Supervision, the teaching of undergraduates in small groups, is one of the main pillars which support learning at Cambridge. Supervision is the responsibility of the Colleges; the Director of Studies in each College schedules supervisors for all his or her students taking Parts IA and IB of the Tripos. Colleges require supervisors to attend a Central University course Further details and to book.
The arrangements for Part II are detailed below. Part III courses are designed not to require supervisions, but Directors of Studies have the power to arrange supervision if this is deemed helpful.
Organisation of Part II supervisions by the Computer Laboratory
The Computer Laboratory co-ordinates supervisions and other auxiliary teaching for Part II on behalf of the majority of the Colleges.
There is an overview document that is handed out during the briefing session.
Supervisors Workshop for New Supervisors
To help new members of the Lab with the techniques of supervising, the Student Admin team organise a Supervisors' Workshop which all new supervisors must attend. Attendance at a Supervisors' Workshop is compulsory before you can start supervising. Registration is essential for this workshop. The next workshop will be held on Wednesday 13 October 2021, 9:30-12:00 noon via video link. It will explain the Lab's supervision system and explain how to handle quiet, exhuberent and indifferent students. Dr Miriam Lynn, Equality and Diversity Consultant will also provide a talk on 'Understanding Implicit Bias - what is it and what can I do about it?'.
To register, please contact Student Administration It is helpful for us to know your area of research and the courses you are interested in supervising.
You can list the courses you are interested in supervising on our Moodle site here
Student supervision sign up
Part IA and IB supervision are organised by your college Director of Studies. Some colleges also organise Part II supervisions as well. For Part II courses for which there are supervisions organised by the Lab, sign up will take place online. The link will be sent out to you by email. Sign up is available from 9:00am on the date of the third lecture until 2:00pm two days afterwards and we hope to send out allocations promptly after the deadline. If you experience any problems signing up please contact Student Administration.
Information for supervisors
- General Advice
If you want to know what supervising is all about, this is the place to find out. - Supervisor Support in the Computer Laboratory
The Laboratory provides support for the supervisors in the form of a Learning Guide and a Supervision Guide for each of the courses. - Guidance for Supervisors from Colleges
General information for supervisors, issued by the Senior Tutors' Committee of the University. - Project Supervision
Further information on supervising Part II projects - How to define an Elephant by Advait Sarkar (May 2017)
A supervision guide for new supervisors written by a former Computer Science supervisor.
