Senate regulation 9: Regulations governing Research Degree Programmes: Registration periods, changes to registration, induction, and training (9.47-9.78)

Registration periods

9.47

Each research degree programme shall have a specified minimum and maximum period of registration dependent on the research student’s mode of study. The specified minimum and maximum periods shall be calculated by reference to the research student’s initial date of registration.

9.48

The registration periods for the degree of PhD, MD, or MPhil shall be:

9.49

The registration periods for the degree of PysD, DClinPsy, DSocSCi, EdD, EngD shall be:

9.50

Research students shall be required to maintain registration for at least the specified minimum period.

9.51

Research students shall not normally maintain registration beyond the specified maximum period. Research students who have experienced extenuating circumstances which are accepted by the University may be given an extension of registration beyond the specified maximum period.

9.52

Requests for an extension of registration require the support of the Department and shall be subject to approval from the Dean of the Doctoral College or, in the case of research students registered for the degree of MD, the MD Degree Board of Studies. The research student’s registration shall not normally be extended for a period of more than six months. The research student must submit the thesis for examination by the end of the extension period. Standard extension fees shall be payable for the approved extension period.

Writing-up periods

9.53

Research students registered for the degree of PhD, MD, or MPhil shall be permitted to register for a writing-up period of no more than twelve months from the start of their final year of maximum registration.

9.54

The writing-up period shall count towards the specified maximum registration period. The research student shall not continue the writing-up period beyond the specified maximum registration period.

9.55

Half of the standard writing-up fee shall be payable for writing-up periods up to six months in length; the full writing-up fee shall be payable for writing-up periods up to twelve months in length. Research students who have completed a twelve month writing-up period and have been given an extension of registration beyond this by the Dean of the Doctoral College or by the MD Degree Board of Studies shall pay the standard extension fees for the extension period.

9.56

Research students in a writing-up period shall continue to be offered formal supervision and this shall include the first supervisor reading and commenting on the final draft of the thesis provided that the thesis is presented by a mutually acceptable date in sufficient time before the required submission date. Research Students are expected to submit their thesis within the writing-up period.

9.57

Over the writing-up period the research student shall continue to have access to the University Library and their University IT account. Research students in a writing-up period may continue to have access to appropriate departmental facilities subject to approval from the Head of Department.

Changes of registration

9.58

Following initial registration the research student may change or vary the research degree programme – including changes to the mode of study – only with the approval of the University.

9.59

Requests to change or vary the research degree programme must be submitted to the Doctoral College Office. Distance learning registration is available in specific disciplines only. Where a change in the mode of study is approved, the completed period of registration shall be re-calculated pro rata and this may change the date at which the research student will complete the specified maximum registration period.

Dual registration

9.60

Research students registered on a full-time research degree programme at the University must not be registered on another full-time degree programme either at the University or another institution.

9.61

Research students registered on a part-time research degree programme at the University may, with the prior approval of the Dean of the Doctoral College, register for another part-time programme either at the University or another institution provided that there is no substantial overlap in content between programmes and the research student does not submit for one programme work that has been completed for the other.

9.62

Sponsored research students must comply with any conditions relating to dual registration that are associated with the terms of their sponsorship. International research students must comply with any conditions relating to dual registration that are associated with the terms of their immigration status.

9.63

Academic pressure resulting from dual registration shall not be accepted as an extenuating circumstance for poor academic performance, neglect of academic obligations, or academic dishonesty.

Suspension of Programme

9.64

Research students who have experienced extenuating circumstances which are accepted by the University may suspend their programme. A suspension is an approved period of absence from the research degree programme. Research students registered for the degree of DClinPsy must follow programme and National Health Service requirements for programme breaks.

9.65

Suspension of programme indicates that the research student is not actively engaged with the research degree programme but remains registered with the University. Over the suspension period the research student shall not be offered formal supervision nor have access to departmental facilities. Over the suspension period the research student shall continue to have access to the University Library and their University IT account. Requests for suspension of programme require the approval of the Department and must be submitted to the Doctoral College Office or, in the case of research students registered for the degree of MD, to the College Student Programmes Office.

9.66

Periods of suspension shall normally be at least three months in duration. Research students shall not normally suspend their programme for a period exceeding twelve months over the duration of the research degree programme. Research students returning from a period of suspension shall normally resume their programme as of the first day of the relevant month. The suspension period shall not count towards the specified minimum and maximum registration periods.

Withdrawal

9.67

Research students wishing to withdraw permanently from the research degree programme must notify the Doctoral College Office in writing. Research students considering withdrawal from the programme are strongly encouraged to first consult with the supervisory team and/or the Department.

9.68

Where owing to non-engagement the University considers that a research student has withdrawn from the research degree programme, the student shall be contacted in writing and asked to respond by a specified date. If the research student fails to respond satisfactorily by the specified date it shall be assumed that they have withdrawn from the research degree programme.

Induction and training

9.69

The research student shall be expected to make use of relevant induction and training events and materials provided by the University. The research student shall be expected to complete mandatory integrity training prior to the completion of probation.

Induction

9.70

The Department shall ensure that the research student receives appropriate induction information at the start of the research degree programme. This must include guidance on:

1. the roles and responsibilities of the research student and the supervisory team
2. the nature of research and the standard of work expected of research students
3. the specified maximum registration period and the planning of the research programme
4. the relevant probation and progress monitoring requirements
5. the identification and use of appropriate literature and information resources.

9.71

The research student shall be responsible for making themselves familiar at the start of the research degree programme with relevant University policies and procedures. In particular, the research student must ensure that they are familiar with relevant Senate Regulations and the Code of Conduct for Research.

Skills and career development training

9.72

The research student shall have the opportunity through the research degree programme and other University events and materials to develop relevant research and other skills.

9.73

The Department shall ensure that the research student receives training and/or guidance to support their development of relevant research skills. Research students registered for the degree of PhD, MD, PsyD, or MPhil shall normally work with the supervisory team to identify the research skills needed for the research degree programme and to develop an appropriate training plan. Research students registered for other doctoral degree programmes shall normally develop relevant research skills through the assessed components of the programme.

9.74

All research students should, in addition to developing relevant research skills, make use of opportunities to develop their broader personal and professional skills. These may include written and oral communication skills, presentation skills, project management skills, interpersonal and leadership skills, and career planning skills.

9.75

The supervisory team and/or the Department may require the research student to complete compulsory training activities. Research students registered full-time may be required to attend English language classes alongside the research degree programme.

9.76

Research students shall be required to allocate to skills and career development training an appropriate portion of each year of registration. Research students registered for the degree of PhD or MPhil shall normally take at least two weeks (full-time) or one week (part-time) each year for appropriate skills and career development activities such as attendance at formal training events, participation in research seminars and conferences, use of online materials, and self-directed learning activities. Research students registered for other doctoral degree programmes should complete an equivalent amount of training as appropriate within the programme requirements. Training requirements may vary for research students based in a Research Council Doctoral Training Partnership/Centre for Doctoral Training.

9.77

Research students registered for the degree of PhD, MD, PsyD, or MPhil must keep a record of all skills and career development training completed. This record shall be reviewed at the research student’s probation review. Research students registered for other doctoral degree programmes should keep a record of all skills and career development activities completed beyond the assessed components of the programme.