The PhD degree is a research programme pursued over a period of usually three or four years (full-time) or up to six years (part-time). Candidates develop their research skills as they pursue their research topic under the supervision of two academics. This culminates in the submission of a dissertation of not more than 100,000 words which is read by two examiners and defended in a viva. A doctorate is awarded if the thesis is judged to have made a definite and original contribution to the field of knowledge.
A full listing of members of staff, including their research interests and publications, can be found on the Members of Staff page.
For admission to the PhD programme, the Department normally requires a postgraduate masters degree in a relevant subject, with the equivalent of a 2:1 or better and with the dissertation having been awarded the equivalent of at least 65. Non-native speakers of English must normally attain a 6.5 in the IELTS test (and TOEFL equivalents).
Potential students are advised to consult the Postgraduate Regulations for general information on the University’s academic policies.
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The PhD degree
PhD study generally requires a minimum period of study of 36 months. Part-time applicants may spread their study over 72 months. Full time students are normally expected to be in residence in Edinburgh during this period while part-time students may work off-site provided they spend the first 3 months here, and visit Edinburgh for an agreed period every year.
PhD students should note that their first year is probationary. This initial period provides the opportunity to assess the research potential of the candidate before confirmation of the candidate's degree registration is approved. It also provides an opportunity for the candidate to assess his or her aptitude for research and to develop and refine the research topic. Normally within 12 months the full-time PhD student submits a written presentation or chapter length report which serves as the basis for the First Year Review. The student’s submission should include a forward plan of his/her work
During their first year PhD students are strongly advised to attend the Research Skills and Methods Course organised by the Graduate School. The website contains a series of links to sites inside and outwith the University which students will find useful, including a style guide for the final dissertation.
Potential PhD students should also consult Guidelines for the Examination of Research Degrees. It should be noted that the responsibility for the academic quality of a PhD dissertation is the student's alone.
Applicants must submit a PhD proposal with their application. Guidelines for submitting a PhD proposal to Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies are given below.
Further information on applying for Postgraduate Study is available.
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PhD Proposal Guidelines
You are strongly advised to submit a draft PhD proposal to the IMES Postgraduate Officer, Dr Anthony Gorman, before completing a full application to the University. This will enable us to evaluate the general and specific areas of your research interests, the originality and importance of your topic, and your own ability to undertake the proposed research and develop it into a substantial work over a period of three to four years. We can offer useful comments on the proposed topic for incorporation into the final application to be submitted to the University.
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PhD guidelines
The dissertation proposal should start with a brief synopsis of the topic you wish to address and then address the following questions:
1. What is already known about this topic? What are the key works and who are the prominent scholars in the field?
2. What are the issues involving this topic which generate discussion and disagreement and warrant further investigation? Why are those issues important?
3. Which of these issues do you propose to investigate and why? And what impact do you expect your final work to have on the field?
4. What methodology will you use to answer this question?
5. To what extent will your research involve previously unexamined primary sources, ‘new’ analyses of existing source materials or some combination of both?
6. What languages will you use to access the relevant primary sources and what is your ability in these languages?
7. What is the importance of completing the dissertation and being awarded the PhD to your future career?
The proposal should be at least five pages in length and include an ‘indicative’ bibliography of sources, both primary and secondary, which you have already identified as relevant to your research.
If English is not your native language, your application should also include a recent, research-oriented example of your writing in English of 2000 to 3000 words in length.
Based on chapter three of Writing the Successful Thesis: Entering the Conversation, by Irene L Clark, Prentice Hall, PTR, 2006.
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Further information
For further information on and forms for submitting a PhD application, please consult the Graduate School guidelines.
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