MPhil/PhD in Sociology
Programme Code: RPSO
Department: Sociology
For students starting this programme of study in 2018/19
Guidelines for interpreting programme regulations
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.
Paper |
Course number, title (unit value) | |
Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
Training courses |
Compulsory (examined): | |
|
SO500 Aims and Methods Research Class for MPhil Students (1.0) | |
|
Students may also be asked to attend and pass the assessment for up to one further course unit (or two half units) chosen with their supervisor on the basis of an assessment of their research training needs. | |
|
Optional (examined): | |
|
MY400 Fundamentals of Social Science Research Design (0.5) | |
|
MY521 Qualitative Research Methods (0.5) | |
|
MY551 Introduction to Quantitative Analysis (0.5) | |
|
||
|
Other courses from Sociology Masters programmes | |
|
Specialist research courses: | |
|
SO491 Quantitative Social Research Methods (0.5) | |
|
SO492 Qualitative Social Research Methods (0.5) | |
|
SO511 Research Seminar in Political Sociology (0.0) | |
|
SO521 Research Seminar on Cities and Space (0.0) (not available 2020/21) | |
Transferable skills courses |
Optional (not examined): | |
|
MY591 Computing Packages for Applied Analysis (0.0) (withdrawn 2020/21) | |
|
MY592 Workshop in Information Literacy: finding, managing and organising published research and data (0.0) (withdrawn 2019/20) | |
Year 2 | ||
Training courses |
Optional (not examined): | |
|
||
Year 3 | ||
Training courses |
Compulsory (not examined): | |
|
SO505 Becoming a Professional Sociologist (0.0) # (not available 2020/21) | |
Footnotes
A : SO501 is strongly recommended.
# means there may be prerequisites for this course. Please view the course guide for more information.
Progression and upgrade requirements
In the Summer term of each year the progress of each student registered in the Department is discussed at the MPhil/PhD Board, which is a general meeting of all research student supervisors. This Board decides whether to recommend to the School that students be permitted to proceed to the next year of study. If progress is unsatisfactory, a course of action to assist students to reach performance standards deemed appropriate by supervisors may be required, or a recommendation may be made that the student not be allowed to re-register.
By the end of Year 2, students are expected to have completed their fieldwork, and to be ready to submit two draft chapters for upgrade. All full-time research students are expected to have made the transition from the MPhil to PhD (upgrading) within two years of first registration and to have submitted their PhD thesis within four years. Part-time students are expected to be upgraded to PhD by the end of their third year, and to submit their thesis within six years.
The decision to upgrade from MPhil to PhD is taken by a panel consisting of two academics from the Department or the School, with the supervisor(s) in attendance and available to be consulted by the panel. For upgrade, students submit three draft chapters of their thesis, plus thesis abstract and outline schedule for completion. This material is then assessed by viva voce and a written report is made by the panel.
Students should aim to have a complete first draft of their thesis in years three to four and allow three to six months for revision and submission.
Note for prospective students:
For changes to graduate course and programme information for the next academic session, please see the graduate summary page for prospective students. Changes to course and programme information for future academic sessions can be found on the graduate summary page for future students.
