Philosophy, Logic and Scientific Method

The Regulations for the MPhil/PhD divide into two depending on whether you have (case A) or have not (case B) already taken one of the MSc degrees offered by our Department. All programmes of study for any individual year should be agreed with your supervisor at the very beginning of that year. Successful completion of work required for each year is a necessary condition for re-registration in the following year; and for upgrading from MPhil to PhD status. (This upgrading will normally take place after the successful completion of year 1 requirements in Case A, and after the successful completion of year 2 requirements in Case B. In both cases once you are registered for the PhD that registration will be backdated to the start of your MPhil/PhD studies.) These regulations apply only to students registered full-time. Part-time students simply take two years to complete each of the sets of regulations for one year's full-time study.

Case A

Many students entering the MPhil/PhD programme will have taken one of the MSc degrees offered by the Department beforehand. For these students, we require that they do one further year of coursework as follows:

Year 1

Coursework

1. PH501 Philosophical Problems
2. a. If you have never taken a paper in formal logic at degree level then you must take PH502 Reasoning and Logic (and sit the associated examination).
   b. If you have already taken a formal logic course then you should choose one further MSc course not already taken as part of the MSc degree. (You need not sit the formal examination, but can instead choose to write two assessed essays, one at the end of each of the first two terms; unless you choose PH408 Mathematical Logic, in which case the examination is compulsory.)
3. Either
   a further MSc course (again one not taken as part of the MSc course) plus three term units of PhD level seminars* (typically from PH551 Research Seminar in Philosophy of the Natural Sciences, PH555 Research Seminar in Philosophy of Economics and Social Sciences or PH500 Research Methods in Philosophy) with associated coursework;
   Or
   six term units of PhD level seminars with associated coursework.

*This means that you can either take all three terms of one of these seminars or 'mix and match' by taking different seminars in different terms.

Summer work

4. Literature review of around 40 pages on the area of the dissertation, to be handed in to the Departmental Office by 10 September 2007.

Year 2

1. Work on a dissertation outline showing relation to the literature review to be handed in to the Departmental Office by the first Monday of the Lent Term 2008.
2. Otherwise work on Dissertation (you are of course encouraged to continue to attend seminars, particularly the PH500, PH501, PH551, PH555, that you think will be useful for your research or for your more general philosophical education).

Years 3 and 4

Work on, and completion of, the Dissertation (again you are of course encouraged to continue to attend any of the seminars, particularly the PH500, PH501, PH551, PH555, that you think will be useful for your research or for your more general philosophical education).

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL PHD STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO HAVE SUBMITTED THEIR THESIS FOR EXAMINATION BY THE END OF THEIR FOURTH YEAR OF STUDY.

Case B

Those students without an MSc in our Department must meet the following regulations:

Year 1

Coursework

1. PH501 Philosophical Problems
2. Either
   If you have never taken a paper in formal logic at degree level then you must take:
   PH502 Reasoning and Logic (and sit the associated examination)
   Or
   For those who have already taken an appropriate logic course, one of:
   (a) PH408 Mathematical Logic (offered in alternate years)
   (b) PH456 Rationality and Choice
   These will have associated back-up arrangements including a requirement that students do one paper per term for the first two terms as well as the final three-hour formal examination.
3. One of:
   (a) PH400 Philosophy of Science
   (b) PH405 Philosophy of the Social Sciences
   (c) PH413 Philosophy of Economics
   Again, with appropriate back-up arrangements requiring one paper per term for the first two terms and one three-hour examination at the end of the course.
4. Either
   Three term units of PhD level seminars* (typically from PH551 Research Seminar in Philosophy of the Natural Sciences, PH555 Research Seminar in Philosophy of Economics and Social Sciences or the PH500 Research Methods in Philosophy) with associated coursework;
   Or
   One further MSc examination course, with course essays and examination.

*This means that you can either take all three terms of one of these seminars or 'mix and match' by taking different seminars in different terms.

Summer Work

5. A piece of written work of 6,000 words on some topic related to the student's research interests. This is to be handed in to the Departmental Office for assessment by 10 September 2007.

Year 2

1. A further MSc course. In certain cases this may, with the permission of your supervisor, be a Masters level course from outside the Department or from another College of the University of London. (You need not sit the formal examination, but can instead choose to write two assessed essays, one at the end of each of the first two terms; unless you choose PH408 Mathematical Logic, in which case the examination is compulsory.)
2. Six term units of PhD level seminars (typically from PH551 Research Seminar in Philosophy of the Natural Sciences, PH555 Research Seminar in Philosophy of Economics and Social Sciences or PH500 Research Methods in Philosophy) with associated coursework.

Summer Work

3. Literature review of 40 pages or so in the area of the dissertation, to be handed in to the Departmental Office by 8 September 2008.

Years 3 and 4

1. Work on dissertation outline, showing relation to the literature review, to be handed in to the Departmental Office by the first Monday  of the Lent term 2009.
2. Otherwise work on, and completion of, the Dissertation (you are of course encouraged to continue to attend any of the seminars, particularly the PH500, PH501, PH551, PH555, that you think will be useful for your research or for your more general philosophical education).

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL PHD STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO HAVE SUBMITTED THEIR THESIS FOR EXAMINATION BY THE END OF THEIR FOURTH YEAR OF STUDY.

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