Research Degrees at the University of West London Enquiry Pack and Guidance Notes for Initial Application

Transcription

1 Research Degrees at the University f West Lndn Enquiry Pack and Guidance Ntes fr Initial Applicatin MPhil and PhD Research Degrees The University f West Lndn has an utstanding natinal and internatinal reputatin in practice-based research in areas such as cmputing, health, law, media and music. Research als cntributes t UWL s excellent undergraduate and pstgraduate prvisin and is fundamental t the ecnmic cntributin f the University t the Thames Valley regin. The University welcmes applicatins frm students wh wish t study fr an MPhil/PhD research degree in any f the fllwing subject areas: Cllege f Nursing, Midwifery & Healthcare Bi-mechanics Child Health Healthcare Educatin Infectin Preventin & Cntrl (including Healthcare-Assciated Infectins) HIV/AIDS Epidemilgy, Clinical Care, Therapeutics & issues relating t resurce limited settings Management in Healthcare Mental Health Midwifery and Wmen s Health Nursing Practice Pdiatry Scial Plicy Translatinal Medicine Ealing Law Schl Criminlgy Internatinal Law Sentencing Ealing Schl f Art, Design and Media Art & Design Art Histry Film & Mving Image Media Studies Research Degree Enquiry Pack (Nvember 2011) 1

2 Phtgraphy Thery Institute fr Teaching, Innvatin & Learning Academic Cultures Academic Identity HE Pedaggies Change Thery & Change Management Higher Educatin Teaching & Learning Technlgy-enhanced Learning Wrk-based Learning Lndn Cllege f Music Cmpsitin Music/Audi Technlgy Musiclgy Recrd Prductin Lndn Schl f Hspitality & Turism Hspitality Management Schl f Cmputing & Technlgy Built Envirnment Civil/Structural Engineering Cmputer Netwrking and Distributed Systems Cmputing Interactin Design, Usability & Glbal Sftware Infrmatin Management Sftware Engineering Schl f Psychlgy, Scial Wrk & Human Sciences Nutritinal Medicine Physilgy Psychlgy Substance Abuse/Misuse West Lndn Business Schl Business Management Crprate Cmmunicatins / Public Relatins Human Resurce Management Research Degree Enquiry Pack (Nvember 2011) 2

3 Research students will be supervised by staff frm ne f the Schls and will take part in seminars and activities rganised by Schls. The aim f the MPhil/PhD research prgramme is t enable yu, as a research student, t explre and critically evaluate issues surrunding yur chsen subject, t extend the knwledge base f yur field and, where applicable, t recmmend new practices and plicies. The prgramme is designed t build n yur existing strengths and t bring yu t the leading edge f knwledge in yur chsen area f research. This dcument describes the entry qualificatins, the requirements fr enrlment and registratin, stages in the registratin prcess, the research career at UWL, and areas f supervisin expertise currently ffered within the University. The purpse f the dcument is t prvide guidance as t what is expected frm applicants, and hw the applicatin prcess wrks. The Institute fr Practice and Interdisciplinary Research (INSPIRE) has a crssuniversity rle in prviding supprt fr research. It c-rdinates research activity fr all staff and students in the University, and supervises the mnitring and examinatin f research students. It implements plicy develped by the University Research, Schlarship and Enterprise Cmmittee and the University Research Degrees Sub-Cmmittee. It aims t ensure that the University prvides a cnsistent quality f envirnment and supprt fr MPhil and PhD students, in additin t the essential supprt prvided by individual supervisrs and subject areas. INSPIRE is based at the St. Mary s Rad, Ealing campus. INSPIRE rganises a prgramme f university-wide events t cmplement thse available in different subject areas, including pstgraduate student seminars and a virtual students frum, using the e-learning platfrm, Blackbard. These are useful fr meeting ther students as well as prviding study supprt. Cntact details: Institute fr Practice and Interdisciplinary Research TC 406 University f West Lndn St. Mary s Rad Lndn W5 5RF tel: +44 (0) research.degrees@uwl.ac.uk T find ut mre abut the University, its curses and research activities, and supprt fr students, please cnsult the Pstgraduate Prspectus, r g the University website at and click n the research banner. Research Degree Enquiry Pack (Nvember 2011) 3

