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Study arrangements

An MPhil/PhD degree offers you the opportunity to acquire a highly advanced set of conceptual skills developed in the pursuit of new knowledge, which can be applied within or beyond an academic or scholarly context:

Degree structure

  • Some Schools/departments offer a structured research programme incorporating compulsory lectures and seminars. Your progress on the taught part of the programme will be formally assessed by coursework or examinations, before you fully engage with your research project.
  • However, many students work independently from the very beginning. If you choose to work independently, you will have the support of a personal supervisor from the start of your enrolment to help guide you through the different stages of your research.
  • Either way, in your first year, you can expect guidance on literature and source surveys or on the design of experiments. You may also be advised to attend postgraduate seminars in related subject areas.

Start date

  • You can apply throughout the year. For most of our degrees, we have three start dates for prospective MPhil/PhD candidates: October, January and March every year. You should confirm when you apply what works best for you.

Duration

  • Full-time students can expect to work at least two years for an MPhil and at least three years for a PhD.
  • Part-time study usually takes at least one or two years longer.

Assessment

  • The MPhil requires completion of a thesis, which either records original research work or offers an ordered critique of existing knowledge.
  • The PhD thesis must offer a distinct contribution to knowledge in the subject area. It must show originality and is generally longer than an MPhil thesis.
  • Find out more about the assessment requirements for MPhil/PhD degrees.

Transferring from an MPhil to a PhD degree

  • Research applicants will normally be registered for a University of London MPhil in the first instance, unless they are exceptionally well-qualified.
  • At the end of your first year, you will be expected to make a progress report to your supervisor and possibly other members of your research group. Your supervisor will then begin to assess your suitability for transfer from MPhil to PhD registration. Transfer to University of London PhD registration is normally considered only after this formal review of progress and assessment of work or results.

Want to find out more about study arrangements for MPhil/PhD degrees? Check our online course descriptions.