MPhil/PhD in Human Geography and Urban Studies

Programme Code: RPHUGY

Department: Geography and Environment

For students starting this programme of study in 2024/25

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.

Prerequisite Requirements and Mutually Exclusive Options

# 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, students will go through a First Year Progress Review taking place in the Summer Term of their first research 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 supervisor(s) to discuss the written material presented. The work has to reach an acceptable standard to enable the student to progress to the second year. 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 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. The material is evaluated by an upgrading committee that will recommend transferral to PhD registration if the work is judged to be of sufficient quality and quantity. The upgrading committee is normally formed by the student's supervisors and a third member of staff with relevant expertise. 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 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.

Composition and content of the thesis:

1          General

For the award of a PhD a student is required to submit (normally within four years of full-time registration, or part-time equivalent) a thesis which:

• Forms a distinct contribution to the knowledge of the subject and affords evidence of originality by the discovery of new facts and/or by the exercise of independent critical power’
• Gives a critical assessment of the relevant literature, describes the method of research and its findings, and includes a discussion on those findings, and indicates in what respects they appear to the candidate to advance the study of the subject; and so demonstrates a deep and synoptic understanding of the field of study, and;
• Demonstrates research skills

What these criteria mean in practice will vary between topics and with the conventions of the different sub-disciplines of our various PhD programmes. Supervisors are responsible for providing guidance as to what they imply for a student’s particular research project, though ultimately it is examiners who decide whether to recommend the award of the PhD.

2          Form

Subject to approval of a student’s supervisors, in relation to conventions and publication practices in the field appropriate to your research, your thesis can take either of two forms:

• (i) The monographic PhD is written as an integrated whole. Such a thesis is a monograph of up to 100,000 words.

More details about the specific requirements can be found in the School’s Regulations for Research Degrees, which can be found in the LSE Calendar.

• (ii) A set of publishable papers – on a set of related topics – within a context framed by an introduction, critical discussion, and conclusion. Candidates who are being examined may submit such a thesis, subject to the approval of their supervisor, and the following provisos:
  
  
• (a) The thesis must meet all general academic requirements expected of the traditional thesis and should similarly reflect what can be expected from 3 years of effective full-time research.
• (b) It should normally include either:

• (i) At least three single-authored papers of publishable quality; or
• (ii) At least two single-authored papers plus at least two jointly-authored papers (to which the candidate has made a major contribution) of such quality, subject to provision to the examiners of a clear, agreed statement from supervisors and other authors of the respective contributions to each.

Other possible combinations of joint- and single-authored papers might be sufficient to constitute a PhD thesis. If the structure of the student’s thesis deviate from either (i) or (ii) here above, the student should seek explicit approval from their supervisors and from the Director of Doctoral Studies.

• (c) All papers should be primarily the result of research undertaken during the period of registration for the degree.
• (d) The thesis should include a substantial introduction and a conclusion, which are expected to highlight the contributions of the papers to knowledge in the relevant field and demonstrate how the set of papers meets the general requirements set out for a PhD above.

It is recommended that paper-based PhD submissions include an integrated bibliography at the end of the thesis – even where there are separate bibliographies for the different papers. If a student has any doubts, please discuss this matter with your supervisors.

A student should discuss with their supervisors which PhD form is more suitable for their PhD work even if the norm may be very clear in relation to their specific field of research; the specific circumstances and aspects of the student’s research topic are to be considered.

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.