MPhil/PhD in Regional and Urban Planning Studies
Programme Code: RPRP
Department: Geography & Environment
For students starting this programme of study in 2020/21
Guidelines for interpreting programme regulations
In addition to progressing with your research, you are expected to take the courses listed below. You may take courses other to those listed but must discuss this with your supervisor.
Paper |
Course number, title (unit value) | |
Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
Training courses |
Compulsory (not examined): | |
|
GY502 Staff / Research Students Seminars (0.0) | |
|
Compulsory (examined): | |
|
1. Courses to the value of one unit from the relevant MSc degrees | |
|
2. Relevant subject-specific training courses to the value of 1.0 unit: | |
|
||
|
||
|
MY500 Fundamentals of Social Science Research Design (0.5) | |
|
MY521 Qualitative Research Methods (0.5) (withdrawn 2021/22) | |
|
||
|
MY527 Qualitative Research with Digital and Visual Data (0.5) # (withdrawn 2021/22) | |
|
||
|
MY557 Causal Inference for Observational and Experimental Studies (0.5) # | |
|
MY559 Special Topics in Quantitative Analysis: Quantitative Text Analysis (0.5) # | |
|
Methods courses: other relevant subject-specific training courses can be chosen subject to supervisor and course manager approval | |
|
NOTE: Students who join the PhD programme after having completed an MSc Regional and Urban Planning Studies or another Department of Geography MSc cannot retake the same courses or be waived the one unit of subject-specific training. | |
Transferable skills courses |
Compulsory (not examined): | |
|
GY500 Research Project Seminar (0.0) | |
|
And | |
|
Workshop in Information Literacy: finding, managing and organising published research and data | |
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) | |
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) | |
# 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 you will go through a First Year Progress Review, taking place in the Summer Term of your first 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 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. 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. 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 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.
