MPhil/PhD Regional and Urban Planning Studies

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)
GY504 PhD Seminar in Regional and Urban Planning (there is a required essay for students in their first year)
GY450 Planning Practice and Research or GY502 Staff/Research Students Seminar

Compulsory (examined)
MY4M1 Foundations of Social Research 1 (For those with no formal research methods training)

Optional (not examined)
Specialism courses - Courses to the value of 1 unit addressing a specialist subject related to their thesis topic

Optional (examined, for those who have previous research methods training)
MY400 Fundamentals of Social Science Research Design (H)
MY521 Qualitative Research Methods (H)
MY551 Introduction to Quantitative Analysis (H)
MY552 Applied Regression Analysis (H)

Transferable skills courses
Compulsory (not examined)
GY450 Planning Practice and Research or GY502 Staff/Research Students Seminar
GY500 Geographical Project Seminar

Optional (not examined)
SS501 Authoring a PhD and Developing as a Researcher: Getting Started

Year Two
Training courses
Compulsory (examined by course essay)
GY504 PhD Seminar in Regional and Urban Planning

Compulsory (not examined)
GY500 Geographical Project Seminar

Transferable skills courses
Compulsory (not examined)
GY450 Planning Practice and Research or GY502 Staff/Research Students Seminar

Optional (not examined)
SS502 Authoring a PhD and Developing as a Researcher: The Middle Years

Year Three
Training courses
Compulsory (examined by course essay)
GY504 PhD Seminar in Regional and Urban Planning

Compulsory (not examined)
GY500 Geographical Project Seminar

Transferable skills courses
Compulsory (not examined)
GY450 Planning Practice and Research or GY502 Staff/Research Students Seminar

Optional (not examined)
SS503 Authoring a PhD and Developing as a Researcher: The Endgame

Year Four
Training courses
Compulsory (examined by course essay)
GY504 PhD Seminar in Regional and Urban Planning

Compulsory (not examined)
GY500 Geographical Project Seminar

Transferable skills courses
Compulsory (not examined)
GY450 Planning Practice and Research or GY502 Staff/Research Students Seminar

Progression and upgrade requirements
Students must achieve a Pass (50% or above) in all examined elements, including Methodological courses. All students will be subject to an review of progress in every year of registration.

At the end of the first year, students must submit a written first year progress report for formal review, encompassing a revised detailed research proposal and a chapter/paper (which can be literature review). More details about the required materials and review process are outlined in the programme orientation notes. All of the work carried out in the year, plus performance in specified courses will also be taken into consideration in the annual review.
All students will initially register for the MPhil and be required to pass through an upgrade process to register for the PhD. Upgrade from MPhil to PhD normally takes place in the second year of registration. Students must then submit a written upgrade report for formal examination, encompassing an extensive and detailed research proposal and two chapters/papers (one of which can be a literature review). More details about the required materials and the upgrade process are outlined in the programme orientation notes

Students may be required to complete additional courses, as deemed relevant by their supervisor, in later years of registration. Students are required to be in attendance throughout their period of registration. Absences or fieldwork must be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies in Geography and the Research Degrees Unit, LSE.

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