TQA Manual

Teaching Quality Assurance Manual

Postgraduate Research Handbook

If you have any queries with regard to interpreting any aspect of the TQA Manual regarding Taught Programmes please contact educationpolicy@exeter.ac.uk. For queries related to the PGR Handbook, please contact dcqualitydevelopment@exeter.ac.uk.

If you are unfamiliar with the purpose of this manual please ensure that you have read the introductory guidance to the TQA Manual.

1 - Provision of information by Faculties to students

1 Introduction
2 Responsibilities of Faculties
3 Faculty Handbook Contents

2 - Admission of students to a Postgraduate Research degree programme under off-campus arrangements

1 Preamble
2 Definitions
3 Responsibilities
4 Eligibility and Entry Requirements
5 Full time and part time study
6 Periods of study
7 Periods of attendance at the University of Exeter (study visits)
8 Transfer from MPhil to PhD/MD/MS/EngD
9 Arrangements for research supervision
10 Additional Costs
11 Arrangements for provision of skills training
12 Access to appropriate academic resources
13 Partnerships
14 Fees
15 PGR Attendance Policy

3 - Arrangements for the supervision of Postgraduate Research students

Appointment of Postgraduate Research Supervisors
Continuing Supervision of Postgradaute Research Students

4 - Supervision of Postgraduate Research students

1 Responsibilities of Supervisors
2 Responsibilities of PGR Pastoral Tutors
3 Responsibilities of Students
4 Responsibilities of the Faculty

5 - Periods of registration and changes to registration status for Postgraduate Research students

1 Introduction
2 Periods of Study (entry prior to the 2019-20 academic year)
3 Periods of Study (entry from the 2019-20 academic year)
4 Interruption of Studies
5 Temporary Visa Interruption (applicable only to students who are subject to immigration control)
6 Annual Leave
7 Changes to Mode of Attendance: Full-time and Part-time Status
8 Continuation Status
9 Extensions to study
10 Withdrawal from study
11 Students deemed Withdrawn
12 Termination of Registration
13 Reinstatement of Registration

6 - PGR Liaison Forums - Code of Good Practice

1 Introduction
2 Principles
3 Aims and Objectives of a PGRLF
4 Faculty Process
5 PGRLF membership
6 PGRLF meetings
7 Students' Guild and Students' Union (SU)
8 Partner institutions

7 - Annual monitoring review: Code of good practice

1 The Purpose and Aims of the Annual Monitoring Review
2 Procedures
3 Faculty Review of Progression
4 Further Action
5 Completion of the process

8 - Unsatisfactory Student Progress, Engagement and Attendance: Code of Good Practice

1 Introduction
2 Principles
3 Responsibilities
4 Identifying unsatisfactory progress
5 Stage 1: Warnings
6 Stage 2: Final Warning
7 Stage 3: Pro-Vice Chancellor and Executive Dean of Faculty's Action
8 Stage 4: Dean's Action
9 Concerns and Appeals
10 Further Support for Students
11 Timescales
12 Reporting and Monitoring

Appendix 1: Signatories

9 - Upgrade from MPhil, MA by Research or MSc by Research to Doctoral Study

1 Regulations of the Doctor of Philosophy
2 Application
3 Purpose of Upgrade
4 Timing of Upgrade
5 Submission Requirements
6 Department Upgrade Committees
7 Upgrade Outcomes
8 Health and Wellbeing and Upgrade
9 Feedback to Students
10 Sponsorship Progress Reports
11 Final Authority
12 Transfer of Registration from Doctoral to Masters Level

Annex 1. 'Applications for deferral'
Annex 2. 'Upgrade Vivas by Video-link'

10 - Professional Doctorate Postgraduate Research Programmes

1 Assessment of Pre-Thesis/Dissertation Modules
2 Programme Approval Arrangements
3 Programme Accessibility
4 Accreditation of Prior Learning

Annex - Flowchart of professional doctorate assessment process

11 - Presentation of theses/dissertations for Postgraduate Research degrees: statement of procedures

1 Length of Theses/Dissertations
2 Content of Thesis/Dissertation
3 Other forms of submission
4 Language of Thesis
5 Presentation and Arrangement of Theses/Dissertations
6 Format of Submission for Examination
7 Illustrations and Copyright Material
8 Final Submission (Deposit) into ORE following Examination

12 - Handbook for Examination of Postgraduate Research programmes

1 - Introduction
2 - Award Specific Information
3 - Assessing Candidates with Disabilities
4 - Nomination of the Board of Examiners and the Non-Examining Independent Chair
5 - Non-Examining Independent Chair
6 - Before the Examination
7 - The Examination
8 - After the Examination
9 - Confidential Feedback

13 - Research Misconduct

1 Introduction and General Principles
2 Definitions of Research Misconduct
3 References to Offices and Delegation of Powers
4 Responsibilities
5 Procedure for Dealing with Suspected Research Misconduct: Faculty Stage
6 Procedure for Dealing with Suspected Research Misconduct: Discovered prior to an examination
7 Procedure for Dealing with Suspected Research Misconduct: University Stage
8 Procedure for Research Misconduct Panels
9 Appeals
10 Tables of Penalties

Appendix A - Statement on the use of Proof Reading
Annex

14 - Chapter not currently in use

15 - Student Pregnancy, Maternity, Paternity and Adoption Policy

(homed within the Learning and Teaching Support Handbook, 25 - Student Pregnancy, Maternity, Paternity and Adoption Policy)

16 - Visiting Postgraduate Research Students

1 Introduction
2 Visiting Student Information
3 Visiting Research Student Procedures

17 – Inclusive Practice within Teaching and Learning

(homed within the Learning and Teaching Support Handbook, 26 – Inclusive Practice within Learning & Teaching)

18 - Postgraduate Research Student Absence Policy

1 Introduction
2 Submission of absence report
3 Tier4/Student Visa Holders
4 Absence from programme of study
5 Return to the University following interruption on medical grounds
6 Phased Return to study due to ill health
7 Ability to study significantly affected by a severe, chronic, or fluctuating medical condition or disability
8 Sickness during pregnancy
9 Absence from clinical practice, industrial placement or other placement linked to their degree
10 Professional Doctorate Taught elements only: submission deadline or assessment affected by absence
11 Student absence before a viva voce examination
12 Student absence during a viva voce examination
13 Student absence before a deadline or milestone not including thesis submission (including upgrade submission or viva, USPE deadlines or deadlines agreed for supervisory meetings)
14 Student absence after submission of the thesis/dissertation
15 Unauthorised absence

Annex A - Postgraduate Research Sickness Stipend Payments - Policy for University-funded postgraduate research students

Annex B - Maternity leave, paternity/maternity support leave and adoption leave stipend payments - Policy for funded postgraduate research students

19 - Employment of postgraduate students: code of good practice

1 Introduction
2 Responsibilities
3 Scope
4 Advertising, Recruitment and Selection
5 Appointment
6 Maximum hours of work
7 Teaching duties
8 Salary and payment
9 Induction, training and support
10 Ongoing support and mentoring
11 Monitoring
12 Grievance, Performance and Conduct Procedures

20 - Faculty Management of Postgraduate Research: Code of Good Practice