The course is split into two strands: 'Social Sciences and Humanities', and 'Physical Sciences'. Students follow an individual strand, depending on their background, experience and research topic. The taught component of the Course contains four Modules: two in the Social Sciences and Humanities strand and two in the Physical Sciences strand.

Each module consists of 8 hours of formal teaching, plus guided reading. Students are also expected to attend relevant research group seminars (e.g. in Polar Physical Sciences or Polar Social Sciences and Humanities) held in the Institute. In terms two and three, students work towards their dissertations. The teaching within each strand is complemented by supervisions with the student's supervisor, and training in appropriate research skills, methodologies and techniques to enable the student to undertake their dissertation.

Candidates would normally follow the two modules in either the Social Sciences and Humanities or the Physical Sciences. However, it is possible to take alternative combinations with the permission of the MPhil Course Director if a student's research topic has strong interdisciplinary elements.

In addition, the course provides additional training on making effective use of electronic resources for polar research, accessing archival and other material, and presentation skills.

Applicants should note that the precise content of the course and teaching schedule may vary slightly from year to year, depending on staff availability.

The Module teaching currently comprises:

Social Sciences and Humanities Strand:

Module 1: Polar Histories

1. Blank Space? Histories of Arctic Science and Exploration
2. The Taking of Northern Lands and Counter Narratives
3. Northern Rights? Geographies of Self-Determination
4. Arctic Governance and Geopolitics

Module 2: Polar Transitions

1. Technology, Infrastructure: Political and Emotional Enchantments?
2. Climate Change, Environmental Protection and Public Policy Discourse
3. Ethnographies of Polar Science
4. Economies of the Past, Present and Future

Polar Physical Sciences Strand:

Module 3: Glacier and Ice Sheets: Present and Past

1. Mass Balance and Stability of Antarctica Ice Shelves
2. Past Glacial Activity - the Record in Glacimarine Sediments
3. Modelling the Flow of Glaciers and Ice Sheets
4. Dynamics of fast flowing glaciers and ice streams

Module 4: Polar Remote Sensing

The First (Michaelmas) Term runs from October to December, and is followed by the Christmas Vacation. The Second (Lent) Term runs from January to March and is followed by the Easter Vacation. The Third (Easter) Term runs from April to June and is followed by the Long Vacation.