PhD Structure

Structure of the PhD Programme

Research Training Programme (MRes)

In the first year students attend a rigorous PhD-level training programme assessed by coursework and examinations. An important milestone in the first year is the preparation and presentation of a research thesis which will provide an in-depth literature review of student’s chosen topic area and which will formulate research questions and hypotheses that the student will pursue in the course of PhD research itself. Successful completion of the first year is marked by an award of MRes degree.

The year one training programmes for all three faculties help ensure that each student’s research programme is underpinned by methodological understanding and a widening knowledge base in their field of study. Students take full advantage of the University's and School's strengths, develop knowledge of general and specific research issues and use a wider forum for discussing research problems and challenges as they arise. In offering appropriate research skills training, the courses help establish fluency to the exchange of ideas and information from within and beyond the University.

In essence, together with input from students’ supervisors, the training programmes will help students define and focus their research questions, within the context of relevant academic literatures and the needs and demands of leading practitioners in finance, management and actuarial science.

Progression to MPhil status

Students who have successfully completed the MRes programme are admitted to MPhil status at the beginning of year two. The second year is devoted to fleshing out details of the research programme outlined in the MRes thesis.

At the end of year two students submit a so-called `transfer report’ which summarizes their research results to date and provides detailed plan of future research.

Transfer to PhD status and viva voce

At the beginning of year three students are required to transfer to the PhD status. The objectives of the transfer are to check that students are progressing well in their research, to provide students with positive feedback on their research, and to ensure that only students who are ready to progress to the PhD do so. Transfer is achieved by the presentation of the transfer report to an academic staff panel and the successful grading of both the report and presentation by that panel.

Years three and four see the students deepening their research further, finishing individual research articles and presenting them at international workshops and conferences.

The studies are concluded by students submitting their research in the form of a PhD thesis and attending a viva voce examination.

Supervision

On registration each MRes student will be allocated a primary supervisor who will be student’s mentor and a main point of contact within the School. However, during the first term students are expected to focus fully on their training programme. From the 2nd term onwards students spend increasingly more time with the primary supervisor in developing a research proposal. In the third term of year one a 2nd supervisor is appointed. The supervisory team acts as a unit to support the student in developing a coherent research programme in the form of an MRes thesis.

Supervisory support includes assistance with the process of refining the student’s research ideas, suggesting appropriate reading and commenting on drafts of chapters of the thesis, and so on. While the working relationship between supervisor and PhD student should be a close one, it is important to note that students are expected to show a significant degree of autonomy and resourcefulness in planning and executing their research.