In this course students will receive training in research methods and skills appropriate to the stage they have reached and the nature of their work. This includes: guidance on planning and writing your thesis; using bibliographic and archival resources (both electronic and printed); handling research data; making conference presentations; preparing and submitting material for publication and applying for jobs. It is sometimes possible for MA by research students to transfer to an MPhil (and subsequently to a PhD) at the end of their MA year without having to make a new application. Such a transfer would be done without having the MA conferred and your MA dissertation may be used as the basis for part of the thesis. The MA year will be counted as the first year of the MPhil/PhD.