Cambridge Chat

That's not the problem - the thing I find crazy is that there IS no centralised booking system for Europe's intercity/inter-nation trains. You have to book through a third party :/ Really annoying.

2 large guys in ill-fitting suits grabbed an arm each...

Does it matter that my DoS will be on leave this year? What is the difference between an internal DoS and an external one?

Nope, it's pretty standard for a DoS to go on leave at some point during your degree. Mine was away for a term last year. Unless you have any problems with your work you'll only really see them twice a term for a few minutes anyway ('You're doing well, keep it up, any questions? No? Bye' is basically what happens). An internal DoS is a member of your college, whereas an external is not. So the worst case scenario is that you will have to walk quite far for your start of term/end of term meetings. There are normally DoS drinks in freshers week so not sure what happens with that-- hopefully he'll still put something on for you!

OK so a DoS "on leave" is totally away from Cambridge and has no part in your education for that period? My external one is from Jesus College, so not exactly a massive trek, but I take it from your message that the DoS doesn't supervise? I had assumed the DoS was the person primarily in charge of supervising you.

Well my DoS generally stayed in Cambridge but as he was on leave he didn't have any 'DoS duties'. He did some research, writing, went abroad etc. So you might see him around but not to talk to. How much your DoS supervises you depends on your DoS, basically. You get supervised by the people who are most qualified in given papers. I've been supervised by my DoS every year as he specialises in a paper that was compulsory the first year and that I chose to take last year and this year. He then chose supervisors for my othr papers. As your DoS is on leave, he won't be supervising you this year. You'll get supervisors largely from your college but also from outside it if needs be. Your DoS will probably supervise you when he can, but you'll probably have lots of different supervisors. I have one per paper, so 4 a year.

It's more interesting being supervised at other colleges anyway, imo.

I'm now on my third DoS in as many years. But am hoping to be supervised by Jigglypuff's DoS for my dissertation

In other news: I HATE THE EUROPEAN RAIL SYSTEM (or rather, the lack thereof). I thought booking trains in this country was hard....

OK so a DoS "on leave" is totally away from Cambridge and has no part in your education for that period? My external one is from Jesus College, so not exactly a massive trek, but I take it from your message that the DoS doesn't supervise? I had assumed the DoS was the person primarily in charge of supervising you.