MPhil into PhD: A Hypothetical Question

Greetings,

Supposing one has completed an MPhil in one setting, but decided to move on to another for PhD studies. Would then said student necessarily have to start from scratch or would the MPhil work allow him/her advanced standing? Has anyone heard of such an occurrence? What do people think around here?

Kenneth K. A.

 

It sounds akin to being "ABD". If so, uh oh. I really hope I'm wrong, however.

 

Yes

Uncle: You are right, it does! What do others think though.

K

 

Assuming that you're asking about how the system works on this side of the Atlantic (given that I've always assumed that MPhils are as rare as hen's teeth in the US*), you probably aren't going to like the answer.

Generally speaking, the answer would be no. Once you've done your MPhil as a standalone dissertation (I'm also assuming that you're not asking about MPhils from Scotland which are usually taught postgraduate degrees), and then decide to do a PhD somewhere else, the most you can usually hope for is that you don't have to do your new home's research methods seminar.

The other thing to watch out for is that you cannot use your MPhil research as anything other than a starting point for your PhD research. Your PhD must stand individually as a contribution to your subject.

Angela

*And don't all shout at once showing me the places in the US where you can do an MPhil, OK ;-)

 

In general, I would accept Angela's answer. However, as we all know, the devil is in the details and so I would want to know,
1) an MPhil in what and from where?
2) a PhD in what and from where?
Jack