Part III of the Computer Science Tripos
Information for Directors of Studies and students
Module self-selection form (online)
At the end of June, Part II students continuing to Part III in October will be sent a personalised link to an in-house online selection form to help them select their modules, balance the modules between terms and to assist the Advanced Taught Courses Management Committee with the balancing of class sizes. This form is not part of CamSIS and students must still complete CamSIS exam entries in October. The relevant dates are as follows.
| Dates for initial student self-selection (online form - not CamSIS) | 1 July - 21 September 2011 |
| Course adviser/DoS module provisional approval | 7 October 2011 |
Dates for enrolment
As in other Tripos parts, students must make final exam entries on CamSIS. See below for dates.
Requests for changes made between 7 and 24 October 2011 must be made using the Module Change form and should be approved by the ATCMC; on 28 October, Part III students will be given a list of modules to use when completing their CamSIS exam entry forms. Students are advised not to make any CamSIS exam entries until this date; Directors of Studies are asked similarly not to approve exam entries without seeing this department list. This avoids having to unpick entries on CamSIS.
| Final date for student self-selection of all module changes to Student Admin | 24 October 2011† |
| ATCMC approval*/module registration lists to Part III students | 28 October 2011† |
| Final date for Part III students to enrol for modules on CamSIS | 1 November 2011 |
| Final date for DoS Part III approval on CamSIS | 8 November 2011† |
| Final date for student adjustments to selections | 20 January 2012† |
| ATCMC approval* | 24 January 2012† |
| Final date for DoS Part III approval on CamSIS | 27 January 2012† |
*Adjustments for over-subscription/course capacity or under-subscription/course cancellations
† Same date for M.Phil in Advanced Computer Science students
Study and assessment weeks
Most modules will include an end-of-module assessment. This might take the form of a sit-down test, a take-home test or a more substantial piece of coursework. By and large, end-of-module assessment occurs in the first two weeks of Lent and Easter Terms and commences on the first Tuesday of full term. All students are encouraged to use the weeks after the end of lectures to revise and to complete coursework.
Part III project
Part III students are expected to complete a project worth three modules. The formal requirements of this are given via a “Head of Department's Announcement”, but note that this project and its associated dissertation will focus more on ‘research’ or ‘research preparation’ rather than the Software Engineering aspects of a Part II project and write-up.
Relation to M.Phil in ACS
Directors of Studies are reminded that Part III shares many modules with the M.Phil in ACS but that M.Phil students, being graduates, have Course Advisers (appointed by Department) rather than Directors of Studies. Nonetheless it is helpful if Part III students and ACS students meet early in Michaelmas; however please bear in mind that M.Phil students will need to attend the following sessions.
| Course registration and welcome talk AM.; meet with Course Advisers PM (M.Phil in ACS only) | Monday 3 October 2011 |
| Compulsory Health and Safety course: Babbage and Cockcroft lecture theatres at New Museums Site (M.Phil in ACS only) | Tuesday 4 October 2011 |
| Lectures commence 09:00 (All students) | Thursday 6 October 2011 |
| Doing a PhD session (All students) 16:15 LT1 | Wedn. 19 October 2011 |
Further dates will be added shortly.