Mode and Duration of Study

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Courses

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PhD

Full-time PhD students normally spend three years in study (though an additional ‘writing-up’ period may be granted). Most PhD students will already have a Master’s degree, but if you are accepted onto a PhD programme on the strength of your undergraduate degree, you may be required to undertake some taught Master’s modules as part of your PhD in order to augment your specialist knowledge of a given topic, and to assist in the transition from ‘student’ to ‘researcher’.

Generally, however, you will agree a course of action with your academic supervisor/s based on your research proposal (or the research topic that you have been allocated) and progress from there. While you are responsible for carrying out your research, you will be under the guidance of an already-experienced researcher who will help you to set your goals and objectives at each stage. Once your research is complete, and your data have been collected and collated, you will begin to draw together your findings, along with details of your methodology, into a thesis.

Examination is by Viva, during which you will be questioned by internal and external examiners and called upon to ‘defend’ your thesis. A successful thesis must make an original contribution to knowledge and must contain material of a standard appropriate for scholarly publication.

MPhil

The MPhil degree generally lasts for two years, and is awarded on the examination of a thesis that draws together the methodology and results of a candidate's research. An oral examination may or may not be required. The work for the degree consists mainly of research and directed study. A successful MPhil thesis should display evidence of originality and independent critical ability.