For those of you want to study abroad at PKP you may wonder: How do classes and courses work? What is unique about Cambridge University courses etc? Well I'm about to answer that right now so keep reading.
Courses: Normally in Cambridge University there are 3 terms: Michaelmas Term, Lent Term, and Easter Term. Each term is 8 weeks. Similarly, PKP is designed so that the overall programme is 8 weeks; however, in the program there are 3 modules: Module 1, Module 2, and Module 3.
Module 1 courses begin from the first Tuesday, and end on week 4 Friday.
Module 2 courses begin on week 5 Tuesday and end on week 8 Thursday.
Module 3 courses begin on the first Tuesday, and end on week 7 Friday.
(The only exception is Supervision. )
In the UC system, courses have discussions, similarly each module class has a seminar. The difference is the number of people. The maximum number I've seen in a class was 35 students. Holy cow. That's tiny. The seminars have at max 10 people per seminar. Wow. I never thought I'd actually see any class that small! To me, this makes communicating with professors one-on-one so much easier. Also yes there is a difference between Professors and Lecturers and you may have to refer to them by their titles.
Timing of your courses: Unlike UC courses which are set, so that MWF or T/TH you meet a certain times. These classes are not. Lectures take place for 75 minutes and you may have 2-3 lectures in any given week; however, they will be spaced at different times. Also pay attention to which seminar you're in, since 10 people / seminar means that here are seminars A, B, and C. For example sometimes I would wake up early to attend my Management and Business Ethics class at 9:00AM. Followed by a seminar at 10:25AM. The next day I would attend the same lecture at 2:00PM.
Additionally, in Cambridge University, the point of learning isn't to memorize, the point is to argue your point with theories you learn in class. Grading is broken down into something like this.
For my International management and business ethics Performance Evaluation
1. Business plan Team presentation and website (20%)
1 Individual Business Plan Report (2000 words) 25%
1 Final Exam: 45%
Participation, progress, and attendance: 10%
From what I've noticed in the syllabis, Participation, progress, and attendence is 10% so for those who don't speak up you do have to for your grades. 45% is based on Final exams. 15% maybe based on a midterm, and 35% maybe based on an essay. (note: this may differ depending on the class.)
Books: Some courses do require you to buy books, but in my courses I received a reader which contained the syllabus, readings, course information etc. That was super convenient! :)
Homework: a lot of reading. Honestly there is no "physical homework" (no online homework, worksheets etc) with an exception to papers; however, before you enter class, the professor does expect you to read the material assigned and may question you, so
Note: Some classes may include pre-arrival reading so yes please take
note of this: (luckily mine did not include a lot of pre-arrival
reading.) Earlier I mentioned the term "Supervision." What exactly is supervision? Supervision is a one on one course (which you, the student work with a professor) on a research topic of your choice, and you present a research paper of I think 30 pages? You meet with the professor, and he/she advises you, reads over your rough drafts, questions you, etc. Supervision is one of the things that makes Cambridge educationally unique, and if you have the opportunity to do so, it does require a lot of work and commitment; however, all of my friends have told me that supervision was the best thing educationally that they've done. ( Even now I do regret not doing a supervision.)
Ok anyways hope this clarifies the education aspect.
Anyways, Cheers
Tina
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