Candidates must then undergo an oral examination concerning the contents of the dissertation. All research students are required to undertake research training in their first year. Research training is designed to ensure that students are intellectually equipped to complete their programme of work. There are two compulsory courses, Research Methodology and Theory and Research in War Studies. These courses run over two semesters and are assessed through essays.
Students also attend a fortnightly seminar which reflects their disciplinary interests.
Part time students undertake research training under a more flexible regime. Students usually take one course each year, with the suggestion that the Research Methodology course be taken first. For British students, the two major grant providers are the ESRC and British Academy, both of whom hold studentship competitions each spring. Both are extremely competitive. Students need to have minimum qualifications of a high upper second class honours degree, and in practice a good Masters degree, to equip them to compete.