I am currently studying Political Theory at LSE and have attained a bursary to study a Masters in Contemporary China at Manchester. Aside from the headache of having to move and take my wife away from a job, a city we both love and all the rest, I am not sure whether two masters is worth it. However, my idea for a PhD is substantially different to that which my current MSc could facilitate. Is this a problem? Is a masters just a stepping stone, more proof of academic ability than an initiation into a particular discipline? How much of a PhD can be dedicated to getting a firmer grounding in the discipline itself? Can a PhD be developed in tandem to the taking of certain Masters course? Any help or advice that can be given in relation to these questions would be very helpful,
cheers

I'm really at the beginning of all things postgraduate so any advice is limited...but from what I've been told the more preparation you have for your PhD, the more committed you look to potential supervisors, therefore the more likely you are to get offered a place. From what you're studying you seem very academically able, but if the masters at Manchester would be significantly more appropriate to your PhD than what you're doing now, I would definitely go for it. Moving is a hassle, but you've been lucky enough to get funding and if it will help you with the PhD, then its a really good opportunity and could enhance your ideas for your PhD.
I haven't even started a Masters course yet so am really not in a position to say too much, but I am planning to do a taught course first then a research-based Masters to prepare myself for a PhD, even though my undergraduate degree has prepared me very well. I may not end up doing the research-based Masters, but I just want to be really confident about my proposal for a PhD.

You see, it all depends on what your phD is. If iti is such that the Manchester degree would substantially help you (intellectually, and line on the CV) then you can take the best call. But there is no reason to assume that doing an extra masters will necessarily boost your application. After all, it is not the norm to do such a thing. And your current course sounds good, and if your PhD could easily take off after this course, then why go for a second masters?

But you say you have funding to do this. i also assume you are too late for this years PhD applications and hence will in any case have to spend a year in between. In which case, you may wnat to use the bursary and do the degree, simultanously brainstorming the PhD and contacting potential supervisors...

Best!