The MA is a taught master’s degree, which means it involves coursework (weekly classes focused on specific art historical topics that require students to complete reading and writing assignments for each session) as well as a capstone, thesis or “dissertation” of 10,000 words. It is designed for students not yet ready to complete self-guided research. The MPhil, in contrast, is a research-focused degree that involves the submission of a much longer thesis and of a much higher standard than that which is required of the MA. The award of this degree mainly depends on the thesis completed within the given study period. The few required MPhil courses are designed to enhance students’ teaching and research skills and are not akin to regular art history classes. They are of a qualifying nature, which means they are assessed on a pass/fail basis and are not counted towards the assessment of the degree itself.