Students are supervised by their faculty member and postdoctoral scientists within the team on a daily or weekly basis.
There is an active weekly seminar programme on site and students can also attend seminars held in Cambridge. Students are able to attend a number of training courses in transferable and general research skills.
First-year students are expected to attend the Institute's Graduate Student Lecture series which comprises approximately thirty 45-minute lectures by the Institute's faculty members, held between October and February.
Students are expected to attend the fortnightly Students' Journal Club. Students are also expected to participate in the programme of journal clubs held within their own research area.
At the end of each rotation project, students are expected to present their work to the research team. After their second rotation, students present a poster on their work at an Institute-wide poster session, whereas a report is written at the end of their first and third rotations. During their PhD, students are expected to present their work at the research talks and laboratory meetings held within their own research area. In their third year, students present their work to date at an Institute-wide Graduate Student Presentations Day. After submission of their thesis, students give an Institute-wide PhD seminar. During their studies, students are encouraged to present their work at national or international scientific meetings.
The supervisor on average will meet with the student on a one-to-one basis every two weeks to discuss progress with the student. Students can expect to receive an online feedback report each term.
Assessment is by submission of a thesis (not to exceed 60,000 words excluding bibliography, figures, appendices etc) by the end of the fourth year. The assessment also includes an oral examination on the thesis and the general field of knowledge within which it falls.