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THE DEANERY

The Dean, Dr Leo Howe, is responsible for the admission, registration, health, discipline and general welfare of all graduate members. He is required by the Statutes to perform all the University duties normally discharged by a College Senior Tutor or Tutor. The Deputy Dean, Dr Matthew Jones and the Associate Dean, Dr Giselle Walker, assist the Dean in performing these duties and deputise in his absence. All official matters must be referred to the Dean either directly or through the Deanery Office.

ALL GRADUATE MEMBERS MAY SEE THE DEAN, THE DEPUTY DEAN OR THE ASSOCIATE DEAN ON ANY MATTER (ACADEMIC, FINANCIAL, WELFARE, PERSONAL, ETC), PREFERABABLY BY APPOINTMENT.

College Conduct

The College is an international community of scholars whose members are admitted without discrimination irrespective of nationality, gender or subject of study. The Governing Body expects all members to uphold the good standing of the College as a place of education, learning and research, and to obey the Master's decision on all matters within his authority.

It expects all members to make full use of the lunching and dining facilities provided by the College, and in particular requests that they dine in College at least once a week during Full Term. Gowns are worn only at formal dinner.

In general, the College is run with as little internal regulation and as few rules as are necessary for the general comfort and wellbeing of all. However, as the Dean is responsible for discipline, it is appropriate that certain guidelines should be provided:

1. Every graduate member is entitled to a private life, and there is a genuine desire to stay out of personal matters unless the member concerned would like help. On the other hand, if asked to help, the Dean and his staff will do all they can to provide confidential assistance.
2. It is important that members do not disturb the lives of others. There are many ways in which this can arise. Noisy parties for example, that go on until the early hours, or loud music played privately during the night, can disturb the sleep of members in adjacent rooms, or neighbours in College hostels. Communal facilities, such as kitchens, must be kept clean and tidy by those who use them.
3. College rooms are provided for the sole use of the occupants; long-term sharing is not allowed. Short-stay visits of up to three nights on any one occasion are permitted. The Guest book must be signed.
4. It is College policy that, when members become involved with the civil or criminal law, the College will intervene only in exceptional circumstances.
5. The Dean will not excuse any physical action directed against College staff, other members, or College or personal property, and will take appropriate action as required. Fortunately, Darwin has been largely free from unpleasant episodes of this type since its foundation.
6. Darwin has a no-smoking policy throughout the College which also includes all student accommodation.

The Dean hopes that all members will endorse these principles as fair and reasonable. He is always willing to discuss their application with any member.

Discrimination

Darwin College is committed to providing an environment which respects the needs of all its members. No member of Darwin shall be discriminated against with regard to national origin, physical disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sexual orientation or HIV test result (see appendices for College policies relating to these matters).

Scholarships/Bursaries for prospective students

The College offers, from time to time, a one-year, full fee and maintenance Scholarship in Arts and Social Sciences open to United Kingdom applicants only who have been accepted by the Board of Graduate Studies. Further details may be obtained from the Dean.

Darwin offers, by competition, one or more Philosophy Studentships of up to £2,000 to students doing graduate work in the Faculty of Philosophy. However, other things being equal preference will be given to UK students. No special application forms are necessary, and all eligible students will be considered from information contained in their original GAF application. The tenure of the award is one year, but holders may re-apply in subsequent years.

In addition, the College also offers several Darwin College Bursaries of £1,000, tenable in any subject and unrestricted as to nationality of the applicant. These awards are for one year only and cannot be renewed.

For all the above scholarships and bursaries preference will be given to those who nominate Darwin as their College of first choice. More information can be found on the Awards & Scholarships page.

List of Graduate Members

A current list of Graduate Members is prepared each term. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE DEANERY IS TOLD OF ANY CHANGES OF ADDRESS AS THEY OCCUR. Mail and other information may go astray if changes of address are not also notified to the Porters' Lodge. It is essential that a forwarding address is left when a member works away from Cambridge or leaves permanently.

Matriculation

Members who are required to Matriculate will be asked to sign the necessary forms by the Dean's Secretary in their first term; without a student's signature, Matriculation cannot proceed.

BA and MA Status

All registered graduate students automatically have BA status if they are under 24, and MA status if they are over 24. BA status or MA status confers the privileges of BA or MA respectively in relation to the University Library, the various Museums, and the Botanic Garden, and governs the type of gown that may be worn (except that members with BA or MA status do not wear strings on the appropriate gown). The College claims the appropriate status for those who are entitled but do not acquire it automatically.

