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MPhil & PhD Research Degrees

• Return to Research Degrees Page
• Entrance Requirements
• Language Requirements
• Application & Selection Procedures
• Who are MPhils & PhDs for?
• Start Dates & Periods of Study
• Current Areas of Research Interest
• Guidelines for the Research Proposal
• The Structure & Assessment of MPhil & PhD degrees
• Fees
• For further details

Download information leaflet (pdf)
Postgraduate prospectus - (This information should be read in conjunction with the University’s Postgraduate Prospectus)

Entrance Requirements

Normal entrance qualification for the MPhil and PhD is:

• a first or upper second class Honours degree or
• a postgraduate Master’s degree, in a relevant subject.

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Language Requirements

International students should read carefully the relevant section of the Postgraduate Prospectus. The following qualifications are acceptable as evidence of proficiency in English, and should have been acquired within two years of applying to the University of Aberdeen:

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Application and Selection procedures

You should apply using the normal application form for postgraduate study and include your transcripts, references and a Research Proposal. You can download the application form and guidance notes or apply online at www.abdn.ac.uk/sras/postgraduate/apply.shtml

 Alternatively, you can obtain a copy of the application form from the PG Admissions Office. Completed paper application forms should not be sent directly to the School of Education but must be returned to the:

Postgraduate Admissions Office
University Office
University of Aberdeen
King's College
ABERDEEN
AB24 3FX

E-mail: pgadmissions@abdn.ac.uk

The Admissions Office will forward the application to the School.

It is very important that applicants for the MPhil and PhD degrees include a Research Proposal with the completed application form. See Section 7 below for guidance on writing a Research Proposal.

On receipt of the application, the School decides whether to interview the applicant. This decision depends upon:

• The applicant possessing at least the entrance requirements set out in Section 1 above and having satisfactory references;
• the applicant’s research topic being clearly linked to one of the School’s areas of research interest (see Section 6, below);
• the existence within the School of an available member of staff with experience of research degree supervision and/or a record of research in the applicant’s topic who, in conjunction with a second supervisor, is able to provide the full range of supervisory support over the duration of the student’s study;
• the School having appropriate resources to support the research;
• the applicant being in a position that he/she can visit the School to meet supervisors and to attend seminars and School research development events. These visits will be sufficiently frequent that the student will feel part of the School’s research culture and be able to contribute to that culture;
• the applicant having a clear source of funding;
• the School believing that the applicant’s research proposal and personal situation are such as to make it likely that the degree can be successfully completed by the normal minimum time allowed; and
• the applicant demonstrating an adequate level of competence in English.

An interview is conducted with the applicant either on campus or, if the applicant is outside the UK, by telephone or through a video link. The purpose of the interview is to discuss: whether the applicant is aware of the commitment required in order to complete an MPhil or PhD in the normal minimum time; the extent of his/her knowledge of the proposed research topic; and the practicability of the research proposal. It is also designed to allow the applicant to find out more about doing a research degree and the people with whom he/she will be working. Questions which have been asked at these interviews include: ‘Why do you want to do a research degree?’; ‘What do you imagine a typical day for a full-time research student would be like?’; ‘What are your expectations of supervisors?’; ‘As a part-time research student, how will you safeguard the time necessary to complete a degree?’. There will also be questions relating to the specific research topic.

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Who are MPhils and PhDs for?

These two research degrees are appropriate for people who have already decided on the general topic which they want to research, are secure in their ability to work independently with the support of supervisors, are exceptionally good at managing their time over a prolonged period and wish to make a contribution to the body of knowledge and theory in a particular disciplinary area. Some may see it as a way to gain a post in higher education while others, who already have a post in higher education, may see it as a necessary step in becoming research active.

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Start Dates & Periods of Study

There are two points in the year when students can normally commence their registration: 1 October and 1 February.

Applications for a start on 1 October must be received by 1 September and applications for a start on 1 February must be received by 1 December, in order to allow for interviews and other procedures to be completed.

The normal minimum duration of study for the MPhil is 24months full-time or 42months part-time and for the PhD the normal minimum is 36months full-time or 60months part-time.

In all these cases, it is possibly to apply for extensions but good reason must be given and the total of extensions normally must not exceed two years.

The School welcomes part-time students as well as full-time students, whether they are studying on campus or at a distance. The School does not offer research degrees studied entirely at a distance and full-time students specifically must be resident within easy travelling distance of the campus for at least six months of their studies.

The expectation is that a full-time research student will work on his/her research for around 40 hours per week for 45 weeks in the year. A part-time student will have to devote an average of 20 hours per week to his/her research if it is to be completed within the normal minimum time allowed

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Current Areas of Research Interest

Currently staffs in the School are interested in supervising research on aspects of the following areas:

Changes in staff will cause this list to be altered over time and research proposals from applicants relating to other topics will be considered.

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Guidelines for the Research Proposal

Effective supervision requires the supervisory team not only to have successful experience of supervision but also to have both knowledge of the topic being researched and familiarity with the research methods being employed by the student in researching that topic. A detailed research proposal will allow the selection panel to decide whether the School can provide supervision and resources to support research in to the proposed topic.

Even if the proposed research topic is one which the School can supervise, it is not necessarily the case that every proposed research activity is suited to an MPhil or PhD.

The proposed research must hold out the prospect of producing new knowledge which will be of use to the community of researchers and scholars in the area even if they are not interested in the particular context in which the research is carried out. You need therefore to be guided by your supervisors about how exactly to approach your research so that it will meet degree expectations.

