Academic quality
Research degree quality
Our approach to managing the quality and standards of research degrees.
We are committed to providing excellent, open and progressive higher education. Our provision for postgraduate research students is a key part of this commitment.
These pages are designed for internal staff, postgraduate researchers and partners (for example, external supervisors and examiners) as an overview of our approach to research degrees.
If you have any questions about the research degree information on these pages, please contact our Postgraduate Research School at PGR.School@yorksj.ac.uk. Please provide a link to the relevant page in your email.
Our approach
We aim to develop a strong and sustainable research culture that informs our teaching, inspires our students and staff, enables research excellence, and enhances our academic reputation.
Many groups, committees and initiatives help us to work towards this aim. Explore the drop-down below for information on each aspect of this work.
In line with the UK Higher Education sector, external examiners are appointed for research degrees. External examiners provide assurance that our academic standards are consistent with the sector in relation to the level of award and the field of study.
For more information, visit our External examiners webpages.
PRES is the only national survey on the PGR experience and enables York St John to compare how we are doing with other institutions and make changes that will improve the PGR experience in the future.
The Students' Union works with postgraduate researchers to create formal routes for feedback. The Students' Union is keen to work with all York St John students and is aware of both the common and distinguishing features of the Postgraduate Research Student experience.
Details of the current sabbatical team can be found on the Students' Union website. Their responsibility is to represent students on all issues. They sit on a number of University Committees and liaise with senior university staff members on a variety of academic matters.
Postgraduate Researcher Representatives are PGRs who act as a link between the PGR population and the University. Postgraduate Researcher Representatives are elected to sit on the Research Committee and Research Degrees Committee.
To contact the PGR Reps, email PGRrep@yorksj.ac.uk.
Within the powers delegated by the Academic Board, the Quality and Standards Committee is responsible for the quality of programmes and standard of awards for all provision.
Within the powers delegated by the QSC, the Research Degrees Committee is responsible for the oversight of research degree provision.
RDC delegates decisions on applications for research degree supervisors to a subgroup of the committee. School Postgraduate Researcher Leads (SPGRLs) can approve admissions, suspensions, extensions, changes of supervisors and delays in transfer assessments, or they may refer the matter to the RDC subgroup for consideration.
Within the powers delegated by the Academic Board, the Research Degrees Examination Panel is responsible for the implementation of University policy and procedures for the examination of research degree candidates. RDEP is also responsible for the consideration of requests for suspensions or extensions which occur whilst a student is within the examination process.
The Research Committee is responsible for advising on research policy for the monitoring and support of research activity at the University.
The SRECs are responsible for supporting their school's research activity by considering best policy and practice with respect to research ethics within their subject areas. This is done by providing a review of ethical issues arising from research proposals within their school, by auditing and monitoring compliance and by disseminating best practice. The SRECs are directly accountable to the University Research Ethics and Integrity Sub-committee (UREISC).
More information about these committees can be found on the Research ethics and integrity page.
Further information
Academic School staff research roles
An overview of the staff roles supporting research degree quality across our academic schools.
The PGR lifecycle
An overview of the stages of a postgraduate research degree.
Thesis submission and examinations
Our processes for submission of postgraduate research theses and examinations.
Research ethics and integrity
Policies and information on research ethics and integrity, ethics approval, and roles and responsibilities for researchers and committees.
