Application to Register for a Research Degree

RDC1

Graduate School Committee

APPLICATION TO REGISTER FOR A RESEARCH DEGREE

Submitted by the Schoolof......

(This form should be typewritten)

Applicants and their supervisors should consult the University's Regulations for the award of Research Degrees before completing this form. Copies may be obtained from the University’s website or the Graduate School.

Name of Candidate
Student No.:
Research Award
(delete as appropriate) / MPhil
MPhil with possible transfer to PhD
PhD
(PhD on the basis of Published Work - apply on form RDC17)
Mode of Study
(full timeor part time)
Title of the Research Project
Home Address
Correspondence Address
(if different)
Daytime Tel No
Email address
Date of enrolment on award
Start date requested for research degree registration purposes.
The Graduate School Committee will approve up to six months back-dating from the date of receipt of the application. Requests for longer back-dating must be accompanied by a report of progress already achieved and justification for retrospective registration, supported by your supervisory team.
Expected average weekly commitment to the research programme (in hours)
Expected submission date for the thesis
(Please refer to the University Regulations for minimum and maximum registration periods)
Intellectual Property Rights
Are there any IPR implications?
If yes, please detail how they have been, or will be, addressed.
Source of Financial Support
Give particulars of any studentship or other award held in connection with the proposed research programme
Details of Higher Education qualifications gained
Institution attended, dates, award, classification, etc.If Masters award included a dissertation research project provide title and word length.
Training and experience
(include details of activities undertaken [with dates] relevant to this application and any research or other relevant conference papers, articles,books etc which have been published)
Will your programme of research be largely conducted at the University?
Collaborating Establishment
If appropriate, give full address.
Attach:

A letter of support.
A statement of contingency measures.

FACILITIES AVAILABLE FOR THE INVESTIGATION (including funding and location).

Please indicate the facilities/resources available for the research project, and any additional facilities/resources that the School or University is required to provide. Please indicate the proportion of time to be spent working at the University and any Collaborating Establishment. If it is proposed that part of your programme of work will take place outside Staffordshire University, please specify the facilities/resources available to you at the partner or collaborating establishment.

NB: In the case of any collaborative work the RDC1 must be accompanied by a letter confirming the collaboration and the availability of facilities/resources in support of the project. In addition, the student and his supervisors must give details of contingency measures to deal with possible changes of the collaboration which could have a detrimental impact on the research programme (for example if the Collaborating Establishment ceases operating, decides to withdraw its support, changes its project requirements, etc). The statement of contingency measures must show that successful completion of the programme is not coupled tightly to the collaboration.

ETHICS

For the purposes of ethical approval you must as a minimum complete either the Academic Disclaimer Form or the appropriate Form for Ethical approval (all available from the University Academic Ethics web page).

The Academic Disclaimer form is ONLY applicable when there are no perceived ethical issues with the research (for example, the research only uses public available/ anonymised data rather than any direct engagement with human participants).

The Proportionate Review/ Fast Track form acts as a filter and once completed you will be able to identify whether you should complete a full University ethics form for your Faculty Ethics Committee or an Independent Peer Review (IPR) form for the University IPR Panel. If you are applying to an external body such as the NHS, Social Care or the Ministry of Justice, you will need to complete the IPR form.

If you are completing the full University Ethics Form for applying for ethical approval, subsequent to the submission of your RDC1 you must notify the Graduate School when you have received your final ethical approval. You start your research only after receiving written approval in any of these routes.

I/We confirm that ethical implications concerned with the proposed research programme have been considered by the Candidate and the Supervision Team and where appropriate, a full application to an Ethics Committee (eg School, University, NHS) has or will be made when the complete details of the research programme are known:

Ethical approval (delete as necessary):

Not Applicable (append the completed Academic Disclaimer form)

Applicable - approved - provide details of application(s) and outcomes(s) and append documents

Applicable - to be approved - provide details

Signatures:Candidate: ……………………… Date: ………

RISK ASSESSMENT SUMMARY

In completing this section the supervision team should consult the guidance available on the University’s Health & Safety website:.

In particular the University’s Health and Safety Policy identifies the responsibilities of academic staff. Supervisors should note that this responsibility cannot be discharged by relying upon the research student’s perceived competence. Supervision teams will find in addition to information on laboratory and studio-based risks this website contains important health and safety guidance likely to be of relevant to most subject areas e.g. on lone working, field work and working overseas.

The Principal Supervisor should identify areas of work in the following risk categories:

A= Those where work may not be undertaken without direct supervision;

B= Those where work may not be started without the supervisor's advice and approval;

C= Activities which can only be undertaken unsupervised after appropriate training.

D = Those with risks (other than categories A & B) where extra care must be observed, but where it is considered that this student is already adequately trained and competent in the procedures involved;

E= Those where the risks are insignificant and carry no special supervision considerations.

Nature and Method of Work / Hazards/Risks / Safeguards/ Training Requirements / Category
(The nature of the risks should be defined, e.g. lone working, toxicity, explosion, fieldwork risks (e.g. risks from respondents, travelling risks), high-voltage, lasers, flammability etc). / (Instructions and advice should include the method of work and the safeguards (e.g. personal safety training; access to panic buttons and mobile phones) to be used. The person who is to supervise A and B risks should be identified).

