A PhD offers the chance to undertake a substantial piece of supervised work that is worthy of publication and which makes an original contribution to knowledge in a particular field. Research programmes (leading to a PhD) are designed to produce professional social scientists well versed in a range of social science techniques and methods, in addition to having an in-depth knowledge of a particular area.

Full-time students studying for an MPhil or a PhD are required to carry out research (both from documents and in the field) and collect data from which they must write a thesis of approximately 100,000 words. In addition, they will normally be required to attend certain taught courses. Although each student's method of research will be different, the amount of time spent on their studies will be broadly equivalent to that required to pursue an undergraduate course or undertake full-time employment – ie in excess of 30 hours per week. The work-load of part-time students would be approximately half that of full-time students. More information on the requirements of research students can be found on the relevant departmental web pages.

You will register for the MPhil/PhD in the first instance, which has a minimum registration period of two years full-time or four years part-time. The time taken to complete any research degree depends on your progress and individual needs and you must remain registered with the School until your thesis has been submitted. The maximum period allowed to complete your PhD is four years full-time, or eight years part-time. An assessment of your work, which usually occurs between 12 and 18 months from your start date, will allow us to appraise your aptitude for original research at doctoral level. If you have progressed satisfactorily you will be upgraded to full PhD status. Your study will, however, be continuous with no duplication of work between the two levels.

MPhil/PhD programmes normally start in late September each year but with the permission of the relevant department you may start in January (Lent term) or April (Summer term). This largely depends on the availability of methodology courses that your department and academic supervisor decide that you will have to take. Most of those courses are held in the Michaelmas term, so there is a preference for research programmes to start in September.

You will be assigned a supervisor (or possibly two) who is a specialist in your chosen research field, though not necessarily in your topic. Supervisors guide you through your studies. During your first year you will attend and contribute to departmental research seminars, workshops and research training courses. These are designed to strengthen your methodological skills, language skills or background knowledge of specific topics related to your research.

By the end of your first year you will be required to present a more detailed project proposal. The proposal, which should illustrate your command of the theoretical and empirical literature related to your topic, will need to be a clear statement of the theoretical and methodological approach to be taken. It will also need to include a draft outline and work plan, which should identify any periods of fieldwork necessary to your research. This should demonstrate the coherence and feasibility of the proposed research and dissertation.

Students are invited to submit applications that complement the academic interests of members of staff at the School. You will find staff areas of interest under the subject information in the 'Departments, Institutes, Centres' section of this prospectus, which provides an insight into the current research interests of each department/institute. For useful information, please also see www.lse.ac.uk/resources/experts

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