Course Handbook - Faculty of History - University of Cambridge
Course Handbook - Faculty of History - University of Cambridge
Course Handbook - Faculty of History - University of Cambridge
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moderated by a member <strong>of</strong> the MPhil Sub-Committee sitting as a member <strong>of</strong> the Board <strong>of</strong><br />
Examiners. The viva voce examiners (including the External Examiner or additional member <strong>of</strong> the<br />
MPhil Sub-Committee) must submit a joint written report to the MPhil Sub-Committee sitting as<br />
Board <strong>of</strong> Examiners and may recommend the raising <strong>of</strong> dissertation examination marks to pass level<br />
or higher. If a joint report is not possible and the two original examiners remain in disagreement<br />
after the viva, the view <strong>of</strong> the External Examiner (who will be present at the viva and have read the<br />
dissertation) will prevail; should he or she be one <strong>of</strong> the two original examiners, the Examining<br />
Board, <strong>of</strong> which the External Examiner is a member, will decide the matter. It should be noted that<br />
the normal expectation is that marks will not be reduced as the result <strong>of</strong> a viva. Confidential minutes<br />
<strong>of</strong> the viva examination will be taken either by the Academic Secretary or Chair <strong>of</strong> the MPhil or by<br />
the Director <strong>of</strong> Graduate Training and Taught <strong>Course</strong>s, or, if these are not available, by the Director<br />
<strong>of</strong> Graduate Studies. The <strong>of</strong>ficer attending in this capacity will be present at the viva only as an<br />
observer and will not participate in the discussion<br />
15. FIRST CLASS MARKS AND DISTINCTION<br />
Outstanding work by students in each element <strong>of</strong> the MPhil should be rewarded with first class<br />
marks <strong>of</strong> 70 or above. Examiners are reminded <strong>of</strong> the need to make full use <strong>of</strong> the range <strong>of</strong> marks<br />
above 70, particularly since distinction will only be recognized for marks <strong>of</strong> 75 or above.<br />
For outstanding performance on the MPhil as a whole, the MPhil Sub-Committee sitting as Board <strong>of</strong><br />
Examiners may award a distinction. An average mark <strong>of</strong> 75 or above across all elements <strong>of</strong> the<br />
course indicates a distinction, but exceptional performance in the thesis can compensate for a lower<br />
performance in the coursework elements at the discretion <strong>of</strong> the MPhil Sub-Committee. Students<br />
and their supervisors are informed if they achieve this level so that information may be used for<br />
further academic applications.<br />
16. DEPOSIT OF OUTSTANDING DISSERTATIONS IN THE SEELEY LIBRARY OF THE<br />
FACULTY OF HISTORY<br />
The Sub-Committee will normally recommend those dissertations which have received agreed<br />
marks <strong>of</strong> 75 or above for deposit in the Seeley Library. Examiners, however, can recommend the<br />
deposit <strong>of</strong> other dissertations if they contain material which in their judgment would be <strong>of</strong> use to<br />
future scholars and which is not readily available elsewhere.<br />
17. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR LEAVE TO CONTINUE AS A PhD STUDENT IN<br />
CAMBRIDGE<br />
For the purpose <strong>of</strong> Leave to Continue in the <strong>History</strong> <strong>Faculty</strong>, the mark <strong>of</strong> 67 defines an important<br />
borderline. It is assumed a mark <strong>of</strong> 67 or above on the dissertation indicates that the candidate has<br />
demonstrated the qualities necessary to be allowed to continue on to the PhD, and conversely, that a<br />
mark <strong>of</strong> 66 or below indicates that a candidate is not suitable to be allowed to continue. Two marks<br />
<strong>of</strong> 67 or above on the dissertation are required to be given leave to continue; if one <strong>of</strong> the marks is<br />
below 67 but the average is 67 or more, the supervisor can, at his/her discretion, provide a letter <strong>of</strong><br />
support to the student’s application to continue on to the PhD.<br />
Examiners should therefore award a mark <strong>of</strong> 67 or above if they wish to recommend that a candidate<br />
be allowed to continue to the PhD. but they should not award a mark <strong>of</strong> 67 or above to any candidate<br />
whose dissertation does not, in their opinion, demonstrate the qualities necessary for research at PhD<br />
level. Marks on coursework are not normally considered when considering leave to continue,<br />
however exceptional performance in a marginal case can be taken into consideration by the MPhil<br />
sub-committee when making a recommendation on leave to continue to the Degree Committee.<br />
18. DEADLINES AND SUBMISSION OF EXAMINERS’ REPORTS<br />
The MPhil Sub-Committee will not extend the deadline for the submission <strong>of</strong> MPhil dissertations by<br />
students except on the most serious (e.g. medical) grounds. If that happens examiners will be<br />
notified immediately. Normally the MPhil <strong>of</strong>fice will dispatch dissertations to examiners the day<br />
after their receipt and examiners will have about two weeks to submit their report and marks. It is<br />
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