Overview
The CST PhD Teaching Framework (PTF) is a programme where all PhD students are strongly encouraged to perform a number of teaching activities as part of their Research Skills Programme (RSP).
The overriding principle is to expose all PhD students to a teaching experience in as flexible manner as possible, where they can tailor the amount as they see appropriate. The PTF programme suggests a minimum teaching that any PhD student could undertake to benefit from the experience. Students are encouraged to take upon more teaching as appropriate. At the end of the student’s studies, the PEO will happily provide a list of the teaching activities undertaken.
PTF Teaching Activities
The following table presents all teaching activities that are included in the PTF programme. we provide the minimum amount of teaching load that a student could take in order for this activity to be successfully counted for the PTF purposes. Students can take upon more teaching as appropriate.
| Activity type | PTF minimum load |
|---|---|
| supervision | 1 group supervision on any course in a single term |
| project | 1 Part II, III or MPhil student project in a year (for 1st-year PhD students see point 6 below) |
| demo | 1 hour of demonstration on any course in a single term |
| ticks | 1 hour of ticking on any course in a single term |
| TA | 1 Teaching Assistant support on any course in a single term |
| misc | 1 miscellaneous activity in a single term |
PTF Guidelines
- Every PhD student is encouraged** to complete this within their first three year of PhD studies. For example: a student should endeavour to complete any single teaching activity in their first year of PhD studies; any two in their second; and finally any two in their third year. This means a student will have successfully undertaken five activities over the years. Ideally two activities undertaken in a single year would be different. Note that a PhD student cannot normally supervise a project in their first year (see point 4.). The minimum load of the PTF programme over the duration of the PhD could be as little as 5h, e.g., 4 demo and 1hr misc. activity. The goal is to allow students to engage in different activities for a better overall teaching experience.
- Both activities in a single year can be completed in any term including a single term. However, for two activities of the same type in the same term to be counted towards the PTF programme, they should be on different UG or PG courses. This allows students to spread their load as they see appropriate with regards to their research work.
- Activities of the same type on the same course can be performed over different years. This enables research students to teach using their past experience to become better at it.
- For 1st-year PhD students only: a PhD student who was a Cambridge UG can supervise Part II projects; a PhD student who was a Cambridge Part III/MPhil graduate can supervise ACS/Part III projects.
- Look out for announcements for the MU101 “Teaching Experience” unit which may be given in the Michaelmas term. In this unit we will introduce and explain the PTF programme and discuss matters of PhD teaching in the department.
** For students funded on UKRI-sponsored grants, there is no compulsion to undertake teaching in the department.
Click here for further information on the teaching framework
