Master of Philosophical Studies (MPhil Stud) degree

Structure:

YEAR ONE

In their first year, students take the following THREE compulsory courses (worth 15 credits each):

Recent Philosophical Writings a three-term fortnightly seminar for all research students, run by two members of staff. This seminar focuses on the recent philosophical literature. Students give presentations and it is expected that each MPhil Stud student will give a senior seminar presentation during their two years on the course.

Practical Criticism I: Close reading of a classic philosophical text, for first year MPhil Stud students only (term 1).

Practical Criticism II: Close reading of a classic philosophical text, for first year MPhil Stud students only (term 2).

In addition, they must take SEVEN optional courses, which will normally be arranged as: three in term 1, three in term 2, and one in term 3 (worth 15 credits each). These courses may be can be either MPhil Stud courses covering some region of philosophy in depth or Research Seminars in which faculty members present their latest research. In the third term, students will work on their dissertation with their supervisor.

YEAR TWO
In their second year, students must take the following TWO compulsory courses:

Recent Philosophical Writings: a three-term fortnightly seminar for all research students, run by two members of staff. This seminar focuses on the recent philosophical literature. Students give presentations and it is expected that each MPhil Stud student will give a senior seminar presentation during their two years on the course. (15 credits)

Thesis Preparation: a weekly seminar in which students present work in progress from their theses (30 credits).

In addition, students must take THREE optional courses in term 1 (worth 15 credits each).
In their second term, students receive individual supervision on their thesis project, and the third term is spent entirely working on the thesis.

Rules governing choice of optional MPHIL STUD courses:

Students must take SEVEN optional courses in their first year, and THREE in their second year. Students’ choices among optional courses are constrained as follows:

They must take at least TWO research seminars over their two years

They must take at least FOUR MPhil Stud courses over their two years

They must take at least TWO courses from each of categories (A), (B) and (C).

Philosophy courses are placed on three lists, A, B and C. The lists correspond to a rough division of philosophical topics into: (A) ‘theoretical’ (epistemology, metaphysics, philosophy of mind & language, logic etc.) (B) ‘practical’ (in the Kantian sense) and/or ‘evaluative’/’normative’ (ethics, political philosophy, aesthetics) (C) history of philosophy.