MPhil/PhD in Human Geography and Urban Studies
Programme Code: RPHUGY
Department: Geography & Environment
For students starting this programme of study in 2021/22
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 (not examined): | |
|
GY502 Staff / Research Students Seminars (0.0) | |
|
Compulsory (examined): | |
|
GY403 Contemporary Debates in Human Geography (0.5) | |
|
Note: Students who have graduated from MSc Human in Geography and Urban Studies cannot repeat courses taken as part of their master's programme. In order to fulfil their obligation to sit for one full unit of subject-specific training, students who have already taken GY403 must instead take courses to the value of one unit from the list of options on the relevant MSc degrees. | |
|
2. Course(s) to the value of a half unit from the list of options available on MSc in Human Geography and Urban Studies (Research). Other relevant courses can be chosen subject to supervisor and course manager approval. | |
|
3. Relevant advanced qualitative research methods course(s) to the value of 1.0 unit from the following: | |
|
MY500 Fundamentals of Social Science Research Design (0.5) | |
|
||
|
MY521L Qualitative Research Methods (0.5) or | |
|
MY521M Qualitative Research Methods (0.5) | |
|
Other relevant advanced research methods courses can be chosen subject to supervisor and course manager approval. | |
Transferable skills courses |
Compulsory (not examined): | |
|
GY500 Research Project Seminar (0.0) | |
|
And | |
|
GY503 Writing the World (0.0) | |
Year 2 | ||
Training courses |
Compulsory (not examined): | |
|
GY502 Staff / Research Students Seminars (0.0) | |
Transferable skills courses |
Compulsory (not examined): | |
|
GY500 Research Project Seminar (0.0) | |
|
GY503 Writing the World (0.0) | |
Year 3 | ||
Training courses |
Compulsory (not examined): | |
|
GY502 Staff / Research Students Seminars (0.0) | |
Transferable skills courses |
Compulsory (not examined): | |
|
GY500 Research Project Seminar (0.0) | |
|
GY503 Writing the World (0.0) | |
Year 4 | ||
Training courses |
Optional (not examined): | |
|
GY502 Staff / Research Students Seminars (0.0) | |
Transferable skills courses |
Compulsory (not examined): | |
|
GY500 Research Project Seminar (0.0) | |
|
GY503 Writing the World (0.0) | |
# means there may be prerequisites for this course. Please view the course guide for more information.
Progression and Upgrade requirements
Once on the MPhil/PhD programme, students will go through a First Year Progress Review taking place in the Summer Term of their first research year.
For the First Year Progress Review, students must submit a written progress report containing an extensive and updated research proposal (typically including an introduction to the topic and motivation for the research; aims and objectives/research questions; contribution to knowledge; summary of methods to be used; and outline of the work to be done) and either a comprehensive literature review or a substantive draft of a chapter/paper as evidence of progress made during the year.
Normally, there will be a progress review meeting between the student and the supervisor(s) to discuss the written material presented. The work has to reach an acceptable standard to enable the student to progress to the second year. There is provision for a second Supplementary Review in cases where there are doubts as to whether progress has been sufficient to allow the student to enter the second year . Progression is also dependent on students having passed all required examinations and obtained at least one merit, and having presented their work satisfactorily in the doctoral presentation workshops.
All research students are initially registered for an MPhil and have to be upgraded to PhD status. The upgrade from MPhil to PhD usually occurs during the second year of full-time registration. The exact timing depends on the student's progress. Students are required to submit a formal written upgrade report consisting of an extensive revised research proposal, two substantive draft papers/chapters, of which one can be a literature review, and a detailed plan for completion. The material is evaluated by an upgrading committee that will recommend transferral to PhD registration if the work is judged to be of sufficient quality and quantity. The upgrading committee is normally formed by the student's supervisors and a third member of staff with relevant expertise. The upgrade is also dependent on students having completed all required training courses and having made a satisfactory research presentation in their doctoral presentation workshop.
In addition to these formal arrangements, each year during the Summer Term and throughout the course of their studies, all PhD students and their supervisors have to complete a yearly Progress Report Form, detailing progress made, problems arising and plan/timeline for completion. The forms are sent to the Director of Post-Graduate Studies for approval before students are able to re-register for the following session. If perceived lack of progress is identified, it can trigger a more formal annual review of progress in which the student is asked to produce specific written documents to be evaluated by a review panel.
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.
