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, Dr Gina Heathcote. There are certain required courses, the other elements being agreed between the candidate, the Research and Admission Tutor (Dr Ruba Salih) and the supervisor(s).

MPhil doctoral researchers may attend also specific research methods course offered within both the Faculty of Languages & Cultures and witin 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.

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 & 3. The aim of the training programme is 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 weekly to fortnightly course of seminar-classes specially for first year research students consisting of student presentations & discussions thereof, as well as guided tutorials revolving around the following themes:

1. Prevailing Epistemologies in Gender Studies
2. Feminist approaches to research methods
3. Analyzing texts – Content analysis
4. Discourse analysis
5. Quantitative methods (surveys, questionnaires etc.)
6. Oral histories
7. Ethnographies
8. Interdisciplinarity in Gender Studies
9. Activism & research

MPhil/PhD students are in addition expected to attend regularly the Centre’s seminar series, details of which are available on the SOAS website and on the Gender Studies noticeboard on the 3rd floor of the main building next to room 399. 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 convened and taught by Dr. Alyosxa Tudor and Dr Awino Okech.

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.

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:

1. Research rationale and context of proposed research;
2. Main research questions;
3. Literature review;
4. Theoretical and methodological framework & considerations;
5. Proposed research methods;
6. Ethical issues (where applicable);
7. Outlining structure of PhD dissertation;
8. Schedule of research and writing;
9. 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.

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 candidate 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 & research proposal in the second year. The length of time for field or other research, and writing up, is adjusted accordingly.

Degrees are awarded by the University of London.

For further details of the requirements and structure of the programme please contact:
E-mail: or email directly to Dr Ruba Salih, Research and Admissions Tutor in Gender Studies on

Important notice regarding changes to programmes and modules