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Governance of Postgraduate Education

Provision of Postgraduate education within the University of Cambridge is controlled by the following University bodies and committees, listed below in order of authority:

  1. The University’s Postgraduate Committee & Student Registry
  2. The Higher Degree Committee for Faculty of Clinical Medicine & Veterinary Medicine
  3. The School Postgraduate Operations Committee
  4. The Cancer Biology Postgraduate Education Committee
  5. Department of Oncology Postgraduate Education Team

The University Postgraduate Committee & Student Registry

The University Postgraduate Committee is charged with the admission, registration and approval of the University's postgraduate students; that is, those students studying for the PhD, MSc, MLitt or MPhil degree and other Postgraduate qualifications. 

The Student Registry provides administrative support for the University Postgraduate Committee, which includes:

  • Admitting Postgraduate students and formally registering them for graduate qualifications;
  • Managing Postgraduate students' progress, reporting (CGSRS), examinations and records (CamSIS);
  • Advising Postgraduate students, staff and other interested parties on the University's regulations;
  • Managing Postgraduate student fee payments, funding and Research Council liaison; and
  • Administration of higher doctorates and the PhD Degree by Special Regulations.

For further information see the Student Registry website. 

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The Higher Degree Committee for the Faculty of Clinical Medicine & Veterinary Medicine

The Committee encompasses academics from within the Faculty of Clinical Medicine and Veterinary Medicine and reports to the Board of Graduate Studies (BGS).

This Committee is responsible for:

  • Recommending candidates for admission to courses;
  • Monitoring students' progress;
  • Recommending continuation after a probationary period of research for the PhD;
  • Recommending candidates for PhD degrees (on recommendation of the Examiners);
  • Approving candidates for MPhil and MRes degrees (on recommendation of the Examiners);
  • Appointing Supervisors and Examiners;
  • Considering and respond to consultations by the Board of Graduate Studies on matters of educational policy concerning graduate education; and 
  • Putting before the Board proposals for modification or suppression of existing courses, or provision of new ones.

Students will come into contact with the Higher Degree Committee when they submit various forms, e.g. applying for an extension to the end of registration date, submission of their dissertation, applying for intermission, etc.

For further information see the Postgraduate School of Life Sciences website

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The School Postgraduate Operations Committee

The Postgraduate School of Life Sciences (PSLS) is governed by the School's Postgraduate Operations Committee (POC), which is responsible for the organisation and administration of the PSLS on behalf of the Faculties of Clinical Medicine & Clinical Veterinary Medicine and Biology. 

This POC has links with the Higher Degree Committee for the Faculty of Clinical Medicine & Clinical Veterinary Medicine, the Higher Degree Committee for Biology, the MD Committee and a number of Committees external to the Postgraduate School of Life Sciences.

The POC works in consultation with the University’s Board of Graduate Studies, the Postgraduate Student and Postdoc Forum and the Faculty Higher Degree Committees, to ensure both University and Faculty policies and procedures are communicated to and implemented by all affiliated departments and institutes.

For further infromation see the Postgraduate School of Life Sciences website

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Cancer Biology Postgraduate Education Committee

The Cancer Biology Postgraduate Education Committee (CBGEC), is our Local Postgraduate Education Committee, was convened in October 2013 in response to the Regius Professor of Physic’s directive aimed at providing an integrated approach to delivering cancer themed postgraduate education within the Cancer Cluster, School of Clinical Medicine.

The CBGEC is comprised of membership for the 3 Cancer Cluster organisations - CRUK Cambridge Institute (CI), the CRUK Cambridge Centre and the Department of Oncology.

The role of the CBPEC is to:

  • Advise students and their supervisors on all matters pertaining to graduate education and training within the Cancer Cluster;
  • provide a forum for students to raise issues;
  • disseminate information from the Board of Graduate Studies and Higher Committees to students and their supervisors; and
  • ensure liaison between those responsible for providing and managing graduate education and training within the Cancer Cluster.

The Committee has the following representatives from each of the Cancer Cluster organisations:

  • Director of Postgraduate Education
  • Postgraduate Student Administrator
  • Postgraduate Student Representative

Each academic year, a Student Representative is appointed; second and third year students are invited to volunteer for this position.  On commencing studies, new students are provided with the contact details for their Student Representative and all students are provided with relevant contact details when there is a change of Student Representative.

