Being an MPhil or PhD Student Guide

• is all your own work
• the world limit is usually 60,000 (inclusive of all material i.e. appendices, footnotes and bibliographies)
• should give a critical assessment of the relevant literature
• describes the method of research and its findings, and includes a discussion of those findings
• includes a full bibliography and references.

The PhD Thesis:

• is all your own work
• the word limit is usually 100,000 words (inclusive of all material such as appendices, footnotes and bibliographies)
• must advance the study of the subject
• forms a distinct academic contribution to the subject and affords evidence of originality by the discovery of new facts and/or by critical analysis
• describes the method of research and its findings, and includes a discussion on those findings
• gives a critical assessment of the relevant literature
• includes a full bibliography and references
• is of a standard to merit publication in whole or in part or in a revised form (for example as a monograph or as a number of journal articles).
  

Registration

• Mphil - In most cases, the minimum registration period is 2 years and the maximum is four years full-time.
• PhD - Most often the minimum registration period is 3 years

1) Find a course.
2) Apply for a place on the course.
3) Apply for funding for your studies.
4) Register
5) Start your research
6) Undertake Fieldwork
7) Teach
8) Write up your thesis
9) Submit your thesis
10) Examination of your thesis.
11) Results

1. Finding your course

• Contact the department where you think you want to do your degree
• Contact your prospective supervisor to discuss your project.
• Visit the department and meet your prospective supervisor if possible.

2. Applying for your course

Completing the Application form

• Completing an application can take a bit of time as it requires filling out an application form with your personal details, supplying references and any other documentation your application requires (e.g. transcripts or copies of your previous degree certificates), in most cases, you will also be asked to include a research proposal.

Writing a Research Proposal

• The proposal should include an outline of your research project, your research question and an indication of the literature you will use in the conduct of your research.
• Be specific.
• Usually, a proposal need only be two or three pages long.

3. Applying for Funding

• Types of funding include: research studentships; grants, contribution to fees; loans, and travel grants.
• Sources of Funding: your prospective department or university; the UK government; academic organisations; private charities; corporate trusts; your bank; yourself.
• Sources of Information: your prospective department or university; academic organisations; postgraduate organisations; your local library.
• Application process: investigate funding bodies, your eligibility and their deadlines (link to Career and Funding Links); complete an application form and gather references and other corroborating documents required, which may include a research proposal.
• Many Government funding awards have an early May deadline, but the application may have to be to your prospective department a while before this date for them to process
• Many funding bodies, including those sponsored by the British Government, only provide financial support for the equivalent of three years of full time study.

4. Registration

• You will probably register on your course at the beginning of the academic year in either September or October, but some universities or academic institutions do operate a rolling admissions policy.
• Most PhD students are initially registered as MPhil students.

5. Starting Your Research

• The first third of your studies is spent preparing your research question, reviewing the literature on your topic and sketching a research design or plan and chapter structure.
• This is also the time to undertake some research skills training, start attending conferences and join academic associations.

6. Undertaking Fieldwork

• The second third is usually spent researching the topic, collecting sources and materials, arranging fieldwork, collating data, and conducting interviews or whatever primary research the thesis requires.
• At this stage, you may wish to publish articles or give conference papers drawn from your research (See Getting Published for further information).

7. Teaching

• PhD students often teach undergraduate courses and sometimes masters courses subject to eligibility and the availability of positions.
• Teaching is great experience but can take up time you would otherwise devote to your research.

8. Writing up your Research

• The final third is spent writing up your thesis, i.e. your argument and results.
• Ideally, you should have been writing all along.

9. Submitting your Theses

• This process is undertaken with the advice of your supervisor.
• The title of your thesis is usually agreed by you and your supervisor.
• Your completed thesis is submitted to your examiners in the approved format with whatever documents your institution requires e.g. an abstract, a declaration of word numbers, etc.

10. Examining your Thesis

• The thesis is usually read by two examiners who are experts in your field and agreed upon by you and your supervisor.
• After your examiners have read your thesis they will meet with you to conduct an oral examination, known as a viva, where you will be questioned about your work, its substance and methodology.

11. Results
The viva can result in four different outcomes:

• Pass with no corrections. Congratulations!
• Pass with minor corrections. You must make the corrections and resubmit your thesis, usually within 3-6 months.
• Pass with major corrections. These may be significant and take some time to complete.
• Fail.

In general, and see your institution's regulations or handbook for further details, the supervisor is expected to:

• give guidance on the direction and the academic standard of your research
• advise on the planning of your research, your research question and design
• indicate relevant literature and source
• facilitate contact with other academics and experts in your field
• give advice about research techniques and methods, and methods courses run by your institution
• promote awareness of ethical and legal matters relevant to research, in particular plagiarism
• make you aware of the institution's expectations of you regarding the submission of written work and formal assessments of your progress
• help you meet those expectations
• review and report on your progress
• request written work as appropriate and return it with constructive criticism and in good time
• encourage you to publish articles and chapters and to present work at graduate seminars or conferences, and facilitate this if possible
• maintain contact through regular personal supervision, and provide reasonable access for consultation at other times
• provide personal references
• pick your examiners

Generally, as a research student you are expected to:

• agree with your supervisor the topic for research, and work on that topic
• take the initiative in raising problems or difficulties with your research
• undertake any research training, taught course or seminar required by your supervisor
• produce work in accordance with deadlines agreed with the Supervisor
• submit written material in sufficient time to allow for proper comment and discussion
• agree on a schedule of meetings/discussions
• advise your supervisor on any fieldwork plans or periods of absence
• discuss with the supervisor the final preparation of the thesis and the decision to submit.