MPhil/PhD Government

In addition to progressing with their research, students are expected to take the listed training and transferable skills courses.  Students may take courses in addition to those listed, and should discuss this with their supervisor.

Year One
Training courses
Compulsory (not examined)
GV500 Doctoral Programme Seminar

Optional (not examined/examined)
Relevant course(s) provided in the Methodology Institute agreed with supervisor.

Transferable skills courses
Optional (not examined)
Students are strongly recommended to attend

SS501 Authoring a PhD and Developing as a Researcher: Getting Started

Year Two
Training courses
Compulsory (not examined)
At least one workshop from the following (workshop content varies from year to year, but a typical profile includes workshops in political theory, institutional analysis and political economy, European politics and policy, rational choice, and comparative politics):

GV501 Doctoral Workshop: Political Theory
GV503 Political Philosophy Research Seminar
GV505 Research Design in Political Science
GV510 Ethnicity and Nationalism Research Workshop
GV511 Scope and Theory in the Study of Politics
GV512 Research Design: Comparative, Case Study and Historical Approaches
GV513 Qualitative Methods in the Study of Politics
GV514 Political Science and Political Economy Doctoral Workshop
GV515 Researching People, Politics and Organisations.
GV516 Global Politics, Human Security and Governance Doctoral Workshop (withdrawn)

Presentation requirements: students are required to present at one of the workshops attended

Year Three
Training courses
Compulsory (not examined)
At least one workshop from the above (workshop content varies from year to year, but a typical profile includes workshops in political theory, institutional analysis and political economy, European politics and policy, rational choice, and comparative politics).

Year Four
Training courses
Compulsory (not examined)
At least one workshop from the above (workshop content varies from year to year, but a typical profile includes workshops in political theory, institutional analysis and political economy, European politics and policy, rational choice, and comparative politics).

Progression and upgrade requirements
Year 1 - To be allowed to re-register for the second year, first year students are required to give a satisfactory account of the progress and future direction of their research. This should take the form of:
1. A short prospectus, of approximately 3,000 words, setting out the research question, initial theoretical ideas, how these ideas will be applied in empirical research or theoretical enquiry, and a fully referenced discussion of the location of the proposed thesis in relation to existing research, questions, and controversies.
2. A list of intended chapter headings, giving the hypothetical contents of the thesis, together with a short abstract of one paragraph and no more than a page of A4, which summarises, albeit tentatively, the argument, anticipated or hoped for empirical findings or theoretical conclusions of the prospective thesis.
3. One substantial piece of writing, which would normally be a draft chapter. The draft chapter should not be a literature review: it should be a forward looking piece dealing directly with the planned research.
A student is allowed to re-register if, in the opinion of the panel, there is a strong probability that the student will complete a PhD in the permitted time.
Year 2 - The annual review examines the progress made by the student and especially the likelihood of completion of a thesis of sufficient standard within the normal periods (four years for a full-time student and eight for a part-time one).
Year 3 - The annual review examines the progress made by the student and especially the likelihood of completion of a thesis of sufficient standard within the normal periods (four years for a full-time student and eight for a part-time one).

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