Research degree programmes

How long does a research degree take?

We offer a variety of different research degrees – including MPhils, PhDs and Professional Doctorates – and depending on whether you're studying full-time or part-time, they can take between 2 and 6 years to complete. Each research degree timeline is different.

Research degrees year-by-year

PhD (full-time)

Year 1: Major review
Year 2: Annual review
Year 3: Submission

PhD (part-time)

Year 1: Annual review
Year 2: Major review
Year 3: Annual review
Year 4: Annual review
Year 5: Annual review
Year 6: Submission

MPhil (full-time)

Year 1: Annual review
Year 2: Submission

MPhil (part-time)

Year 1: Annual review
Year 2: Annual review
Year 3: Annual review
Year 4: Submission

MD (full-time)

Year 1: Major review
Year 2: Submission

MD (part-time)

Year 1: Annual review
Year 2: Major review
Year 3: Annual review
Year 4: Submission

Professional Doctorate (part-time only)

Year 1: Annual review
Year 2: Annual review
Year 3: Annual review
Year 4: Submission

Stages of your research degree explained

When you start your doctoral journey with us, you'll either select your own supervisors or be allocated a supervisory team. You will have at least a first and second supervisor, and might also have an additional third supervisor. Not all supervisors need to be within the same faculty as we do encourage interdisciplinary research.

Whatever you're studying, you'll be required to complete whichever of the following stages are relevant to your research degree pathway: major review, annual review, thesis submission and viva.

What each stage of your research degree means

The purpose of the major review is to assess how you're progressing with your research degree and whether you're on the right track to satisfactorily complete your degree within the prescribed time. Major Reviews take place towards the end of your first year of study (for full-time PhD and MD students, end of year 2 for part-time PhD/MD students).

It's a good idea to prepare for your Major Review in good time, and we'll send you a reminder that yours is coming up, so you can work with your supervisor to develop your submission. You might also find it useful to attend the Graduate School Development Programme (GSDP) workshop ‘Preparing for your major review’ which has been specifically designed to help students prepare for this key stage.

You'll be expected to document the training and development you've done in preparation for your Major Review, so you should make sure that your records are up-to-date in Skills Forge, a web-based system where you can manage your professional research and excellence skills (PRaXiS) development. Any GSDP events you attend will be recorded automatically in your Skills Forge account, but you can add any other training and development you complete yourself.

All research degree students must complete this stage, except those studying for Professional Doctorates.

The purpose of an Annual Review is to assess whether you're actively engaged in the research programme and making good progress. As with your Major Review, you should start to prepare for your Annual Review in good time, and likewise, we'll send you a reminder that yours is coming up, so you can work with your supervisor to develop your submission.

Annual Reviews take place at the end of year 2 for full-time PhD/MD students, and at the end of year 1 for part-time PhD/MD students. Professional Doctorate students have annual reviews at the end of their first, second and third years of study. And if you're an MPhil student, an annual review is only necessary if you're continuing your research to PhD level.

The exact requirements of an Annual Review can differ between departments, so speak to your supervisor to find out what your review will entail. As with Major Reviews, you'll be expected to document the training and development you've completed so far in your Skills Forge account.

Your Doctoral Thesis is where you'll present your conclusions after you've completed your literature review, concluded your original research and collected your results. Doctoral theses vary in length, depending on what research degree pathway you've chosen. More information on how to present your thesis can be found at our MyPort pages.

It's a good idea to start writing your thesis as early as you can, and there's a range of support available to help you complete it – including face-to-face meetings and email contact. You can arrange how you'd like to manage this with your first supervisor. You can expect your first supervisor to:

Propose your examiners and submit details for approval by the Chair, Faculty Research Degree Committee on behalf of the Faculty Research Degree Committee;
Advise on the editing and content of your thesis before submission;
Discuss the arrangement of a mock viva with you;
Organise a mutually convenient date for the examination and notify the Research Section, Department of Student and Academic Administration of the date, time and venue.

You can also book onto a range of Graduate School Development Programme (GSDP) workshops through your Skills Forge account, including ‘Introduction to writing the literature review’ and ‘Writing and revising your thesis’. A range of relevant books are also available in the University Library.

Your Viva Voce is when you meet with a panel of examiners to defend your thesis. Preparing for your viva can be a nerve-wracking time, but there's plenty of support and guidance to help you prepare.

Your supervisor will be a key source of support, and you can also book the Graduate School Development Programme (GSDP) workshop ‘Preparing for your doctoral Viva Voce examination’ through your Skills Forge account. A number of books on how to prepare for your viva are also available in the University Library.

Closer to the time, you'll receive details about the specific requirements of your viva, including the regulations you'll need to comply with.