REGULATIONS FOR HIGHER DEGREES BY RESEARCH. RESEARCH For students enrolling for the first time after 1 September 2007

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1 REGULATIONS FOR HIGHER DEGREES BY RESEARCH Different regulations apply accding to students iginal date of enrolment f the degree. The regulations below apply to students who enrolled from 1 September If you require a copy of the regulations that applied pri to this please contact Student Administration (studentadministrationresearch@stir.ac.uk). REGULATIONS FOR HIGHER DEGREES BY RESEARCH F students enrolling f the first time after 1 September 2007 Introduction 1. The University offers the following higher degrees by research: Master of Philosophy Doct of Philosophy. 2. The degree of Master shall be granted at the conclusion of a period of advanced study to a candidate who has demonstrated, to the satisfaction of the Academic Council, the ability to undertake research and to rept the results of such research. 3. The degree of Doct of Philosophy shall be granted at the conclusion of a period of advanced study to a candidate who has demonstrated, to the satisfaction of the Academic Council, the ability to conduct iginal investigations, to assess ideas critically, and to relate the investigations to a wider field of knowledge. The degree of Doct of Philosophy may be awarded through submission of either a thesis a series of publications. The use of the term thesis in the following regulations should be understood as referring to either type of submission. Admission 4. A graduate of a university of the United Kingdom an applicant with equivalent qualifications approved by the University may be admitted as a candidate f the programme leading to a higher degree by research. The applicant shall complete the prescribed application fm and submit such evidence of qualifications, including where appropriate evidence of competence in English. Admission may be granted on such conditions as may be prescribed by the University. 5. Befe granting admission the University shall, as far as possible, satisfy itself that (a) the applicant s training and ability fit the applicant to undertake the proposed wk;

2 (b) the subject of the proposed study is appropriate f the degree; (c) adequate supervision of the candidate can be provided; (d) resources adequate f the proposed study can be made available to the candidate either at the University elsewhere. Enrolment 6. A candidate f the programme leading to a higher degree by research shall start the period of enrolment as a research student within twelve months of receiving the offer of a place, except with the permission of the Education and Student Experience Committee s Academic Panel. Supervision 7. A principal supervis and an additional supervis shall be appointed f each candidate at the commencement of the initial period of enrolment. Additional superviss may be appointed if the principal supervis is to be absent from the University f me than six months during the candidate s period of study. At least one of the superviss shall be a member of the Academic Staff (as defined in the Statutes). In appointing superviss, the University will ensure that at least one supervis has relevant higher degree experience. Where the principal supervis is a Head of School, then reference in these regulations to the Head of School shall be to the Deputy Head of School. Initial period 8. Except where the candidate wishes to proceed only to the degree of Master, all candidates f a higher degree by research are required to undertake an initial period of supervision and training of not me than ten months (fifteen months in the case of a part-time candidate). During this period a candidate will be an enrolled research student of the University: progress will be monited by the principal supervis and at the end of the period the Education and Student Experience Committee s Academic Panel will receive a rept from the Head of School, accompanied by a statement of progress and plan of study from the candidate. After consideration of the rept and statement the Committee will take one of the following steps: (i) confirm the candidate s registration f the degree of Doct of Philosophy; (ii) transfer the candidate s registration to the degree of Master; (iii) defer a decision f up to a further six months; (iv) terminate the candidate s programme. 9. A candidate who wishes to proceed to the degree of Doct of Philosophy and is transferred to the degree of Master, a candidate whose programme of study is terminated, may appeal against such decision in accdance with the University s Academic Appeals Procedure.

3 10. When a candidate is registered f a higher degree by research following the review of progress outlined in paragraph 8, registration will date from the beginning of the initial period. Candidates will be required to undertake online administrative enrolment annually on the anniversary of their matriculation subject to satisfacty completion of annual progress rept. Duration of study 11. The following table shows the minimum and maximum periods of study f each degree and the required submission date f the thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements f the degree: Degree Doct of Philosophy (ft) Doct of Philosophy (pt) Minimum period of study from date of initial enrolment Maximum period of study from date of initial enrolment Period after date of initial enrolment thesis expected Last date after date of initial enrolment f submission of thesis 2 years 4 years 3 years 4 years 3 years 8 years 6 years 8 years Master of Philosophy / Master of Laws (ft) Master of Philosophy / Master of Laws (pt) 1 year 3 years 2 years 3 years 2 years 6 years 4 years 6 years The Education and Student Experience Committee s Academic Panel may grant extension of periods of study by up to one year in exceptional circumstances. Leave of absence, when enrolment is suspended, may also be granted on medical grounds in other exceptional circumstances. 12. A candidate may transfer between full and part-time study with the approval of the Education and Student Experience Committee s Academic Panel in which case the relevant periods of study and submission dates will be agreed on an individual basis.

