Editing Tripos

{{Short description|Bachelor's exam or course at Cambridge}}
{{other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox examination
| name                =  Cambridge Tripos
| image_name          = Cambridge-University-Senate-House.jpg
| image_size          = 
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| caption             = Tripos results were posted publicly outside departments and the [[Senate House (University of Cambridge)|Senate House]] until 2021.
| acronym             = 
| type                =  {{Plainlist|
* [[Bachelor's degree]] (BA)
* [[Master's degree]] (MSci, MEng, MMath)}}
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| year_terminated     = <!-- {{End date|YYYY}} -->
| duration            = 3 or 4 years
| score_range         = 
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| attempt_restriction =
| regions             = [[University of Cambridge]]
| language            = [[English language]]
| test_takers         = 
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| fee                 =  
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| website             = {{URL|https://www.camdata.admin.cam.ac.uk/structure-undergraduate-courses-cambridge}}
| footnotes           =  
}}
A '''Tripos''' ({{IPAc-en|audio=En-uk-tripos.ogg|ˈ|t|r|aɪ|p|ɒ|s}}, plural 'Triposes') is an academic examination that originated at the [[University of Cambridge]] in [[Cambridge]], England. They include any of several examinations required to qualify an undergraduate student for a [[bachelor's degree]]<ref>{{cite web|title=The Jargon &#124; Queens' College|url=http://www.queens.cam.ac.uk/life-at-queens/about-the-college/university/the-jargon|website=Queens' College, Cambridge|access-date=6 April 2015}}</ref> or the courses taken by a student to prepare for these. Undergraduate students studying mathematics, for instance, ultimately take the ''[[Mathematical Tripos]]'', and students of [[English literature]] take the ''English Tripos''.

In most traditional [[England|English]] universities, a student registers to study one field exclusively, rather than having "[[academic major|majors]]" or "[[academic minor|minors]]" as in [[Universities in the United States|American]], [[Higher education in Australia|Australian]], [[Higher education in Canada|Canadian]], or [[Universities in Scotland|Scottish universities]]. In practice, however, most degrees may be fairly interdisciplinary in nature, depending on the subject. The multi-part tripos system at Cambridge also allows substantial changes in field between parts; the [[Natural Sciences Tripos]] is especially designed to allow a highly flexible curriculum across the sciences.

==Etymology==
The word has an obscure [[etymology]], but possibly could be traced to the three-legged stool candidates once used to sit on when taking oral examinations, known as ''[[Tripod#Etymology|tripods]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.study.cam.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/structure.html|title=Structure of our courses|publisher=University of Cambridge}}</ref> An apocryphal legend says that students used to receive one leg of a stool in each of their three years of exams, receiving the whole stool at graduation. Another tradition holds that the name derives from the three brackets printed on the back of the voucher.<ref>"Essay on Triposes" in ''The Classical Journal,'' Volume 13; p. 83; No. XXV, March 1816.</ref>{{Citation not found}}

==History==
Initially, the only way to obtain an honours degree at Cambridge was the Mathematical Tripos examination.{{citation needed|date=September 2010}} [[John Jebb (1736–1786)|John Jebb]] proposed reforms in 1772, but implementation was blocked by various matters such as lack of expertise in the smaller colleges in a wider range of subjects. Classed examinations in law were introduced in 1816 by [[James William Geldart]], who was then [[Regius Professor of Civil Law (Cambridge)|Regius Professor of Civil Law]]. Although a classical tripos was created in 1822, it was only open to those who already had high honours in mathematics or those who were the sons of [[Peerage|peers]]. This restriction ended around 1850, and triposes in the moral sciences and natural sciences were introduced in the 1860s.<ref>{{Cite book|author=Smith, Jonathan C. |title=Teaching and learning in nineteenth-century Cambridge |publisher=Boydell Press |location=Ipswich |year=2002 |pages=207–208 |isbn=0-85115-783-1 }}</ref> From Easter 2023, "overall degree classifications" were introduced to the Tripos system bringing Cambridge in line with other British universities. 

