MPhil/PhD in Economic Geography
Programme code: RPECGY
Department: Geography & Environment
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.
Guidelines for interpreting programme regulations
Route 1
Students who have completed MSc Local Economic Development or MSc Real Estate Economics and Finance will enter in Year 1 and take the course specified below:
Year 1
Training courses
Compulsory (not examined)
GY502 Staff/Research Students Seminars
Compulsory (examined)
1. Courses to the value of one unit from the following (the course(s) must be different to those taken on the MSc):
GY404 Topics in Local Economic Development (H)
GY407 Globalisation, Regional Development and Policy
GY408 Local Economic Development and Policy
GY447 The Economics of Regional and Urban Planning (H)
GY457 Applied Urban and Regional Economics
EC411 Microeconomics (requires students to take pre-sessional course EC400)
2. One relevant advanced research methods course to the value of one unit:
GY428 Applied Quantitative Methods (H)
GY460 Techniques of Spatial Economic Analysis (H)
MY500 Fundamentals of Social Science Research Design (H)
MY521 Qualitative Research Methods (H)
MY526 Doing Ethnography (H)
MY527 Non-Traditional Data: New Dimensions in Qualitative Research (H) (n/a 16/17)
MY556 Survey Methodology (H)
MY557 Causal Inference for Observational and Experimental Studies (H)
MY559 Special Topics in Quantitative Analysis: Quantitative Text Analysis (H) (n/a 16/17)
Students who have completed MSc Local Economic Development or MSc Real Estate Economics and Finance will be required to take a different course(s) from those taken on the degree.
Transferable skills courses
Compulsory (not examined)
GY500 Research Project Seminar
MY592 Workshop in Information Literacy: finding, managing and organising published research and data
Year 2
Training courses
Compulsory (not examined)
GY502 Staff/Research Students Seminars
Transferable skills courses
Compulsory (not examined)
GY500 Research Project Seminar
Year 3
Training courses
Compulsory (not examined)
GY502 Staff/Research Students Seminars
Transferable skills courses
Compulsory (not examined)
GY500 Research Project Seminar
Year 4
Training courses
Optional (not examined)
GY502 Staff/Research Students Seminars
Transferable skills courses
Optional (not examined)
GY500 Research Project Seminar
Route 2
Students without MSc Local Economic Development or MSc Real Estate Economics and Finance will take the following specified courses:
Year 1
Training courses
Compulsory (not examined)
GY502 Staff/Research Students Seminars
Compulsory (examined)
1. Either GY457 Applied Urban and Regional Economics, or GY407 Globalisation, Regional Development and Policy, or GY408 Local Economic Development and Policy.
2. One relevant advanced research methods course to the value of one unit:
GY428 Applied Quantitative Methods (H)
GY460 Techniques of Spatial Economic Analysis (H)
MY500 Fundamentals of Social Science Research Design
MY521 Qualitative Research Methods (H)
MY526 Doing Ethnography (H)
MY527 Non-Traditional Data: New Dimensions in Qualitative Research (H) (n/a 16/17)
MY556 Survey Methodology (H)
MY557 Causal Inference for Observational and Experimental Studies (H)
MY559 Special Topics in Quantitative Analysis: Quantitative Text Analysis (H)
Transferable skills courses
Compulsory (not examined)
GY500 Research Project Seminar
MY592 Workshop in Information Literacy: finding, managing and organising published research and data
Year 2
Training courses
Compulsory (not examined)
GY502 Staff/Research Students Seminars
Transferable skills courses
Compulsory (not examined)
GY500 Research Project Seminar
Year 3
Training courses
Compulsory (not examined)
GY502 Staff/Research Students Seminars
Transferable skills courses
Compulsory (not examined)
GY500 Research Project Seminar
Year 4
Training courses
Optional (not examined)
GY502 Staff/Research Students Seminars
Transferable skills courses
Optional (not examined)
GY500 Research Project Seminar
Progression and Upgrade requirements for both routes
Progression and upgrade requirements:
Students in the MPhil/PhD programme will go through a First Year Progress Review taking place in the Summer Term of their first research year. This is Year 1 for students in the +3 programme and Year 2 for students in the 1+3 programme. For the First Year Progress Review, the student submits 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 supervisors (main supervisor and review supervisor) to discuss the written material presented. The work has to reach an acceptable standard to enable the student to progress. 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 (third year of the 1+3 programme). Progression to the second year (third year of the 1+3 programme) 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. This is Year 2 for students in the +3 programme and Year 3 for students in the 1+3 route. 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. Students are asked to discuss their research paper/thesis outline during an Upgrade Meeting in front of an Upgrading Committee normally formed by main supervisor, review supervisor and a third member of staff with relevant expertise. The material is evaluated by the Upgrading Committee, who will recommend transferral to PhD registration if the work is judged to be of sufficient quality and quantity. 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 relevant Doctoral Programme Director 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.