Typically, a research proposal should:

1. identify a specific topic (e.g., ‘formative assessment in undergraduate geography degrees’ rather than just ‘assessment’), explain its importance and clarify the main concepts in the topic (which may involve some reference to literature);
2. show a general outline knowledge of the main writings, of a research and/or theoretical nature, relevant to the specific topic, with some evidence of having read a small number of them in a critical manner;
3. suggest a practicable research question(s) which relates to an aspect of the specific topic. Your supervisors will know that this research question is not permanently fixed and will expect it to change very substantially as your research progresses; and
4. give an indication of how an answer to this research question(s)might be found. In the majority of cases this will include a rough indication of: from whom data are to be collected; how they are to be collected; and, very importantly, ‘why?’ In a purely paper-based investigation, mention should be made of the main sources to be drawn upon. In this section of the proposal, evidence of some familiarity with literature about research skills/theory would be a welcome. The proposal should be about 4 pages in length.

Those applying for a research degree in Music Composition should provide evidence of previous compositions and an outline of the area in which composition will be pursued.

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The Structure & Assessment of MPhil & PhD degrees

The normal procedure is for research students to be registered for an MPhil in the first instance with a view to transferring to the PhD after no less than twelvemonths’ full-time study or twenty-four months’ part-time study, if appropriate. An ‘upgrading viva’ is help for those who wish to change their initial MPhil registration to registration for a PhD. If someone is upgraded to a PhD, the MPhil is not completed.

During your studies, you will be supervised by a team of at least two supervisors who will discuss your research ideas with you and comment on drafts of sections of your thesis. You must meet with your supervisors at least once every three months but you will probably meet with them much more frequently, especially at the start and towards the end of your research. Great importance is attached to ensuring that steady progress is made with research degrees and the University has a number of devices in place to support students:

* The Code of Practice sets out the expectations which the School has for all the parties involved in study for a research degree. A copy can be found at http://www/abdn.ac.uk/registry/quality/appendix5x4.pdf - (wrong)

* Research students are expected to progress in most cases according to the timetable set out in the Postgraduate Structured Management Framework. A copy of the Framework is at http://www.abdn.ac.uk/registry/quality/appendix 8x2.pdf - (wrong)

and at  http://www.abdn.ac.uk/registry/quality/appendix8x3.pdf  - (wrong)

for a 36months full-time PhD and a 60months part-time PhD, respectively. This will serve to illustrate the University’s expectations of progress.

* In addition, a Postgraduate Research Student Assessment Form is completed by the supervisory team and student at the end of each six-monthly period. These are submitted to the College of Arts & Social Sciences Graduate School normally in March and September each year.

Each of these degrees is gained through the submission of a thesis, based on the research undertaken, and its examination in a viva. The maximum length of an MPhil is 70,000 words and of a PhD thesis, 100,000 words, including appendices and footnotes, but excluding bibliographies etc..The thesis must normally be written in English.

For the MPhil or PhD in music composition, a portfolio of composition and an accompanying commentary are required.

Before awarding an MPhil, the University must be satisfied that the thesis ‘makes a contribution to knowledge and affords evidence of originality’. Before awarding a PhD, the University must be satisfied that the thesis ‘makes a distinct contribution to knowledge and affords evidence of originality as shown by the exercise of independent critical powers’.

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Fees

Please see the Postgraduate Prospectus for further information on fees and other expenses. Fees increase each year roughly in line with inflation. Current fee rates are available at http://www.abdn.ac.uk/registry/tuitionfees/

In certain circumstances, overseas students may be eligible for EU fee rates. These circumstances include: the applicant

Further information can be found at www.ukcosa.org.uk

Please note that the School does not normally offer research studentships. If these are available, they are advertised on the School’s website, http://www.abdn.ac.uk/education/

However, the College of Arts & Social Sciences (CASS) does advertise research studentships with closing dates normally in mid-February and mid-May each year. Applicants to the School of Education’s research degrees are eligible to apply for these and a number have been successful each year. These CASS studentships are advertised on the CASS Graduate School website. Go to http://www.abdn.ac.uk/cass/graduate/ and click on ‘College Funding’ on the left hand menu.

More advice on funding is at http://www.abdn.ac.uk/central/funding/ and http://www.abdn.ac.uk/central/students/finance.shtml

For further details about the MPhil and PhD degrees, please contact:

Mrs Liz Robertson

Administrator for Research Degrees
School of Education
University of Aberdeen
MacRobert Building
King’s College
ABERDEEN
AB24 5UA

Tel: (+44) (0)1224 274507
Email: elizabeth.robertson@abdn.ac.uk

An application form and guidelines for its completion can be downloaded or an on-line application can be made at: http://www.abdn.ac.uk/sras/postgraduate/apply.shtml

Completed application forms should be returned to:

Postgraduate Admission Office, University Office, University of Aberdeen
King’s College, Aberdeen. AB24 3FX

Tel: (+44) (0)1224 273506 Fax: (+44) (0)1224
http://www.abdn.ac.uk/sras/postgraduate/apply.shtml

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School of Education · University of Aberdeen · MacRobert Building · King's College · Aberdeen · AB24 5UA · UK
Telephone: (+44) 1224 274776 · Fax: (+44)1224 274900 · E-mail: education@abdn.ac.uk

Page last modified: Friday, 20-Jul-2012 11:39:58 BST

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