Frequently Asked Questions
for new students - research students

This FAQ is divided into the following sections:

• General Questions
• Questions for first-year undergraduates
• Questions for taught course graduate students 
  (MSc International Relations (IR), MSc IR Research, MSc International Political Economy (IPE), MSc IPE Research and Sciences Po-LSE Double Degree in Affaires Internationales and IR/IPE (SPDD)
• Questions for first-year research students (MPhil/PhD)

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Questions for first-year Research Students (MPhil/PhD):

1. Who is in charge of the research programme?
2. When is the induction meeting?  Is it important to attend?
3. What kind of supervision will I receive?
4. What kind of research training will I receive?
5. Can you tell me more about Research Panels?
6. How do I find out when and where lecture, seminar and research workshops are held?
7. How should I organise my research?
8. When will I be able to transfer from MPhil to PhD registration?
9. Does the Department provide any special facilities for research students?
10. Can I teach an undergraduate class in the Department?
11. What happens if I wish to change my research topic substantially?

Answers

1. Who is in charge of the research programme?

The MPhil and PhD programmes are overseen by the Director of Doctoral Programmes, Professor Kimberly Hutchings.

You are politely requested not to contact her before your arrival. If you have an urgent enquiry which cannot wait until the induction meeting, where much will explained, you should instead email Ms Martina Langer at m.langer@lse.ac.uk, or telephone her on 020 7955 7561. However, it would be appreciated if such enquiries could be kept to a minimum. Matters related to your registration/payment of fees should be directed to the Student Services Centre. [back to top]

2.  When is the induction meeting?  Is it important to attend?

The International Relations Department will be holding an induction meeting for new MPhil students on Thursday 4 October 2007 at 3.30-4.30pm Room H104, where you will meet Professor Christopher Coker, Head of the IR Dept, and Professor Kim Hutchings, Director of Doctoral Programmes. 

It is important to attend your induction meeting as the structure of your course and administrative arrangements will be explained at this time. If you are unable to attend the meeting please contact Ms Martina Langer at m.langer@lse.ac.uk, or telephone her on 020 7955 7561 to make alternative arrangements.[Back to top]

3.  What kind of supervision will I receive?

The relationship between research student and supervisor is of key importance for research students. It is also one of the most rewarding aspects of teaching and research for supervisors.  It is the supervisor who will advise what further course of study may be needed and it is the supervisor who will advise on reading, sources of documentation and the development of a research design and framework for the thesis.  The supervisor will also read and comment upon draft chapters etc, and recommend such additional seminars, workshops, learned societies etc that the student may wish to attend.  Your supervisor will also be in contact with the members of your Research Panel when you have your interview in the Summer Term, where your progress will be reviewed.  [Back to top]

4.  What kind of research training will I receive?

The basic aim of training is to equip a research student in IR to design, research and write a professional doctorate within a maximum of four years. In its own turn the doctorate and associated training should enable a person to go on to further research and/or to become an academic in the field, familiar with all its major areas and methodologies.

Students selected to join the Department to pursue MPhil/PhD degrees will have been chosen on the basis of their previous qualifications in International Relations and cognate subjects. As a First-Year Research Student your research training needs will be discussed with your supervisor and a training programme will be approved by the Director of Doctoral Programmes. All first-year research students are required to attend (i) the Department's Research Methods Training Seminar (IR501), which meets weekly for two terms, covering first epistemological and theoretical issues, and then ethical and practical questions, and (ii) the International Relations Design Workshop (IR509). You are also encouraged to attend Methodology Institute courses. If you have not already taken a Research track Masters degree you will need to attend 'Authoring a PhD and Developing as a Researcher' and 'Information Skills'. (Part-time students may attend the Methodology Institute courses over two years.)

All research students, regardless of year, are expected to attend at least one of the subject workshops offered by the Department, details of which will be provided at your induction meeting. These include international political theory; foreign policy analysis; security, conflict and peace studies; international organisation and regimes; political economy of international finance; European international politics; and workshops on Africa and the Middle East. You are also expected to attend the International Relations Seminar for Staff and Research Students (IR500), together with any other relevant Methodology Institute courses.

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5.  Can you tell me more about Research Panels?

