About the School
The School of the Physical Sciences is one of six academic Schools in the University of Cambridge and is comprised of the following Departments:
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics (DAMTP)
- Institute of Astronomy
- Department of Chemistry
- Department of Earth Sciences
- Department of Geography (including the Scott Polar Research Institute)
- Department of Material Sciences and Metallurgy
- Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences
- Department of Physics
- Department of Pure Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics (DPMMS)
The School is responsible for allocating core funds to departments and for providing a broad strategic focus across its constituent departments in a number of areas including research activity, undergraduate and graduate education, estate needs, fundraising and human resources. As part of the University’s annual planning cycle, the School prepares a financial and academic plan which sets out strategic objectives and determines budgets and the flow of resources to departments. The School manages a wide range of administrative activities and projects across its departments and works alongside other Schools in furthering interdisciplinary research.
The School consists of approximately 1500 staff, 3282 full-time equivalent students (2450 undergraduates and 832 research postgraduates) and in 2008-09 had a research grant income of £60,115 million.
The governing body of the School is the Council of the School of the Physical Sciences (CSPS) comprising the heads of the nine constituent Departments and three Faculty Board appointees. The Head of the School chairs the Council and the Secretary of the School is the secretary of the Council.