ACS projects

MPhil in ACS students will undertake a substantial research project during the Lent and Easter terms, and submit a project report of no more than 15,000 words. Each project must be supervised by a member of the academic staff (who will also act as one assessor).

Timetable

All MPhil in ACS students must attend the Project briefing session: Tuesday 7 October 2025 14:00- 15:00 in Lecture Theatre 1

Project proposals have two phases. Phase 1 indicates the project supervisor and indicative project topic. Phase 2 includes a 500-word description of the proposed project and a workplan which should also be no more than 500 words in length.

• Submit Project Proposal Phase 1 via Moodle: noon, Wednesday 5 November 2025
• Submit Phase 2 Project Proposal via Moodle: noon, Wednesday 19 November 2025. †
• PEC considers proposals: November 2025 Proposals in need of revision will be returned to students.
• Final date for revised proposals (signed, as above): noon, Friday 5 December 2025
• Preliminary work on projects begins: Monday 8 December 2025
• Lent Term 2025: students expected to spend 50% of time on project work
• Project progress reviews (students to arrange meetings with supervisors): week Monday 16 - Friday 20 March 2026
• Easter Term 2025: 100% project work expected
• Project title changes: no later than Wednesday 26 May 2026 16:00
• Submission: 11:00 a.m. Tuesday 9 June 2026 (*hard* deadline)
• MPhil/Part III Project mini-conference: 16-18 June 2026 (TBC); ALL MPhil students to present

Self-proposed Projects

†  MPhil students who wish to propose their own, original research project must identify a qualified and willing academic supervisor as soon as possible. They should discuss this with their course advisor at their first meeting. The supervisor's help should be obtained in the development of the proposal. To ensure that the project meets the requirements for the MPhil, such proposals should be submitted to the examiners no later than noon, Wednesday 12 November 2025.

A project idea which is an original proposal made by the supervisor is not a self-proposed project. The proposal should be submitted by 19 November.

A project idea which is a variation of one suggested by a supervisor is not a self-proposed project. The proposal should be submitted by 19 November.

A project idea which was jointly developed by a student and the supervisor is not a self-proposed project. The proposal should be submitted by 19 November.

Examiners' meetings and viva voce (oral) examinations

MPhil in Advanced Computer Science

• Internal Examiners' meeting, Michaelmas 2024 modules:  18 February 2026 
• Internal Examiners' meeting, Lent 2025 modules: 19 May 2026 
• Final MPhil Examiners' meeting: 2 July 2026 10:00 - 16:30
• MPhil Oral examinations (if required): 30 June 2026 
• Degree Committee meeting (approval of MPhil recommendations; approval of MPhil class lists): Tuesday 7 July 2026
• Final results letters available: Thursday 9 July 2026, afternoon
• Graduation (earliest): 23 - 25 July 2026