4 13. A candidate transferring to this University having been registered at another higher education institution f a higher degree by research may apply f a reduction in the periods set out in the Table in paragraph 11. The minimum period of study at this University may not be reduced to less than one year (full-time) two years (part-time). Progress and supervision requirements 14. A candidate who wishes to carry out all a substantial part of research away from the University, with the exception of agreed periods of fieldwk, shall obtain the approval of the School in advance. In making its decision the Head of School will be advised by the candidate s superviss and shall have regard in particular to the arrangements f supervision and resource issues. 15. A candidate f a higher degree by research may not be enrolled concurrently f any other course in higher education, at any institution, leading to a degree diploma except with the permission of the Education and Student Experience Committee s Academic Panel. 16. A full-time candidate f a higher degree by research may not nmally undertake any additional wk if it occupies on average me than ten hours per week, except after consultation with the principal supervis and with the permission of the Head of School. 17. After the initial period, a candidate f a higher degree by research shall meet the principal supervis to discuss progress at intervals of not me than six months (twelve months when a candidate is enrolled parttime), except with the permission of the Education and Student Experience Committee s Academic Panel. The principal supervis is responsible f: (i) (ii) (iii) ensuring that adequate guidance and opptunity are provided f the candidate to carry out the appropriate study and notifying the Head of School if such provision becomes impossible impracticable; advising the candidate of any course wk which is desirable to ensure an adequate breadth of knowledge and standard of scholarship in the candidate s field of study; warning the candidate if progress is unsatisfacty. 18. Students and principal superviss must submit an annual progress rept. The Education and Student Experience Committee s Academic Panel may impose additional requirements on students and superviss both during and after the initial period of registration. 19. Where the Education and Student Experience Committee s Academic

5 Panel deems the candidate s progress to be unsatisfacty, it shall: either (a) advise the candidate of the unsatisfacty progress and its possible consequences; (b) in the case of a candidate registered f the degree of Doct of Philosophy, require the candidate to transfer registration to that f the degree of Master; (c) terminate the candidate s registration f the degree and require the candidate to withdraw from the University. 20. A candidate required to withdraw to transfer registration from that f the degree of Doct of Philosophy to that f the degree of Master may appeal against such decision in accdance with the University s Academic Appeals Procedure. Change of supervis 21. Supervision arrangements can be revised subject to the agreement of the Head of School. Disputes 22. A serious dispute between a candidate and one me superviss shall be referred to the Head of School f settlement. If it cannot be settled, the Head of School is the Supervis, it will be referred to the Education and Student Experience Committee s Academic Panel. Both the candidate and the supervis(s) shall have the opptunity to submit written representations to the Education and Student Experience Committee s Academic Panel shall thereafter take such action as it deems reasonable in all the circumstances, including, but not limited to, a change in supervision arrangements. The thesis 23. A candidate shall present the results of the research in either a written thesis by a ptfolio of between four to six interconnected, published research papers contextualised by a coherent narrative. Unless the Education and Student Experience Committee s Academic Panel gives pri consent, the submission shall be written in English. Submissions f the degree of Doct of Philosophy shall be no longer than 80,000 wds, excluding footnotes and bibliographies, except with pri permission. A thesis f the degree of Master shall nmally be no longer than 40,000 wds, excluding footnotes and bibliographies, except with the pri permission. The candidate is solely responsible f the content and presentation of the thesis. 24. A candidate shall notify the Academic Registrar, on the fm provided by Registry and Governance Services, of the title of the thesis at least two months befe the expected date of submission. The candidate may make

