Admissions: guidance for research degrees

Transcription

1 Admissions: guidance for research degrees 1. Application process 1.1 This supplement is to be applied to postgraduate research degrees (MPhil, PhD and professional doctorate). 1.2 Applications are assessed against transparent entry requirements which are provided in Quality Handbook Sections 16D and 16E and are reviewed annually by the University Research Degrees Committee. 1.3 The entry requirements for all courses are made available to all applicants in the prospectus, the NTU website and where applicable, the UCAS Course Profiles. 1.4 The Graduate School processes postgraduate research applications to decision. 1.5 Postgraduate research tutors (for MPhil/PhD) and professional doctorate course leaders act as admissions tutors from the appropriate School and take the lead in the admission decision making process. All decisions are monitored centrally to ensure regulatory compliance, fairness and consistency. 1.6 The University may request further information to help aid the decision making process. Details of such assessment are made clear to applicants in advance on each Course Profile, to ensure that entry requirements for all courses are transparent and fair to applicants before applying. 1.7 Where interviews take place with applicants in order to make judgements about admissions, Schools will ensure that the staff involved have the appropriate training to undertake such interviews. Interviews must take place before an offer of a place on a postgraduate research course is made. Not all applicants will reach the interview stage of the application process, this depends on candidate s academic merit and ability, a candidate s potential for postgraduate research at doctoral level, research area and alignment with strategic areas of excellence and capacity to supervise. 1.8 School staff and admissions tutors are supported to deliver fairness and transparency in the delivery of selection processes by the University s Good Practice Guide for Interviews and the Guide for Admissions Tutors which are available to all on the Admissions Staff Handbook SharePoint site. The University also adheres to the Supporting Professionalism in Admissions Good Practice Statement for interviews. 1.9 Following consideration of the application, applicants will receive a decision by which include details of any conditions of offer or reasons for rejection as appropriate. September 2015 page 1

2 1.10 Offers will be sent by letter, and a scanned copy of the letter by The offer letter will inform applicants of the obligations placed on prospective students at the time the offer is made and applicants will be informed of the Enrolment Conditions which they will be signing up for, if they are successful in meeting all the conditions of offer and subsequently enrol with the University Applicants who are successful in receiving an offer will be asked to accept the offer within a given timeframe, or where applicable, according to the regulations of the scheme by which they have applied e.g. research council or other external funder rules. Applicants failing to accept their offer by the deadline may have their application withdrawn and will need to make a request in writing for their application to be reactivated and any decisions will be subject to the availability of places at the time of the request and not the point of withdrawal. 2. Further information for international applicants How to apply 2.1 For advice on how to apply for postgraduate research courses, international applicants will need to reference the relevant prospectus or the international pages on the University s website. 2.2 Advice on how to apply can be found on the Nottingham Trent University Graduate School website. English language 2.3 The standard University requirements for English Language can be found on the NTU website. 2.4 The websites and offer advice and information relating to test centres. Pre-sessional English for Academic Purposes (PEAP) 2.5 Applicants who do not meet the English language requirements may be offered a place on condition that they successfully complete a PEAP course at the University s Language Centre before commencement of the relevant programme. 2.6 The PEAP courses are designed to help applicants improve their English language skills in preparation for entry to a programme at the University. Scholarships 2.7 All Scholarships are advertised as open competitions as they arise during the course of the academic year. These are advertised on the University website and may also be advertised on other external sites. 3. Applicant communications 3.1 Communications to applicants are broadly split into two categories: a. Service messages which directly update the applicant (and nominated agent where applicable) on the progress of each application and explicitly state any calls for action. September 2015 page 2

3 b. Conversion messages which are designed to provide further information and guidance to support applicants through the admissions process and help them reach informed decisions about their options. 3.2 All applicants applying for research degree courses will be included in a comprehensive communication plan dedicated to their individual needs as identified by the information provided on their application. 3.3 The communications plan will usually include: a. updates on the progress of any applications, starting with an acknowledgement; b. unique selling points about the course, academic School and University relevant to the chosen course; a. further information about relevant fees and funding; and details of any expected additional costs; b. confirmation of expected start dates; c. information about any non-academic pre-enrolment conditions, such as Disclosure Barring checks and Occupational Health forms; d. where applicable, feedback regarding any rejected applications or the means by which feedback can be requested. 3.4 The communication plans are regularly reviewed by the Head of the Graduate School in conjunction with the Graduate School Professional Support Team Leader and Integrated Marketing Manager, who meet no less than quarterly throughout the year. 4. Training and development 4.1 The decisions on the majority of applications are made by postgraduate research tutors (or nominee) or professional doctorate Course leaders who are suitably skilled and trained with regard admissions in conjunction with identified potential Directors of Studies/Lead Supervisor/Supervisors who possess the relevant discipline expertise. 4.2 All offers have final confirmation from the Head of the Graduate School who reviews the application, interview record form and offer letter. Graduate School Administrators support the application process. 4.3 The training requirements of the team are regularly reviewed against the expectations of the Admissions Policy and other Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body (PSRB) requirements. Where necessary, new or refresher training is provided and external expertise is sourced when necessary. 4.4 All Graduate School administrative staff receive continuing professional development and are managed according to the skills, knowledge and competencies as outlined in their job descriptions and person specifications. 4.5 Likewise, postgraduate research tutors, professional doctorate course leaders and academic colleagues are also subject to continuing professional development in relation to both postgraduate research related activity and their own disciplines. September 2015 page 3

4 4.6 All staff have access to the Supervisors Handbook which contains guidance on admissions to research degrees, via the Graduate School SharePoint site. 4.7 Where applications are referred to the academic school for a decision, training is provided to all staff involved and further guidance can be found at on the Admissions Staff Handbook SharePoint site including a Good Practice Guide for Interviews and Guide for Admissions Tutors. 5. Admissions (postgraduate research) Customer Charter 5.1 The Graduate School administration team together with postgraduate research tutors, professional doctorate course leaders and associated academic School staff are committed to providing Gold Standard Customer Service. 5.2 The postgraduate research Customer Charter is as follows: a. We aim to provide clear, consistent and accurate information. We will listen carefully to your enquiry. We will strive to keep things simple and provide you with accurate and up to date information. We will communicate using plain English without jargon. b. We expect mutual respect and understanding. We will make sure that we always engage with you in a professional, courteous and efficient manner. c. We will be here to help every step of the way. No question is too small. We will actively listen to your feedback to become more helpful and improve our service. We will do our best to accommodate your needs. There will always be a helpful, polite and friendly person to help. d. We will make sure your details are kept confidential. We will safeguard all personal information provided, in compliance with the requirements of the Data Protection Act and Freedom of Information Act. e. We promise to deal with your enquiry in a prompt and efficient manner. We will do our best to respond quickly, keep you regularly updated and set clear expectations. You will always know the name of the person dealing with your enquiry and how to contact them. f. There will always be someone to answer your call. We will always be fair and transparent. September 2015 page 4

5 We will treat all applicants fairly and review information provided in a consistent way. We will be consistent in our decision making. We will publish clear admissions criteria on our website. September 2015 page 5