4 MPhil r PhD? At UWL the majrity f students enrl n a jint MPhil/PhD registratin with the pssibility t upgrade t PhD status. After a suitable perid yu may decide t either apply fr full PhD status r instead submit yur thesis fr an MPhil award. This system allws sme flexibility if the scpe r cmplexity f yur research des nt develp as yu expect. Master f Philsphy A candidate fr an MPhil degree is expected t critically investigate and evaluate an apprved tpic, and cntribute t knwledge f this tpic. The candidate must demnstrate an understanding f research methds that are apprpriate t their chsen field, and must als present a thesis and defend it by ral examinatin t the satisfactin f examiners appinted by the University. An MPhil is nrmally cmpleted in tw years (full-time) r fur years (part-time). Dctr f Philsphy A candidate fr a PhD degree is expected t critically investigate and evaluate an apprved tpic resulting in an independent and riginal cntributin t schlarship, wrthy f publicatin in cmplete r abridged frm. The candidate must shw evidence f the ability t undertake further research withut supervisin and must als present a thesis and defend it by ral examinatin t the satisfactin f examiners appinted by the University. A PhD is nrmally cmpleted in three years (full-time) r six years (part-time). Prgramme utline The MPhil/PhD research prgramme cnsists f the fllwing stages: Initial stage Yu will need t submit a shrt utline research prpsal (see the guide t cmpleting yur prpsal in this dcument) and a brief CV t help us t assess yur suitability as a research student, t assess the viability f the tpic t be investigated, and t allcate a suitable supervisr t yu. Yu will als attend an interview with the Schl Admissins Tutr and yur prspective supervisr. Acceptance f candidate Once yur suitability and the tpic fr investigatin have been established, yu will be accepted nt the prgramme n a prbatinary basis. If yu d nt have a masters qualificatin that invlves sme frm f primary research yu will be expected t cmplete the first 60 credits f the University s generic MA/MSc in Research (exemptin will nly be n the basis f advanced standing). On cmpletin f 60 credits yu will be eligible t receive a Pstgraduate Certificate as recgnitin f yur initial achievement. Whilst registered n the Pstgraduate Certificate in Research yu shuld begin wrking with yur principal supervisr, wh will supprt and guide yu t prduce a full research prpsal fr submissin t the University Research Degrees Sub-Cmmittee. Once yu have cmpleted the Pstgraduate Certificate yu will be expected t submit a prpsal t the next meeting f the Research Degree Enquiry Pack (Nvember 2011) 4

5 University Research Degrees Sub-Cmmittee, in rder t be frmally enrlled and registered as an MPhil/PhD student. If yu are exempt frm the Pstgraduate Certificate in Research n the basis f advanced standing yur principal supervisr will prvide a limited level f advice n prpsal develpment and yu will be expected t submit a prpsal directly t the University Research Degrees Sub-Cmmittee within six mnths, in rder t be frmally enrlled and registered as an MPhil/PhD student. MPhil/PhD registratin Once yu are enrlled and registered as an MPhil/PhD student yu will be entitled t receive supervisin and t use all the University s usual facilities fr study in rder t develp yur wrk. Yu shuld als receive a cpy f the Research Student Handbk, which prvides mre detailed infrmatin abut studying fr a Research Degree at UWL. At this stage yu will begin explring yur chsen area f research, prbably by undertaking a detailed literature review. MPhil t PhD upgrade Fllwing a perid f 9 t 18 mnths, depending n the mde f study, yu can apply fr upgrade t PhD status. T gain PhD status yu are expected t submit: a revised research design and plan, an accunt f preliminary data cllected and any preliminary data analyses, tw r three draft chapters, and a detailed plan describing hw the thesis is t be cmpleted frm that stage. Submissin f thesis and PhD examinatin Three t six years after the initial acceptance, depending n the mde f study, yu will be expected t submit the final draft f yur thesis which yu will then defend in an ral examinatin. Hw lng will it take? As a research student yu can study full r part-time. Yu will have t register fr a minimum f 33 mnths as a full-time student r 45 mnths as a part-time student, and are expected t cmplete within three r six years respectively. The ideal way t cmplete a PhD is t study full-time fr three years, but many students at UWL study part-time, r mix full and part-time study during their registratin perid. Student Supprt When yu are registered as a research student yu will be assigned tw, r mre, supervisrs, ne f whm may be an external supervisr, t guide and supprt yur research. A key aspect t yur study will be regular meetings and crrespndence with yur supervisrs. The University als runs an annual cnference fr MPhil/PhD students, and many students pt t write and present a paper n sme aspect f their research. As well as being an pprtunity t discuss yur wrk with ther students the cnference is als a chance t gain valuable experience in presenting research and participating in Research Degree Enquiry Pack (Nvember 2011) 5

