Psychology

The PhD is the department's main research qualification, and a large share of its postgraduate students work towards it. It is a demanding route that requires strong academic ability and commitment, since candidates must add something original to the field. Full-time study generally spans several years and begins with an initial probationary stage, and students are normally expected to be resident in Cambridge for the duration. Assessment rests on a thesis of about 60,000 words together with an oral examination. The original contribution might be a fresh finding, a novel link between known ideas or a new theory, but in every case it has to take account of earlier research. Graduates can follow careers in university research or take research posts throughout the psychological sciences, where being able to plan and complete an independent programme of work is highly prized.