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Description Contents Requirements Funding

MPhil students must submit a dissertation for examination within the maximum period of their study. All graduate students attend induction and safety training courses in the department. As well as undertaking your research, you will attend courses and lectures on some of the following: instrumentation, sequencing and database use, statistics, experimental design, analysing data, writing reports and a dissertation, introduction to MIMAS (a national data centre run by the University of Manchester), and how to give effective scientific presentations. Termly reports are provided on your work.

The course enables students to initiate careers in a wide range of disciplines including plant genetic engineering, plant development, plant molecular biology, plant biophysics, plant biochemistry, plant-microbe interactions, algal microbiology, plant ecology, crop biology, plant virology, plant epigenetics, epidemiology, plant taxonomy, plant physiology, eco-physiology and bioinformatics.

Learning Outcomes

For students wishing to continue on to the PhD the MPhil provides suitable foundations. For students not wishing to continue the MPhil provides specialist training in scientific methodology relevant to the project subject area and based on the expertise of the supervisor and research group. This training also enables students from other scientific areas to proceed in a career in Plant Sciences and other allied areas. General training is also available and includes courses and lectures in instrumentation, sequencing and database use, statistics, experimental design, analysing data, writing reports and a dissertation, introduction to MIMAS (a national data centre run by the University of Manchester), and how to give effective scientific presentations.

Continuing

On successfully passing their MPhil, students are welcome to apply to continue to a PhD. Continuation is dependent on the approval of the receiving Department and Degree Committee.

The Department has the overriding aim to provide all its Graduate Students with every opportunity for a broad education and a compatible environment in which they may complete a PhD or MPhil successfully. The Department will aim to provide guidance and, where appropriate, the facilities to allow Graduate Students to develop a number of different skills including:

Research methodologies and the process of research including quantitative and qualitative methods and data analysis; project planning and management
The effective use of learning resources including library and information technology
Personal skills including oral and written communication, time management and team work skills, professional development and the preparation of curriculum vitae and employment applications
A broad knowledge of the discipline in which the Student is working
Technical training to enable the Student to undertake their research work effectively and efficiently
Professional presentations


One to one supervision	Expect regular uninterrupted discussion sessions, ideally at least once a month for MPhil students
Seminars & classes	Graduate Students are asked to attend all the lectures in the Plant Sciences Seminars series. Other sessions can be attended as needed, decided by discussion with supervisors.
Lectures	Lectures can be attended as needed, decided by discussion with supervisors.
Journal clubs	As decided by discussion with supervisors
Literature_reviews	Once you have arrived in the Department and begun to settle into your Research Group one of the first activities you must undertake is the preparation of your Project Proposal. The purpose of this Project Proposal is to accustom you to academic writing, and to provide an important opportunity to clarify your research project and the techniques to be used.
Posters	All graduate students are asked to give a talk in their first year. This First Year Seminar is a good opportunity for you to present an outline of your research project. You should have a firm summary of your research programme with an emphasis on the background to your project and details of the techniques you intend using in your research.

Feedback

After the end of each term, the Graduate Education Committee will ask for a brief report on your progress from your Supervisor. This information will be made available to you and you will be invited to respond to comments made in a termly self-assessment. This will allow you to review your own progress and to highlight any difficulties you feel you are facing.

Assessment

Thesis

A submission of a Masters dissertation, with a word limit of 20,000 words, is required within 12 months from a student's registration date. A viva voce examination of the dissertation will normally then take place.

Essays

Please see information on the First Year Project Proposal as listed under the Literature Review in the Teaching Section.

Magistr (Master's Degree) at Pass level. Diploma Specialista (completed post-1991) with a minimum overall grade of good or 4/5 Bachelor's from Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology and other prestigious institutions with an overall grade of 4/5 Bologna Bachelor's from other institutions with an overall grade of 5/5, Excellent
Diploma Specialista (completed post-1991) with a minimum overall grade of Excellent or 5/5 Bachelor's from Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology and other prestigious institutions with an overall grade of 5/5
IELTS (Academic) 7.5
TOEFL Internet Score 110
£50 application fee
First Academic Reference
Second Academic Reference
Transcript
Research Proposal
CV/Resumé
Personal Reference. This is only required if you are applying for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship.