Postgraduate Studies
Postgraduate Study at DCAL
Applications are invited for students wishing to study for an MPhil/PhD degree at DCAL.
DCAL is part of the Cognitive, Perceptual and Brain Sciences
Research Department (CPB) at UCL.
Therefore many DCAL staff are appointed
within CPB, some DCAL academic staff are appointed in other departments and
universities.
DCAL academic staff who are available to supervise MPhil/PhD
students are based within the UCL Cognitive, Perceptual and Brain Sciences
Research Department and City University Department of Language and Communication
Science.
PhD students who study at DCAL generally apply through and register
for a PhD within one of these departments.
Which department/university you
apply to will depend on who your principal supervisor will be. For information
about postgraduate study in these departments, see below. (Note that the UCL HCS
postgraduate admissions page is particularly useful.)
UCL Cognitive, Perceptual and Brain Sciences Research Department
(CPB)
http://www.psychol.ucl.ac.uk/courses/phd/phd_programme_main.htm
City University Dept of Language and Communication Science
http://www.city.ac.uk/health/research/research-areas/lcs
Frequently asked questions (FAQ) about postgraduate study at DCAL
1.
How do I know if DCAL is the right place for me?
In order to do a PhD at
DCAL, your topic must be one that fits in with the expertise of a DCAL staff
member who would be available to act as your supervisor.
See the DCAL Research Themes page for information
about what areas we cover. See also Associated Research and research interests
of DCAL team members.
2. How does supervision work?
You will be required to have 2
supervisors, one principal and one secondary. At least one must have interests
in the topic you want to research. Both supervisors must have PhDs. For
information about DCAL staff research interests, see the DCAL team member
pages.
See the DCAL Research Themes
page for information about what areas we cover. See also Associated Research and research interests
of DCAL team members.
3. What is an MPhil/PhD degree?
An MPhil degree (Master of
Philosophy) is a research degree (i.e., there are no taught courses as part of
this degree, see below) which is higher than other masters degrees (MA, MSc ,
MRes) but is a lesser degree than a PhD.
At most UK universities, it is
customary for students who wish to enroll for a PhD to first enroll as an MPhil
student, and then after a year or two, they can 'upgrade' to PhD level.
The
MPhil may also be enrolled for as a terminal degree (i.e., students may stay
enrolled in the MPhil and graduate with this degree if they wish).
4. What are the entry requirements for a MPhil/PhD
degree?
Technically a 1st class, upper 1st class (2:1), or lower 2nd
class (2:2) undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate subject are
required for entry to an MPhil/PhD
programme at UCL. In practice, students are expected to have graduated with
a degree that falls in the top 40% of their class. In the UK this means a 2:1 or
better. Exceptionally (e.g. if you have done some important research work
yourself, but don't have a good degree), this requirement can be waived.
Students cannot be accepted onto a research degree programme unless they already
have an undergraduate degree.
5. Do I need to have a Masters degree to apply for a MPhil or PhD?
Students who have not yet earned a masters degree may want to consider
applying for a masters degree at one of the above departments - e.g., either a
MSc or a MRes. In the UK, MSc (Master of Science) and MRes (Master of Research)
degrees, like undergraduate degrees, are taught programmes - that is, students
enroll on a series of taught courses as a major component of the degree. MPhil
and PhD degrees in the UK are research programmes, not taught courses. However,
the first year or two of the MPhil/PhD, students are generally encouraged to sit
in on relevant courses to gain experience or needed training before properly
starting the PhD dissertation.
6. How long is an MPhil/PhD programme?
Most MPhil/PhD programmes in
the UK are 3 years, with some allowing students to finish writing up their
dissertation in the 4th year. In order to finish on time, students are expected
to apply for the MPhil/PhD with a clear topic in mind. (This is unlike PhD
programmes in other countries which can last for much longer)
7. Where do I find out about funding?
Note that your chances for
funding will be significantly lower if you have less than a 1st class degree (or
equivalent). Contact the admissions dept of UCL or City University to determine
the equivalent degree class/grade point average for international universities.
Funding (and other useful information) for international
students:
British Council
Information about funding for UK/EU students:
Economic
and Social Research Council (ESRC)
Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
If you have further questions about studying for an MPhil/PhD at DCAL, contact us at dcal@ucl.ac.uk
Page last modified on 29 feb 12 12:15
