SOAS University of London

Research Degrees (MPhil/PhD) in Gender Studies

Research will be guided throughout by a research committee of three staff members, consisting of one primary supervisor and two supporting supervisors in an advisory capacity. Depending on the nature of the research, joint supervision is sometimes recommended, under the direction of two supervisors.

In the first year, doctoral candidates prepare for research by following an MPhil training programme convened by the Chair of the Centre for Gender Studies. There are certain required courses, and the other elements are agreed between the candidate, the Research and Admission Tutor, and the supervisor(s).

MPhil doctoral researchers may also attend specific research methods courses offered within both the Faculty of Languages & Cultures and within the Faculty of Law and Social Sciences. The specific elements of generic research training might vary and will be agreed with your supervisor and the research tutor. The generic research method training includes courses offered by the Academic Development Directorate (ADD) and the library.

Methodologies and Methods in Gender Studies

In addition to generic methods training, MPhil/PhD students in Gender Studies are required to attend a training seminar in methodologies & methods in Gender Studies in terms 1&2. The training programme aims to provide a thorough grounding in theory, methods, regional, cultural, linguistic, and any special disciplinary expertise that may be required for the research. The training seminar is a fortnightly course of seminar classes specially for first-year research students, consisting of student presentations and discussions thereof, as well as guided tutorials.

MPhil/PhD students are in addition expected to attend regularly the Centre’s seminar series, details of which are available on the SOAS website. MPhil students are also encouraged to attend the MA Gender Studies core course in Gender Theory and the Study of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Optional elements may consist of specialist disciplinary, language, or regional culture courses, attendance of which can be agreed between the student and the supervisory committee.

Upgrade procedure

In the first week of term 3, year 1, doctoral candidates submit an extended research proposal (of about 10,000 words), including the following elements:

• Research rationale and context of proposed research
• Main research questions
• Literature review
• Theoretical and methodological framework and considerations
• Proposed research methods
• Ethical issues (where applicable)
• Outlining the structure of a PhD dissertation
• Schedule of research and writing
• Bibliography

This upgrade proposal is assessed by the candidate’s research committee, based on a 20-30 minute oral presentation followed by a discussion, also open to other staff and student members of the Centre for Gender Studies. On successful completion of the extended proposal, doctoral researchers are formally upgraded to PhD and proceed to the fieldwork phase, which conventionally lasts up to a year. (If the assessors consider there to be shortcomings in the upgrade proposal, researchers will be asked to revise it to their satisfaction before the upgrade to PhD status can be confirmed.) Candidates are not normally permitted to undertake fieldwork until the upgrade process has been completed.

Years 2 and 3

The second year is normally spent engaged in research. This may be by any combination of fieldwork and research in libraries and archives, as agreed between the doctoral researcher and the supervisor(s).

The third year is devoted to writing up research for the PhD thesis. During this time, doctoral candidates will normally give a presentation to the Postgraduate Research Seminar, comprising a small number of staff members with special expertise in the topic and other research students. During this time, candidates will present draft chapters to the supervisor(s) for comment before writing the final draft for examination. The thesis – normally 80,000 words in length - will be examined by two leading authorities on Gender Studies or relevant disciplines/area studies. The external examiner is always a scholar from outside the University of London.

Doctoral candidates studying part-time take the MPhil training seminar in the first year and write the Core Chapter and research proposal in the second year. The length of time for field or other research and writing up is adjusted accordingly.

Important notice

The information on the website reflects the intended programme structure against the given academic session. The modules are indicative options of the content students can expect and are/have been previously taught as part of these programmes.

However, this information is published a long time in advance of enrolment, and module content and availability is subject to change.