Programme Specification: MPhil/PhD Sociology
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 Department is recognised
by ESRC for FT+3 research training.
MPhil/PhD
Sociology
3-4 years (minimum 2)
Sociology
N/A
L3ZS
November 2010 / December 2012
10. The programme aims to:
 Provide students with an appropriate training in social research, theory, and debate;
 Provide a supportive intellectual environment within which to pursue original research
on a topic within the field of sociology;
 Support career development and professional training by providing teaching
experience, integration in department research culture, support for publications and
conference attendance;
 Facilitate students’ successful completion of a PhD thesis within 3-4 years, or an MPhil
thesis normally within 2 years.
11. Programme outcomes: knowledge and understanding; skills and other attributes
 A comprehensive and critical understanding of relevant research and debates within
sociology, and specifically those that bear on the student’s subject specialism;
 Ability to address key methodological, epistemological and ethical issues relevant to a
given field of social research;
 Ability to design, conduct and complete original research;
 Ability to identify and access relevant primary and secondary source material, including
library, archival and online resources, and to generate and analyse primary research
data as appropriate;
 Ability to complete written research reports and articles to an appropriate professional
level;
 Ability to present research papers to an audience of specialists.
12. Teaching, learning and assessment strategies to enable outcomes to be achieved
and demonstrated
Teaching and learning strategies:
In the first year students are expected to take a range of methods and specialist courses.
These are selected in discussion with supervisors, dependent on individual research needs
and interests, and may include courses from other institutes or departments at LSE. First-year
students must attend the first year research classes in Aims and Methods for MPhil students
taught within the Sociology Department.
After the first year students spend more time on independent study under the guidance of their
personal supervisor/s. This involves the collection, organisation, analysis and writing up of
data and theory. Students are also expected to attend regular dedicated Research Seminars
relevant to their subject specialism, such as SO501 Research Students’ Seminar which is
open to all year 2-3 MPhil students.
Throughout their degree studies, students have regular meetings with their thesis supervisor/s
and submit to them regular pieces of written work. Students are encouraged by their
supervisors to offer papers for presentation at seminars and conferences and to prepare
research papers for publication.
Assessment strategies:
1. 5000-word written and viva voce assessment at end of Year 1 (Aims and Methods),
using two independent assessors
2. Summative coursework and examination assessments for specialist courses in
research methods and/or substantive research area as agreed with supervisor
3. Upgrade to PhD by written and oral assessment at end of Year 2, using two
independent assessors
4. Students are reviewed on an annual basis via both written self-assessment and
assessment by their supervisor/s, and are only allowed to proceed to registration in
the next year if their progress is satisfactory.
5. Final assessment of thesis under LSE regulations
13. Programme structures and requirements, levels, modules and awards
See the MPhil/PhD Sociology programme regulations.
Additional information
14. Criteria for admission to the programme
Students should usually have a master’s degree or a first or upper second class honours
degree from a British university, or its equivalent in another country, in either sociology or
another social science.
15. Indicators of quality
 Very high programme demand
 Consistent record of external funding secured from ESRC, AHRC, and international
funding bodies
 Consistent success rates in Aims and Methods assessments
 Consistent success rates in upgrade to PhD
 Strong submission rates
 Success in PhD examinations
 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 also 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.
16. Methods for evaluating and improving the quality and standard of teaching and
learning








Mentoring for new supervisors;
Arrangements for co-supervision;
Departmental MPhil/PhD Staff-Student Committee as feedback mechanism for
evaluating learning outcomes.
Annual MPhil/PhD Board (comprising all supervisors)
TLAC review of the Department once every 5 years.
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.
The Department of Methodology offers methodological training across all MPhil/PhD
programmes, 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.