (25-26)

Course Manager: Philippa Carter
Course Administrator: Sophia Syddall

Subject Managers:

  • History of Medicine: Philippa Carter
  • Philosophy and Ethics of Medicine: Stephen John
  • Medical Sociology: Stuart Hogarth
  • Medical Anthropology: Iza Kavedžija

You will be introduced to many of the staff involved in teaching and convening the course at the induction meeting in early October, and have regular contact with them throughout the year.

The Course Manager takes responsibility for day-to-day oversight of the course and liaison with staff and students. You will also be paired with a Subject Manager, who will support you in formulating a programme of study for the year. 

Structure

This 9 month course is a collaborative initiative between the world-leading departments of History and Philosophy of Science, Social Anthropology and Sociology, offering taught modules across four main Subject Areas:

  • History of Medicine
  • Philosophy and Ethics of Medicine
  • Medical Sociology
  • Medical Anthropology

Applicants are asked to identify one of the above as their 'Home Subject,' depending on which discipline most closely aligns with their area of interest. The relevant Subject Manager will then act as their primary supervisor, advising them throughout the course, with specific supervisors assigned to advise on each individual piece of coursework. 

Students have the opportunity to attend modules from across all four subject areas and are very much encouraged to employ interdisciplinarity throughout their coursework. Students may choose to submit work in a different area to their home subject, although all essays must be linked to a course module and therefore grounded in a single discipline. 

Supervisors

As well as general support from the Course and Subject Managers, you will have supervisors for each piece of work you complete. Their role is to help you do the research and writing needed. Subject managers and seminar leaders can help you find appropriate supervisors for each piece of work. 

Supervision styles can vary according to the supervisor - indeed, we consider this to be one of the benefits of the individual attention that a Cambridge MPhil provides. However, you can expect to receive guidance on your research and advice on draft work. As a rule of thumb, you can expect two hours of one-to-one supervision for each essay, and four hours for the dissertation, and you should talk with your supervisor about how to organise this time according to your needs. You should generally expect supervisions to take place during term time.

Supervisors do not grade your work; your submitted essays and dissertation will be examined by others, and your supervisor for any one piece of work is never allowed to examine it too.