Welcome to CamGuides for PhDs! The goal of this resource is to help you prepare for your PhD. We will introduce you to some of the research practices that PhD students at Cambridge commonly engage in, give you tips for settling in, and point you to people who will help in your journey.
CamGuides for PhDs is aimed particularly at students beginning PhDs at the University of Cambridge, and it doesn't matter which subject you're doing, or which college you're about to join.
We recognise that your experience as a student may be different to the scenarios outlined on these guides. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to get in touch with library@lib.cam.ac.uk.
This page gives you some key information about CamGuides for PhDs itself. To view the resource itself, go back to the Start page.
I wish there'd been a resource like that when I started my MPhil back in 2011.
- MPhil Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic student, 2011-2012; PhD, 2013-2017
1. It was written by PhD students from different subjects, drawing from their personal experience and advice from others across the University.
2. It's for all PhD students, regardless of your subject, your college, whether you're studying full- or part-time, in Cambridge or at a distance.
3. It's designed as a 'pre-arrival' resource, which means that it focuses on what you can do to prepare for your PhD before it begins. But you can use it at any point, and no official Cambridge affiliation is required at all.
4. How much you choose to use CamGuides for Master's is entirely up to you. You can work through the whole resource in full, or you can select only those parts which seem to be most relevant to you. Either approach is absolutely fine.
5. It's entirely free, and you don't need to sign up to any platforms. All you need is internet access.
If you'd like to quickly dip into some of the content within CamGuides for PhDs, we suggest you start with these pages:
A few tips to set you up for success as you start your PhD.
Pointers on how to navigate the city and some services you may find useful in your first days here.
Your wellbeing throughout the PhD journey is paramount. This page suggests a few things you can do to look after yourself.
Working with your supervisor is a unique part of doing a PhD. Find out how to set up that relationship so it works well for everyone involved.
Your feedback
If you have any questions, or any feedback about CamGuides, we'd really like to hear from you.
Please contact us via email - and thank you!