Regulations and Programmes of Study for Research Degrees

Authorised by : / Dean of Research and Graduate Studies
Owned by : / Graduate School
Version : / 2
Date : / 01/09/07

REGULATIONS FOR THE AWARD OF

THE UNIVERSITY’S DEGREES OF

MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY

AND
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
including

PhD BY PUBLISHED WORK

and
POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA
(by Research)

Effective from

1st September 2005

Contents

Section / Page
1. / Principles …………………………………………………………………………….. / 3
2. / Eligibility and Enrolment Requirements …………………………………………… / 5
3. / Regulations concerning the Programmes of study for the MPhil/PhD award ….
· Research training and personal development …………………………..
· Initial registration of the research proposal ……………………………..
· Progression ……………………………………………………………….
Confirmation of Research Programme ………………………………
Annual Progress Review ……………………………………………….
Judgements of ‘at risk’ ………………………………………………… / 6
7
7
8
9
9
10
4. / The Thesis …………………………………………………………………………… / 10
5. / Examinations …………………………………………………………………………. / 12
6. / Complaints ……………………………………………………………………………. / 14
7. / Appeals ……………………………………………………………………………….. / 14
8. / Academic Misconduct ……………………………………………………………… / 15
9. / Leave of Absence ……………………………………………………………………. / 15
Appendices
10. / PhD by Published Work …………………………………………………………… / 16
11. / Postgraduate Diploma (by Research) (Aegrotat only) …………………………… / 18
12. / Research Degrees awarded posthumously ……………………………………… / 20

Other relevant documents:

University of Wolverhampton Code of Good Research Practice

University of Wolverhampton Intellectual Property Policy

University of Wolverhampton Ethics Policy (under construction)

University of Wolverhampton Complaints Procedure

University of Wolverhampton Bye-Laws

REGULATIONS AND PROGRAMME OF STUDY FOR RESEARCH DEGREES

Within the following Regulations, the following phrases have the significance stated:

· ‘relevant committee’ means the committee empowered by the University’s Academic Board for the purpose concerned, i.e., normally the University Research Committee

· ‘designated authority’ means the group, panel or board authorised to act by the relevant committee on its behalf in accordance with the relevant regulations, rules, procedures, and codes of practice, i.e., normally the Research Student Management Board or its equivalent

· any reference to “Code of Practice” refers to the University’s Code of Practice for Postgraduate Research Programmes

1. Principles

1.1 The Research Degrees of the University of Wolverhampton shall be:

Doctorate

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

· including PhD by Published Work

Professional Doctorates:[1]

Research Masters:

Master of Philosophy (MPhil)

Postgraduate Diploma (by Research) (available as an aegrotat award only)

1.2 The University shall award research degrees to registered candidates who have

(a) fulfilled the requirements of the regulations as to study, training, research under supervision or guidance approved by the relevant committee, and examination, and

(b) where the programme of study includes a substantial taught element (i.e., Professional Doctorates), satisfied the examiners in the assessments and evaluations therein, and

(d) defended the thesis or other form of submission to the satisfaction of the examiners in an oral examination or viva voce.

1.3 Before commencing their studies and research at the University, all candidates for a research degree shall be required to satisfy the requirements for entry upon a research degree. Such requirements, which will include appropriate levels of literacy and numeracy, will be prescribed and reviewed periodically by the relevant committee. See also Section 2.

1.4 Unless otherwise stated in the relevant prescribed programme of study, candidates wishing to study for a research degree will normally apply for registration for MPhil, with the option of transfer to PhD.

The relevant committee may waive or modify this requirement in the case of

(a) persons already holding a postgraduate degree of an approved university or institution, awarded on completion of a course of advanced study or research which provides evidence of research ability and academic preparation to undertake doctoral level research, or

(b) persons whose academic qualifications reach the required standard and who have, in addition, significant industrial, clinical or other professional experience of special relevance to their proposed programme of research and who are recommended by the designated authority concerned on these grounds, or

(c) members of staff who are submitting under the arrangements approved by the relevant committee for the award of Doctor of Philosophy by Published Work.

