MPhil/PhD in International Relations
Programme Code: RPIR
Department: International Relations
For students starting this programme of study in 2023/24
Guidelines for interpreting programme regulations
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.
Paper |
Course number, title (unit value) | |
Year 1 | ||
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Training courses |
Compulsory (not examined): | |
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IR501 Methods in International Relations Research (0.0) | |
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Compulsory (examined): | |
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DV560 Bayesian Reasoning for Qualitative Social Science: A modern approach to case study inference (0.5) (not available 2024/25) | |
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GV513 Qualitative Methods in the Study of Politics (0.5) (not available 2024/25) | |
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IR517A Special Topics in International Relations (0.5) | |
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IR517W Special Topics in International Relations (0.5) | |
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MY500 Fundamentals of Social Science Research Design (0.5) | |
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MY525 Case Studies and Comparative Methods for Qualitative Research (0.5) # | |
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MY557 Causal Inference for Observational and Experimental Studies (0.5) # | |
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MY561 Social Network Analysis (0.5) | |
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MY570 Computer Programming (0.5) | |
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Compulsory (not examined): | |
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IR502 International Relations Theory/Area/History Research Workshop (0.0) | |
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IR504 Security and Statecraft Research Workshop (0.0) | |
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IR507 International Institutions, Law and Ethics Research Workshop (0.0) | |
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IR555 International Political Economy Research Workshop (0.0) | |
Transferable Skills Courses |
MY530 Advanced Qualitative Research Workshops (0.0) # (withdrawn 2024/25) | |
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MY560 Workshop in Advanced Quantitative Analysis (0.0) (withdrawn 2024/25) | |
Year 2 | ||
Training courses |
Compulsory (not examined) | |
|
IR502 International Relations Theory/Area/History Research Workshop (0.0) | |
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IR504 Security and Statecraft Research Workshop (0.0) | |
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IR507 International Institutions, Law and Ethics Research Workshop (0.0) | |
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IR555 International Political Economy Research Workshop (0.0) | |
Year 3 | ||
Research Cluster Workshop |
Compulsory (not examined) | |
|
IR502 International Relations Theory/Area/History Research Workshop (0.0) | |
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IR504 Security and Statecraft Research Workshop (0.0) | |
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IR507 International Institutions, Law and Ethics Research Workshop (0.0) | |
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IR555 International Political Economy Research Workshop (0.0) | |
Year 4 | ||
Research Cluster Workshop |
Compulsory (not examined) | |
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IR502 International Relations Theory/Area/History Research Workshop (0.0) | |
|
IR504 Security and Statecraft Research Workshop (0.0) | |
|
IR507 International Institutions, Law and Ethics Research Workshop (0.0) | |
|
IR555 International Political Economy Research Workshop (0.0) | |
Prerequisite Requirements and Mutually Exclusive Options
# means there may be prerequisites for this course. Please view the course guide for more information.
1 : MY521A can not be taken with MY521W
2 : MY521W can not be taken with MY521A
3 : MY551A can not be taken with MY551W
4 : MY551W can not be taken with MY551A
5 : MY552A can not be taken with MY552W
6 : MY552W can not be taken with MY552A
Progression and upgrade requirements
All MPhil/PhD students at LSE are initially registered with MPhil status. Continued re-registration and upgrade are dependent on satisfactory progress being made. Upgrade to PhD registration will normally happen at the end of the first academic year and no later than within 18 months of initial registration in line with Research Degrees Regulations.
Upgrade:
In order to progress to PhD registration, students must normally have met the progression requirements outlined below:
- Achieved a mark of at least 50% in each of the required examined graduate-level course units in Research Methods training
- Have made satisfactory progress in their research: this will be assessed by a face to face Review panel involving two academic staff members and including the views of the supervisor. Review panels will be formed in consultation with the supervisor.
Material to be submitted to the Review panel for upgrade must include: a research outline and one draft chapter of no more than 10,000 words. The proposal, which should illustrate the student’s command of the theoretical and empirical literature related to their topic, will be a clear statement of the theoretical and methodological approach they will take. This should demonstrate the coherence and feasibility of the proposed research and thesis. The submission will also include a timetable to completion, which should identify any periods of fieldwork necessary to the research.
The material submitted will be also discussed and commented upon at IR501 lab sessions.
Regular attendance at IR501 and the IR Research Cluster Workshop will be taken into account for progression: at least 80% attendance is expected. In the unlikely event where a student is successful at passing the upgrade panel but requires a second attempt at completing the Research Methods Courses, they may be authorised to be upgraded but would be required to pass the course by the end of their Second Year in order to re-register.
Progress review:
After the first year Review panel, progress will be reviewed annually as per Regulations for Research Degrees . Continued re-registration will be dependent on satisfactory progress being made.
In Year 2, students will be expected to submit two additional draft chapters and a timetable to completion which will be reviewed by the same panellists as in Year 1. The two chapters should be substantially new work, but may include revised material from Year 1. A virtual panel meeting will be scheduled and make recommendations on further progression based on progress made and quality of work submitted, as well as attendance at a Cluster Workshop.
Students in their third year of registration will be required to submit an annual progress report at the end of June, including a timetable to completion clearly setting out the work completed and remaining on the student’s research, as well as their commitment to a Research Cluster. These will need to be approved by the supervisor and reviewed by the Doctoral Programme Director in order to authorise re-registration.
Requirements for all theses submitted for the degrees of MPhil and PhD in International Relations
The full requirements of a thesis are set out in the Regulations for Research Degrees.
A PhD thesis in International Relations, in addition to meeting the criteria outlined above, can take either of two forms and:
- consist either of a monograph that forms an integrated whole and present a coherent argument; or,
- alternatively, consist of a series of three or more publishable papers, with an introduction, critical discussion and conclusion, which may be submitted instead of a conventional thesis.
A thesis that contains only joint papers is not acceptable, and the Department will only allow one paper to be jointly authored. The thesis must contain linking materials which must be solely the work of the candidate. The part played by the candidate in any work done jointly with the supervisor(s) and/or fellow researchers must be clearly stated by the student;
Within the scope provided by the Regulations for Research Degrees, the format of the thesis will be agreed with and approved by the supervisor(s) who will ensure that the format conforms to the Department’s requirements.
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.