Your subject, your dissertation, our expert guidance
As part of our international community of learners, you’ll have the chance to expand your research interests under expert guidance. With a mix of day schools and individual supervisions, this course also offers opportunities for progression for those who wish to continue to postgraduate study.
Ready to advance your research? We look forward to welcoming you.
Why choose this course with us?
- Access Cambridge teaching in a flexible format: part-time and online
- Gain a credited, Cambridge award: boost your learning and career opportunities
- Join our peer-learning and Cambridge alumni communities: connection and support, for life
Course Dates
Course details
Academic team
Course overview
Course information
Course highlights
During this part-time online advanced diploma course, you will:
- undertake a research project in a disciplinary topic of your choice
- progress your research with support from specialists in your chosen field
- pursue your individual research interests and prepare for postgraduate study if you wish.
The Advanced Diploma in Research in the Arts/Sciences is intended as the second part of a 2-year programme of study. The course builds on the skills acquired through the Advanced Diploma in Research Theory and Practice. You do not need to have completed the Advanced Diploma in Research Theory and Practice in order to apply for the Advanced Diploma in Research in the Arts/Sciences, but those new to independent research or those without a detailed research proposal should consider applying to the Advanced Diploma in Research Theory and Practice in the first instance.
We cover a wide range of subject specialisms, which are shown below. If your area of interest is not listed, please do still get in touch with us to discuss whether we can support it.
- Archaeology, Landscape History and Classics
- Biological Sciences
- Business and Entrepreneurship
- Creative Writing
- Creativity Theory
- Education Studies and Teaching
- Engineering and Technology
- English Literature
- Film
- History of Art and Visual Culture
- History
- International Relations and Global Studies
- Leadership and Coaching
- Medicine and Health Sciences
- Natural Sciences
- Philosophy, Religion and Ethics
- Politics, International Relations and International Studies
- Social Sciences
As part of our learning community, you will:
- work directly with a subject-specialist supervisor on an independent research project of 10,000 to 12,000 words
- benefit from 2 day schools and 3 hours of individual supervision in each of the 3 termly units.
Course breakdown
This course will run from 9 October 2026 to 9 June 2027.
Most of the teaching will be completed through one-to-one supervisions and cohort-wide day schools. Exact teaching dates and times will be confirmed in the course guide upon enrolment.
Michaelmas term
- Course (unit 1) start date: 9 October 2026
- Unit 1 end date: 6 January 2026
Lent term
- Unit 2 starts: week commencing 4 January 2027
- Unit 2 end date: 24 March 2027
Easter term
- Unit 3 starts: week commencing 29 March 2027
- Unit 3 end date: 9 June 2027
- Supervision dates are arranged individually between supervisor and student. The suggested format is 3 x 1-hour supervisions per termly unit.
After the course
Those looking for further study options after the Advanced Diploma in Research in the Arts/Sciences, may wish to consider a Master’s or postgraduate qualification. We currently offer a range of postgraduate certificates, diplomas and Master’s degrees. Find out more about our postgraduate certificate and diploma courses and our part-time Master's courses.
Entry requirements
Typically, to be accepted onto this Advanced Diploma course, you will have successfully completed the Undergraduate Advanced Diploma in Research Theory and Practice. Applicants with Level 6 (i.e., undergraduate degree level) qualifications in a relevant subject specialism will also be eligible.
We are able to make exceptions, especially if you have evidence of relevant professional experience that demonstrates your suitability for the course.
Please tell us about any previous study or relevant educational and professional experience when you apply.
Your application will be reviewed by PACE Admissions along with the Course Director or Academic Director who will decide whether to make you an offer of a place.
One of the criteria for a successful application for this course is the availability of a suitable supervisor. Please be aware that the course is taught at university level 6, and you should be able to read, write and speak English fluently.
If you are still unsure which academic level to study, would like an informal discussion on academic matters before making your application, or would like to know more about the admissions process, please use the 'Ask a question' button.
English language requirements
Our courses are taught in English and require a good level of fluency. If English is not your first language, you’ll need to meet the requirements of one of the language proficiency tests below. You’ll need to complete your test and submit the results to our admissions team by 15 September 2026.
IELTS (Academic), IELTS for UKVI Academic, IELTS One Skill Retake
Overall score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in any component.
TOEFL iBT or TOEFL Home Edition
https://www.ets.org/toefl.html
Overall score of 92, with no element below 20.
(Please note that changes to TOEFL Internet Based Test and Home Edition mean that it will no longer be suitable for entry to Cambridge at Undergraduate level from 21 January 2026. Tests taken after this date will not be accepted.)
Cambridge English C2 Proficiency
https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams-and-tests/proficiency/
Overall score of 176, with no element lower than 169.
As part of our open and inclusive learning environment, you can enjoy the world-class resources and expertise of the University of Cambridge wherever you are on your academic journey.
Our video-based teaching platforms offer a flexible way to access lectures, while our Virtual Learning Environment makes it easy to study and learn online and interact with your tutor and fellow students.
Our teaching methods include lectures, presentations by guest speakers and facilitators, and interactive and experiential learning activities. We will also give you reading and assignments to complete outside of classroom sessions.
On this course, you will work directly with a subject-specialist supervisor on an independent dissertation of 10,000 to 12,000 words.
Prior to submission of the dissertation, you will be asked to submit a full draft of your dissertation for final feedback. The submission date will be agreed between you and your supervisor, and is usually between 4 and 10 weeks before the deadline for submitting the final draft.
There are more details about assessment in the course guide we will send you once you have enrolled.
Qualifications
This course is equivalent to half of the third year of a full-time undergraduate degree. You will earn 60 CATS credits on successful completion. CATS credits are recognised by higher education institutions and employers.
This is the second part of an optional 2-year programme. Students who successfully complete both years of the programme will be awarded the Undergraduate Advanced Diploma in Research Theory and Practice in the Arts/Sciences, worth 120 CATS credits at level 6.
Hours of study
The award of academic credit is a means of quantifying and recognising learning and within the UK, one credit notionally represents 10 hours of learning. This course attracts 60 credits, so students should expect to need to study for approximately 600 hours in total to complete all units successfully. However, it is recognised that students study at different paces and use a variety of approaches, so this is a recommendation, rather than a hard-and-fast calculation.
SEEC Credit Level Descriptors for Higher Education (2021) here.
Fees
The total fee for this course is shown above in 'Course details'.
To help you manage your finances more comfortably, you can pay the fee in instalments. For more information on payment options, and how to secure your place, see how to pay.
Funding
We're dedicated to reducing and removing financial barriers to learning. Visit financial support before applying to find out what options may be available to help you in your studies. You can explore external funding and stay up to date on our concessions and bursaries.
We're committed to supporting you in your learning journey, and we offer a variety of support opportunities to meet individual needs. Visit student support to find out more about how we can help.
