MPhil and PhD Criteria

The following constitute the criteria for MPhil or PhD level study at WEST.

1. A UK MPhil or PhD is thesis-only (MPhil: normally 55-65,000 words; PhD: 80,000-100,000 words), there is no classroom work and no taught modules at all.
2. Your main supervisor would be from WEST; he would be a conservative evangelical, Calvinistic in theology and with competent knowledge of your chosen field.
3. Your other supervisor would be from the University of Wales, Lampeter (the accrediting agency for the MPhil/PhD), again a specialist. Both supervisors liaise together periodically.
4. WEST has more than 15 years experience working with the University of Wales (especially the Lampeter Theology faculty). That faculty is far from evangelical but they respect our theological position and the high level of scholarship of our students.
5. With WEST you can enjoy genuine spiritual understanding and warm Christian fellowship in the Lord. Between 1988 -1995 WEST also cooperated with the University of Glamorgan in registering and supervising research students. WEST now has approximately 20 years experience in supervising research students and has an excellent track record.
6. With the University of Wales you can benefit from a qualification that has international recognition. All UK MPhils/PhDs have equal standing by virtue of a system of national government accreditation.
7. We ask that overseas MPhil/PhD students meet personally with their WEST supervisor a minimum of once a year. Otherwise communication can be by email, phone and regular mail.
8. Dr Eryl Davies is Head of Research. You can book a prearranged call through his secretary, Mrs Chris Connor (Tel: +44 1656 645411) or email for advice on the application process: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
9. Your choice of subject is of course crucial; there should be ample scope for original and doctoral research and the research should be of value to the church of God.
10. Credit for previous study is assessed on its merits and whether it meets the set criteria and would be part of the application process requiring the submission of academic transcripts.
11. Our bursary scheme, we emphasise, covers only (a few) undergraduate hardship cases.
12. The costs and status of our MPhil and PhD compare very well with US equivalents. (2010-11: $13660 pa Full-Time). The cost for UK/EU students is £4,500 pa Full-Time.
13. A British PhD thesis is typically much narrower in focus than its American counterpart.

Time Limits:
PhD and MPhil students are registered as follows: a period of “fee-payment” and a period of “write-up”.
The fee-payment period is the number of years the student will be charged annually for fees at a higher rate.
The write-up period is extra time that the student is given to finish his/her dissertation. Students are charged per term in that period and charges are stopped at the end of the term in which the student has submitted the thesis.
The dissertation may not be submitted until six months before the end of the period of 'fee-payment' and must be submitted before the end of the write-up period.

MPhil - Time of study
FULL-TIME	1 year 'fee-payment' period + 1 year write-up (of which the first 3 months will be regarded as probationary)
PART-TIME	2 years 'fee-payment' period + 2 years write-up (of which the first 6 months will be regarded as probationary)
PhD - Time of study
FULL-TIME
Student enrolling via MPhil	3 years 'fee-payment' period + 2 years write-up (normally transferring from MPhil to PhD at the start of 2nd year)
Student enrolling directly to PhD	2 years 'fee-payment' period + 2 years write-up
PART-TIME
Student enrolling via MPhil	5 years 'fee-payment' period + 4 years write- up (normally transferring from MPhil to PhD at the start of 3rd year)
Student enrolling directly to PhD	3 years 'fee-payment' period + 4 years write-up

In Partnership with the University of Wales, Lampeter.