MPhil and PhD Research Degrees

Department of Economics and Related Studies

University of York

The MPhil and PhD research degrees provide the opportunity to undertake a sustained supervised research effort culminating in a thesis.

The research programme in York is very large in size (there are around 80 research students , and over 40 staff involved in supervision), and, as many of the staff are leading researchers in their area, York is one of the best research schools in economics in Europe. Many former graduates from York are senior academics in various countries in the world. The research environment at York and the research interests of members of staff can be found at: www.york.ac.uk/depts/econ/research/index.htm

The PhD

There are two programmes leading to PhD in Economics.

The 1+3 PhD programme

The duration of this course is 4 years. The admission criteria are similar to those for the Department's MSc programmes.

During the first year, year 0, students are assigned to one of the MSc's in the above paragraph, and are registered as MSc students. The student must comply with all the procedural requirements for this MSc, and is awarded an MSc if the requirements for the MSc have been met. During this year, each student is assigned a supervisor, who helps him/her select a research supervisor and to prepare for his/her research career.

The first full year of research is year 1. The student is admitted to year 1 if he/she obtains an average of at least 58% in the assessed examinations, and upon presentation of a satisfactory extended research project, normally between 3000 and 7000 words in length. During year 1, the student is supervised by the 'research supervisor', and a small group of other staff in related areas (the Thesis Advisory Group). During year 1, the student is required to attend a transferable skills courses (which include topics such as bibliographical research, ethical and legal implications for the use and collection of data, career development, thesis writing, writing for journals, presentation to conferences, and so on), and further specialists MSc courses or research students courses (not already taken), totalling 20 credits.

During year 2 and year 3, and possibly during a further year of 'writing up time', the student continues to write his/her thesis; he/she is also required to attend some advanced courses, and to present a workshop to fellow students and staff.

The 3 year PhD programme

Students who already have a post-graduate qualification in economics can be admitted to the 3 year PhD Programme. This is the same as the years 1 to 3 of the 1+3 PhD programme, except that, during the first year, students may be required to attend more assessed courses, in order to complete their background preparation in economics or necessary to their research area. The extent of this requirement is decided case by case by the admission panel, and is set out in the letter containing the offer of a place in the programme.

Both programmes are concluded by the submission of a thesis, which must "contain an original contribution to knowledge or understanding". Its recommended length is 30,000 words (and a maximum of 50,000 words). This is examined by a committee of examiners, during a viva voce examination.

The MPhil

The MPhil is similar in structure to the PhD (indeed, all PhD students are in initially registered as MPhil), with the difference that it is one year shorter than the PhD, and that the minimum thesis requirement, both in length and in originality, is reduced accordingly.