Studying for a PhD

Our Department has a long tradition and a broad range of expertise in supervising PhDs, both within East Asian Studies and on an inter-disciplinary basis.

A PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) is probably the most internationally recognised research qualification. Studying for a PhD allows you to become an expert in your chosen specialist area.

Our PhD students undertake their research under the guidance of two supervisors. In your first and second year, you will also be enrolled on the School's research training programme that will help equip you will the skills to undertake your PhD study.

Duration of PhD study

• Full-time PhD study should take 3 years, 4 years maximum
• Part-time PhD study should take 5 years, 7 years maximum

Structure and Process of your PhD Study

In your first year (18 months for part-time students) you will be enrolled as a provisional PhD student. During this time, you will be expected to develop a detailed research plan for your work and write a literature review based on your readings of relevant theories and concepts to your work. From this you will be expected to develop your own analytical framework on the subject matter you are studying.

At the end of the first year, your work is then submitted to a panel of examiners who will conduct an assessment of it. This 'upgrading' review process considers whether your proposal has enough weight to be accurately explored through a PhD research path. After successfully upgrading, you will enrol as a full PhD student and continue to complete your research.

You are expected to write a thesis of approximately 100,000 words. The award of PhD is based on your thesis and your successful defence of it in the so called viva voce examination, where you present and discuss the rationale, methods and findings of your original study with a combination of internal and external examiners.

More information about the Department and School's PhD programme can be found in the School's PGR Handbook document.

What PhD projects can we supervise?

Our Department has a very broad range of supervisory expertise across various fields of study. Please see our Research Expertise page for more details.

What are our current PhD students studying?

Please see our Research Students page for more details.

Studying for an MPhil

The MPhil is awarded on the basis of a thesis of around 60,000 words and a viva voce examination. An MPhil can be taken either full-time in 2 years (3 years maximum), or part-time in 4 years (6 years maximum).