England Study Abroad Program at Fitzwilliam College

Academic Structure

• Supervisions - While most universities in the United States and the United Kingdom rely on lectures, classes and seminars as their main mode of teaching, supervisions are the main mode of teaching at Cambridge. Your supervisions may be supplemented with seminars, but they are secondary to supervisions.
  
  The supervision system can vary slightly depending on the discipline, but generally speaking, a supervision consists of a 60 minute, in-depth discussion between one to four students and a tutor assigned by the college. Supervision meeting times are traditionally arranged between the tutor and the student upon arrival. Supervisions can also be held in a variety of locations: a college room, university building or even in the tutor's home.
  
  The great advantage of the supervision is that for an entire hour, you have the undivided attention of an expert in the subject at hand. However, be prepared for the fact that you must become accustomed to self-directed study and working independently.
  
  
  

• Lectures - The university organizes lectures that are open to students from all 31 colleges. Much of this teaching is formal, with up to 600 students in attendance. You are expected to listen and take notes, but in general not to ask questions. Lecturers may be faculty members from any of the Cambridge colleges, or they may be visitors from outside the university. Lectures are usually mandatory only for science students, but arts and humanities students may find lectures to be helpful supplements to their supervisions and research activities. Fitzwilliam College also regularly runs their own lectures for subjects that are particularly popular among their students.
  
  
  
• Exams - At the end of the academic year, all IFSA-Butler students are required to sit exams alongside full degree-seeking Cambridge students. Most of your grade will be based on your exam, which typically involves writing an exam paper on one of your supervision topics in a formal exam setting that lasts approximately three hours.

What happens during a supervision?
A supervision is a chance for you to sit down and discuss the paper you've prepared for that week. In the traditional supervision, students will read the essay aloud to the tutor, although today many tutors might ask to take the essay home with them or will request the essay early in order to read it before the meeting. The tutor will then critique both the approach and the content of the essay, suggest alternative ways of tackling the subject and initiate a more general discussion which may move on to embrace both related and unrelated topics. At the end of the supervision, you will discuss topics for next week's essay.

How do I prepare for a supervision?
In researching and writing the assigned essay, students consult the list of materials they have received from the tutor and also explore related materials. This is a highly individualized method of learning, and supervisions can often be tailored to the student. Keep this in mind when discussing the subject for the next supervision.

Preparing for a supervision is much different than studying for a class or a test. It requires independence, self-discipline and self-motivation. Be prepared to have much more time studying on your own than you are used to having here in the United States. Your tutor will offer suggestions and materials for your next essay, but it is up to you to develop ideas. Outside of your supervisions, it is you and the library. There are no teaching assistants to guide you. While your tutor will accommodate questions, there are no office hours and contacting your tutors continually is not encouraged. Tutors will not simply offer facts and information because they will expect students to present their own thoughts and ideas.

"Cramming" for a supervision is discouraged, as there is generally only one student in the room who is expected to be able to defend the essay and appear knowledgeable about the subject matter. Tutors will know when students do not know what they are talking about! Treat this assignment like a 9-5 job and work on it Monday through Friday during the day. This will also allow you time to relax and meet friends at the Junior Common Room.

Who are the tutors?
Most visiting students at Fitzwilliam College are instructed by tutors from Fitzwilliam College, but sometimes by tutors from other colleges. Visiting students may be taught by Fellows, lecturers or advanced graduate students. The main criterion is that students should have the most appropriate tutors for their own particular interests and needs.

As with degree students, visiting students will be assigned a Director of Studies at their college. This person is usually a senior member of the teaching staff in the student's discipline who will arrange appropriate supervisions, serve as an academic advisor throughout the year and help with academic or personal problems.

How is Cambridge's academic calendar structured?
The academic calendar at Cambridge is divided into three terms with a month long holiday break between each term. The colleges allow visiting students to attend for the entire year only, except for Pembroke College, which has a spring two-term program as well. The fall term at Cambridge is called the Michaelmas term. The term that lasts from January to late March is called the Lent term, and the term that lasts from late April to late June is called the Easter term. Students who wish to study at Fitzwilliam College for the spring must study for both the Lent and Easter terms.