Geography and Environment

MPhil/ PhD Geography

Research at the MPhil/PhD level cannot be reduced to a simple formula; a particular candidate's requirements will need to be individually tailored in consultation with, and under guidance from, the supervisor. Students should meet their supervisor on a regular basis. Research training is a basic foundation for all students, even so it is a balance between general skills, discipline specific and topic specific knowledge. Hence, students are required to attend (upon the advice of the supervisor) selected Methodology Institute courses, subject specific lectures and seminars as appropriate, as well as the disciplinary specific courses as detailed below.

All students will be subject to an annual review of progress in every year of registration; at this stage all of the work carried out in the year, plus performance in specified courses (see below), will be taken into consideration.

Students must agree a programme of study with their supervisor and this must be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies in Geography. Students must achieve a pass in all examined elements.

The normal requirement is as follows:

In their first year students must normally attend Contemporary Debates in Human Geography (GY403). They must also take courses in quantitative and qualitative methods (MI451 or MI452 plus MI453 and MI454). All students must take courses up to the value of 1.0 course units from a specialist subject related to their Thesis. In addition, students should attend Staff-Graduate Student Seminar (GY502) as well as any relevant cluster seminars, and they must present their work in the Doctoral Student Research Presentations (GY500).

Students will be monitored and reviewed annually throughout their period of registration. Students may be required to complete additional courses, as deemed relevant by their supervisor, in later years of registration.

Students are required to be in attendance throughout their period of registration. Absences for illness or fieldwork must be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies in Geography and the Dean of Graduate Studies, LSE.

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