Learning and teaching

Learning and Teaching: the roles of the Colleges

Each College is a separate institution with its own structure, culture and philosophy. Colleges appoint their own staff and are responsible for selecting and admitting undergraduate students. The major strength of the collegiate system is that it provides a sensibly-sized community in which both staff and students of a range of disciplines can mix. In addition to the learning and teaching resources provided by the University, each College has its own library and computer facilities.

Undergraduate students are selected and admitted by the Colleges. Colleges provide small-group teaching ("supervisions") for their undergraduates, individualised academic support (through "Directors of Studies"), individualised pastoral support (through "College Tutors"), including accommodation, welfare and financial support. The environment and support provided by Colleges contributes significantly to the very high retention rates of the University.

All Colleges have some graduate students and some take only graduates or mature undergraduates. Graduate students are admitted by the University on the recommendation of Faculties and Departments, and all become members of a College. Colleges do not normally provide formal teaching for graduate students; their role is to provide pastoral support within a stimulating academic community. Students are assigned a Graduate Tutor who helps with personal, welfare or finance problems. Colleges may or may not be able to offer accommodation to graduate students.

Undergraduate Supervisions

A supervision is the Cambridge name for a small-group teaching session. These are usually one hour in length with 1-4 students and (usually) a member of the College who is a specialist in the subject. Supervisions are arranged by Colleges and are a great opportunity to explore the course material in a much greater depth than lectures allow. Different supervisors may structure supervisions in different ways, and often tailored for the individual students concerned. All supervisions aim to clarify any points brought up in lectures or other material students have come across, to engage in in-depth problem-solving and to allow students to explore and discuss aspects of the course of most interest to them. Supervisions allow for students to learn in ways most suited to them and help them to learn independently.

Students are usually asked to prepare in some way for supervisions, by either submitting work (essays or completed problems) beforehand or preparing other work to present. Supervisions are not formally assessed (they do not count towards the degree) and students are encouraged to use them to explore new approaches to learning and topics outside of the lectures. All students receive regular reports from their supervisors, which may also be used by the College to provide evidence to the University of diligent study, if required.

Directors of Studies

All undergraduate students are assigned a Director of Studies to look after their academic welfare and advise them on subject choices within the course taken. Directors of Studies will monitor progress and organise supervisions and deal with any academic problems that might arise during the year. Most Directors of Studies are also involved with the admissions process and will help in the preparation of incoming students for the course to which they have been admitted.

College Tutors

All students (undergraduate and graduate) are also assigned a Tutor. Despite the name, Tutors do not teach, but instead look after all non-academic aspects of their students' time in Cambridge, including providing advice and support on personal, welfare or finance problems. Tutors also monitor academic progress, but in the context of the whole student experience. They are the primary sources of information for all aspects of student support.

College Teaching Officers

Many University teachers are also employed by the Colleges. This dual role helps to integrate College and University teaching. In addition, Colleges also employ their own staff, College Teaching Officers, who not only play an essential part in delivering College teaching, but may also contribute significantly to University teaching and assessment. Again, this overlapping role helps to integrate teaching and plays a vital part in maintaining teaching excellence.

The title of this document is: University of Cambridge: learning and teaching
URL: http://www.cam.ac.uk/univ/learning/collegerole.html

Last updated: 16/02/2011

Further information

Learning and Teaching: the roles of the University

How the University works