Doctoral Hub

• MPhil Guide
• MPhil/PhD Student Handbook
• MC5M2 Handbook
• PhD Academy Handbook

Submission deadlines                          

MPhil Draft theories chapter deadline Monday 4 March (WT Week 8)  

MPhil Draft methods chapter deadline Monday 29 April (ST Week 1)

PhD End of year reflection deadline Monday 20 May (ST Week 4) 

MPhil thesis proposal deadline Monday 20 May (ST Week 4) 

MPhil upgrade vivas Tuesday 27 May to Friday 7 June (ST Week 5-6)

Committees

AT SSLC  Thursday 26 October (AT Week 5)

WT SSLC Thursday 15 February (WT Week 5)

ST SSLC Wednesday 29 May (ST Week 5)

Seminars                    

MC501 (3rd years+)Weekly term time meetings on Wednesday from 13:00 – 14:30  

PhD 'Mixer' (all years) Coffee and a chance to socialise with other PhDs - 14:30 - 15:00 

MC500 (1st and 2nd year)  Weekly term time seminars on Wednesdays from 15:00 – 16:30 

It is very important that you, as our MPhil and PhD researchers, familiarise yourselves with the Regulations and other vital information for research students. For LSE’s formal regulations, see

www.lse.ac.uk/resources/calendar/research.htm

Media and communications research are developing rapidly, both theoretically and methodologically, in keeping with the vast expansion in the reach, diversity and significance of media and communications globally. Our research is fundamentally interdisciplinary, drawing on the theories and methods of a range of social science disciplines as they apply to media and communications, both old and new.

The Department of Media and Communications will ensure that you develop a theoretical understanding, methodological expertise and critical capacity appropriate to the field and your own research, taking into account each student’s previous research training and specialisation area. Our programme regulations require that all our MPhil students attend compulsory courses. We also encourage your attendance at a variety of courses and events, internal and external to the Department, as relevant to their research interests.

Aims of the Doctoral Programme

The Department of Media and Communications recognises that research flourishes in a supportive environment. As a mid-size department within LSE, we benefit from an informal and friendly atmosphere, which encourages a lively intellectual culture in which creative ideas from many perspectives can be exchanged.

The arrangements for the MPhil/PhD programme are designed to:

• provide a rigourous and constructive environment that is conducive to high quality research;
• encourage you to take full advantage of the range of advice and specialist knowledge available in the Department and in the School as a whole;
• support and monitor your progress on a sustained basis so as to help you to complete your thesis within the required timeframe.

In return, we expect students to do their part. Conducting research is a collaborative venture, with rights and responsibilities on both sides.

Your central support will be provided by your supervisor(s) whose task it is to guide, support and oversee your academic and personal welfare, together with your thesis committee. In addition, the doctoral programme director, Professor Ellen Helsper, has a general tutorial role for all MPhil and PhD students and can offer an independent view of your progress or advise on any difficulties that you might experience, including uncertainties about supervision.

Also key to you completing your research successfully is the network of support and advice available to you. On the informal side, probably the most important support resource is other MPhil and PhD students. Those who have experienced the same challenges that you face, who work in a similar field or with similar methodologies, can provide invaluable advice on how to avoid or respond to obstacles. Additionally, the Department’s professional services team can provide informal support and advice.

An informal, student-led mentoring scheme is in operation, providing MPhil students with the opportunity to benefit from the experience and guidance of senior PhD students, through individual meetings during the course of the year.

If there are issues of policy or provision that you wish to discuss, you may raise these at the Staff/Student Liaison Committee. Additionally, support, advice and guidance is available from the PhD Academy team. 

All year 1 students are MPhil students until they pass their upgrade, at which point they will become PhD students.

Theories and concepts training

• MC500 Doctoral Seminars (required for 1^st and 2^nd year candidates). This readings, presentations, and workshop based, PhD researcher-centred seminar series explores key theoretical, analytical and practical challenges of doing media and communications research and being a scholar in this field. One presentation per PhD researcher is expected as well as a contribution to the mini-conference (WT11). The Doctoral seminars offer a space committed to providing a positive, inclusive, diverse, and safe community for its members. All participants need to keep in mind that class interactions, despite disagreements or criticisms, should always be constructive and respectful to others.

• One full unit or two half units of theory courses, chosen from the School’s graduate course provision. Courses are to be chosen in liaison with the primary supervisor/co-supervisors and will be approved by the Doctoral Programme Director. It is strongly advised that PhD researchers select at least one half unit in the Department of Media and Communications.

Research methodology training

• MPhil candidates will take MC5M2 Advanced Methods of Research in Media & Communications (including Qualitative & Quantitative Analysis). MC5M2 is composed of three sections. Section 3 is adjusted based on the level of quantitative or qualitative analysis skills training you wish to acquire (see the MC5M2 handbook).

  Section 1. Principles of Research in Media and Communications: A series of lectures offered by the Department of Media and Communications faculty in Autumn Term.

  Section 2. Specialist research workshops: A series of 5 three-hour workshops (comprised of two x 1.5 hour sessions) offered by media and communications staff in WT. PhD researchers are required to participate in all five workshops.

  Section 3. Principles of Social Research Analysis: PhD researchers should take two half unit courses offered by the Department of Methodology, one of which must be quantitative (MY464 Introduction to Quantitative Methods for Media and Communications is the basic quantitative analysis option for MC5M2). The combination of courses must be approved by the supervisor and discussed with the MC5M2 convenor (Prof. Ellen Helsper). 

Upgrade process

• All year 1 MPhil candidates are MPhil candidates until they pass their upgrade, at which point they will become PhD candidates. MPhil candidates cannot proceed unless they have passed their upgrade. To upgrade from MPhil to PhD, you submit a thesis proposal and take part in an upgrade viva with your supervisors and a department faculty member.

• The PhD Board determines the Department’s criteria for upgrading to MPhil candidates to PhD. Together with any examination/s for methodological courses, the thesis proposal will form part of the evaluation process, and, together with an upgrade viva, will determine whether MPhil candidates are permitted to upgrade from MPhil to PhD and continue into their second year. 

Assessment

• See ‘MPhil assessment’  for detailed instruction on assessment and submission deadlines.

Theories assessment

As an MPhil student, your theoretical progress will be assessed during the year through the submission of a draft theoretical chapter (literature review and theoretical framework) of your thesis proposal.

The draft chapter will be marked by your supervisors and will receive one of the following grades: Distinction (70-100%), Merit (60-69%) Pass (50-59%) or Fail (0-49%).

Word limit: The chapter should be no more than 3,500 words.

Deadline: The deadline for the chapter is Monday 4 March 2024 (Winter Term, Week 8). The chapter should be uploaded to the MC500 Moodle page by 12.00 (midday UK time).

Feedback: If submitted by the above deadline, feedback will normally be received by the end of Winter Term.

Methods assessment

As an MPhil candidate, you will be assessed in the following two ways on your methodological learning: 

Methods exams

Students will have to sit the exam for MY464 Introduction to Quantitative Methods for Media and Communications in Winter Term week 0.

MPhil candidatess who have taken (and passed) MY464 or who have evidence that they have completed and passed equivalent course will be exempt from the examination for MC5M2 but are encouraged to take more advanced quantitative analysis training if they want to up the game in their quantitative analysis training.