6 min amendments to the title on submission, in consultation with the supervis. 25. A candidate shall submit with the paper thesis a signed declaration that it has been composed by the candidate and that the wk it embodies has been done by the candidate and has not been included in another thesis. Wk published, in press, submitted f publication, may be included in the thesis, provided that the status of such wk is stated in the candidate s thesis. Wk carried out in collabation with others may be included in the thesis, provided that the nature and extent of such collabation are specifically acknowledged in the candidate s thesis. 26. Copyright in a thesis remains with the candidate except (a) where the research has been sponsed in whole in part by an outside body which has required assignment of copyright as a condition of the sponsship; (b) where the candidate is has been employed by the University to undertake a specific item of research, the results of which are embodied in the thesis, in which case ownership of the copyright vests in the University. 27 (a) Where a candidate seeks to include in the thesis material which may be the subject of commercial other confidentiality restrictions, the pri approval of the Education and Student Experience Committee s Academic Panel must be obtained. (b) The candidate may, with the pri approval of the Education and Student Experience Committee s Academic Panel, restrict access to the thesis. Such restrictions must be justified in terms of the exemptions to disclosure under the Freedom of Infmation (Scotland) Act 2002 and/ the Environmental Infmation (Scotland) Regulations 2004 as appropriate. Candidates should be aware that, notwithstanding any grant of approval to restrict access, the University may nonetheless be required to disclose the Thesis in whole in part under this legislation. Such restrictions shall be reviewed annually. Examination 28. The procedures f the examination of higher degree candidates shall be as determined by the Academic Council. 29. The Academic Council shall appoint an Examining Committee f each candidate on the recommendation of the Head of School. Each Committee consists of External and Internal Examiners. One external examiner shall always take the Chair. The composition of the Committee differs accding to the status of the candidate at the time of submission of the thesis:

7 Candidate is a student and has no other status Candidate is a student whose only other status is has been as a recognised teacher f routine supervised wk (as defined by the Academic Council) Candidate is has been a member of the Academic Staff (as defined in the Statutes) At least one external, at least one internal At least one external, at least one internal At least two externals, at least one internal No external examiner shall have been a supervis of the candidate. All internal examiners shall be members of the Academic Staff. At least one shall be neither a probationary member of staff n a person whose sole status is that of a recognised teacher. The principal supervis shall not nmally be appointed as an examiner; where this is permitted an additional internal examiner shall be appointed. 30. The candidate shall undergo an al examination on the thesis and related topics. In exceptional circumstances and on the recommendation of the examiners, the Academic Council (in the case of a candidate f the degree of Doct of Philosophy) the Education and Student Experience Committee s Academic Panel in other cases, may waive the requirement f an al examination and may specify alternative arrangements. 31. Following the examination the Examining Committee shall submit a rept to the Education and Student Experience Committee s Academic Panel and shall recommend: either (a) that the degree be granted; (b) in the case of an examination f the degree of Doct of Philosophy, that the degree of Master be granted; (c) that the degree be granted provided that specific changes are made to the thesis to the satisfaction of a specified examiner, within a stated period; (d) that the candidate be permitted to submit, nmally to the same Examining Committee, a revised thesis f examination f the degree, within a stated period; (e) in the case of examination f the degree of Doct of Philosophy, that the candidate be permitted to submit, nmally to the same Examining Committee, a revised thesis f examination f the degree of Master within a stated period;

8 (f) that no degree be granted. A thesis can be submitted only once f re-examination in terms of 31(d) and 31(e). 32. The Education and Student Experience Committee s Academic Panel shall consider the rept of the Examining Committee and reach a conclusion as in (a) to (f) in paragraph 31. Where its conclusion is (a), (b) (c) it shall make a fmal recommendation to that effect to the Academic Council. A recommendation under (c) shall be accompanied by a certificate from the relevant examiner stating that requirements have been complied with. 33. A candidate may appeal against a decision of the Education and Student Experience Committee s Academic Panel under headings (b), (e) (f) in paragraph 31 in accdance with the University s Academic Appeals Procedure. Waiver 34. The Academic Council may, in such exceptional circumstances as it may determine, waive requirements f the degrees as embodied in these Regulations and may delegate this power to a committee of its members. Candidates are expected to comply with the University Digital Reposity Policy and The Rules f the Fm and Presentation of Theses f Higher Degrees by Research. Quality Enhancement Committee On behalf of Academic Council June 2009, July 2012 The Code of Practice f the Suppt of Postgraduate Research Students is available in the Academic Quality and Standards Handbook