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Cambridge MPhil Polar Studies for 2025 Fall?

Hi everyone,

I'm planning to apply for the MPhil in Polar Studies at Cambridge for the 2025 intake. As part of the application process, it's suggested that applicants contact potential supervisors at the Scott Polar Research Institute to ensure their chosen field can be effectively supervised.

I've reached out to a few professors, but I haven't received any replies so far. Has anyone else tried contacting potential supervisors and managed to get a response?

Would appreciate any insights or advice!

Thanks!

Reply 1

threeportdrift

Careers Forum Helper

Original post by Anonymous

Hi everyone,
I'm planning to apply for the MPhil in Polar Studies at Cambridge for the 2025 intake. As part of the application process, it's suggested that applicants contact potential supervisors at the Scott Polar Research Institute to ensure their chosen field can be effectively supervised.
I've reached out to a few professors, but I haven't received any replies so far. Has anyone else tried contacting potential supervisors and managed to get a response?
Would appreciate any insights or advice!
Thanks!

If you've got no response after 2 full weeks, reach out to the Dept Admin team and ask if the individual is in the Department, or perhaps off doing research - you may find out they are their College Senior Tutor, in which case they are currently over-loaded with undergrad admissions or something. If they are just a slack responder, then you can hope the Admin person nudges them!

Did you give them enough info in the first email to hook them? You need to offer a very short summary of your intended proposal - nothing technical, no references and bibliography, just a short, in email description to get them interested.

Reply 2

Anonymous #1

Original post by threeportdrift

If you've got no response after 2 full weeks, reach out to the Dept Admin team and ask if the individual is in the Department, or perhaps off doing research - you may find out they are their College Senior Tutor, in which case they are currently over-loaded with undergrad admissions or something. If they are just a slack responder, then you can hope the Admin person nudges them!
Did you give them enough info in the first email to hook them? You need to offer a very short summary of your intended proposal - nothing technical, no references and bibliography, just a short, in email description to get them interested.

Thank you very much for your kind response! I shot an email to GEOG and asked whether the professors were away for research, and GEOG replied that "unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for academics not to respond to emails." The faculty suggested that I can still proceed with my application and list their names, even if I haven't heard back from them by the time I submit, and then they will follow-up and chased the prefessors to review,

Reply 3

threeportdrift

Careers Forum Helper

Original post by Anonymous

TBH, it's unusual to reach out for MPhils, the advice is usually limited to PhDs. Most MPhil dissertations can be supervised by most academics, so the 'fit' is much less significant, though Polar Studies is a bit more niche.

Reply 4

jp12345677987

I was thinking about applying for this course in 2027 as I am currently doing an undergrad law degree. Would a law degree be acceptable? Thank you!

Reply 5

Anonymous #2

Original post by jp12345677987

I was thinking about applying for this course in 2027 as I am currently doing an undergrad law degree. Would a law degree be acceptable? Thank you!

Yes, the requirements is just: “Expected Academic Standard -
Applicants for this course should have achieved a UK High II.i Honours Degree.”… No degree is specified to be required, so Law will count.

Reply 6

Anonymous #3

Hi, I also applied to SPRI for 2025.

I reached out to three people and two replied. One asked to schedule an online meeting but when I replied, they didn't reply back and the deadline was coming up so I just submitted.

Good luck on your application process!

Reply 7

Anonymous #1

Anyone got an interview invite? I just finished mine, and are waiting for the final result.

Reply 8

Anonymous #1

Original post by Anonymous

Hi, I also applied to SPRI for 2025.
I reached out to three people and two replied. One asked to schedule an online meeting but when I replied, they didn't reply back and the deadline was coming up so I just submitted.
Good luck on your application process!

Hey are you doing natural science or social science?

Reply 9

Anonymous #3

Original post by Anonymous

Anyone got an interview invite? I just finished mine, and are waiting for the final result.

Hi, I also got on interview invite and had an interview last week. Haven't heard from them yet.

Reply 10

Anonymous #3

Hi, I received an offer a few days ago! Best of luck to everyone else who applied :smile:

Reply 11

brinnsta

Original post by Anonymous

Hi, I received an offer a few days ago! Best of luck to everyone else who applied :smile:

I received an offer as well, in the social sciences track! Congrats! Did you get a college acceptance yet? Mine still says “seeking college membership”

Reply 12

Anonymous #1

Original post by brinnsta

I received an offer as well, in the social sciences track! Congrats! Did you get a college acceptance yet? Mine still says “seeking college membership”

Congrats! I was also applying for the social science track but unfounded not lucky enough to get in this year

Reply 13

Anonymous #3

Original post by brinnsta

I received an offer as well, in the social sciences track! Congrats! Did you get a college acceptance yet? Mine still says “seeking college membership”