User:Philtweir/Structure of a Cambridge College

The Colleges of the University of Cambridge function largely autonomously from the University of Cambridge, undertaking a degree of responsibility for the academic and pastoral welfare of the university students and faculty. The colleges have their own research and teaching staff as well as a combination of resident university staff, postgraduates and undergraduates. As a consequence of the organic growth of this relatively uncommon arrangement, the colleges have developed structures and terminology specific to collegiate universities.

Fellow
A college Fellow is a senior, elected member of the college with a component say in the running of the college. Fellows may receive accommodation or a stipend from the college.

Director of Studies
A college Director of Studies is a Fellow of the college with overarching responsibility for a student's academic progress, the assignment of supervisors and advice regarding the university's academic provisions.

As such, a Director of Studies fulfills a role equivalent to a college Tutor elsewhere, who is instead responsible not for a student's academic welfare, but for their pastoral care. It is not usual for a student's Tutor to simultaneously act as their Director of Studies.

It is common for a Director of Studies to be responsible for all or some of the students taking courses in their field. Where no Fellow of the college is engaged in a particular subject, students taking the relevant Tripos papers may be assigned to a Director of Studies at another college, or to a willing Fellow outside their area.

Supervisor
A Supervisor of students is usually a postgraduate member, academic staff member or freelance graduate of the university employed by a college to teach individuals or small groups of students in a given paper.