Terms of study

Please note this guidance does not apply to the LL.M., PGCE, M.A.St., M.C.L., M.Eng., M.Sci., M.Math., Vet.M.B., Mus.B., B.A., or B.Th. Degree, or the M.B., B.Chir. Degrees - students on these courses should contact their College and/or Department in the first instance if they have queries about the requirement to keep terms for their degrees.

Terms of Residence

The University year consists of three terms. Term dates are published on the University's website (University of Cambridge term dates).  Research students are expected also to be in attendance and actively working on their research between terms, except during periods of holiday agreed with their supervisor, not normally exceeding 8 weeks in a 12-month period. Students on full-time taught Masters courses should remain in Cambridge for the duration of their course and are required to be in Cambridge for submission of the final piece of mandatory assessed coursework (which denotes the end of the course).

Full-time students

Full-time students:

• Must spend at least three terms resident in Cambridge in order to be eligible for their degree. For a term to be 'kept' a student has to reside in Cambridge and be actively studying for at least 59 nights in Michaelmas and Lent Terms and 52 in Easter Term. These nights must be between 1 October and 19 December (Michaelmas), 5 January and 25 March (or in any leap year on 24 March) (Lent) and 17 April and 25 June (except for any year in which full Easter Term begins before 22 April, in which case the dates are 10 April and 18 June). Although the minimum residence requirement is three terms, full-time students are expected to be in Cambridge throughout their studies unless they have valid academic reasons for working away from Cambridge for any of the remaining terms.
• Are expected to live within 10 miles of the centre of Cambridge while carrying out research in the University. Students who have good reason to live further away must apply formally for permission to reside outside the University's precincts (via their CamSIS self-service) and all relevant parties must agree that this will not impair their ability to study and to attend the University as required. Students whose research requires them to spend a period of time of more than 2 weeks away from their Faculty or Department must apply formally for permission to work away. There may also be exceptional circumstances in which doctoral students might be permitted to work away for up to 4 weeks (see above link).

Under particular circumstances approved by the Degree Committee and General Board, MPhil students granted permission to work away outside the University may be granted an exemption of up to one full-time term of residence.

Part-time students

Part-time students have no residence requirements but are required to engage fully with their studies and to attend the University on a regular basis as prescribed by their Department and Degree Committee. In general we expect part-time research students to be in Cambridge for around 45 days per year, spread throughout the year.

If their research requires them to spend a period of time away from their normal place of residence, they must apply formally for permission to work away. 

Part-time doctoral students can study at a rate of 0.75FTE (full-time equivalent) or 0.6FTE.  Part-time MPhil by Research students can study at a rate of 0.5FTE. Students with disabilities can apply to work at a lower rate than 0.6FTE (doctoral) or 0.5 (MPhil by Research) as a reasonable adjustment for their disability.

Terms of Research

All research students must undertake a certain number of terms of research in the University or one of its approved University Partner Institutions (UPIs) to be of standing to submit their thesis. The requirement for each qualification is set out in the relevant Statutes and Ordinances.

For PhD, EdD, MLitt and MSc, the earliest date the thesis may be submitted is the first day of the Term shown (eg: the first day of the 9th term for full-time PhD).

For the MPhil (both by Thesis and by Advanced Study) the submission date shall be determined by the Degree Committee. In setting the deadline, the Degree Committee will take into account the requirement to keep terms.

Under particular circumstances doctoral students can apply for an exemption of up to 3 full-time or 5 part-time terms of research (Allowance and Exemption of Research Terms)

Hours of attendance and holidays

You are expected to attend according to the basic rules set out for your qualification.

Whilst the University does not officially set rules on the hours of attendance, full-time students are expected to work for 40 hours per week and part-time students are expected to devote pro-rata hours to their study each week for the full duration of the course.. You may wish to study for longer hours but this is not an expectation, as it is important to maintain a good balance between study, rest, and other activities. The University also limits the hours of paid work a full-time research student can take.

Full- and part-time research students are entitled,  in agreement with their supervisor, to take up to 8 weeks (or pro rata equivalent for part-time) of holiday each year, including public holidays and are normally expected to arrange their holiday outside of term time so that they still engage fully with their studies and attend the University as prescribed by their Department and Degree Committee. Students on taught courses should limit their holidays to periods between terms when they are not required to be in Cambridge. You are not expected to study while on holiday. If you receive funding, you should be aware that your sponsor may also set a limit on the number of days paid holiday you can take. Please check carefully the terms and conditions of any awards you hold.

Students whose research is subject to export control should comply with Export Control law if you plan to take controlled materials outside of the UK with you on holiday. The law applies even if you have no intention of using the material that you are carrying, for example on your laptop or phone.

For further information, email the Student Registry at student.registry@admin.cam.ac.uk.

Not able to be resident in Cambridge

Full time postgraduate students are expected to be resident in Cambridge for the duration of their course

If you are unable to be resident in Cambridge, you must make an application, possibly to work away or intermit, whatever is most appropriate to your situation. Your College Graduate Tutor or Departmental administrator is available to advise you if you are not sure what is required.

Part-time students have no residence requirements but are required to attend the University on a regular basis as prescribed by the Department and Degree Committee

Statutes and Ordinances

Information about the regulations for all courses can be found in the Statutes and Ordinances: Chapter VII: Degrees, Diplomas, and Other Qualifications.

For further information, email the Student Registry at student.registry@admin.cam.ac.uk.