The Department has approximately 60 research students and is able to offer supervision in a wide range of specialist topics. Students are members of a vibrant and exciting research community. The LSE Library has a full collection of UK, US and EU public documents, parliamentary papers and statistical data. High class networked computer facilities dedicated to research students exist in the Social Science Research Laboratory within the Department. A wide range of computer packages for quantitative and qualitative analysis are available. Students will attend a seminar series run by the doctoral programme director and are also encouraged to take courses in the Department of Methodology and in the Department of Social Policy. In the first year, you will register initially for the MPhil programme, and undertake specific training in research methods as required. In subsequent years, you will continue your research under the guidance of your supervisors, participate in seminars and present your work from time to time, by giving seminar presentations and conference papers.