What is a Research Degree?

A research degree is a high-level academic qualification that is internationally recognised as a sign of expertise. In the humanities, the qualification is named either a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or a Master of Philosophy (MPhil). The difference between these lies in the level of contribution to the subject it demonstrates, and thus also (among other things) the length of the work produced. The Doctorate is the higher award, representing both scholarship and an original contribution to scholarly knowledge. The MPhil degree is defined in terms of an 'extension' to knowledge in a field.

The success of a research degree programme lies in the production of a Dissertation and the successful oral defense of it in the presence of experts both internal and external to the University. The principle criteria are the professional and scholarly nature of the production and the research activity it represents, and that the work constitutes a contribution to the discipline.

For a fuller discussion of research degrees and the regulations governing them please click here: Research Degrees Regulations.

International students, especially those from the United States, should realise that a research degree in the UK is a degree that consists almost exclusively of supervised research and the production of a thesis. By contrast, a US doctorate involves a considerable number of taught courses. That is why US students can move directly onto PhD programmes after their undergraduate studies, and also why US doctoral programmes take several more years; and it is also why, in the UK, the normal progress of a student onto a research degree is by way of an MA. Here at Staffordshire, we have reached a compromise.

First, research students will be encouraged by their supervisory team to sit in on, and write papers for, taught courses, as part of the process of conducting research. The programme of such work is negotiable and flexible, and is not a formal requirement for the degree. Second, there is a formal taught requirement, the Postgraduate Certificate in Research Methods; but this is relatively modest. As a result, we feel comfortable accepting students onto the MPhil award straight from their undergraduate degree, provided certain other conditions are met. Thus, as described below, there are two acceptable routes onto research degrees in philosophy at Staffordshire University.

Who is Eligible? & Application Procedures

Direct entrance to study for the degree of PhD normally requires successful completion of a Master of Arts (MA) level degree in philosophy or a directly cognate study.

Students without such qualifications, but who have a strong undergraduate academic record, evidence of the ability to carry out project work independently, and have identified a topic for research, may be invited to apply for the MPhil/PhD route. This means applying initially for the degree of MPhil, with the opportunity to apply for transfer onto the PhD programme at a later stage (e.g. after 12 months of study). It is important to note that registration for the MPhil (with a subsequent transfer to PhD study) is an alternative route into research work in Philosophy, distinct from but equally valid with the traditional route through an MA and directly onto a PhD program. The MA award, here or elsewhere, with its emphasis on modules that build to a research project, is an excellent way in to philosophical research for many students, but not for all.

Note that domestic students can enroll as either part-time or full-time. Part-time study is especially valuable for students with more going on in their lives than the traditional student (e.g. family, career). Transferring to full-time study at a later point is an easy procedure. With a very few exceptions, international students are always full-time.

The first step in applying (for either route) is to contact the Department for an informal discussion. Because we handle applications ourselves, rather than through an organisation like UCAS (as for undergraduates), there is no official deadline for applications. Also, you can start with us at any point in the academic year.

The application process proper will involve:

• a post-graduate application form completed with particular attention to detailing previous philosophical study, and identifying at least two and preferably three academic references;
• The collection of authorised copies of any degree or other certificates (e.g. language proficiency), and academic transcripts;
• a small portfolio of samples of your written academic work, and other work (where appropriate, generally where the proposed PhD project is interdisciplinary in nature);
• Note that all postgraduate applications are processed centrally by the University, and it might be several weeks before your application crosses our desks here in the Department.

Then, after you have submitted the above, we will work with you on preparing a draft of a project proposal. The project proposal will include:

• a statement of a research topic: (i) the particular set of issues, together with preliminary claims about them that your work will develop and 'test', or research questions that your work will pursue ;(ii) an articulation of the broader significance of the topic -- why is this topic interesting, how does it relate to other philosophical issues, or broader issues that belong to disciplines outside of philosopher;
• a brief discussion of your proposed topic's relation to other philosopher's work, historical and contemporary -- that is, what primary and secondary authors and texts will likely be the 'key players', and why;
• a rough sketch of what would be involved in bringing the project to completion - for example, areas that would need investigating, and how you would go about doing so; problems that would need to be overcome; new knowledge or skills you would need to obtain;
  
• an outline of your own relevant philosophical (or perhaps other) experience that proves that you are capable of undertaking this type of project. For example, your project's relation to your MA dissertation or other university work.
• and finally an equally rough sketch of what the structure of the finished work might look like - this normally takes the form of a breakdown of chapters.

The Department here will gladly help you to build up this proposal. This will be part of the application process and is not to be taken as a sign of acceptance onto the doctoral programme. The aims of asking you for such a draft proposal are, first, to ensure that your topic is compatible with our research interests, and to ensure that it is viable; and second, to gauge your proficiency at planning academic work, and working with potential supervisors. Note also that it is expected in research that these plans will continue to evolve as the research takes place, so you need not worry about being 'held' unreasonably to your draft proposal! Also, proposals of this type tend to be marvels of concision: your draft should be no more than about 1500-2000 words;

Once all application materials have been received, and an outline research proposal arrived at, we normally hold an informal interview (which can be conducted by email or Skype for international candidates).

