MPhil in History and Philosophy of Science and Medicine

University of Cambridge

The MPhil in History and Philosophy of Science and Medicine is a full-time 9-months course that provides students with the opportunity to carry out focused research under close supervision by senior members of the University. Students acquire or develop skills and expertise relevant to their research interests, as well as a critical and well-informed understanding of the roles of the sciences in society. Those intending to go on to doctoral work learn the research skills needed to help them prepare a well-planned and focused PhD proposal. During the course students gain experience of presenting their own work and discussing the issues that arise from it with an audience of their peers and senior members of the Department; they attend lectures, supervisions and research seminars in a range of technical and specialist subjects central to research in the different areas of History and Philosophy of Science and Medicine.

The educational aims of the programme are:

• to give students with relevant training at first-degree level the opportunity to carry out focused research in History and Philosophy of Science and Medicine under close supervision;
• to give students the opportunity to acquire or develop skills and expertise relevant to their research interests;
• to enable students to acquire a critical and well-informed understanding of the roles of the sciences in society; and
• to help students intending to go on to doctoral work to acquire the requisite research skills and to prepare a well-planned and focused PhD proposal.

By the end of the course, students will have:

• developed a deeper knowledge of their chosen areas of History and Philosophy of Science and Medicine and of the critical debates within them;
• acquired a conceptual understanding that enables the evaluation of current research and methodologies; and
• formed a critical view of the roles of the sciences in society.