6 pen discussins. Yu will als find ther pprtunities such as pstgraduate student seminars and frums, and seminars within yur subject area. Mnitring Yur Prgress While yu are a research student yur prgress will be mnitred bth frmally and infrmally by the University. Yu can expect t meet with yur supervisrs t discuss yur wrk and tackle any cncerns r prblems yu may encunter. Yu will als be required t submit a frmal reprt nce a year t the University Research Degrees Sub-Cmmittee t utline yur prgress and yur plans fr the frthcming 12 mnths. Entry Requirements The minimum entry requirements fr a research degree are either: r a gd first degree (First Class r Upper Secnd Class), r equivalent qualificatin in a relevant field a Masters Degree (MA, MSc, MBA r MRes), r equivalent pstgraduate r research experience. Candidates with ther qualificatins will need t discuss their eligibility with a member f staff. Cmpetence in written and spken English is a pre-requisite fr entrance t this prgramme. An IELTS (Internatinal English Language Testing System) scre f seven is the minimum standard required. The University ffers sme specialist curses in academic English fr students fr whm English is nt their first language and this is smething yu may wish t discuss with yur supervisrs as an ptin befre r early in yur studies. The Outline Research Prpsal/Statement f Research Interest As part f the applicatin prcess, yu will need t submit a shrt utline research prpsal r statement f research interests, which is used: t help in assessing yur preparedness fr higher degree wrk; t establish whether yu have a viable tpic t investigate; t cnsider the mst apprpriate supervisin arrangements and cnfirm whether UWL can ffer yu the mst apprpriate supprt. Althugh it can seem very challenging t prduce a research prpsal, even in utline, befre yu have frmally begun yur studies, it can be a valuable way f wrking thrugh yur wn ideas and interests, and assessing whether they are likely t develp int a feasible prject, t frm the basis f yur dctrate. It will als frm the fundatin fr yur mre detailed prpsal t apply fr frmal registratin as an MPhil/PhD student. The initial prpsal shuld nt be treated as a rigid cmmitment, and sme students d change their plans as their wrk develps but research students are expected t have viable and sufficiently cherent prjects, and the Research Degree Enquiry Pack (Nvember 2011) 6