1.5 A research degree programme may be pursued on a full- or part-time basis. Full-time students will normally devote on average 35 hours per week over a minimum of 45 weeks per year to the programme. Part-time students will normally devote 15-18 hours per week over a minimum of 45 weeks per year to the programme.

1.6 Except as provided below (1.7 - 1.9)

(a) all full-time candidates for a research degree of the University are required to pursue approved full-time study, training and research while in full-time attendance at the University, for a period which shall normally be as specified in the full-time registration periods indicated in 1.12.

(b) candidates may be permitted to undertake study on a part-time basis provided that the designated authority is satisfied of the ability of the candidate to devote sufficient time to the research, to maintain a sufficient level of contact with the University and with supervisors, and to have access to appropriate facilities to undertake their research. Candidates so accepted are required to pursue approved study, training and research under such arrangements for their study, research, supervision and direction as may be prescribed for a period which shall normally be as specified in the part-time registration periods indicated in 1.12.

(c) where candidates have been permitted to transfer between the full-time and part-time modes of study, the maximum period of registration for their programme will be recalculated. The calculation will be based on the number of months remaining in the current mode of study expressed as a proportion of the total number of months allowable in the new mode of study.

(d) where candidates have been granted permission by the designated authority to intercalate a period of leave of absence, the maximum period of registration will be extended by the same period of time approved for the leave of absence.

1.7 The designated authority may accept persons working in approved academic institutions or in approved scientific, clinical or industrial locations as full-time students for a research degree provided that they have demonstrated to the designated authority that they are able to devote their whole time to research for the degree concerned, that they have appropriate access to facilities to undertake their research (including training), and that they attend prescribed training, tuition, supervision and other events related to their research at the University.

1.8 Candidates who will be resident outside the United Kingdom during their programme of study may be accepted onto research degree programmes in accordance with the procedures specified in the Code of Practice, provided that the relevant committee deems them to have satisfied in full the conditions specified in 1.6 (b) (for part-time students) or 1.7 (for full-time students) above. Such candidates will be required to spend a total of at least six calendar months in attendance at the University during their programme of study.

1.9 In appropriate circumstances, candidates for a research degree who are full-time students may undertake a limited time of research away from the University, either on approved fieldwork or in approved academic institutions or scientific, clinical or industrial locations, whilst remaining under the direction of the University. Permission to spend up to a total of 45 weeks studying outside the University during the period of study will be at the discretion of the designated authority concerned; periods in excess of this must be approved by the relevant committee.

1.10 Upon recommendation from the designated authority, the relevant committee may reduce the minimum period of registration in cases where a student is granted admission with advanced standing as specified in 2.5 below. In no case will the minimum period of registration with the University be less than 12 months for full-time study, or 24 months for part-time study.

1.11 Except with the exceptional permission of the relevant committee, every candidate for a research degree shall be required to have completed all study and examination requirements within the maximum period of registration, as stated below.

1.12 Minimum and maximum periods of registration for the University’s research degrees, by mode of study, are as follows:

Effective for all students whose start date was on or after 1 January 2004[2]

Minimum / Maximum
MPhil
Full-time
Part-time / 1 year 6 months
2 years 6 months / 2 years
4 years
PhD [via transfer from MPhil registration and including that period of MPhil registration]
Full-time
Part-time / 2 years 9 months
5 years / 4 years
8 years

2. Eligibility and enrolment requirements

2.1 An applicant for a research degree shall normally hold either a first or upper second class honours degree or a masters degree with a substantial research element, of the University or of a recognised University in the United Kingdom, or a qualification that is accepted by the relevant committee as at least equivalent to such an honours degree.

2.2 Candidates who are non-native speakers of English shall normally be required to demonstrate proficiency in English at least to the level of an IELTS score of 6.5 or its equivalent.