The Department holds Research Panels (RPs) for MPhil and PhD students during weeks 2-5 of the Summer Term. The Panel, which does not include your supervisor, will normally comprise staff members with cognate and 'remote' research interests. RP meetings normally take about thirty minutes.

In Year One, you will be required to submit an outline of your proposed thesis and one complete chapter to your RP members before the meeting. Prior to doing this, your supervisor will have read and given feedback on your work and you should indicate to your RP whether the chapter is in draft or finished form. At the meeting, you will be asked to make any additional verbal comments which you may wish to add to the written work you have already submitted. Members of the RP will then discuss the progress and orientation of your work, encourage your progress, identify any problems that may have arisen and suggest further initiatives that may be taken, by you or the Department, to assist your progress. However, where the Panel doubts that completion of a successful thesis is likely within a reasonable period, they may take the view that registration should not be renewed. A decision may be made then and there or you may be asked to submit an additional piece of work by a specified deadline before the start of your second year so that the RP can make a final judgement.

In Year Two, you will be required to submit two further chapters which show evidence of doctoral quality and the RP will then decide whether to give permission for your upgrade from MPhil to PhD. In cases of unsatisfactory progress, upgrading and/or continued registration may be made conditional upon completion of further written work of an appropriate standard. Students may also be required to attend a further Research Panel meeting.

As a new MPhil student, you are automatically required to attend a RP at the end of your first and second years. Thereafter your supervisor will monitor your progress and discuss with you whether it would be beneficial for you to attend Panels in subsequent years. [Back to top]

6. How do I find out when and where lecture, seminar and research workshops are held?

Timetabling is undertaken by the School rather than by Departments and the Module Timetable is available online (see LSE Teaching and Timetables) shortly before teaching begins.  [Back to top]

7. How should I organise my research?

Year One 

• Define topic in more detail, define research hypotheses, draft first chapter.
• Research training, wider studies on social science research, theoretical approaches.
• Preliminary investigation of sources for research - availability, access.
• Regular meetings with supervisor - three per term.

At the end of first year: Research Panel. Key point for gaining permission to re-register for Year Two. Also, to check that you now have a clear and well-defined research theme, hypotheses, and plan for future research, and that your supervisor and Research Panel members are happy with your outline and draft introduction.

Year Two/Years Two-Three

• Detailed research, including field research if needed.
• Test out approach on audiences, through graduate workshops, conference papers, etc.
• Draft further chapters as research proceeds.
• Maintain contact with supervisor, 2 meetings a term, emails if away.
• Participate in research workshops, departmental seminar, etc.

At the end of second year: Research Panel. Key point for gaining permission to upgrade to full PhD status; to check that you have made substantial progress, including at least two chapters in draft in addition to the outline and one complete chapter written in Year One. You will not be upgraded to full PhD status unless you satisfy the Panel that you are well advanced both in research and writing at the appropriate level.

Year Three/Year Four

• Complete first draft, allowing 3-6 months for revision and submission.
• Supervisor will read and comment on full draft, and approve for submission for exam.
• Further presentations to conferences, articles for publication?
• Plan postdoctoral moves: next career stages.

At the end of third year: Research Panel, if thought necessary by your supervisor. To check progress towards completion, including timetable for submission.

Variables in time plan: need to learn an additional language? Extended field research abroad? Part-time teaching in second and third years? Involvement in Millennium? [back to top]

8. When will I be able to transfer from MPhil to PhD registration?

Students are normally upgraded from MPhil status to the PhD degree by their Research Panel at the end of their second year. Please see FAQ No 5 above for further details.   [Back to top]

9. Does the Department provide any special facilities for research students?

There are three IR research student study rooms with IT facilities located within the Department.  Further details will be provided on your arrival. [Back to top]

10.  Can I teach an undergraduate class in the Department?

Yes.  All IR research students entering their second or subsequent years of registration are eligible to apply for teaching.  Further details will be provided on your arrival. [Back to top]

11. What happens if I wish to change my research topic substantially?

Unfortunately we cannot guarantee suitable supervision in this case. However, the School will always make every effort to accommodate you. [Back to top]

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This page last modified on August 14, 2007

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