Applicants' Teaching Arrangements
In
Cambridge, responsibility for teaching is shared between the Colleges,
and the Faculties and Departments of the University. Broadly, the
Faculties and Departments decide and design the courses offered,
organise lectures, practicals and classes, and set, supervise and
mark the examinations. Since the courses are offered by the University
rather than the Colleges, all students in each subject take the
same course, whatever their College.
The academic role of the College is rather different. It is in
and through the College that students receive the small-group
teaching, supervisions, that are a particular
characteristic of Cambridge. Thus, students attend the lectures,
practicals and classes organised by the University, but then have
a chance to explore their content in much greater depth, to make
connections with other areas in the field, to have problems
discussed and written work marked, in the small group teaching
situation. The supervision thus provides a unique opportunity for
students to get personal help and feedback, and often to work
very closely with supervisors who are themselves leading scholars
in the field. It is this aspect of the teaching in Cambridge
which attracts many students to the University, and makes
students time here intellectually memorable. Supervisions
also provide an opportunity to get out and visit other Colleges.
This is because students in Cambridge are not supervised entirely
within their own College, but are rather sent to the best
supervisors available in each subject specialism, which often
means going out to other Colleges.
Clare is committed to
making the supervision system work for the best possible benefit
of its students. Each student is assigned a Director of Studies
in their subject, who is responsible for their overall academic
progress and wellbeing. It is the Director of Studies who advises
on subject choices, who arranges supervision teaching for each student,
who is available to help sort out problems, and who liaises generally
between the College and the University on the students behalf.
Often, a Director of Studies will act as supervisor if a student
is studying a subject in which he or she specialises. Many students
get to know their Directors of Studies extremely well, and in Clare
we try hard to make this relationship a rewarding one. We have our
own internal Directors of Studies in most subjects, who see all
students under their care at the start and end of every term, and
are also readily available each week to give advice and deal with
difficulties.
|
|

Back
to Admissions
Clare
Statistics
Applicants'
Guide to Subjects
How to Apply
Open Days
Interviews
Finance
Choral Exhibitions and
Organ Scholarships
|