Exams for methodology department courses are administered and marked the Department of Methodology, and will take place during the examination periods in either Winter or Spring Term, depending on which courses you select. Please do not arrange to leave the country during examination periods until your exam dates have been confirmed.

Draft methodological chapter

This draft chapter should contain – a research question, the design of the study, including a description of the sample/justification of material selection, and a justification of the design of the data collection tools used (e.g. interview guides, questionnaires, annotation method) and the analytical method (e.g. statistical procedures, thematic, critical discourse, semantic analysis), as well as a description of any pilot study conducted.  See the summative assignment guidelines for MC4M1 for inspiration. 

The draft chapter will be marked by your supervisors and will receive one of the following grades: Distinction (70-100%), Merit (60-69%) Pass (50-59%) or Fail (0-49%).

Word limit: The chapter should be 3,500 for quant-track students and 5,000 words for qual-track students

Deadline: The deadline for the draft chapter is Monday 29 April 2024 (Spring Term, Week 1). The chapter should be uploaded to the MC500 Moodle page by 12.00 (midday UK time).

Feedback: If submitted by the above deadline, feedback will normally be received by the end of Week 5 of Summer Term.

What does a fail in any of these assessments mean?

The essay assessments are formative and do not formally impact your progress. If you fail any of these methods exams but pass the upgrade, you will receive a ‘conditional upgrade’. This means you will be upgraded on the condition that you receive a mark of at least 50% in the resit of the failed piece of work.  Again, we hope this will not be necessary.

All year 1 MPhil candidates are MPhil candidates until they pass their upgrade, at which point they will become PhD candidates. MPhil candidates cannot proceed unless they have passed their upgrade. To upgrade from MPhil to PhD, you submit a thesis proposal and take part in an upgrade viva with your supervisors and a department faculty member.

The PhD Board determines the Department’s criteria for upgrading to MPhil candidates to PhD. Together with any examination/s for methodological courses, the thesis proposal will form part of the evaluation process, and, together with an upgrade viva, will determine whether MPhil candidates are permitted to upgrade from MPhil to PhD and continue into their second year.

You are expected to ensure that these criteria are fully discussed with your supervisors during your first year of study. The PhD programme director can also be consulted for further guidance and there will be a dedicated MC500 session to discuss the upgrade process.

The upgrade is conducted by the last week of spring term.

Deadline: Full-time students must submit a thesis proposal to the Department by Monday 20 May 2024 (Spring Term, Week 4). This should be uploaded to the MC500 Moodle page by 12.00 (midday UK time).

Word limit: Your thesis proposal should be no more than 10,000 words and should include:

• a substantive statement of the aims;
• theories and methods proposed for the thesis;
• a tentative chapter outline,
• an indicative bibliography; and
• a timetable for completion.

Feedback: If the thesis proposal is submitted by the above deadline, you will receive oral feedback during your upgrade viva and written feedback by the end of Spring Term.

Guidelines on preparing the thesis proposal

Examples of previous thesis proposals are available on the MC500 Moodle page.

The precise format of the thesis proposal will vary from one MPhil candidate to another, and they should be discussed with your supervisor(s). An MC500 seminar in WT will address the specific requirements of the thesis proposal for upgrade. In general, a satisfactory thesis proposal should address the following questions:

• What is the problem or question(s) under investigation? Why is the problem or question theoretically important or interesting? To which academic debates does the project aim to contribute? What gap in the literature does it address?
• Why will your project be ‘a distinct contribution to knowledge of the subject and afford evidence of originality, shown either by the discovery of new facts or by the exercise of independent critical power’? [The formal requirement for a PhD].
• How are you going to answer the questions you have posed based on these theoretical and conceptual frameworks? How are you guaranteeing rigour and is there innovation in your empirical work?

In order to convince your thesis committee that your project is clearly framed and promises to be original, the following is required:

• An up to date and thorough literature review which positions the project in relation to the existing literature.
• An account of which theoretical issues are raised and which concepts, frameworks or approaches will be employed and why other competing approaches are rejected.
• You will also need to state a research question, explain in detail how the problem is to be tackled and the question(s) answered.
• What methods are to be employed and why are they chosen in relation to the research question(s) and its theoretical dimensions? What kind(s) of data do you anticipate collecting?

It is useful to begin each section with an overview of the argument to be developed in that section, and to end each with a brief conclusion, linking to the topic of the next section. Essentially, one should be able to understand the narrative flow of the thesis proposal by reading the introduction and summary sections of each section alone.

Also required is a realistic timetable or project management plan, showing the major tasks to be completed and their timescales, along with a draft structure for the final thesis.

In the overall research proposal, you will be evaluated for whether you have demonstrated that:

• You have demonstrated a critical understanding of the surrounding literature and can position your research in relation to such material;
• You have developed a succinct and original research question (and sub-questions), capable of making an original contribution to the relevant literature and the empirical field of study;
• You have developed a research methodology, which is capable of addressing your research question(s) and is epistemologically compatible with your theoretical framework;
• Your accounts of the research framework and proposed methodology justify the decisions you have made, can be feasibly conducted, and address issues of research ethics that may arise.
• You have developed a thesis outline, which demonstrates an ordered and coherent approach to undertaking your research project;
• You have developed a realistic timeline for your thesis, which falls within the confines of the PhD regulations.

What to expect in the MPhil upgrade viva

The upgrade viva review generally lasts up to 90 minutes. It is audio-recorded and you will receive a copy of the recording, together with a formal written response from the chair and each committee member. It can be quite a demanding experience, but one which will provide rich, constructive feedback that allow you to improve your work and is necessary to make sure that you will be able to proceed successfully towards completion of a PhD.

The viva is conducted by your thesis committee, which is chaired by a senior member of the Department and includes your supervisory team. Before the viva, committee members will have read the thesis proposal and exchanged written comments. Normally, the chair will invite you to explain your research in no more than 5 minutes. This should be seen as the opening of an informal discussion rather than a presentation or a speech. The committee will then ask questions about theory, conceptual framework, research literature and methods, as necessary.

When the viva is finished, you will be asked to leave to allow the committee time to discuss, then invited back and told the result, together with brief comments.

Possible outcomes of the Mphil upgrade

There are 4 possible outcomes from the upgrade examination:

a)     Pass and progress to PhD.

b)    Pass with minor corrections, and progress to PhD; you will be asked to resubmit or revise some component of the thesis proposal within 3 months. A second viva will not be necessary in this case.

c)     Referral for resubmission of all or part of the thesis proposal within 3 months (at the start of the new academic year); progression to PhD will be conditional on examination of the revised work by the thesis committee. A second viva may be necessary in this case, and this will be decision of your thesis committee on receiving the resubmitted thesis proposal.

d)    Fail (leading to a resit) with resubmission of a proposal by Friday 8 December  and a re-examination at the start of WT.

You will receive constructive feedback from your thesis committee on your thesis proposal and viva, whether you pass or not.

If you pass the upgrade process but fail any other assessment (methods exam/s) then you will receive a ‘conditional upgrade’. This means you will be upgraded on the condition that any failed assessments receive a resit mark of at least 50%. 

Re-registration for the second year of the programme will normally be conditional on passing the upgrade.

You should not plan to take leave of absence for fieldwork before passing the upgrade.

