Research degrees
The Postgraduate Researcher Lifecycle
The document directory contains all documentation relevant to research degrees.
Key documents
The link below provides information on the process and requirements for research degrees:
Applications
All applications for research degrees should be made using the online application form links available on the website. Applicants should be advised to contact potential supervisors before making an application in order to identify whether we will be able to support a particular area of research. A full research proposal will need to be submitted as part of the application.
Admissions and interviews
Applications will be sent to the School Postgraduate Research Lead for discussion with potential supervisors and an applicant will need to be invited for interview before they can be recommended for admission.
The Interview Proforma and Admission Approval Form (docx, 35.3 kB) should be completed after the interview has taken place and sent to the relevant School Postgraduate Research Lead for approval. The approved form will then be sent to Registry for an acceptance email to be generated and sent to Admissions for a formal offer to be sent to the applicant.
Only Admissions can issue formal offers of admission to research degrees.
Applicants must then complete the reply slip confirming their acceptance of the offer and meet any outstanding conditions, such as providing original certificates to Admissions.
Applicants who require a Student Visa should note that:
- Once they have arrived in the United Kingdom and have obtained their Student Visa, it is not possible to delay their start date.
- Prior to arrival, if a visa application has not yet been made, the start date can be changed and a new offer will be made.
- Prior to arrival, if a visa application has been made, a delayed start of up to 6 weeks can be made which can be absorbed into the standard period of study without affecting the end dates as per the original CAS.
Periods of study
Students are registered for research degree programmes with standard periods of study in which the University expects the programme to be completed.
| Award | Mode of study | Minimum period of registration | Standard period of study | Normal maximum period of registration to submission |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doctor of Philosophy | Full time | 2 calendar years | 3 calendar years | 4 calendar years |
| Part time | 3 calendar years | 6 calendar years | 7 calendar years | |
| Doctor of Philosophy (by Published Work) | Part time | 3 calendar months | 1 calendar year | 2 calendar years |
| Professional Doctorate | Part time | 4 calendar years | 6 calendar years | 6 calendar years |
| Master of Philosophy | Full time | 1 calendar year | 2 calendar years | 3 calendar years |
| Part time | 2 calendar years | 4 calendar years | 5 calendar years | |
| Master of Arts/Master of Science by research | Full time | 1 calendar year | 1 calendar year | 1 calendar year |
| Part time | 2 calendar years | 2 calendar years | 2 calendar years |
Induction
All PGRs are able to access the induction programme which is organised by the Research Office. Details will be sent to the PGR by the Research Office (researchoffice@yorksj.ac.uk).
Training and development
PGRs should complete the PGR Development Needs Analysis and Plan (docx, 78.3 kB) (DNA) within 1 month of their start date (for full time PGRs) or within 2 months for part time PGRs. The DNA is based on the Vitae Researcher Development Framework (RDF) that describes the knowledge, behaviours and attributes of successful researchers. It is used to identify strengths and gaps in development, prioritise development needs and monitor progress. Training and development needs should be discussed by the supervisor and PGR periodically and will be reviewed as part of academic progress monitoring procedures.
Details of training and development courses and opportunities are available from the Research Office.
Progress Monitoring
Regular reviews of PGR academic progress are carried out throughout the candidature and recorded using a series of workflows in e:Vision. Information relating to progress monitoring can be found in the Code of Practice for Research Degrees 2023-24 (docx, 1.4 MB). Progress reviews should be held as follows:
- First formal review - 6 months (full time) or 9 months (part time)
- Transfer assessment - 12 months (full time) or 24 months (part time)
- Annual review - 12 monthly basis following transfer assessment (PhD) or first formal review (PT MA/MSc by Research)
Review meetings
For each review meeting, the PGR and supervisors should provide the progress and supervision reports as detailed in the Code of Practice for Research Degrees. The PGR will also submit a piece of work as agreed with the supervisor which will be appropriate to the point the PGR has reached in their candidature, in addition to their Development Needs Analysis and Plan.
The first formal review meeting can be conducted as a face-to-face or online meeting and will be chaired by an independent assessor who will be an academic member of staff, from a cognate discipline but outside the supervisory team. Annual reviews for those who are registered on a doctoral programme and are in the post-transfer stage may be carried out as a paper-based review rather than a formal meeting.
Transfer Assessment
PGRs who are registered on a provisional PhD will go through a transfer assessment which is intended to identify whether the individual PGR and the research project have the potential for research at doctoral level and also whether completion of a thesis within the standard period of study for the programme concerned is a reasonable expectation.
Transfer submissions should include the progress and supervision reports as detailed in the Code of Practice for Research Degrees. The PGR will also submit a piece of work as agreed with the supervisor which will be appropriate to the point the PGR has reached in their candidature, in addition to their Training Plan and a record of training undertaken to date.
PGRs on a Professional Doctorate programme will submit their research proposal as the piece of written work at the transfer point.
The Transfer Assessment Panel will comprise of at least 2 academics from the same or a cognate subject or discipline who are independent of the supervisory team.
Unsatisfactory Academic Progress Procedure (UAPP)
Where a supervisory team has concerns about the progress of a PGR they should refer to the Unsatisfactory Academic Progress Procedure (section 10 in the Code of Practice for Research Degrees). The purpose of the UAPP is to investigate the concerns and identify the likelihood of the PGR being able to continue their degree through to successful completion within the remaining period of study. Through using the UAPP a series of actions may be set to enable immediate improvement of academic performance. The UAPP may take place at any stage in a research degree.
A supervisor must initially raise their concerns in writing with the PGR and if there is no improvement then the supervisor should formally bring the matter to the attention of the relevant School PGR Lead. The SPGRL will arrange an unsatisfactory academic progress meeting with the PGR to consider what action is required. If it is agreed that the UAPP should be instigated an action plan and milestones will be set and a date for formal review will be arranged.
Full details of the Unsatisfactory Academic Progress Procedure are contained in Section 10 of the Code of Practice. Template forms and sample letters to use, are available in the Document Directory.
Suspensions and extensions
Where PGRs experience events or circumstances which disrupt their academic progress a suspension or extension may be requested.
The PGR should complete the suspension/extension request in e:Vision (Change of Circumstances tab) and it will then go to their supervisor and the School Lead for approval. Supporting evidence will normally be required, but PGRs should not delay completing the form if waiting for the supporting evidence to be received.
Further details on suspensions and extensions can be found in the Code of Practice for Research Degrees and the Suspensions and Extensions FAQs available in the Document Directory.
