A substantial amount of training in transferable skills, such as communication, self-awareness and team-building, is available for all students; many opportunities for training as a teacher are on offer. The primary purpose of PhD study is the preparation and presentation of a substantial piece of original research; from the very beginning of the course the student focuses primarily on the writing of the doctoral dissertation. Candidates for the PhD are normally required to pursue supervised research in residence in Cambridge for nine consecutive terms. The students original contribution to knowledge is assessed in the light of what it is reasonable to expect a student to complete within three years: this proviso applies to the scale and scope of the work presented for examination, but not to its quality. This means that applicants should pay particular attention to the appropriate choice of research topic for the dissertation.