Supervision is at the heart of your academic experience and intellectual development as a MPhil/PhD student. Your supervision in the department will take one of two forms:

• (a) Primary and secondary supervisors.
• (b) Co-supervision, i.e. joint supervisors with broadly similar responsibilities.

The supervisory team will normally be made up of department staff, but if you are working on a topic with a particularly interdisciplinary focus, it may be appropriate for a secondary supervisor or co-supervisor to be enlisted from another LSE department. In such cases, either the primary supervisor or one co-supervisor will be Department of Media and Communications faculty.

Your supervisor(s) will help to define your area of research, offer advice on sources and the choice of materials and methods and on attendance at courses and seminars. Later on, your supervisor(s) will discuss the preparation and writing of your thesis.

Your primary supervisor’s role is both academic and pastoral, providing support that ranges from the intellectual through the practical to the personal. It is important that the relationship you develop with your supervisor(s) is the right kind of relationship for the way that you and the supervisor(s) work, and for the subject matter of your research. In managing this relationship, there are certain issues that you might usefully bear in mind:

• You should be proactive in the relationship – supervision is a joint responsibility. So, be active in arranging meetings and frame ideas and issues for discussion to ensure that you derive maximum benefit from the meetings.
• Always go into a meeting with your supervisor with a clear idea of what you want to gain from that meeting (a formal or informal agenda) and leave with an equally clear idea of what you have achieved. Taking notes during the meeting helps record keeping and organisation of your work.
• Our supervision culture values positive feedback and encouragement, but please remember that constructive criticism is a vital part of developing research and that the value of a discussion may not be evident until sometime later.
• It is important that you let your supervisor(s) know in good time of any problems that might impact on your research (e.g. financial, health or other difficulties) or difficulties in carrying out an aspect of research. Also inform supervisor(s) of any work you are taking on, they will aim to support you in managing a healthy work-life balance.
• If your research field touches on areas outside the supervisor(s)’ sphere of competence, your supervisor(s) can help to put you in touch with specialists who might advise you. Reciprocally, if you do receive advice and feedback from someone other than your supervisor(s), you should let your supervisor(s) know about this, so they are aware of the advice you receive. The same is true if you have separate meetings with individual supervisors, inform both supervisors that you have had meetings and what will be or was discussed.
• Supervisors are entitled to decide which subjects they can usefully supervise: the School cannot guarantee that you will be able to work with any particular supervisor you wish. The Department of Media and Communications accepts the responsibility for a student’s supervision once admitted, and it will do everything possible to ensure the best possible outcome in cases of difficulty.

Issues with supervisors

We make every effort to match our MPhil and PhD students with supervisors who are best placed to guide and support a thesis through until its completion. However, we do understand that issues between students and their supervisors can arise and we do not want you to suffer in silence if this is happening to you. Please flag up issues as early as possible.

• If you feel that the feedback or guidance which you are receiving from your supervisor(s) does not meet your expectations, then it is vital to raise this first with your supervisor(s). They may decide to alter their approach or they may put you in touch with someone else whose approach more closely meets your needs.
• If it is difficult to raise these matters directly with your supervisor, or if you wish to transfer from one supervisor to another, you should consult the doctoral programme director. Please remember that such discussions are fully confidential and are treated with absolute discretion by the director. If your supervisor happens to be the doctoral programme director, you can raise your concerns with the Head of Department or the PhD Academy (https://info.lse.ac.uk/Current-Students/PhD-Academy).

Year 2 Supervision

During the second year, supervisions should be scheduled with your supervisor during term time. The arrangements for this will be slightly different depending on the model of (co)supervision and agreements with your supervisors. Do not use supervisors’ bookable office hours to make appointment, arrangements should be made directly with your supervisors.

During these meetings your supervisors will support you in the continued development of your theoretical framework and provide guidance on your fieldwork, including obtaining ethics approval, tips on fieldwork conduct and analysis of data and material collected.

Year 3+ Supervision

In the lead up to thesis submission, regular supervisions should be scheduled with your supervisor during term time. The arrangements for this will be slightly different depending on the model of (co)supervision and agreements with your supervisors. Do not use supervisors’ bookable office hours to make appointment, arrangements should be made directly with your supervisors.

During these meetings your supervisors will support you by giving feedback and recommendations on analyses and on the writing up of your thesis. They can discuss examiner selection with you, help preppare you for the final viva, discuss future career opportunities and publication plans.

Supervision hours

Full-time doctoral candidates should meet with their primary supervisor at least three times a term in the first year (e.g. biweekly) and twice a term thereafter. Supervision is normally not to be expected outside of term time.

Part-time doctoral candidates should meet with their supervisor at least twice a term in the first year and once a term thereafter.

These are general guidelines; in practice, the intensity of the supervisory relationship tends to vary over time. For example, less supervision may be needed during data collection compared to the writing-up stage.

During the 2023/24 academic year, the default supervision format is face-to-face. However, it will be for the supervisor and doctoral candidate to decide between them on the best format for these meetings, whether face-to-face, online, or a combination of the two. 

Seeking advice from other academics

As a student at LSE, you are welcome to meet with any member of faculty to discuss your research, including faculty within the Department of Media and Communications but also in other Departments. Please use the Student Hub to book an office hour, https://admin.studenthub.lse.ac.uk/. Do not use the Student Hub to make appointments with your supervisors, supervision should be agreed in person/via email.

MC500 Doctoral Seminars (required for 1st and 2nd year PhD researchers)

This readings, presentations, and workshop based, PhD researcher-centred seminar series explores key theoretical, analytical and practical challenges of doing media and communications research and being a scholar in this field. One presentation per PhD researcher is expected as well as a contribution to the mini-conference (WT11). The Doctoral seminars offer a space committed to providing a positive, inclusive, diverse, and safe community for its members. All participants need to keep in mind that class interactions, despite disagreements or criticisms, should always be constructive and respectful to others.

Teacher responsible: Professor Ellen Helsper. MC500 seminar sessions take place weekly, in person, on Wednesdays 15.00-16.30 (UK time), preceded by the PhD researcher Mixer with 3+ years. There are no sessions in Week 6 (reading week). A reading list with required and suggested advance reading for each seminar will be published on Moodle at least a week before the seminar. The reading list are constructed in collaboration with PhD candidates.

MC501 Advanced Doctoral Workshops

Doctoral seminar discussing work-in-progress (chapter drafts; analysis-in-progress; articles to-be-submitted), providing a space for collaborative writing and analysis, as well as practical workshops relevant to academic and other research careers and preparation for the final viva. The Doctoral seminar series is a space committed to providing a positive, inclusive, diverse and safe community for its members. All participants need to keep in mind that class interactions, despite disagreements or criticisms, should always be constructive and respectful to others.

Teachers responsible: Professor Ellen Helsper and Professor Lillie Chouliaraki. Weekly seminars taking place from 13:00 – 14:30 every Wednesday, followed by the PhD researcher Mixer with 1st and 2nd years.

End of year reflection (compulsory)

Upgraded PhD students (years 2+) will be required to submit a piece of work which should reflect on:

• Progress and milestones achieved over the current academic year;
• Aims for the next academic year;
• An updated timeline with milestones to submission;
• Any concerns, doubts or queries.

This document will be reviewed and discussed by the thesis committee. If required, the thesis committee may arrange to meet you in person, but normally feedback will be sent via email. This document and notes from the thesis committee will form the basis of the discussion about your progress at the annual PhD Board.

