Departmental Programmes

The Department of Philosophy offers the following degree programmes:

• PhD

• MPhil

• MA by Research

• PhD by Distance Learning

Your Responsibilities

As a PG researcher on any of our programmes, your responsibilities include:

• taking responsibility for your own personal and professional development;

• maintaining regular contact with your supervisor and TAP members;

• preparing adequately for meetings with your supervisor;

• setting and keeping to timetables and deadlines, including planning and submitting required work at least one week before any meetings and generally maintaining satisfactory progress with your programme of research;

• making your supervisor aware of any specific needs or circumstances likely to affect your work;

• attending any development opportunities (research-related and other) that have been identified when agreeing your development needs with your supervisor;

• adhering to the University’s regulations and policies regarding research degree programmes, including policies and guidelines on health and safety, intellectual property, ethical research conduct and academic misconduct;

• adhering to the University’s regulations and policies regarding annual leave, authorised absences and part-time working (see below);

• maintaining records of supervision meetings and courses attended on SkillsForge; and

• registering for a unique ORCID identifier code before your first TAP. To create your ID (without a PURE profile), visit: https://www.york.ac.uk/library/info-for/researchers/orcid/.

Full-time PG researchers are expected to devote the majority of their time to their research. The PhD programme is a 52-week programme, with 27 days annual leave (plus public holidays and University closure days) in any year. You are responsible for requesting and recording your annual leave via e:Vision. Additionally, there is an authorised absence policy. See Regulation 2.5(c) and (e) at https://www.york.ac.uk/about/organisation/governance/governance-documents/ordinances-and-regulations/regulation-2/#2.5.

Finally, you may not work, in either a paid or voluntary capacity, more than 20 hours per week.

The PhD is awarded for work such as a well-qualified and diligent PG researcher, who is properly supported and supervised, can complete within the prescribed minimum time and maximum word limits. It is completed over three years full-time or over six years part-time. It is obtained wholly by research which is presented in a thesis (of 60,000 to 80,000 words). (NB: The word count does not include the bibliography, but does include footnotes, appendices, and anything else that's not a bibliography.) The thesis is expected:

● to demonstrate a good general knowledge of its field of learning; and

● to make a substantial original contribution to knowledge or understanding in its chosen field.

The thesis must be up to the standards of scholarship and bibliography that apply in its field. A viva (oral examination) is required.

Except for MA(Res) students, all applicants for a research degree in Philosophy will register in the first instance for an MPhil. PG researchers who wish to complete a PhD will register later on for that degree if they are judged to have made sufficient progress in their work.

The MPhil is a degree of distinction in its own right, and is awarded for work such as a well-qualified and diligent student, who is properly supported and supervised, can complete within the prescribed minimum time and maximum word limits. It is completed over two years full-time or over four years part-time. It is obtained wholly by research, which is presented in a thesis (of 40,000 to 60,000 words). (NB: The word count does not include the bibliography, but does include footnotes, appendices, and anything else that's not a bibliography.) The thesis is expected to display:

● a good general knowledge of the field of study;

● a comprehensive particular knowledge of some part or aspect of the field of study; and

● some original or new contribution to knowledge and understanding.

The thesis must be up to the standards of scholarship and bibliography that apply in its field. A viva (oral examination) is required.

The MA (by research) (MA(Res) for short) offers PG researchers the opportunity to take a research degree in Philosophy full-time over one year or part-time over two years. PGRs are supervised by someone with a research interest in the area and will meet with their supervisor at least every six to seven weeks. PGRs also have a Thesis Advisory Panel which gives them strategic advice on their thesis. Assessment is by thesis, which should be between 20,000 and 30,000 words. (NB: The word count does not include the bibliography, but does include footnotes, appendices, and anything else that's not a bibliography.) A viva (oral examination) may also be requested by the examiners.

The PhD by Distance Learning is ideal for PG researchers with commitments which prevent them from being resident within reasonable travelling distance of York. The programme allows PGRs to research overseas and elsewhere in the UK while still receiving support and training online and by video-conferencing. Access to an internet connection and relevant library and/or archives is essential for this programme.

In addition to the Induction period in your first year, over the course of your programme a minimum attendance in York for full-time DL PGRs is five (5) working days per calendar year (biennially for part-time DL PGRs). This should include, in the first year, presenting your research at the annual PGR Progression Day

See Introduction to the department in this handbook for additional information.