How to Get a Master of Philosophy Degree

A master of philosophy degree is granted by some universities to students who already have been accepted as doctor of philosophy candidates.

Instructions

1. Apply for and gain acceptance into a doctor of philosophy program at a university that offers the option of qualifying as master of philosophy, an M.Phil., to its Ph.D. students.

2. Once you have completed at least two years of the doctoral program, you may make a special request to your university that you be conferred with the status of master of philosophy. The requirements for obtaining this degree depend on the university: You may need to have completed a certain amount of credit hours, have achieved honorable recognition from your department, submit a master's degree thesis, or take a Ph.D. candidacy qualifying exam.

3. Your university will confer upon you the status of M.Phil. once you have fulfilled the necessary requirements. You will continue to study as before toward your Ph.D.

Tips & Warnings

• An M.Phil degree is more common outside of the United States, especially in universities in Europe. Graduate students in European universities usually are studying in an M.Phil. program, knowing that they will transition to a Ph.D. program after a couple years. The difference before and after the transition is basically the level of the research being conducted.

References

• University of Cambridge MPhil degrees
• Columbia University MPhil degrees