Deadline: The deadline for the end of year reflection is Tuesday 3 May 2022 (Summer Term, Week 1). This should be sent to your thesis committee, with the Media.Research@lse.ac.uk inbox in copy, by 12.00 (midday UK time).

Word limit: The end of year reflection should be no longer than 1,500 words.

Feedback: if submitted by the above deadline, you will receive feedback by the end of Summer Term.

Work in progress (non-compulsory)

At the end of years 2 and 3, you may also submit a piece of work which consists of any combination of theory, methodology and data analysis that you may wish to receive feedback on. This submission is to ensure that you have an opportunity to have your work assessed at a later stage in your research. There will be no viva, but there will be a written report from each member of your thesis committee. Even though the purpose of this submission is not to assess you formally, you are strongly encouraged to take up this opportunity for additional feedback from your thesis committee.

Deadline: The deadline for the work in progress is Tuesday 3 May 2022 (Summer Term, Week 1). This should be emailed to the student’s thesis committee.

Word limit: The end of year reflection should be no more than 15,000 words.

Feedback: if submitted by the above deadline, you will receive feedback by the end of Summer Term, and this will normally be emailed to you by your thesis committee chair.

Supervision

Supervision is at the heart of your academic experience and intellectual development as a MPhil/PhD student. Your supervision in the department will take one of two forms:

• (a) Primary and secondary supervisors.
• (b) Co-supervision, i.e. joint supervisors with broadly similar responsibilities.

The supervisory team will normally be made up of department staff, but if you are working on a topic with a particularly interdisciplinary focus, it may be appropriate for a secondary supervisor or co-supervisor to be enlisted from another LSE department. In such cases, either the primary supervisor or one co-supervisor will be Department of Media and Communications faculty.

Your primary supervisor will have knowledge of your subject area and theoretical approach, will be a permanent member of LSE academic staff, who has passed major review, and will (normally) be assigned for the duration of your programme.

The single most critical element in conducting successful MPhil/PhD research is the relationship between student and supervisor(s). The initial allocation of supervisor(s) ensures that they have the requisite knowledge and availability to supervise your chosen field.

Your supervisor(s) will help to define your area of research, offer advice on sources and the choice of materials and methods and on attendance at courses and seminars. Later on, your supervisor(s) will discuss the preparation and writing of your thesis.

Your primary supervisor’s role is both academic and pastoral, providing support that ranges from the intellectual through the practical to the personal. This relationship can take different forms for different students/supervisor(s), and also different forms for a single pairing over time.

It is important that the relationship you develop with your supervisor(s) is the right kind of relationship for the way that you and the supervisor(s) work, and for the subject matter of your research. In managing this relationship, there are certain issues that you might usefully bear in mind:

• You should be proactive in the relationship – supervision is a joint responsibility. So, be active in arranging meetings and frame ideas and issues for discussion so as to ensure that you derive maximum benefit from the meetings. You should also author and submit brief records of the meetings with your supervisor(s) in the PhD Log (see below).
• Always go into a meeting with your supervisor with a clear idea of what you want to gain from that meeting (a formal or informal agenda), and leave with an equally clear idea of what you have achieved.
• Please be punctual in attending appointments, and ensure that, if arrangements have been made for written work to be handed in before the meeting, you adhere to them. If you must break an appointment, please give your supervisor(s) as much advance notice as you can.
• The style of working that you adopt with your supervisor(s) should be made as explicit as possible – try to be clear about what you can expect from them, and what they can expect from you.
• The type of feedback that you receive will also depend on the nature of your relationship with your supervisor(s). While our supervision culture values positive feedback and encouragement, please remember that criticism is a vital part of developing research and that the value of a discussion may not be evident until sometime later.
• The communication between you and your supervisor(s) will depend on the specifics of your relationship. It is important to establish ground rules for communication with your supervisor(s) at the outset. Further, the flow of information between you and your supervisor(s) is critical to a fruitful working relationship. It is important that you let your supervisor(s) know in good time of any problems that might impact on your research (e.g. financial, health or other difficulties) or difficulties in carrying out an aspect of research.
  • If your research field touches on areas outside the supervisor(s)’ sphere of competence, your supervisor(s) are responsible for putting you in touch with specialists who could help you. Reciprocally, if you do receive advice and feedback from someone other than your supervisor(s), you should let your supervisor(s) know about this, so they are aware of the advice you receive.
  • If you feel that the feedback or guidance which you are receiving from your supervisor(s) does not meet your expectations, then it is vital to raise this first with your supervisor(s). They may decide to alter their approach or they may put you in touch with someone else whose approach more closely meets your needs.
  • If it is difficult to raise these matters directly with your supervisor, or if you wish to transfer from one supervisor to another, you should consult the doctoral programme director. Please remember that such discussions are fully confidential and are treated with absolute discretion by the director. 
  • It should be understood that supervisors are entitled to decide which subjects they can usefully supervise: the School cannot guarantee that you will be able to work with any particular supervisor you wish. The Department of Media and Communications accepts the responsibility for a student’s supervision once admitted, and it will do everything possible to ensure the best possible outcome in cases of difficulty.

Supervision hours

Full-time students should meet with their primary supervisor at least three times a term in the first year and twice a term thereafter.

Part-time students should meet with their supervisor at least twice a term in the first year and once a term thereafter.

These are general guidelines; in practice, the intensity of the supervisory relationship tends to vary over time. For example, less supervision may be needed during data collection compared to the writing-up stage.

The default supervision format is face-to-face. However, given the continuing uncertainties of the pandemic, it will be for the supervisor and student to decide between them on the best format for these meetings, whether face-to-face, online, or a combination of the two. Students should feel comfortable expressing to their supervisor if they do not wish to meet in person and would prefer to meet online.

The thesis committee

You will be assigned a thesis committee consisting of your supervisors and another senior member of the Department as Chair. This committee will act as the review panel for your upgrade examination, at the end of the first year of registration, which assesses your readiness to upgrade from MPhil to PhD. The thesis committee remains responsible for monitoring your progress in subsequent years.

It is in the discretion of MPhil students to contact your Thesis Committee Chair and ask for a meeting to discuss your research topic or ask for advice on any aspect of doctoral life in the Department Whilst the thesis committee chair is not formally a member of your supervisory team, you should feel comfortable approaching them throughout your time here if you feel you can benefit from their academic advice and guidance.

Seeking advice from other academics

As a student at LSE, you are welcome to meet with any member of faculty to discuss your research, including faculty within the Department of Media and Communications but also in other Departments. Please use LSE for You to book an office hour appointment www.lse.ac.uk/lseforyou. 

The PhD Log

The PhD Log allows you to keep an accurate record of the topics discussed and actions required when meeting your supervisor(s). It is important that you get into the habit of making detailed entries into the log soon after each meeting with your supervisors. The log provides a method of recording what has been discussed and agreed between you and your supervisor/s and allows you and your supervisor/s to provide further comments if required.

The PhD Log can be accessed via LSE for You. Please note that it is compulsory for supervisors and PhD students to use the PhD Log. www.lse.ac.uk/lseforyou. 

The PhD Board

The Department of Media and Communications PhD Board, consisting of all supervisors and chaired by the Doctoral Programme Director, is the body responsible for academic standards relating to MPhil/PhD students within the programmes and particularly for reviewing their progress towards completion of their degrees.

The progress of all MPhil/PhD students is reviewed annually at the PhD Board, which meets once a year near the end of the Summer Term. The Department will subsequently report to the PhD Academy with its approval for each PhD student’s re-registration for the following academic year or any condition which must be fulfilled before re-registration.

Peer mentoring

The peer mentoring scheme was an idea developed by the Department’s PhD cohort in order to foster a supportive environment for incoming MPhils by pairing you with a second year PhD who has just completed their first year of study.

MPhils will be able to talk to their peer mentor for a personal perspective on being an MPhil in the Department, as well as offering insight into making the transition between a taught master’s degree and a research degree. Peer mentors will not be able to offer academic mentorship, this should be offered by your supervisory team. Additionally, any administrative or procedural questions should be directed to the professional services team. The role of the peer mentor is to offer a friendly face and advice and guidance on what it’s like as an MPhil studying at LSE

Research Dialogues

As MPhil/PhD students, you are expected to attend and participate in the Department’s Research Dialogues, as this is the main intellectual meeting point for faculty, doctoral and post-doctoral researchers as well as visiting fellows.

Research Dialogues take place on Thursdays 12.30-2.00 during term time and consist of short presentations by faculty, visiting academics, other LSE researchers and MPhil/PhD students on work-in-progress or reflections around keywords in media and communications research. The presentations are purposefully brief so that most of the 90 minute dialogues can be dedicated to discussion amongst those attending.

There is an extra fifteen minutes space before and after the dialogue for more general discussion amongst the group and the speakers.

We hope to invite MPhil and PhD students at various points to act as presenters, chairs and respondents where their research fits within the framework of the session proposed.

Recently completed PhDs will be invited to participate in a collaborative Research Dialogue session (usually in Summer Term) based around their own completed projects, although due to limited time, we cannot guarantee a spot for everyone.

Additional events and public lectures

Additional events will be arranged throughout the academic year, ranging from public lectures to ad-hoc research seminars, symposia and conferences. MPhil and PhD student participation is encouraged at all public events, so keep an eye out for email invitations. You can keep up to date with upcoming public events through the LSE Events email notification service. See lse.ac.uk/publicEvents/.

Annual PhD Symposium

The Department hosts an annual PhD Symposium, which provides an opportunity for our current PhD students to organise an interdisciplinary symposium focusing on the work of doctoral researchers cross-cutting with problematics and keywords in media and communications research. PhD researchers are given the chance to organise the symposium in order to gain experience of coordinating and hosting an academic event.

The Department funds the symposium up to a maximum of £800. The venue is normally on LSE campus in the PhD Academy and a member of Departmental faculty will normally act as keynote.

See previous PhD Symposiums here:

2019: http://www.lse.ac.uk/media-and-communications/events/phd-symposium-2019

2017: http://www.lse.ac.uk/media-and-communications/events/phd-symposium-2017

2016: http://www.lse.ac.uk/media-and-communications/events/phd-symposium-2016 

MeCCSA Post-graduate network: 

The MeCCSA Postgraduate Network (MeCCSA-PGN) aims to bring together postgraduate students in media,communication and cultural studies from different intellectual traditions and cultural backgrounds in order to form research, and teaching and learning networks and also ensure peer support. Its objectives are 

• Provide a national forum where postgraduates can participate in workshops/seminars related to teaching, learning and research
• Bring together members of the postgraduate community in order to debate contemporary issues in media, communication and cultural studies
• Provide a supportive environment where postgraduates can establish valuable contacts for the future

To this end, among others, it holds one conference a year, which we encourage you to participate in: https://www.meccsa.org.uk/networks/postgraduate-network/events/.

Social life in the Department

The Department hosts a range of social activities, some designed around MPhil//PhD students, and others intended for a wider Departmental audience, including faculty, MScs, visiting academics and researchers. Below is a list of activities organised by the Department in the past.

• Weekly pub visits after MC500
• Termly MPhil/PhD welcome receptions following the first MC500.
• A meal with your supervisor and their other MPhil/PhD supervisees.
• Lunches during and drinks receptions following Departmental events, symposia and conferences.
• MPhil/PhD informal coffee catch-ups.
• An annual winter party (December).
• An annual summer party (June).

A graduate of the PhD programme in Media and Communications contributed the following testimony, which new MPhil students are urged to read:

Upon starting a PhD, it may seem unnecessary to receive broad training in both qualitative and quantitative research methods, especially if you have already got a clear idea about how you will approach your research question. At the beginning of my first year, I felt adamant that it wasn’t necessary for me to learn about methods I had no intention of applying in the course of researching my thesis. But now that I am finished and have embarked on an academic career, I have some regrets about not having taken more advantage of the research methods training that was made available through the programme.

With the benefit of hindsight (which is always 20/20), here are five good reasons why a broad array of research skills are necessary for PhD graduates and why you should engage fully in the your methods workshops and assignments, including the quantitative analysis modules:

1.       Defining your PhD research: A broad understanding of all possible approaches to researching a problem is necessary in order to justify the methodological choices that you will make in the course of your research. Exposure to other methodological perspectives can both complicate and sharpen your research focus: the former by exposing you to ideas that you weren’t aware of and encouraging you to take alternative views into consideration; the latter by helping you to develop strong arguments for the choices that you are making. The various research methods can be likened to a complete toolkit. Once you’ve identified the task that needs doing, having access to a wide variety of tools will help you to work out which is most appropriate for the task. This is a really solid, strategic and systematic grounding to a major research project: the best way to get it off to a good start, in fact.

2.       Situating your research: Even though you may not find it necessary to explicitly refer to every other possible methodological approach in your methods chapter, having these options in mind, and knowing how your selection fits into the broader ‘methods universe’ will help you to write a better account of what you did, how you did it, and why you did it that way. You may also find that you will need to be able to discuss your methodological choices in a much broader manner at conferences or presentations in which you publicise your research, where you can expect to receive questions such as, ‘Why aren’t you doing an audience study?’ or ‘How do you justify your decision not to undertake a content analysis of these texts?’ More importantly, such questions might well come up in your viva, and by building a solid set of perspectives on all research methods at the beginning of your research, you’ll be putting yourself in a much more confident position at its conclusion.

3.       Your future research: Graduating with a PhD indicates the ability to undertake independent research. Although you may not be able to picture this just yet, one day you will be done with your thesis and ready to start a new project. Are you sure that you want to use the same research method forever? You may find that new research questions require different approaches, or you may wish to apply different methods to the same material or problem in order to develop new insights. An ability to harness alternative methodological perspectives will allow you to escape methodological ghettoes and confidently approach new research questions without losing too much time in re-training. Having a broad set of methodological expertise will also assist you with the all-important challenges of securing post-doctoral (and beyond) research funding.

4.       Teaching: Without a doubt, part of your future academic career will involve teaching and assessment. With a solid basic understanding of all research methods, you’ll be in a good position to contribute to teaching and assessment on research methods courses (which are increasingly the norm in media and communications programmes, both postgraduate and undergraduate). When it comes to marking, unfortunately you’re unlikely to be assigned student essays only within your preferred area of methodological speciality. Understandably, students expect someone with a PhD in Media and Communications who is tasked with assessing their work to have a good solid understanding of all research methods, their strengths and weaknesses, their appropriateness to research questions, and ways in which they can be combined (or not). As well as helping you to mark students’ work more fairly, knowledge of the basics of all methods will ensure that you will be well-equipped to supervise students’ dissertations and give them appropriate advice.

5.       Engaging with peers: Whether you’re a committed quantitative or qualitative methodologist, you’ll need a fair insight into the alternative if you are to be able to properly and respectfully engage with the work of other researchers at conferences or seminars, or indeed in the process of peer review. We all know how frustrating it can be when one’s work is ‘written off’ simply because a reviewer or audience member does not agree with or value the epistemological position of a certain methodological approach. By understanding the basics of all methodological cultures, we can try to avoid those in our own (future) appraisal of others’ work.

Postscript. LSE is well known (and rightly so) as one of the leading social science universities in the world, and as a graduate of the Media and Communications PhD programme, you will be expected to be able to demonstrate strength in research and to implement research-led teaching. I’m not suggesting that you become an expert in every method – this is neither possible nor necessary. However, I’d encourage you to go above and beyond the minimum Methods requirements as the opportunity to develop these skills comes once in a lifetime – now.

Research ethics

The School attaches considerable importance to the maintenance of high ethical standards in the research undertaken by its academic and research staff and students. The LSE Research Ethics Policy is written for the immediate benefit of the School’s academic, contract research, administrative and fundraising staff, all postgraduate research students, and undergraduate and master’s students where their supervisors agree that they are undertaking research.

The research ethics guidance comprises:

1)       LSE research ethics policy which sets out the School's research ethics policy and the procedure for obtaining independent ethical scrutiny of research proposals by the Research Committee's Ethics Group. https://info.lse.ac.uk/staff/Services/Policies-and-procedures/Assets/Documents/resEthPolPro.pdf

2)       The Online Ethics Review system is required for any study involving:

• Human participants e.g. interviews, online surveys, observations, social media
• Use of datasets containing identifiable information (names, emails, social media profile names, etc., but could be e.g. job title) – even if you plan to anonymise the data
• Research that might have negative repercussions for any individuals or groups.

You may find it helpful to first look at this one-page overview 'Ethics review in a nutshell'

Please note that you are NOT allowed to embark on fieldwork without fieldwork and research ethics approval from your supervisor(s) and the School.

Fieldwork

Any PhD student conducting fieldwork, regardless of where it is taking place, needs to complete a fieldwork request form and the associated risk assessment three months before fieldwork begins. An ethics review is required for any study involving: human participants (e.g. for interviews, online surveys, observations, social media); use of datasets containing identifiable information (e.g. names, emails, social media profile names, etc., but could be e.g. job title – even if you plan to anonymise the data); or for research that might have negative repercussions for any individuals or groups.

Students may find it helpful to look at this one-page overview: Research ethics review in a nutshell

You can access the application portal to submit your ethics review here: https://info.lse.ac.uk/staff/divisions/research-and-innovation/research/research-ethics/research-ethics. You should speak with your supervisor and a member of the PhD Academy team for further advice when you are planning your fieldwork.

You should begin to discuss plans for (pilot) fieldwork and ethics with your supervisor/s as you are writing the methodology chapter for your upgrade document in Winter Term.

Accessing sensitive textual resources

If you are planning research that will involve accessing sensitive websites/materials such as ISIS, the research ethics manager will organise a meeting with a member of the School’s Information Security Team. They will advise on how to access such sites/materials safely (whether from a secure LSE machine/server or remotely via e.g. VPN connection from a laptop), how to hide browsing history, erase data, etc.

Travelling for fieldwork

Travel and fieldwork are critical to the success of the majority of doctoral research, from fieldwork to attending conferences.

Most travel will take place without incident, but conditions can change rapidly, with little or no warning. We therefore require all students to complete the risk assessment section of the ‘Application to undertake fieldwork’ before being sent a travel insurance cover note.

Any fieldwork where a student remains outside the United Kingdom continuously for over 12 months is regarded by the insurers as a Secondment. This means that exclusions will apply to the medical cover provided. Contact the Health and Safety Team for details of these exclusions. lse.ac.uk/healthandsafety (shortlink – please copy and paste).

Data management

Data Management Plans cover collection, organisation, use, storage, contextualisation, preservation and sharing of data. However, different forms of Research Data Management plans exist. It is worth thinking early about managing data. Read here about: What is a Data Management Plan and how do I write one?

Interrupting study

• A formal interruption to study is appropriate when personal or health circumstances are preventing a student from engaging with their studies.
• Interruption effectively ‘stops the clock’ on your studies, meaning that your submission deadline will be extended by whatever period of time you interrupt  
• Interruptions should be requested at the time when it is needed, to allow a student to take a break from their studies. Retrospective interruptions will not normally be approved.
• Interruptions do not need to be fit to the School’s term dates – an interruption can begin at any time, depending on when a student has become unable to engage with their studies.
• Applying for a period of interruption should first be discussed with your supervisor, then with the doctoral programme director. There is a formal process of application, and it is the School not the Department that makes the decision (though normally the Department will support the request).
• Please note that, if granted, an interruption would normally preclude a Tier 4 student visa holder from remaining in the UK during the period of approved interruption. The PhD Academy and/or International Student Visa Advice Team (ISVAT) can advise on specific cases in advance of making an interruption request. Contact ISVAT here http://lse.ac.uk/isvat.
• Interruption means that you are not formally registered during that period. No tuition fees will be charged during a period of interruption. Your IT account and library access will remain the same throughout your period of interruption (although we do not expect you to use the library or send emails relating to your thesis).
• You will not have access to supervision during periods of interruption. Supervisors will not set deadlines that incorporate the period of interruption.
• After a period of interruption, the ‘clock’ starts again and studies can be resumed.

Extending study

• An extension to the thesis deadline can be arranged when PhD students encounter exceptional circumstances towards the end of their studies which prevent submission of the final thesis by the original deadline.
• An extension may be requested on the basis of medical circumstances in relation to yourself or a dependent, or in the case of bereavement. Students who have been impacted by the pandemic are asked to apply for an extension six-months prior to submission, explaining the ways in which their work has been delayed by the circumstances (illness, lockdown, caring for others etc).  Asking for more time to improve the thesis, or get it copy-edited, or do extra fieldwork, will not be classed as exceptional.
• If an extension is granted, no further extensions will be given.
• You will be liable for tuition fees in full during the period of any extension that is granted.

Changing to part-time study

• Changing to part-time study can be permitted when students need to spread their studies over a longer period.
• This can be granted on the basis of a protected characteristic recognised in the Equality Act 2010 (e.g. disability, caring responsibilities).
• It may also be granted on the basis of exceptional circumstances that impede a student’s full-time study.
• Please note that students with a Tier 4 student visa are not able to switch to part-time study as they are expected to be studying full time in the UK as a condition of the visa being granted. Further advice on specific cases can be sought from the PhD Academy and/or International Student Visa Advice Team (ISVAT).
• Part-time PhD students are expected to meet with their supervisors once per term.
• Applying for an extension should first be discussed with your supervisor, then with the doctoral programme director. There is a formal process of application, and it is the school not the department that makes the decision (though normally the department will support the request).
• Link to application form: https://info.lse.ac.uk/current-students/phd-academy/Change-of-circumstances-students

The above advice is general and each case will have unique circumstances. Therefore, we strongly advise you to get in touch when encountering difficulties, so that you can receive proper guidance and advice which will be addressed to your specific circumstances: phdacademy@lse.ac.uk. 

The website of The LSE Financial Support Office gives an overview of financial support for PhD study.

Support for MPhil/PhD candidates includes:

• In-course financial support for final stage PhD candidates

• Support for student parents

• Postgraduate travel fund

• LSE Students' Union hardship funds

The Financial Support Office holds regular drop-in sessions for PhD researchers where a designated member of staff is available to answer student queries. 

ESRC Research Training Support Grant

If you are an ESRC PhD researcher, you are eligible for a combined Research Training Support Grant (RTSG) and UK Fieldwork Allowance.This also applies to part-time and fees only award holders. If you want to apply for the RTSG, you should contact Media.phd@lse.ac.uk.

More information on the Research Training Support Grant is available here.

Department PhD support fund

The Department has modest funds to provide support for your research activities. These funds are limited and insufficient to support everyone enrolled in the programme, therefore you are required to consider the following before applying:

• If you are presenting a paper at a conference, symposium or academic event, you should first apply for LSE's Postgraduate Travel Fund (see section above).

• If you are funded by ESRC, you should first draw on your ESRC Research Training Support Grant (see section above).

If you are ineligible for the above, or if your application is unsuccessful, you are invited to apply to the Department’s MPhil/PhD support fund, as long as your request meets one or more of the following criteria:

1) A request for a contribution towards the costs of travel, accommodation and/or conference/workshop fees in relation to presenting a research paper.

2) A request for a contribution towards the costs of travel, accommodation or conference/workshop fees where your research will benefit substantially from participation and this is confirmed by your supervisor.

3) A request for a contribution towards the costs of undertaking fieldwork which forms a necessary part of your project and is confirmed by your supervisor.

4) A request for a contribution to other essential research-related expenses (please note this does not include books obtainable from the LSE Library).

Please note that:

• You may apply for any specific amount up to a maximum of £400 in one academic year. However, please note that it should not be assumed that each PhD researcher will get the full amount each year, and the Department reserves the right to part-fund your application.

• If an application has been approved, funding will be reimbursed when you submit receipts for expenses incurred.

• Decisions will be made by the doctoral programme director and will be final.

• The fund will open at the beginning of each academic year and the deadline for applications will be 31 July of each academic year, although all funds may have been allocated before this date.

The application form for the PhD Support Fund is available here.

We hope that MPhil and PhD student work runs smoothly and that everyone finds doctoral study a challenging but ultimately rewarding process and experience. However, we recognise that difficulties can arise and we have done our best – as a programme, a Department and an institution to provide recognition and support as needed.

Stress

It can feel like a PhD is just a series of milestones and deadlines, and with a great deal of personal investment, especially at a world-class institution such as LSE, the PhD can often be an extremely stressful process. Finding a way to deal with stress and ensuring that you take regular time to ‘switch off’ is essential when you are working on a project that stretches on for years, especially when it doesn’t offer regular 9-5 working patterns. There are a range of clubs and societies run from the LSE Students’ Union, ranging from yoga, athletics and rugby, to baking, gaming and skateboarding!

Isolation

An issue which can sometimes arise amongst PhD students is a sense of isolation. PhD students bear the responsibility for their own projects over an extended period of time, and they may also spend a lot of time working alone. They can also face other difficulties that the people around them are unaware of. All this can lead to loneliness and feeling demotivated, and you may feel that those around you don’t understand the problems you are facing. It’s vital to find a way to talk to others to get support and not to feel isolated. Your fellow PhD students in the department or at the PhD Academy are a good place to start. The Thesis Whisperer is a great resource where you can find support and information from other people going through the same process as you: https://thesiswhisperer.com/.

Conflict with supervisor

We make every effort to match our MPhil and PhD students with supervisors who are best placed to guide and support a thesis through until its completion. However, we do understand that issues between students and their supervisors can arise and we do not want you to suffer in silence if this is happening to you. If you feel that you are dissatisfied with the supervision you are receiving, and would like to raise this confidentially, please feel free to email or meet with the doctoral programme director, who will treat the matter with discretion and tact.

Other difficulties

In addition, we are aware that during their study, students may encounter difficulties in terms of physical or mental health, finances, housing, immigration status, family, relationships, homesickness, self-esteem and more. We hope this doesn't occur to you, but we also hope that if you do have difficulties, you find the courage to tell someone who can help. It’s better if you can tell the supervisor and/or the Doctoral Research Director, and they will make every effort to help.

Finding support

Most importantly, don’t suffer in silence - speak to your friends, fellow PhD cohort and your supervisor. More informally, you are also welcome to contact any other member of the department that you feel you can trust and ask for help.

Generally, it is important especially that your supervisor knows how you are, and supervisors are well placed to identify additional sources of support, depending on the problem you may be facing. They can also advise if time off, or a formal interruption to your studies, the Doctoral Programme Director, is available for confidential consultation if needed.

Professional help is available for free via the fully confidential LSE Student Counselling Service http://www.lse.ac.uk/intranet/students/supportServices/healthSafetyWellbeing/adviceCounselling/studentCounsellingService/Home.aspx.

LSE student wellbeing services

LSE Disability and Wellbeing Service is the first point of contact for disabled students, both before arrival at LSE and throughout their time here. They have experts in long term medical/ health conditions, physical disabilities and sensory impairments, mental health and specific learning difficulties (such as Dyslexia). They are available for advice and guidance, and can put in place Inclusion Plans (IPs) and help with Individual Examination Adjustments. http://www.lse.ac.uk/intranet/LSEServices/disabilityAndWellBeingService/home.aspx

LSE Student Counselling Service is a free and confidential service for all students, offering one to one appointments, drop in sessions , and group based support on issues such as stress management and self-esteem.

LSE Peer Support enables students to talk confidentially to a fellow student about anything that is troubling them. Located in halls of residence and on campus, the Peer Supporters are a group of specially selected and trained students who help their peers to find their own solutions.

LSE's Bullying and Harassment resources support students who have survived or witnessed behaviours that are intimidating, hostile, degrading or offensive, whether repeatedly or as one-off instances.  The School and the Department do not tolerate such behaviours and offers ways to report them and help survivors.

Please note LSE’s regulations for PhD students. http://www.lse.ac.uk/resources/calendar/research.htm

As you enter the final year of your programme you will need to prepare to submit your thesis ready for the viva examination. The minimum length of PhD study at LSE is normally two calendar years full-time or the equivalent in part-time study. The maximum length of registration is normally four years for full-time and eight years for part-time students.

Before you submit your thesis, you are strongly advised to consult your supervisory team and, preferably produce one or more draft versions, for discussion, so that the structure of argument can be clarified, the claims and evidence strengthened and well justified, the flow of your narrative made smooth, and the phrasing made as felicitous as possible. The precise way in which this is achieved should be discussed with your supervisor.

An extension beyond the maximum period is only granted in very exceptional circumstances. Requests should be submitted in the penultimate year of registration and should be made using the appropriate form, available from the PhD Academy website. Requests for extension have to be agreed upon and justified by supervisors and the doctoral programme director. The ultimate decision for granting an extension, however, lies with the Chair of the Research Degrees Subcommittee, not with the Department.