Keeping Terms

The Dean is required to certify, when appropriate, that graduate members have kept the necessary number of terms required for their course of study. For this purpose, members are required to certify that they have kept a term by signing a form supplied by the Dean's Secretary. Unless a graduate member vouches for residence in this way, the Dean is unable officially to certify that any minimal residence requirements have been met. When this happens, unnecessary effort is required to retrieve the situation; consequently, members who do not ensure that a completed form is returned will be fined, to compensate for the additional secretarial work involved.

A current list of term dates is available from the University of Cambridge website.

It is the Dean's responsibility to certify residence and research requirements. To do this, he must know, well in advance, when students intend to work away or intermit, so please notify the Deanery of such proposals in advance.

Supervisors' Evenings. These are held periodically, in the Michaelmas, Lent and (if required) Easter Terms. Groups of supervisors are invited to join their students, and others, for dinner; afterwards coffee, wines and dessert are served in the Entertaining Room.

Prizes of £30 book tokens are given to all students attaining a distinction in a Diploma or Certificate examination; a distinction in any Part or section of the Final M.B. Examination or the Final Veterinary Examination; a distinction in Part III of the Mathematical Tripos; a First Class in the LL.M. Examination.

Travel Grants. Two Funds are available for the support of academic travel by fee-paying Graduate members. All applications must be submitted prior to travel taking place. Any applications received after will not be accepted. Non fee-paying members are not eligible to apply.

1. The Darwin College Fund and the St. John's Fund are distributed by termly competition. Three competitions will be held each year (with three corresponding deadlines), the Dean and Deputy Dean being responsible for judging applications. Each successful applicant can be awarded a grant of up to £150.00; no applicant is eligible for more than one travel grant in any one academical year. Travel Grants are not available for work/travel that is essential to research, i.e. fieldwork. The number of grants to be made per competition is likely to be between fifteen and twenty and they are normally only awarded to those whose travel is in connection with a major contribution (i.e. a paper) at a scholarly conference.
   The three deadlines for applications are:
   • 28 November 2008
   • 20 March 2009
   • 5 June 2009
2. In the second category are the Finley Bursaries, which are awarded annually by competition. They provide financial support of up to £300.00 towards the cost of more general academic travel including fieldwork. Two bursaries are usually awarded, the applications being judged by reference to the widest possible range of criteria, although applications from members in Arts subjects will be favoured. Applications should be sent to the Deanery Office by the end of February 2009. A page long report of research carried out should be submitted along with the travel receipt on return.

Application forms for all travel grants are available from the Deanery Office. Completed application forms must be submitted prior to travel.

The College has no other funds to provide financial assistance to off-set the costs of research.

College Hardship Fund. This Fund, which is administered by the Dean, exists to provide emergency financial assistance by way of grants and loans to graduate members. The Fund is not extensive and small grants and loans can only be provided to alleviate short-term financial difficulties of an unexpected kind. The Fund cannot assist with expenses related to study or research.

University Hardship Funds (known as Access to Learning Fund). This is administered at University level as a means-tested benefit for home (UK) students. These funds are awarded twice a year, in December and March, and varying amounts are available. Do not rely on receiving Hardship Funds to assist you with financing your course. Forms are available from the Deanery Office.

Accommodation. All routine matters concerned with the allocation and the day-to-day administration of College accommodation are handled by the Accommodation Office. The Dean should only be approached on accommodation issues where exceptional health conditions may make it necessary to override normal procedures.

Meetings on College Premises. In accordance with the requirements of the Education (No.2) Act, 1986, the College has taken steps to ensure that freedom of speech within the law is secured for all its members and employees and for visiting speakers. In this connection, the College is required to issue and maintain a Code of Practice (see Appendix) to be followed by all members and employees of the College in the organisation of meetings to be held on College premises, and in the conduct required by these persons in connection with meetings.

Permission to hold a meeting, as defined by the Code, must be obtained from the Dean not less than three days beforehand, and, if a room is to be reserved, a booking must be made through the Bursary. Many meetings, however, are not covered by the Code of Practice. Therefore, to avoid misunderstanding, or unnecessary formalities, members intending to organise meetings are strongly advised to discuss the matter with the Dean well beforehand.

Childcare Bursary Scheme. The College is a member of this University scheme for assistance with childcare. Contact the Deanery for application forms and further information.

University Careers Service. This office is at Stuart House, Mill Lane (Telephone 338288). Its services are available to those needing advice on careers and employment opportunities. The College representative is the Deputy Dean.