Programme Specification: MPhil/PhD Gender
1. Awarding Body
2. Details of accreditation by a
professional/statutory body, e.g. ESRC;
BPS etc
3. Name of final award
4. Programme Title
5. Duration of the course
6. Based in the Department/Institute:
7. Relevant QAA subject benchmark
statements
8. Application Code
9. First written/last amended
LSE
AHRC and the Institute is recognised by
ESRC for FT+3 research training.
MPhil/PhD
Gender
3-4 years (minimum 2)
Gender
N/A
Y2ZG
June 2003 / November 2012
10. The programme aims to:
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Provide students with an advanced training in gender theory, research and practice;
Provide a rigorous and supportive intellectual environment within which to pursue original
research on a topic within the field of gender studies;
Promote excellence in gender research through training in collaborative as well as
individual research practices;
Provide initial training to enable participation in academic (or other professional) life,
through workshops and GTA opportunities;
Enable students to successfully complete a PhD thesis within 3-4 years, or an MPhil
thesis in 2 years.
11. Programme outcomes: knowledge and understanding; skills and other attributes
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A comprehensive and critical understanding of contemporary debates in gender
theory;
An ability to address the key methodological, epistemological and ethical issues that
arise in gender research;
An ability to design and execute original research in the field of gender studies;
An ability to identify and access relevant primary and secondary source material,
employing library and online resources;
An ability to present research papers to audiences of specialists and respond
appropriately to others’ work;
A clear sense of the expectations of academic life (or other professional context as
appropriate) and the ability to meet these expectations.
Information relating to careers can be accessed here
12. Teaching, learning and assessment strategies to enable outcomes to be achieved
and demonstrated
Courses Taken:
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Students take the lecture course GI400, Gender Theories in the Modern World, which
provides a critical understanding of the field, and provides the basis for the
development of appropriate interdisciplinary theoretical frameworks;
Students take the course GI402, Gender: Epistemology & Research Methodology and
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participate in seminars and research workshops. The course provides training in
research design with a particular focus on research ethics;
Students take GI500, the Doctoral Workshop, a fortnightly research seminar run by
the PhD programme director throughout their studies. The workshop is based on
student work in progress, and builds professional skills through the integration of
‘paper respondents’. ST workshops are focused on professional training such as
writing job applications, CVs, publication and conference guidance and marking
training.
Students choose from the full range of GI courses to audit in discussion with their supervisory
team. Where appropriate to their topic, students choose courses in the Methodology Institute
such as Foundations in Social Research, Advanced Social Research Methods and Drafting a
PhD, which provide a range of key skills necessary to writing a PhD.
Supervision Arrangements
All students have a main supervisor and an advisor , and sometimes joint supervision. The
supervisor is the main point of contact for students during their studies, with whom they meet
2-3 times termly (at least 3 times a term in the first year). Students use online PhD logs to
provide a record of meetings and to check common understanding of agreed actions on both
sides. In addition to First Year Review, Upgrade, and Final Year Review, , students have an
annual review meeting with both supervisor and advisor to discuss progress and plan the
following year.
Assessment and Progression
Students go through First year Review in the ST of their first year, by submitting a draft
chapter and a research proposal following the ESRC research funding template. The proposal
includes research objectives, methodology and research rationale, and extends the research
design exercises in GI402. The draft chapter will normally set the research issues and
questions in the context of the wider literature, and suggest and justify appropriate
methodologies and theoretical frameworks. Both documents are submitted by the second
week of the ST and progress is assessed by viva with supervisor, advisor and normally one
other person as appropriate. Successful students proceed to their 2nd year; unsuccessful
students have one more attempt before the end of September of the same academic year.
Upgrade from MPhil to PhD status takes place the following year, by the end of MT.
