Useful information for current graduates
First-year examinations for PhD students
Students need to submit two copies of the following:
- a summary of the scope, purpose, methodology and value of your research project;
- a provisional outline (i.e. list of contents) of your dissertation with a timetable for the conduct and completion of the research and writing;
- a bibliography of your topic and its immediate intellectual context, set out in accordance with the conventions current in your field of study;
- a sample of written-up research of no more than 10,000 words, with appropriate footnotes and bibliographical references (included in the word-count).
Examinations take place in the Easter Term and students will be informed by letter of the date by which they need to submit their work.
Submitting PhD dissertation
At least three months before submitting your dissertation to the Student Registry, you will need to apply to have your examiners appointed. Please download the form, complete and return it to the Faculty Office. Your supervisor will be asked to suggest two examiners whose names will be considered at a Degree Committee meeting.
All the other forms for submission can be found on the Student Registry website.
MPhil Handbook 2015/2016
Please click here for the 2015/2016 handbook.
MPhil marking scheme
The MPhil degree has a new marking scheme which came into effect from 1 October 2010. The mark ranges are as follows:
- Distinction - 100-75
- Pass - 74-60
- Fail - 59-0
The MPhil degree is split into two parts, each accounting for 50 per cent of the final mark:
- three pieces of work (Essays, Exercises and Language Papers, in various possible combinations), and
- a thesis.
Both parts must be passed for the Degree to be awarded, except that a marginal fail in Part (i) may be compensated by a high mark in the thesis. In order to awarded a distinction the candidate must achieve a mark of 75 or above for their thesis and achieve a distinction in Part (i).
Download the MPhil assessment criteria, marking and classing document.
Language learning for graduate students
There are many language learning opportunities for graduate students provided by the University's Language Centre.
Training for supervisors
The Faculty places great value on the training and formation of future tertiary-level teachers. We run a series of seminars, taught by senior members of the Faculty, which are designed to equip graduate students in a variety of teaching skills, including supervising and lecturing.
All graduate students who wish to be added to the Faculty’s lists of approved supervisors must attend the seminar on supervising and the University PPD section’s supervision training workshop. Graduate students will also be given the opportunity to present an undergraduate-level lecture and receive peer feedback on it.
