Is it really worth takinga n MPhil and what is the difference between it and a PhD?

An MPhil is usually taken as a precursor to a PhD. Most people are required to start a PhD by registering for an MPhil. In most cases the MPhil is never completed as the registration is changed to a PhD degree after 12-18 months. This system helps universities keep their drop out rates for PhDs low - if somebody wants to quit after a year they simply submit for an MPhil, rather than dropping out of a PhD. Practice varies from subject to subject and university to university.

The actuall difference between the two is that research carried out for an MPhil does not need to 'be original and make a significant contribution to knowledge' (as it would if it were for a PhD). An MPhil project can be to confirm the findings of others.