Students are required to submit a detailed outline for the thesis (including the anticipated
division into chapters), two substantive draft chapters (usually the introduction setting out
research hypotheses and methodology, and a second one situating their work within the
wider literature), a timetable for completion and a completed LSE research ethics
questionnaire. Upgrade vivas take place at the end of term and include supervisor, advisor
and a third person. Where the PhD programme director is not supervisor or advisor, she/he
will usually be the third person. Expectations for a successful upgrade also include
satisfactory completion of courses.
A final year review is held at the beginning of the fourth year, to assess the student’s plan for
completion and identify any problems that might delay submission of the thesis.
Professional Training
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GI500 Doctoral Workshops;
Short course provision (e.g. ‘writing in gender studies’ 2009) and workshops with
visiting speakers;
GTA opportunities for seminar teaching on GI400 post-upgrade (agreed by GSSC),
and marking on core and option units;
Paid work as induction, conference and workshop organisers;
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Encouragement to give conference papers and submit work to journals. There is an
annual GI PhD students’ research panel that is part of our events programme.
13. Programme structures and requirements, levels, modules and awards
1st Year: GI400, GI402, GI500 and Aims and Methods assessment (plus additional courses)
2nd year: GI500, upgrade, fieldwork where relevant (additional courses), possible GTA
work.
3rd year: GI500, annual review, draft of all substantive chapters; possible GTA work.
4th year (where necessary): completion.
Throughout the programme, students see their supervisor and advisor, and participate in
research seminar, public lectures, workshops, conferences and other events.
See the MPhil/PhD Gender programme regulations.
Additional information
14. Criteria for admission to the programme
The Gender Institute's minimum requirement for admission to the MPhil/PhD programme is a
good merit (65+ overall) in a relevant MSc programme. We would normally require a
distinction in the dissertation as part of this. In the application form, students are required to
produce a research proposal, setting out the context for their proposed research, specifying
the initial questions, demonstrating familiarity with the relevant literature, and showing how
they would investigate their chosen topic or field. The outline will normally be 3-4 pages of A4,
and should include a timetable for the research. Applicants are assessed on the basis of
previous qualifications, referees' reports, whether the research proposal demonstrates a good
grasp of the chosen field, and whether we are able to provide appropriate supervisory
expertise. We are particularly interested in applicants whose work fits within the Institute's
current research themes, but will also consider other applications. A short (3000 words
maximum) writing sample should be sent separately to the department. All shortlisted
applicants will be interviewed, either in person or via Skype.
15. Indicators of quality
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The School participates in the Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES)
which provides indicators of student satisfaction with various aspects of their research
degree programme. Results from this survey have been positive for the School.
Examiners’ reports from viva examinations are considered centrally within the School
and provide indicators on the quality of the research student experience and
supervision quality.
The LSE Careers Centre website provides data on career destinations of LSE
research graduates.
GI Indicators of Quality
 Above School average completion rates;
 Exceptionally good PhD student evaluations;
 Termly PhD Programme meetings to integrate feedback;
 Provision of dedicated PhD students space;
 Integration of PhD students into research culture.
16. Methods for evaluating and improving the quality and standard of teaching and
learning
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The Teaching and Learning Centre (TLC) runs the Postgraduate Research
Experience Survey (PRES) and distributes results to departments. Survey results are
considered by School Committees (Research Degrees Sub-Committee & Teaching,
Learning and Assessment Committee) as well as within academic departments. Any
issues arising from the PRES would be addressed by the appropriate
body/department;
Taught courses on MPhil/PhD programmes are included in the School’s internal
student satisfaction survey, where such courses are provided at the Masters’ level, as
conducted by the Teaching Quality Assurance and Review Office;
Departments review their programmes according to their own system of periodic
review;
The Methodology Institute offers methodological training across all MPhil/PhD
programme and transferrable study skills training courses are offered by the TLC for
all MPhil/PhD students: this central resource enhances the standard of teaching and
learning for all research students across the School;
TLAC review of the Department once every 5 years.
The Gender Institute also has:
 PhD Programme meetings – 3 per year;
 Teaching meetings;
 Feedback at PhD training seminar;
 Feedback at the core courses.