The Chair rotates between the 3 Directors of Postgraduate Education and secretarial support is provided by the current Chair’s department.

If students, supervisors or other staff have any graduate education related concerns or issues they would like to raise with the committee, they may contact any of our departmental representatives. All concerns and issues brought to our representatives will remain anonymous unless an individual gives permission for the issue to be raised in their name.

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As Head of Department, Professor Richard Gilbertson has overall responsibility for provision and delivery of postgraduate education within the department. He is supported our Postgraduate Education Team, who ensure compliance with the policies and procedures of the University bodies and committees mention above.

Director of Postgraduate EducationProfessor Alison Dunning

Oversees Postgraduate Education within the Department of Oncology. This includes: 

  • Disseminating information from the Student Registry Board to the Cancer Biology Postgraduate Education Committee.
  • Providing departmental approval of postgraduate applications, registration reports, appoint of examiners, and applications for intermissions and extensions.
  • Offering students direct practical help and advice on procedural and administrative issues.
  • Provides pastoral support with day-to-day issues.
  • Responsible Officer for student complaints i.e. provides advice on local and formal complaints procedures.

Postgraduate Administrator - Dr Hayley Woffendin

Manages all aspects of Postgraduate Education within the Department of Oncology, including:

  • First point of contact for prospective postgraduate students, clinical research training fellows, interns, visiting students and work experience students.
  • Processing applications from prospective postgraduate students, clinical research training fellows, interns, visiting students and work experience students; includes organising occupational health clearance, applying for research passports and dealing with funding and visa related issues.
  • Providing advice, information and support to Postgraduate students (prospective and current) and their Supervisors. Includes advising on visa applications & renewals; University Student Registry policies & procedures, such as how to register as a student supervisor, first year assessments for PhD registration, student reporting, intermissions and deferrals of thesis submission; and providing pastoral care for students.
  • Managing all aspects of the student lifecycle, including student progress reports; applications for intermissions, leave to work away, extensions, change of supervisor; submission of thesis and completion of degree.
  • Monitoring termly supervision reports and taking appropriate actions when concerns are raised.
  • Co-ordinating departmental nominations for various funding competitions, such as the Cambridge Gates Scholarships.
  • Responding to requests for data and information from internal and external sources, e.g. the Student Registry, Higher Degrees Office, Postgraduate School of Life Sciences, Oncology Management Team, Postgraduate student supervisors, external Departmental Administrators, and current and prospective Postgraduate students
  • Producing and maintaining all departmental postgraduate education documentation, such as the Postgraduate Education handbooks, supervisor agreement forms and student progress report forms.
  • Disseminate relevant information from the Student Registry, School of Clinical Medicine and Cancer Biology Postgraduate Education Committee to supervisors and students.
  • Maintenance of student personnel records, ensuring GDPR compliance.
  • Member of Cancer Biology Postgraduate Education Committee.
  • Acting as Departmental Student Disability Liaison Officer. This involves attending meetings with the University's Disability Resource Centre, keeping abreast of changes in policies and providing advice and support to students with disabilities.
  • Acting as Deputy Responsible Officer for student complaints.

Postgraduate Administrative Assistant  - Mr Justin Holt

Provides administrative support to the Postgraduate Student Administrator and and CRUK Cambridge Centre Postgraduate Training Programme Manager. This includes:

  • Assisting with all aspects of Postgraduate Student recruitment, including helping to organise interviews and new student inductions.
  • Providing help and advice to students and supervisors about procedural and administrative issues, such as first year assessments, CamSIS reporting, applications for intermissions, etc.
  • Assisting with tracking student progress reports, such as the PhD First Year Assessment, and helping with appointment of examiners.
  • Assisting with maintenance of local Postgraduate Student records, ensuring GDPR compliance.
  • Generating data from internal and external sources, such as Principal Investigators, the Student Registry Board of Graduate Studies, the Higher Degrees Office, the Postgraduate School of Life Sciences, the departmental Management Team, departmental administrators, graduate student supervisors, current and prospective graduate students.
  • Organisation of the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre Postgraduate Training Programme activities and other student related events, such as the Lectures in Cancer Biology. 

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