The origin and evolution of the Cambridge Tripos can be found in William Clark's ''Academic Charisma and the Origin of the Research University''.<ref>Clark, William (2006). ''Academic Charisma and the Origin of the Research University'', chapter 4, [[University of Chicago Press]].</ref>

==Structure==
[[File:Mathmo results.jpg|thumb|[[Cambridge Mathematical Tripos|Mathematical tripos]] results are read out inside [[Senate House (University of Cambridge)|Senate House]] and then tossed from the balcony]]
A tripos is divided into two parts: ''Part I'', which is broadly based, and ''Part II'', which allows specialization within the student's chosen field. Since a [[bachelor's degree]] usually takes three years to complete, either Part I or Part II is two years, and the other one year. The details of this can vary from subject to subject. There is also an optional Part III offered in some subjects, such as the [[Cambridge Mathematical Tripos|Mathematical Tripos]]; these are not required to complete a bachelor's degree. Some ''Part III'' courses allow the student to graduate with both a [[master's degree]] and a bachelor's degree: for example, scientific Part III courses allow the student to graduate with an M.Sci. degree in addition to the B.A. degree which all Cambridge graduates receive. The Engineering Tripos is divided into four Parts (IA, IB, IIA, IIB), each corresponding to one academic year, and leads to the simultaneous awarding of the B.A. and M.Eng. degrees.

Students are [[Test (assessment)|examined]] formally at the end of each part and are awarded a degree classification for each part. While each part receives its own classification, a student's performance in Part II is generally considered definitive for determining their overall ranking within their subject cohort (for example, the historic position of [[Senior Wrangler]] in the Mathematical Tripos was determined by Part II performance). Most subjects are examined in all three years; for example, the [[Natural Sciences Tripos]] has examinations for Part IA, Part IB, Part II, and in some subjects, Part III. The English, History and ASNaC Triposes have preliminary rather than full examinations at the end of the first year, though History and English have recently scrapped Preliminary exams in the first year and moved to an IA, IB, II structure with classed examinations in all years. 

The student who achieves the highest marks in their Tripos subject, commonly referred to as the 'Tripos topper', is awarded with the Winifred Georgina Holgate Pollard Memorial Prize.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/univ/so/2017/chapter12-section2.html#heading2-250 | title=Chapter Xii : Trusts - Funds, Studentships, Prizes, Lectureships, Etc }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.varsity.co.uk/news/10466 | title=New prize for Tripos toppers announced }}</ref> The prize is widely regarded as the most prestigious academic accolade awarded to students by the University of Cambridge. Each year, the University recognises these top students by publishing their names in the ''Reporter'', the University of Cambridge's official journal, celebrating their academic excellence.

Degree regulations state that, to be awarded a degree, a student must have passed two honours examinations (i.e., two Tripos examinations) – this could include a Part I and a Part II, two Part I exams, or (in some cases) a Part I and a Part IA. From October 2011, students can only be awarded an [[British undergraduate degree classification|honours degree]] if they have been awarded honours in a Part II or Part III examination;<ref>{{cite web|title=Joint Report of the Council and the General Board on the requirements for the B.A. Degree by Honours|url=http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/reporter/2008-09/weekly/6158/17.html|work=Cambridge University Reporter, Thursday 23 July 2009|access-date=30 March 2011}}</ref> a combination of Part I examinations will allow a student to graduate with an [[British undergraduate degree classification|Ordinary degree]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Joint Report of the Council and the General Board on the future of Ordinary Examinations and the Ordinary B.A. Degree|url=http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/reporter/2010-11/weekly/6204/section7.shtml|work=Cambridge University Reporter, Wednesday 24 November 2010|access-date=30 March 2011}}</ref> All students must complete at least nine terms of residence (three years of study) – making it impossible for students to simply complete two one-year tripos parts. This makes it easy for an undergraduate to switch out of a subject. So a one-year Part I (or Part IA) must be followed by a two-year Part II, and usually vice versa. More exotic combinations are possible, with the permission of the student's college and prospective department, but some combinations create a four-year bachelor's degree. A few subjects – i.e. Management Studies, Manufacturing Engineering, and Linguistics (prior to October 2010) – exist only as Part II, and can be preceded by any manner of Part I subject.

Students who already possess a bachelor's degree or equivalent from another university are generally permitted to skip Part I, and thus can complete a Cambridge bachelor's degree in two years or less. Students already holding a BA degree from Cambridge are not permitted to collect a second BA from the university.

A student requesting to graduate (technically, 'admitted to a degree') is assessed mainly on two criteria: not only the Triposes they have completed (requirements laid by the statutes and ordinances of Cambridge), as recorded in the ''[[Cambridge University Reporter]]'' (Cambridge's [[gazette]] newspaper), but also the number of terms kept (at least nine required for a BA; 10 for an undergraduate master's degree). A student's requests to graduate should also be approved by their college, and be unopposed by the regent house, one of the university's governing bodies with vetoing powers.

