MPhil/PhD in Psychological and Behavioural Science

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Programme Code: RPPB

Department: Psychological and Behavioural Science

For students starting this programme of study in 2018/19

Guidelines for interpreting programme regulations

The MPhil/PhD programme includes taught courses on both methodology and theory. The precise courses students are required to attend varies and exemptions may apply depending on prior experience and qualifications. These matters should be discussed and agreed with the supervisor in the first formal supervision meeting.

Year 1
Paper	Course number, title (unit value)
Training courses	Compulsory (students should agree with their supervisor whether the courses taken will also be examined):
	MY421 Qualitative Research Methods (0.5) (withdrawn 2021/22)
	MY456 Survey Methodology (0.5) ^#
	One of the following:
	MY452 Applied Regression Analysis (0.5) ^# (withdrawn 2021/22)
	MY455 Multivariate Analysis and Measurement (0.5) ^#
	One of the following:
	PB401 Contemporary Social and Cultural Psychology (1.0)
	PB402 Organisational Social Psychology (1.0)
	PB404 The Social Psychology of Communication (1.0)
	PB423 Health, Community and Development (1.0) (withdrawn 2019/20)
	For PB401, PB402, PB404 and PB423, students also take the following unassessed course:
	PB400 Psychological and Behavioural Science (0.0) (not available 2023/24)
Transferable skills courses	Compulsory (not examined):
	PB500 Current Research in Psychological and Behavioural Science (0.0)
	Optional (examined/not examined):
	Students can take further optional courses which they should discuss with their supervisor (students should agree with their supervisor whether the courses taken will also be examined).
Year 2
Training courses	Compulsory (students should agree with their supervisor whether the courses taken will also be examined): Quantitative pathway
	MY452 Applied Regression Analysis (0.5) ^# ^A (withdrawn 2021/22)
	MY455 Multivariate Analysis and Measurement (0.5) ^# ^B
	Qualitative pathway
	MY455 Multivariate Analysis and Measurement (0.5) ^#
	Combined pathway
	MY452 Applied Regression Analysis (0.5) ^# ^C (withdrawn 2021/22)
	MY455 Multivariate Analysis and Measurement (0.5) ^# ^D
	MY456 Survey Methodology (0.5) ^# ^E
	MY455 Multivariate Analysis and Measurement (0.5) ^#
	Optional (examined/not examined):
	Students can take further optional courses which they should discuss with their supervisor (students should agree with their supervisor whether the courses taken will also be examined).
Transferable skills courses	Compulsory (not examined):
	PB500 Current Research in Psychological and Behavioural Science (0.0)
	Optional (examined/not examined):
	Students can take further optional courses which they should discuss with their supervisor (students should agree with their supervisor whether the courses taken will also be examined).
Year 3
Training courses	Compulsory (examined/not examined):
	Students can take further compulsory courses which they should discuss with their supervisor (students should agree with their supervisor whether the courses taken will also be examined).
	Optional (examined/not examined):
	Selection of courses taken at more advanced level than those in Years 1 and 2.
Transferable skills courses	Compulsory (not examined):
	PB500 Current Research in Psychological and Behavioural Science (0.0)
Year 4
Training courses	Students can take further courses following discussion with their supervisor.
Transferable skills courses	Compulsory (not examined):
	PB500 Current Research in Psychological and Behavioural Science (0.0)
	Optional (examined/not examined):
	Students can take further optional courses which they should discuss with their supervisor.

Prerequisite Requirements and Mutually Exclusive Options

# means there may be prerequisites for this course. Please view the course guide for more information.

Footnotes

A : If MY421 taken in Year 1

B : If MY452 taken in Year 1

C : If MY421 taken in Year 1

D : If MY452 taken in Year 1

E : If MY455 taken in Year 1

Progression and upgrade requirements
The first year Extended Essay and the second year Upgrade chapters (see below) are examined by a three-person thesis committee, which includes the student's supervisor, as well as two other academic colleagues.

Targets for progress
Year 1 - Extended Essay of 6,000 words, submitted on first day of Lent Term.
Year 2 - Upgrade viva. Two draft chapters of 10,000 words each (total of 20,000 words), submitted on first day of Lent Term. These chapters form the basis of an oral examination by three person thesis committee usually four to six weeks after submission. Success in this examination results in upgrade from MPhil to PhD status.
Year 3- Completed first draft by end of three years.

Teaching experience
Graduates will usually gain some teaching experience and have had the opportunity to develop teaching skills.

The Department of Psychological and Behavioural Science allows for two formats of PhD:

The “thesis (aka monograph) format” is the traditional PhD format. Candidates produce several chapters examining a single subject in an integrated way, similar to the format and structure of a book. This remains the most common format, and it is expected that most PhD candidates will use this format.
The “article format” is a more recent PhD format which has become common in experimental domains. Candidates produce distinct papers which are combined with integrative material to address a single subject. The defining feature of this format is that some of the “chapters” can be articles which either have been published or prepared for publication. This format tends only to be suitable for PhD projects which comprise a series of distinct (but inter-related) empirical studies.

Extra guidelines for “article format” PhD

The thesis should comprise three to six publishable articles minimally framed by an introduction, critical discussion, and conclusion. Articles are normally co-authored with supervisors (this is a more general requirement about the papers written on your PhD topic while being under supervision). Articles and chapters both count as “papers” – the most important part is that they are publishable quality. They do not have to have been submitted, and even if they have been submitted and accepted this does not automatically entail that the Committee will find them suitable within the larger context of the project.

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.