Signatures:

Candidate: …………………………………………. Date: … ……………………….

Principal Supervisor: ……………………………… Date: ……………......

PROPOSED PLAN OF WORK

You must submit a proposed plan of work with this application. It must include details on the following sections:

Aims of the investigation
Objectives of the project
Context of the investigation
Theoretical basis
Methods of investigation
Timescale
Expected outcome or outcomes
References
Bibliography

Plan of work guidelines:

Please include a400 word (maximum) synopsis of the research project for the lay reader.

A maximum of 2,500 words should be used for the plan of work. (A student may use fewer words if they choose to do so, but may not use more)

Use Arial font - size 11

Footnotes should be used to provide a reference / citation for the reader. A short and brief explanation (if one is required of a particular point) may be included, but should be used only where necessary and not to circumvent the word limit.

The references / bibliography required are not included in the word limit of 2,500 words permitted, but should not exceed three pages and should adhere to the Arial font – size 11 stipulation.

The time-line for the project is not included in the word-limit.

Tables and diagrams are not included in word limits but should be used only to explain and enhance as necessary and not as an attempt to circumvent the limit.

SUPERVISION OF THE PROGRAMME OF WORK

INTERNAL SUPERVISORS - aSupervisor’s CV proforma must be submitted for each supervisor (available from the Graduate School / University website). Other forms of C.V. will NOTbe accepted.

Name of Principal Supervisor
Department and School
Email address
Area(s) of subject expertise
Number of registered research degree candidates currently supervised / MPhil / PhD
Number of candidates previously supervised to successful completion / MPhil / PhD
Undertaken the University’s Research Supervision Training Programme, and actively researching / YES / NO / IN PROGRESS
(If yes, date of successful completion)
Name of Supervisor
Department and School
Email address
Area(s) of subject expertise
Number of registered research degree candidates currently supervised / MPhil / PhD
Number of candidates previously supervised to successful completion / MPhil / PhD
Undertaken the University’s Research Supervision Training Programme, and actively researching / YES / NO / IN PROGRESS
(If yes, date of successful completion)
Name of Supervisor
Department and School
Email address
Area(s) of subject expertise
Number of registered research degree candidates currently supervised / MPhil / PhD
Number of candidates previously supervised to successful completion / MPhil / PhD
Undertaken the University’s Research Supervision Training Programme, and actively researching / YES / NO / IN PROGRESS
(If yes, date of successful completion)

EXTERNAL SUPERVISOR/ADVISER (if appropriate)

If the bulk of the programme of research is to be conducted outside Staffordshire University, candidates must have a supervisor based at the institution or body at which the research will be carried out.

Please include details of ExternalSupervisors/Advisers below- a Supervisors CV proforma must be submitted for each supervisor/adviser (available from theGraduate School / Univeristy website). Other forms of C.V. will NOT be accepted.

Name of Supervisor
Email address
Area(s) of subject expertise

SUPERVISORS WHO ARE ALSO RESEARCH STUDENTS

Are any of the proposed supervisors simultaneously registered as research students in their own right?

YES/NO

If yes, please name them below:

CONFIDENTIALITY

(Period approved will normally not exceed two years from the date of the oral examination)

Is permission sought for the thesis to be kept confidential? YES/NO

If yes, written justification must accompany the application.

STATEMENT BY THE APPLICANT

On the basis of the proposals given in this application, I wish to apply for registration for the degree of: (delete appropriate)

MPhil

MPhil with transfer possibility to PhD

Direct PhD

I confirm that all the information given is correct.

I understand that, except with the specific permission of the Graduate School Committee, I may not, during the period of my registration, be a candidate for another research award.

I understand that, except with the specific permission of the Graduate School Committee, I must write and defend my thesis in English.

Signed: ...... Date:......

RECOMMENDATION BY THE SUPERVISORS

We support this application and believe that the applicant has the potential to successfully complete the programme of work proposed within the University’s maximum registration period.

We recommend that the applicant be registered as a candidate for a research degree.

We confirm also that in the case of any supervisor who is also a student in their own right, there is no conflict of interest between their own research and the proposed research of this student.

Signed: ...... Date: ......

Signed: ...... Date:......

SCHOOL SUPPORT

I support this application and confirm the School will ensure the specified resources (on page 3) are made available for the planned duration of the project.

Signed: ...... (Dean of School)

Print Name: …………………………………… Date: ......

APPROVAL OF APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF

MPHIL or MPHIL WITH POSSIBLE TRANSFER TO PHD

The Graduate School Committee has approved the application for the award of:

MPhil- Registration effective from:

MPhil with possible transfer to PhD - Registration effective from:

Signed: ...... (Chair: Graduate School Committee)

Print Name: ………………………………….. Date: ......

APPROVAL OF APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF DIRECT PHD

The Graduate School Committee has approved the application for the award of :

PhD- Registration effective from:

Signed: ...... (Chair: Graduate School Committee)

)

Print Name: ………………………………….. Date: ......

If you have any questions regarding this RDC1 form, please contact the Graduate School by emailing

2017Graduate School