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. | FS05 | From 10:00, Thurs 5 October 2023 |
| Health and Safety Course | Compulsory (unless previously a UoC master's student) | Online | |
| Research Skills programme | Mandatory (unless previously a UoC MPhil in ACS student) | Online | Wednesday 11:00, 4 October 2023 |
| Induction | All new research students and new research assistants | In person FW26 |
Monday 16 October 2023 10:00 - 14:00 |
| Welcome event | Drinks and nibbles (By invitation only) | The Street |
Friday 13 October 2023 from 17:30 - 19:00 |
First, second and third-year report submissions
We need an electronic versions of all reports uploaded to the department's filer. The third-year progress statement should be no more than a couple of pages' long.
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 Moodle 'logbooks' will normally be submitted annually with your reports (see above); annual Tally sheets are due on 31 July regardless of admission date
Other important dates
| Postgraduate Studies Open Day | Thursday 7 November |
| Industry Recruitment Fair: The Street | To be confirmed |
| Lab closure dates | |
| Christmas | 24 December - 2 January |
| Easter | 15 April - 18 April |
The Postgraduate Education Team
September 2023
