The Department is committed to empirically rich, conceptually sophisticated, and socially and politically relevant research and scholarship, and values contribution from PhD students. In your first year, you can choose to study a range of methods and specialist courses from a variety of institutes and departments at LSE. You must attend the first year research class for PhD students and graduate course units in methodology. This has to reach an acceptable standard to enable you to progress to the second year. After the first year, you will spend more time on independent study under the guidance of your personal supervisor. This will involve the collection, organisation, analysis and writing up of data and ideas. You will have the opportunity to attend a regular general research seminar and/or specialist workshops and seminars related to your interests. You will be expected to make an active contribution to these by presenting papers and joining in the general discussion.