MPhil in Theology, Religion and Philosophy of Religion
Part-Time Route
The Faculty of Divinity is delighted to announce that, with effect from 1 October 2017, the MPhil in Theology, Religion and Philosophy of Religion will be available to students in a part-time option pursued over two consecutive academic years. The scope and content of the course are the same as those of the full-time one-year MPhil programme, with the taught elements of the course constituting the first year and the dissertation element the second year. It has been recently agreed that students can do the third taught element of the course in the second year. The total fees for the part-time route are the same as for the full-time route, but are payable in smaller instalments over the two years.
The pros and cons of part-time study
Although it must be emphasised that the part-time route is not envisaged as a ‘distance-learning’ programme, part-time candidates are exempt from the University of Cambridge’s residence requirements (which apply to students engaged in full-time programmes here). But students must be able to travel to and from Cambridge conveniently in term-time in order to attend the necessary seminars and supervisions. The part-time route is not an online programme, and seminars are not available via video-conferencing.* Part-time students are required to attend the same seminars and classes as full-time students, and need to have sufficient flexibility in their personal schedules to permit this. It is not possible for the Faculty to reschedule or duplicate provision especially for part-time students. The part-time route is designed to make the MPhil programme more accessible to some of those whose career or personal commitments make it impossible for them to consider full-time study.
Compared to full-time students residing in or near Cambridge, part-time students may find that they are less able to take advantage of the optional supplementary academic activities and extracurricular activities that are offered in the Faculty, in the School of Arts and Humanities, in the Colleges, and in the University in general. Part-time students are of course fully welcome to participate in such activities and are encouraged to do so, although it must be emphasised that participation in supplementary academic activities is not a requirement of the course. It is particularly recommended that, if possible, part-time students attend whichever of the Faculty’s advanced research seminars is most relevant to their programme of study. Likewise, part-time students will have less ready access to the library resources of Cambridge, though they have the same access and borrowing rights as full-time students. On the positive side, part-time students may find that they have longer to design their dissertation research proposal.
Choosing a College
As part of the application process, students may apply for membership of a specific College (although this part of the form may be left open: ‘open’ applications are distributed among Colleges by a function of the application system). In choosing a College, applicants for the part-time route might wish to consider the merits of Colleges which do, or do not, specialise in graduate students or mature students, and might also wish to enquire of particular Colleges as to whether they have many part-time graduate students. It should be emphasised that applicants who are offered a place at the University are not necessarily offered a place at their College of first choice.
International Students
International students who require a student visa to study in the UK are expected to apply for the full-time programme. This is owing to the restrictions of a part-time student visa. The University will only sponsor a student visa for the part-time option if the reason for studying part-time is due to a disability. Further information is outlined on the International Students webpages.
Part-Time Degrees Officer
An academic within the the Faculty of Divinity has the role of Part-Time Degrees Officer and is available to provide support for students considering or undertaking this mode of study. This is currently Dr Justin Meggitt.
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*Unless, under exceptional circumstances, this is the case for the full-time mode.