After the Philosophy Department has agreed to support your application, you then enroll with the University. Over the first few months of enrollment, we then work with you to produce an extended and formalised version of your proposal. This is then forwarded for approval to the relevant University body (this is called 'registration'). When approved, your date of registration can be backdated up to six months so that you lose no part of the minimum period of study.

After about a year, students on the MPhil will submit a full PhD level proposal and progress report, as part of their seeking approval for transferring onto the PhD pathway.

What do We Offer?

The Philosophy Department at Staffordshire University offers supervision to the levels of both MPhil and PhD in many topics and figures under the broad umbrella of Modern Continental Philosophy. The main areas of expertise of staff are listed on the main Philosophy web page. Please also see a list of recent and current research degrees students.

Both the MPhil and PhD are available in full or part time modes of study. In full time mode, the minimum periods of study are 18 months for the MPhil and 24 for direct-registration PhD (although, historically speaking, few students are able to complete in two years). In part-time mode, the minimum periods of study are 30 or 36 months. (Please see University Regulations for details.)

For the current list of fees see here. Note that the part-time fees are less than half those for full-time, while the minimum registration period is less than double. The overall cost of the PhD for a part-time student is less as a part-time student. This is part of the University's strategy to encourage part-time research degrees students.

What is Studying for a Research Degree Like?

The department will assign you a lead supervisor, and probably also one or two supporting supervisors. Your lead supervisor is the member of staff primarily responsible for your progress; however, depending upon the stage your work has reached, one of the supporting supervisors might be the main point of contact between you and the University. You will meet with your supervisor or team regularly to discuss your recent work, and to help plan your future research directions. Depending upon the stage your research has reached, 'regularly' could range from weekly, to once a month or less.

Of course, a great deal of your time will be spent doing extensive primary and secondary research, writing and thinking. However, you will be expected also to fully participate in the life of the Department: attending and contributing to the Postgraduate Research Seminars and other relevant colloquia here and elsewhere, sitting in on relevant courses in philosophy, forming and participating in reading groups organised with other postgraduate students in the department, and helping to organise conferences and visiting speakers. You will find the postgraduate community in Philosophy here dynamic, entertaining and supportive - not surprisingly, much of the learning process at this level of study takes place through speaking with other philosophers. Accordingly, you will also be encouraged to present your research at conferences around the country. For both the direct PhD route, and the Mphil/PhD route, however, there is one relatively modest taught requirement: all new research students will be required to undertake a study of research methods (the Postgraduate Certificate in Research Methods), although PhD candidates with directly relevant research methods training from their previous MA work may be exempted from part of this requirement. There are no additional fees charged for research methods study. The certificate is the equivalent of just one semester's full-time study, but would normally be spread over approximately 9 months so that your research work continues alongside.

What will I Study?

Proposed Postgraduate Academic Programme for 08-9

Postgraduate Academic Programme for 07-8

Postgraduate Academic Programme for 06-7

Postgraduate Academic Programme for 05-6

Postgraduate Academic Programme for 04-5

Obviously, studying part-time is different from full-time study. Staffordshire is a pioneer of part-time postgraduate provision. Many of our part-time research students choose this mode of study because they have a career and/or a family which consumes much of their time and energy. Also, these individuals may need to go for weeks or months without devoting significant energy to their research projects (e.g. during school holidays); while other times may be able to devote all their spare resources to it. Such variation is easily accommodated within part-time study. However, part-time students are not 'second-class' citizens. On the contrary, we try to arrange departmental affairs flexibly to allow all students to get as much as they can out of the experience.

Other than the research methods training, there are normally no taught components to the research degree. However, your supervisor may encourage or even insist on your attending certain taught courses in order to fill gaps in your current knowledge or skills base. You would not normally have to pay any additional fees in such a circumstance. The University currently does not require foreign or ancient language proficiency for research degrees; however, depending upon the nature of your project, tuition in a foreign language might be deemed vital by the supervisory team.

The successful completion of the degree of PhD is by the production and defense of a thesis. On the type of interdisciplinary PhD in which we specialise, part of the thesis may be a final show, exhibition or other artifact.

Pursuing a research degree can be a hugely exciting undertaking. This is your opportunity to pursue an adequate description, development and defense of your own ideas - and to engage on equal terms, so to speak, with philosophical 'giants'. It is also an opportunity to grow as an individual and professional, discover areas of thought you never new existed, and spend time with a stimulating and friendly group of staff and students. However, it is important to point out that pursuing a postgraduate research degree is a much more independent activity than you may be used to. You should have a passion for the subject capable of sustaining you over the course of several years; and you should be able to motivate yourself to get work done, and to manage your own time efficiently.

Do we offer distance learning?

We do not offer a research degree by distance learning. However, as mentioned above, the taught component of a research degree here is relatively small, so a research degree here may well offer the flexibility you need. Please do be aware, though, that the feasibility of the research project is an important concern when we make decisions on admissions. Part of this feasibility relates to the availability to you of regular contact with your supervisory team, the availability of research materials, as well as the various support mechanisms that the Department and University provide. A research degrees application from a candidate who wished to live much of the time well away from the campus would have to be scrutinised by us, and by relevant University committees, very carefully.

For further information about research degrees in philosophy at Staffordshire, please contact Professor Burnham (h.d.burnham@staffs.ac.uk), or the tutor in the Department whose work most closely matches your proposed field of research.

Last revised HDB 02/11/2010