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Appendix A: Excerpt from the University’s PhD Regulations regarding Differentiation
10.1 New research students wishing to proceed to PhD study shall register as undifferentiated research students in the first instance and shall be considered by their school for differentiation to PhD registration as follows:
(a) full-time students: not less than six months and normally not later than nine months after first enrolling for research, and within an absolute deadline of 16 months from first registration;
(b) part-time students: not less than 12 months and normally no more than 18 months from first registration for research, and within an absolute deadline of 30 months from first registration.
10.2 The Head of School shall appoint a suitable differentiation panel for each student: this shall normally comprise at least three members, the majority of whom shall be independent of the supervisory team.
10.3 The differentiation panel shall consider the student’s suitability to proceed towards registration for the degree of PhD, on the basis of a written submission from the student, an interview, the student’s research plan (see 7.4 above) and his/her training record. A student who has not completed training requirements to the panel’s satisfaction shall not be permitted to differentiate. The panel shall forward recommendations, including any recommendations that a student should not be permitted to differentiate to PhD status, to the School Postgraduate Research Committee immediately.
10.4 The School Postgraduate Research Committee will consider panel recommendations and will invite any student who has not been recommended for PhD registration to appear before it before the decision is confirmed. The School Postgraduate Research Committee shall report its decisions to the Examinations Office and Postgraduate Office.
10.5 School Offices are responsible for ensuring that students are notified in writing of whether or not they have successfully differentiated.
10.6 A panel may recommend that a student be permitted a second attempt at differentiation within a specified time period. Students may not normally make more than two attempts at differentiation. In exceptional circumstances, the School Postgraduate Research Committee may permit a third attempt.
10.7 A student who is dissatisfied with the outcome of the differentiation procedure may appeal to the University Postgraduate Appeals Committee (see section 22).
Appendix B: Excerpt from the University’s PhD Regulations regarding Progress Monitoring
11.1 All research students are subject to the requirements of the University’s progress monitoring exercise.
11.2 The first review will be completed within 12 months of the student’s first registration, normally in August/September of the first year. Subsequent reviews will take place at annual intervals throughout the period of registration, normally in June/July/August each year. A School Postgraduate Research Committee may specify more frequent reviews at its discretion. Registration at the beginning of an academic year is dependent on the completion of a satisfactory report form at the end of the previous academic year.
11.3 The student must complete Section A of the Progress Monitoring Form and submit the form to the principal supervisor, who (in consultation with the co-supervisor, where applicable) will complete Section B and make one of the following recommendations:
In the case of an undifferentiated research student
(i) that the student has gone through the School’s differentiation procedure (see 10 above) and has been recommended for PhD registration;
(ii) that the student is ready to go through the School’s differentiation procedure (see 10 above);
(iii) that the student’s registration as an undifferentiated research student be continued for another specified number of months and reviewed again;
(iv) that the student be given permission to register for a master’s degree; (v) that the student’s registration be discontinued.
In the case of a student already registered for a PhD (vi) that the student’s registration be continued;
(vii) that the student’s registration be changed to registration for a master’s degree; (viii) that the student’s registration be discontinued.
11.4 Where there are two supervisors, both shall sign the progress monitoring form. The supervisor(s) shall show the student the completed Section B and the recommendation, and shall then submit the completed form, to the School Postgraduate Research Committee. 11.5 Where the recommendation is unfavourable, the student and the supervisor(s) shall
be invited to appear before the School Postgraduate Research Committee before the decision is confirmed. An unfavourable recommendation is defined as one that downgrades or discontinues the student’s registration, or that prevents a student who wishes to upgrade to PhD status from doing so. The Committee shall confirm its decision to the student and the supervisor(s) in writing after the meeting.
11.6 If a School Postgraduate Research Committee decides, in any circumstances not
covered in 11.5 above, not to endorse the supervisory recommendation, the supervisor(s) shall be given the opportunity to appear before the Committee before a final decision is reached.
11.7 A student who is dissatisfied with the outcome of the progress monitoring exercise may appeal to the University Postgraduate Appeals Committee, following the procedures set out in section 22 below.
11.8 A supervisor who has concerns about a student’s progress should bring this to the immediate attention of both the student and the Head of School without waiting for the next formal progress monitoring exercise to take place.