2.3 Exceptionally, the designated authority may consider applicants holding qualifications other than those outlined in 2.1 and 2.2 in accordance with the criteria outlined in the University’s Code of Practice. In such cases, the applicant will be required to present to the designated authority evidence of a satisfactory general education and of ability to undertake the proposed programme of study, and will be required to provide the names of two academic referees. In the absence of satisfactory evidence, the applicant may be required to pass an examination to be prescribed in each case by the designated committee before his/her acceptance.

2.4 Applications for admission to a research degree programme will be assessed formally in accordance with procedures and criteria set out in the University’s Code of Practice, which will include:

· an assessment of the eligibility of the candidate;

· an indicative outline of the proposed research programme (3.6-3.10 below);

· an assessment of the University’s ability to supervise the proposed programme within its resources and strategy.

2.5 Where an applicant has achieved the stage of ‘Confirmation of Research Proposal’ (3.14-3.15) through previous study at another institution, s/he may apply to the designated authority for advanced standing on admission. In such cases, the designated authority will consider evidence of progress to date in the research programme of study and in achieving the learning outcomes for the award sought. Where advanced standing is granted, calculation of minimum and maximum periods of registration will take into account all previous periods of registration, within the requirement in 1.9 above that the applicant be registered at the University for a period of no less than 12 months for full-time study, and 24 months for part-time study.

2.6 An applicant who is accepted onto a research degree programme will be required to register formally as a student of the University and to sign an undertaking (i) to abide by the Bye-laws, Regulations, Rules, Codes of Conduct and Codes of Practice laid down by the University and (ii) to pay or cause to be paid to the University by the due dates all fees and charges for tuition, accommodation and other services provided by the University.

2.7 A student who is deemed eligible to progress following Annual Progress Review (3.12.-3.23 below) will be required to re-enrol formally at the University and to pay any fees due. Students in debt to the University will not normally be permitted to re-enrol.

3. Regulations concerning the programmes of study for the MPhil/PhD award

3.1 Generic learning outcomes for the award of MPhil are:

· Critical investigation and evaluation of a topic through individual research and analysis, which is at, or informed by findings at, the forefront of knowledge in the discipline and which is expressed in a work of publishable quality;

· Evidence of thorough and current knowledge of the specific field to which the topic of the thesis belongs, as well as an understanding of the intellectual context in which that topic is located;

· Demonstration of a comprehensive understanding of appropriate research methodologies;

· Demonstration of originality in the application of knowledge;

· Demonstration of ability to analyse critically one’s own findings and those of others;

· Demonstration of ability to formulate a hypothesis or research question(s);

· Demonstration of ability to design, plan and implement a research programme to test, explore and evaluate the hypothesis or question(s).

Assessment will be through:

(i) successful completion of any required formal research training and personal development;

(ii) a thesis and defence of that thesis at an oral examination which together demonstrate the achievement of the above learning outcomes to the satisfaction of the examiners.

3.2 Generic learning outcomes for the award of PhD are:

· Substantial critical investigation and evaluation of a topic or set of related topics resulting in an independent and original contribution to knowledge and understanding in the field of knowledge to which the topic belongs, and which is expressed in a work of publishable quality;

· Originality is demonstrated through the discovery of new facts or methodologies, through subjecting known facts or methodologies to new insights derived from investigation, and/or through the revision, confirmation or adaptation of existing theories or methodologies to the new circumstances described in the thesis;

· Evidence of systematic, thorough, current and detailed knowledge of the specific subject area of the research as well as the general context in which that subject area is located;

· Evidence of knowledge of an appropriate range of research methodologies and a critical evaluation of their merits;

· Evidence of an ability to develop new hypotheses or research questions that have the capacity to extend the frontier of knowledge of the discipline;

· Evidence of an ability to design, plan and implement a research programme to test, explore and evaluate these hypotheses or questions;