MPhil

Education & Academia abbreviation · Degree

MPhil
Stands forMaster of Philosophy
CategoriesEducation & Academia

MPhil stands for Master of Philosophy, a degree abbreviation.

Research-oriented master's degree. In the UK, it is a one- or two-year research or taught degree, often a stepping stone to the PhD, while at Yale, Columbia and some other US universities it is awarded to doctoral students who have finished everything except the dissertation.

Example: He completed an MPhil in development studies at Cambridge before starting his DPhil at Oxford.

Usage notes

Written M.Phil. The word "philosophy" refers to advanced learning in general, not to the subject of philosophy. In the UK, a doctoral student who does not reach PhD standard may be awarded an MPhil instead. Hong Kong universities also award a two-year research MPhil.

More degree abbreviations

  • MM – Master of Music
  • MOT – Master of Occupational Therapy
  • MPA – Master of Public Administration
  • MPAS – Master of Physician Assistant Studies
  • MPH – Master of Public Health
  • MPharm – Master of Pharmacy
  • MPP – Master of Public Policy
  • MPS – Master of Professional Studies
  • MRes – Master of Research
  • MS – Master of Science
  • MSBA – Master of Science in Business Analytics
  • MSc – Master of Science

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