Department of Slavonic Studies

Postgraduate Courses

The Department welcomes post-graduate students wishing to work for both MPhil and PhD degrees and specialising in Russian, Ukrainian or more broadly comparative topics.

One-year MPhil Courses

The Department offers an MPhil in Russian Studies course. This is an interdisciplinary course based in the Department of Slavonic Studies and organised jointly with CamCREES, which provides optional modules in association with the Faculties of History, Social and Political Sciences, Music, History of Art, and Archaeology and Anthropology. Enquiries regarding the MPhil in Russian Studies should be addressed to the Course Director, Dr Jana Howlett, jrh11@cam.ac.uk.

Russian Modules are also available within the MPhil in European Literature; and there is a Russian 'pathway' through the MPhil in Linguistics.

For further information about these MPhil Courses and about the process of application, please see the dedicated Graduate Studies pages.

PhD

All lecturers in the Department are available to supervise students for three-year PhD research degrees. Research students benefit from a vibrant research culture, with regular graduate-run seminars, and Departmental events. For further information about the PhD course in this Faculty, please consult the dedicated pages for Graduate Study in this Faculty, and in the University Board of Graduate Studies here (http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/gradstud/prospec/studying/qualifdir/courses/fcml/).

The Department of Slavonic Studies is particularly noted for its expertise and international standing in the fields of medieval studies, East-European Memory Studies, and nineteenth and twentieth-century literature and cinema; we are also unique in offering research expertise in Ukrainian literature and culture. Further information about the research areas of core staff can be obtained here.

Although formal application for a PhD has to be made through the University's Board of Graduate Studies, you are initially encouraged to make a direct approach to the Head of the Slavonic Department, Dr. Emma Widdis, ekw1000@cam.ac.uk, or to the individual member of staff with whom you might particularly wish to work, to discuss the feasibility of your topic. It is likely that you will subsequently be called for interview to clarify questions connected with your application. Applicants should note that it is becoming increasingly the norm, but as yet not the obligation, to take the MPhil degree prior to proceeding to a further three-year period of research for the PhD; in any case, the first year of study is a probationary one and certain hurdles have to be negotiated before registration for the PhD.

Part-time research degrees 


The Slavonic Department also offers part-time route to the research degree of PhD and (please note that the MPhil is not available in a part time mode). This might be suitable for graduates who are employed in the Cambridge region and whose employer views such a programme of study as representing valuable staff development; or if you work part-time, or are home based for whatever reason, and want to develop your research skills. Current employees of the University of Cambridge are also eligible to apply.

Students interested in studying part-time should discuss their application with the Head of Department who will be able to advise you further. For further information on part-time research degrees in the University of Cambridge, see here (http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/gradstud/prospec/apply/guide/parttime.html)