The University of Sheffield
Graduate School

Postgraduate students in Arts and HumanitiesResearch degrees

Through undertaking a research degree you will have the opportunity to develop your research skills and add to existing knowledge, becoming an expert in your chosen discipline. A PhD is a piece of original research, which makes significant contributions to scholarly debates.

Most research students enrol as MPhil students initially and, subject to satisfactory progress, take an upgrade exam at the end of their first year to progress on to a PhD. However, if you decide not to progress to a PhD, you can choose to complete the MPhil instead.

Supervision

You will be assigned to two academic supervisors. Depending on the precise nature and scope of your research and on relevant staff research expertise they will be either joint supervisors, or a first and second supervisor with distinct areas of specialism.

MPhil

Typical duration:

  • Full-time: two years
  • Part-time: four years

You complete a thesis (40,000 words) on a research topic of your choice and attend an oral exam.

PhD

Typical duration:

  • Full-time: three years
  • Part-time: six years

You complete a thesis (75,000 words) on a research topic of your choice and attend a viva meeting.

Research students submit a final hard copy of their thesis to the University Library and also submit an electronic copy of their final approved thesis to the White Rose eTheses Online server.

Research degrees by subject area:

Modern Languages and Linguistics

Faculty of Arts and Humanities home page