The academic year
There are three terms to a University of Cambridge academic year: Michaelmas, Lent and Easter.
| Start | End | |
|---|---|---|
| Michaelmas | 1 October | 19 December |
| Lent | 5 January | 30 March |
| Easter | 15 April | 30 June |
As a research student you will normally pay tuition and College fees for nine terms. However, Graduate Students operate on the basis of the whole academic year which extends beyond the end of Easter Term. Your academic year begins on 1 October and ends on 30 September. College and tuition fees are not payable for the period between the end of Easter Term and the beginning of Michaelmas Term.
As a Graduate Student, you are expected to work around 40 hours per week and will be expected to be resident in Cambridge for this period unless you have
- leave to work away,
- are intermitting,
- will be attending a conference or short research visit,
- or taking a holiday.*
*You may take vacations during Computer Laboratory closure dates such as Christmas and Easter and, with your supervisor's agreement, a period over the summer.
See Cambridge Term dates for information about full term dates.
Registration and week 1
| Event | Notes | Where | Date & Time |
| Registration | Michaelmas admissions; students arriving in Lent term may register from 5 January. | Graduate Education Office, FS07 | Tuesday 15:00, 8 October 2019 |
| Health and Safety Course | Compulsory; students need to book a session on general safety | Babbage Lecture Theatre See invitation for details |
Tuesday 9:00, 8 October 2019 |
| Research Skills programme | Mandatory | Lecture Theatre 2 | Wednesday 09:00 9 October 2019 |
| Induction | All new research students and new research assistants | Seminar Rooms SW01 and SS03 |
Friday 18 October 2019 13:00 until 17:00 |
| Welcome event | The Street, WGB |
Friday 18 October 2019 17:30 until 19:00 |
First, second and third-year report submissions
We need two copies of each of the reports in hard-copy and an electronic version uploaded to the department's filer. Only the first and second-yea reports need to be bound. The third-year progress statement should be no more than a couple of pages' long and so a staple will suffice.
First-year report and thesis proposal/CPGS
| Date of admission | Report submission date |
| October | 30 June |
| January | 30 October |
| April | 31 January |
Second-year report
| Date of admission | Report submission date |
| October | by 30 June |
| January | by 30 October |
| April | by 31 January |
Third-year progress statement
| Date of admission | Report submission date |
| October | by 30 September |
| January | by 30 December |
| April | by 31 March |
Researcher development: RSP Blue books must be submitted annually with your reports (see above); annual Tally sheets are due on 31 July regardless of admission date
Other important dates
| Graduate Studies Open Day | 1 November 2019 p.m. |
| Industry Recruitment Fair: The Street | 14 & 15 November 2019 |
| PBI Contact dates (International students) | At your College |
| Lab closure dates | |
| Christmas | 24 December - 2 January |
| Easter | 10 April - 13 April |
The Graduate Education Team
August 2019