==List of Triposes==
{{update|section|date=April 2015}}
Below is the list of Triposes offered by the university (Latin numerals in brackets indicate the Parts available):

*[[Department of Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic, University of Cambridge#Tripos|Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic Tripos]] (ASNaC) (I, II) (two year part I)
*[[Department of Archaeology, University of Cambridge|Archaeology Tripos]] (I, IIA, IIB)
*[[Department of Architecture, University of Cambridge|Architecture Tripos]] (IA, IB, II)
*[[Asian Studies|Asian]] and [[Middle Eastern Studies]] (formerly Oriental Studies Tripos) (IA, IB, II)
*[[Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge|Chemical Engineering Tripos]] ("Chem Eng") (I, IIA, IIB) (part IIB completion leads to M Eng in addition to BA)
*[[Classical Tripos]] (IA, IB, II) (pre IA year available to those without A-level Latin/Greek)
*[[Computer Science Tripos]] ("Comp Sci") (IA, IB, II, III) (part III completion leads to M Eng plus BA)
*[[Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge|Economics Tripos]] (IA, IB, II)
*[[Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge|Education Tripos]] (I, II) (two year part I)
*[[Faculty of Engineering, University of Cambridge|Engineering Tripos]] (IA, IB, IIA, IIB) (part IIB completion leads to M Eng in addition to BA)
*English Tripos (IA, IB, II)
*[[Department of Geography, University of Cambridge|Geographical Tripos]] (IA, IB, II)
*[[Faculty of History, University of Cambridge|Historical Tripos]] (I, II) (two year part I)
*Historical Tripos (from 2022) (IA, IB, II)
*History and Modern Languages Tripos (IA, IB, II) (two year part II)
*History and Politics Tripos (IA, IB, II)
*[[Department of History and Philosophy of Science, University of Cambridge|History and Philosophy of Science Tripos]] (HPS) (IB, II)
*History of Art Tripos (I, IIA, IIB)
*[[Faculty of Human, Social, and Political Science, University of Cambridge|Human, Social, and Political Sciences Tripos]] (HSPS) (I, IIA, IIB)
*[[Land economy#Land Economy Tripos at the University of Cambridge|Land Economy Tripos]] (IA, IB, II)
*[[Faculty of Law, University of Cambridge|Law Tripos]] (IA, IB, II)
*Linguistics Tripos (I, IIA, IIB) 
*Management Studies Tripos ("Part II" only; the Management Studies Tripos is a one-year course)
*[[Institute for Manufacturing|Manufacturing Engineering Tripos]] (I, II) (part III completion leads to M Eng in addition to BA)
*[[Mathematical Tripos]] (IA, IB, II, III) (part III completion leads to MMath in addition to a BA)
*[[School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge|Medical Sciences Tripos]] (MedST) (IA, IB)
*Modern and Medieval Languages Tripos (MML) (IA, IB, II)
*[[Faculty of Music, University of Cambridge|Music Tripos]] (IA, IB, II)
*[[Natural Sciences (Cambridge)|Natural Sciences Tripos]] ("Nat Sci") (IA, IB, II, III) (part III completion leads to M Sci in addition to a BA)
*[[Faculty of Philosophy, University of Cambridge|Philosophy Tripos]] (IA, IB, II)
*Psychological and Behavioural Sciences Tripos (I, IIA, IIB)
*[[Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge|Theological and Religious Studies Tripos]] (I, IIA, IIB)
*Veterinary Sciences Tripos (VetST) (IA, IB)

===Triposes recently abolished, renamed or restructured===
*Oriental Studies Tripos
*Education Studies Tripos
*Linguistics Tripos (Old Regulations)
*Archaeology and Anthropology Tripos
*Politics, Psychology and Sociology [PPS] Tripos
*Medical and Veterinary Sciences Tripos (MVST); split into separate Medical and Veterinary Sciences Triposes (MedST/VetST) from October 2018.

== See also ==
* [[Honour Moderations]] (Oxford)
* [[Master of Arts (Oxbridge and Dublin)]]
* [[Wooden spoon (award)]]
* [[Wrangler (University of Cambridge)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{University of Cambridge}}

[[Category:Academic courses at the University of Cambridge]]
[[Category:History of the University of Cambridge]]
[[Category:Terminology of the University of Cambridge]]