Please read the PhD handbook and your programme regulations for details, the below is a summary of assessments on our doctoral programmes.
Formative assessment
You have to formative assessments as part of your core course work:
Both will be marked by your supervisors and will receive one of the following grades: Distinction (70-100%), Merit (60-69%) Pass (50-59%) or Fail (0-49%).
Word limit: Each chapter should be no more than 3,500 words.
Deadlines: The theory chapter is due Monday 10 March 2025 (Winter Term, Week 8). Feedback will normally be received by the end of Winter Term.
The methods chapter is due Tuesday 6 May 2025 (Spring Term, Week 1). Feedback will normally be received by the end of Week 5 of Spring Term.
The chapters should be uploaded to the page by 12.00 (midday UK time).
Summative assessment and progression
All year 1 MPhil candidates are MPhil candidates until they pass their upgrade, at which point they will become PhD candidates. MPhil candidates cannot proceed unless they have passed their upgrade. To upgrade from MPhil to PhD, you submit a thesis proposal and take part in an upgrade viva with your supervisors and a department faculty member.
You have two assessments that you have to pass: the PhD upgrade viva based on your thesis proposal and a data literacy (MY464) or an advanced quantitative analysis (MY465) exam.
The PhD Board determines the Department’s criteria for upgrading to MPhil candidates to PhD. The thesis proposal will form part of the evaluation process, and, together with an upgrade viva and any examination for methodological courses, will determine whether MPhil candidates are permitted to upgrade from MPhil to PhD and continue into their second year.
If you pass the upgrade process but fail any other assessment (methods exam/s) then you will receive a ‘conditional upgrade’. This means you will be upgraded on the condition that any failed assessments receive a resit mark of at least 50%.
Deadlines:
Please see the PhD Handbook for further information on guidelines for formatting and content of the thesis proposal.
Upgrade Viva format
The upgrade viva review generally lasts up to 90 minutes. You will get a chance to present your work and will be asked question regarding the content and the ideas expressed in the upgrade proposal. It is audio-recorded and you will receive a copy of the recording, together with a formal written response from the chair and each committee member.
Upgrade Viva Feedback
You will receive oral feedback during your upgrade viva and written feedback by the end of Spring Term.
Possible outcomes of the MPhil upgrade
There are 4 possible outcomes from the upgrade examination:
a) Pass and progress to PhD.
b) Pass with minor corrections, and progress to PhD; you will be asked to resubmit or revise some component of the thesis proposal within 3 months. A second viva will not be necessary in this case.
c) Referral for resubmission of all or part of the thesis proposal within 3 months (at the start of the new academic year); progression to PhD will be conditional on examination of the revised work by the thesis committee. A second viva may be necessary in this case, and this will be decision of your thesis committee on receiving the resubmitted thesis proposal.
d) Fail (leading to a resit) with resubmission of a proposal by Friday 6 December and a re-examination at the start of WT.
You should not plan to take leave of absence for fieldwork before passing the upgrade.