TL;DR. MPhil meaning: it stands for Master of Philosophy, a research degree that sits between a taught master's degree and a PhD. At KIU University the MPhil in Nursing is listed as a 1-year full-time program built around a supervised thesis, and its course page states that it can lead to doctoral study at SLQF Level 12.
Students often ask whether an MPhil is a master's degree, a smaller PhD or something else. This guide explains the meaning and shows what the MPhil in Nursing at KIU University involves, using the program page on Uplift.
What does MPhil mean?
MPhil stands for Master of Philosophy. The word philosophy here does not mean the subject. It is the traditional name for advanced research. An MPhil is a postgraduate research degree: you spend most of your time on one supervised research project and write a thesis, instead of mainly attending taught lessons.
That is the difference from an MSc or an MBA, which are mostly taught. A PhD is a longer research degree that asks for a larger original contribution. The MPhil sits between the two and is often a stepping stone toward a PhD.
What is the MPhil in Nursing at KIU University?
The Master of Philosophy in Nursing at KIU University is listed as a 1-year full-time program. The course page describes it as research-focused, with independent supervised research and a thesis, and as accredited and recognised by the Ministry of Higher Education and the University Grants Commission.
It is designed for graduate nurses who want to carry out high-quality nursing research, continue to higher postgraduate study or work as nursing academics, administrators, advanced practice nurses or nurse researchers.
What will you study?
The course page lists preparatory coursework and a dissertation:
Research methods and ethics in nursing research.
Statistics for nursing research.
Quantitative and qualitative research methods, as an option.
Leadership and management in nursing or educational processes, as an option.
An independent, supervised dissertation on an original nursing research topic.
The skills named on the page include advanced nursing research, academic and scholarly writing, evidence-based nursing practice and research design.
Who can apply?
The entry rule has several routes. One is SLQF Level 6 in a Bachelor's Honours Degree in a relevant area, with a minimum of 30 credits from a recognised university. Others include SLQF Level 5 with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and a qualifying examination, or SLQF Level 7 or above in a relevant area. Read the full list on the course page, because the exact route depends on your qualification.
The page lists no fee and no open intake date today, so ask KIU University for the current figure and the next intake. You can start an application for the MPhil in Nursing on Uplift when you are ready.