7 requirement that a prpsal shuld be written is the first demnstratin f this capability. The guidelines set ut belw are intended t help yu t identify and address the imprtant areas yu will eventually need t cver in yur frmal prpsal. If yu feel it is mre apprpriate at this stage t simply prvide a statement f research interests, please discuss this with an apprpriate member f academic staff. Guidelines Intrductin This shuld identify yur prpsed research tpic and cntextualise it within a particular discipline r area f interest. It shuld cntain sme reference t the relevant literature and/r practice issues, and yur intrductin shuld build n the knwledge and issues raised. Yu shuld als make clear why the research tpic is wrth investigatin, fr example, in terms f the need t extend knwledge r t address gaps in existing knwledge, and als f the imprtance f the tpic and its ptential cntributin t the subject area r discipline. Statement f Research Fcus, Prblems r Questins Yu shuld describe yur prpsed research fcus within the tpic yu are interested in, and, if apprpriate, the prblems r research questin(s) it is likely t address. This shuld give an idea f what questins, issues, r hyptheses will be investigated. This sectin may nt be expressed very precisely at this early stage, particularly fr types f research where the questins will unfld as the wrk prgresses, hwever, sme degree f fcus is imprtant t help yu t plan the wrk and t help us t identify what kinds f supprt yu will need. This will then cntinue nce yu are enrlled and wrking n yur mre detailed prpsal. Research Design and Methdlgy This sectin shuld indicate yur initial ideas abut hw t address the research prblem. Its frm will depend upn yur chsen discipline and the research tpic, as well as n yur interests and the kind f apprach that yu anticipate taking. This may change as yu develp yur wrk further, but it is valuable at this stage t cnsider the mst likely apprach as this will help yu t clarify yur ideas and help us t cnsider the mst apprpriate supervisin fr yu. Yu may als wish t discuss the theretical interests and fcus which are likely t infrm yur decisins abut the appraches t take. Ideally, yu shuld include sme discussin f the fllwing: Research Design and Planning Discuss the research design yu expect t use fr example, ethngraphic, experimental, quasi-experimental, naturalistic, practice-based and why yu feel this is apprpriate fr yur study. Research Degree Enquiry Pack (Nvember 2011) 7

8 Setting, Fieldwrk and Data Cllectin Discuss where the research is mst likely t be cnducted, and what practical arrangements yu will need t make t have access t viable subjects/infrmants r surces. Yu shuld indicate the methds yu anticipate using t cllect yur data and discussin f ways in which they are relevant t yur tpic. Fr sme subject areas, such as arts, this may invlve the develpment f a prcess, wrk, perfrmance r artefact. Timescale The prpsal shuld indicate hw lng yu feel the research is likely t take and what kind f timescale yu feel it is realistic fr yu t wrk t. Time management can be a majr challenge fr research students, since this frm f wrk is bth demanding and less structured than taught mdes f study. It is imprtant t cnsider the needs f the research prject but als yur persnal circumstances and resurces that will impact n the timescale f the wrk. Please check these against the infrmatin we have prvided n minimum and maximum registratin perids. Data Analytic Prcedures Althugh it may seem a lng way ahead, it is very useful t think abut data analysis right frm the utset since it will have implicatins fr the planning f yur wrk. The data analysis apprach will need t relate t yur anticipated research fcus r prblem, design and methds and this will vary accrding t yur discipline and subject area. Whatever the nature f the data, yu shuld prvide sme indicatin as t hw the data will be handled as part f the research, any prblems anticipated (and the utline f slutins t these) and any supprt yu will need. Practical issues It will be useful at this stage t utline practical cnsideratins fr yur research, including the resurces yu will need, any access, permissins r ethical issues that are likely t arise, any anticipated difficulties and hw these might be vercme. Yu may find it useful t cnsult the University s Research Gvernance Plicy, which can be read by visiting the UWL website and clicking n the research banner. We als recmmend yu give careful cnsideratin t financial issues and yur wn time management. Sme initial searching fr pssible funding surces wuld be useful. Yu might wish t start by lking at the different UK research cuncils (and any thers relevant t nn-uk students such as the British Cuncil) and the majr research charities and fundatins. Yu can find sme useful pinters by visiting the UWL website, and clicking n the research banner. Bibligraphy Please include a full list f references and surces yu have used. Yu may als wish t prvide a wider bibligraphy t indicate the range f surces yu are likely t draw n and t indicate the preparatry wrk yu have undertaken. UWL uses the Harvard reference style as a standard style. Yu can btain details n this style by visiting Research Degree Enquiry Pack (Nvember 2011) 8

9 Even at this early stage, yu may wish t cnsider starting t use established referencing sftware. It will prve very useful fr rganising yur surces and references as the wrk builds up. The tw main systems used at UWL are Endnte and Reference Manager. Yu can find ut mre abut these by visiting the publisher s website at Research Degree Enquiry Pack (Nvember 2011) 9