Postgraduate training is very different from undergraduate courses. It is based on individual needs and abilities, and is designed to help you to think clearly, originally and practically, and to prepare you for leadership in science. We teach our postgraduate students how to plan and carry out cutting-edge research. Cambridge is an amazing place to learn how to do research. Visiting speakers and collaborators come from all over the world, and there are simply too many seminars for one person to attend! We have a careful system of monitoring the individual progress of each student everyone has both a principal supervisor and associated adviser, and there are weekly student-led seminars.Research training within the Department has several essential components, the first and foremost being the research project itself, to which you will make a significant contribution. This will give you experience and training in a variety of experimental and/or clinical research techniques, but will also teach you how to organise research, plan experiments, and read and digest the scientific literature relevant to your research work. Most research groups have weekly or fortnightly meetings in which all members discuss each other's work.However, other skills are also important. You will be required to attend seminars and round-tables, and you will have the opportunity to go to scientific meetings both in the UK and abroad. These bring you into direct contact with prominent and active scientists in your field from around the world.AssessmentThesisAll PhD students are required to submit a thesis of no more than 60,000 words within a maximum of four years of study. This is examined at a viva by two examiners, one internal and one external.OtherAll PhD students are required to undergo formal assessment (by written report and viva) at the end of their first year. If successful, the student moves from being "probationary" to being registered for the PhD and can proceed with their project.