Examination entry

At least three months before you plan to submit your thesis you should start completing the examination entry form with your supervisor. Whilst you should work on this form together, it is ultimately completed by your primary supervisor and approved by the doctoral programme director.

The examination entry form is available on the PhD Academy website.

The thesis is examined by two examiners. Both should be specialists in your field of research, and you may know them both, though ordinarily you should not have collaborated with either of them on research.

Your primary supervisor is responsible for nominating your examiners although it is likely that he/she will discuss possible nominations with you to ensure they are the most appropriate choice. Your supervisor will not be one of your examiners. In exceptional circumstances, two external examiners can be appointed, but this should be carefully justified.

Completed entry forms should be returned to the PhD Academy at least three months in advance of submitting your thesis: this is to allow sufficient time for your examiners to be formally appointed (see below). If you are unable to meet this deadline, please seek advice from a member of the PhD Academy team. 

Once the PhD Academy have received your completed examination entry form, the examiner nominations are sent to the relevant subject panel for approval. Examiners will then be formally invited.

Until the examiners have confirmed that they can act, they are not appointed as examiners. Therefore, theses will not be sent to them until that time and no arrangements for the viva examination will be agreed. These arrangements are all carried out by the primary supervisor and you should have no contact with your examiners in the run-up to your viva.

Thesis submission

You will need to submit two soft-bound copies of your thesis to the PhD Academy formatted in line with the School's requirements. In addition, an electronic version of your thesis will need to be submitted. The easiest way to submit the electronic version of your thesis to the PhD Academy by emailing phdacademy@lse.ac.uk . If you are using the Microsoft One Drive to submit your thesis then you will need to send this by email to S.Banerjee4@lse.ac.uk.

You should refer to the Formatting and binding your thesis document to ensure your thesis is formatted in line with the School’s requirements. The front pages of your thesis should contain certain information and you should refer to the Template for the front pages of your document for further guidance.  

You must submit your thesis (bound and electronic) by the deadline. If you are unsure what your deadline is, please submit an enquiry.

Theses that are submitted late cannot be accepted without an approved extension from the Research Degrees Subcommittee Chair. You should ensure you allow time for the final editing, printing and binding of your thesis within your deadline. 

You can choose to either print or bind your thesis yourself or use a company to do this for you.  Details of companies you may wish to use for this purpose can be found in the formatting and binding your thesis guidance, which includes details for Walter Newbury (who deliver directly to the PhD Academy). 

Once we have received your thesis, and assuming your examiners have been formally appointed, we will then post your thesis to them for examination and confirm with you once we have done so. Examiners are not permitted to accept a thesis, in any format, from any source other than from the PhD Academy.  

Editorial help with your thesis

You might wish to seek help from a third party in editing your thesis before you submit it for examination. You will need to read the School’s Statement on Editorial Help [PDF], provide a copy of it to any third party you use and declare what help you have received from a third party in the front pages of your thesis (see template for front pages of your thesis [PDF]). 

iThenticate Text Matching Software

The School makes text-matching software (iThenticate) available to its research students who might wish to use it to check their written work. Some departments also require students to use it, for example, as a part of the upgrade process.

If you are a research student and wish to use the software, please submit an enquiry  and we will set up an account for you.

You should check with your department (in the PhD Student Handbook) whether use of iThenticate is required as a part of your programme. If it is, an account should have been set up for you.

A copy of the Quick Start User Guide for iThenticate is provided here for your information: Quick Start User Guide [PDF].

You will also find further instructions on how to use the software on the iThenticate website. Fuller guidance is provided in the iThenticate User Manual [PDF].

Should you have any questions about using the software or reading a report produced by it, please contact a member of the PhD Academy team

Your two examiners will read your thesis and then you will be examined by a viva examination. The viva can take place on School premises or be online or mixed mode, depending on the individual needs of the candidate, supervisors and the department. At the viva, if you wish (it is entirely your choice), your supervisor may be present as an observer but cannot participate. The viva is designed to test your ability to express your ideas on the specifics of your research, to defend the viewpoints that you advance in your thesis, and to debate the implications and scope for future development of those ideas. It may also consider where and in what form the ideas might be published. It may be an arduous experience, but it may also be enjoyable – often both at the same time! You should discuss your preparations for the vivawith your supervisor well in advance of it taking place, and your supervisor will set up a mock viva if you think this will be helpful.

Useful suggestions to prepare for the viva include:

• Prepare brief oral summaries of your key arguments beforehand;
• Try to look over the thesis with a dispassionate eye, and note what might appear to others to be weak links or vagueness in your argumentation;
• Be ready to explain and defend your ideas;
• Be prepared to be flexible: think in advance about which aspects of your argument are essential to your view, and which might be modified after discussion;
• Think about theoretical and empirical alternatives to the view you have developed – both within your particular field and in other fields;
• Think about the further theoretical and empirical implications of your work;
• Bear in mind that the Examiners may not share your view of the field.

The outcome of the examination

The outcome of the viva will be a judgement by the examiners, who compile a final examiners’ report. They will make one of several recommendations, which are detailed on the website of the PhD Academy and also on the form you completed in registering for the degree. We hope that you will pass, possibly with some minor amendments, and be ready to celebrate!

When can I refer to myself as Dr?

You cannot call yourself Dr until you receive confirmation by email from the PhD Academy that you have successfully completed. You will receive this email once your examiners are satisfied with any necessary revisions to your thesis, and you have submitted your final completed thesis to the LSE Library.

Appeals process

Should you wish to appeal the Department’s decision in not allowing you to re-register for the programme or to not allow you to upgrade to PhD status, or to appeal against the result of an MPhil or PhD examination, you are advised to familiarise yourself with the Appeals Regulations for Research Students.

Doctorate extension scheme

The Doctorate Extension Scheme (DES) is intended to enable overseas students gaining a doctorate to remain in the UK for an additional 12-month period (after being awarded the PhD) in which to seek work with a Tier 2 employer, to set up as an entrepreneur or to undertake some form of employment. You can undertake any type of work but are not permitted to work as a doctor or dentist in training, or as a professional sportsperson or sports coach. 

You can apply for the DES only: 

• if you have a valid Tier 4 or pre-Tier 4 student visa
• if you have completed all the requirements for your PhD
• 60 days before your expected completion date i.e. the date you will be awarded your PhD
• and you are in the UK at the time you apply under the scheme. If you do not meet all of these criteria you will not be able to apply under the scheme

You will need to read the DES Guidance note to students and follow the steps set out in it within good time if you wish the School to sponsor you under the scheme. You can access the guidance note here.

Graduation

You will be able to attend graduation once your examiners are satisfied with any necessary revisions to your thesis, you have submitted your final completed thesis to the LSE Library, and the PhD Academy have confirmed your completion via email.

If this happens before 30 September, you will be invited to attend the December graduation ceremony. If this happens before 30 April, you will be invited to attend the July graduation.

Visiting fellowship status following completion

As a recently completed PhD, you will be given the opportunity to become a Visiting Fellow in the Department for one year, following completion.

This will mean you will retain full library access, borrowing rights, and your LSE email address, giving you the ability to submit to journals and jobs with an LSE email address at this crucial transitional stage following the PhD.