This document is intended to be a signpost to the various documents and other resources which define the main principles, processes, rights and responsibilities of postgraduate study at the University of Bath. It does not aim to cover local practice relating to the particular building or discipline within which the student is working.
It is in two sections. The first – Essential Resources – lists the documents with which all supervisors need to be familiar. The second – What is Covered Where? – is organised by topic, and explains which document(s) will provide guidance on that topic.
If you cannot find what you need from the documents listed below, please contact your Graduate School Office.
CHANGES FOR THE 2015-16 ACADEMIC YEAR
Several changes to Regulation 16 were approved by Senate in February 2015, as follows:
Regulation 16
Throughout: Adaptions to include provision for new research degree programmes which incorporate a taught first year as part of the programme (often offered through CDT’s).
Regulation 16.1 (g) (Progression Monitoring): now specifies that the first report will be due six months after the commencement of the research element of the programme.
Regulation 16.1 (i) (Holiday Entitlement): clarifies that leave should not normally be taken during the taught element of research programmes.
Regulation 16.1 (m) (Programme of Research): minor change to broaden ‘examination’ to ‘assessments’, and refers to section 16.13.
Regulation 16.5 (PhD): refers to section 16.13 for integrated PhD programmes.
Regulation 16.13 (Integrated PhD Programmes) recognises that several integrated programmes now exist, clarification of which regulations apply.
Regulation 16.13 (a) (Programme of Study): clarification that the timescales described apply from the start of the research phase of the programme.
Regulation 16.13 (b) (Periods of Study): includes programmes that include a Master by taught course.
Regulation 16.13 (c) (Award of Research Degrees): includes programmes that include a Master by taught course.
New sub clauses added to specify the registration period and award for research programmes that do not award a Master by taught course. Regulation 16.13 (d) and (e).
Regulation 16.8 (Staff Candidature for Higher Degrees): recognises a shift in responsibility from Director Academic Registry to the Director of Student Recruitment and Admissions for determining exemptions from English language requirements and for determining eligibility for staff candidature. Regulation 16.15 (d) (Mid-term review and Confirmation): the process of confirmation of registration for the degree of Doctor of Engineering was amended.
Regulation 16.17 was added to describe the new research degree programme offering; the Doctorate in Policy Research and Practice.
ESSENTIAL RESOURCES
University Regulations
The University Regulations are ‘owned’ by Senate, which approves changes and additions to them, usually on the recommendation of one of its constituent committees, such as University Research Students Committee. All the University’s academic activity must conform to the regulations, and only Senate has the power to permit the over-ruling of a regulation. When students register they sign a statement to confirm that they have read the regulations and agree to abide by them, but supervisors also have a responsibility for ensuring both that the regulations are upheld and that their students are aware of them.
Regulation 16 covers the entrance requirements and conditions for the award of higher degrees, and is available at http://www.bath.ac.uk/regulations/Regulation16.pdf . Regulation 16.1 covers general issues relating to all higher degrees, but each research degree also has its own detailed regulation.
Regulation 17 covers the conduct of student academic reviews and appeals, and is available at
http://www.bath.ac.uk/regulations/Regulation17.pdf
Regulations 7 and 8 cover the Disciplinary Regulations and Disciplinary Procedures respectively. They are at http://www.bath.ac.uk/regulations/Regulation7.pdf and
http://www.bath.ac.uk/regulations/Regulation8.pdf
Thesis specification
The University’s Specifications for Higher Degree Theses are available at
http://www.bath.ac.uk/student-records/pgresources/docs/Thesis_Specification_2013.pdf .
University of Bath Quality Assurance Documents
The University’s Quality Assurance Code of Practice appears at http://www.bath.ac.uk/quality/cop/index.html . All the QA statements are based upon decisions made by Senate, the Quality Assurance Committee and other relevant bodies. QA statements supplement rather than supersede University Ordinances and Regulations. It is vital that all engaged in postgraduate research provision at the University, especially supervisors and students, are familiar with QA7, the Code of Practice on Research Degrees. It is available at http://www.bath.ac.uk/quality/documents/QA7.pdf
QA9, the Code of Practice on Development of All Staff and Students Undertaking Teaching Activities is available at http://www.bath.ac.uk/quality/documents/QA9.pdf .
QA53, the Code of Practice on Examination and Assessment Offences, is at
http://www.bath.ac.uk/quality/documents/QA53.pdf . Section 9 is of particular relevance to research degrees.
University of Bath Postgraduate Guide
This web document is published by the Student Records and Examinations Office. It is updated every year, and is at
http://www.bath.ac.uk/student-records/pgresources/docs/pgguide2014/index.html .
WHAT IS COVERED WHERE?
Approval of Candidature / The process and requirements are set out in QA7, section 6. The candidature form records the basis of the ‘contract’ between the University and the student, setting out the details of the supervisory arrangements and of the student’s research project. The process of seeking Faculty or School approval for the candidature should be completed as soon as possible after the student’s first registration.Responsibilities of supervisors / These are set out in QA7. Section 7 and Appendix 1 focus particularly on this.
Responsibilities of students / These are also set out throughout QA7, especially in Appendix 2
Generic Skills Training / In accordance with the requirements of the Vitae Researcher Development Statement, all research students are required to undertake generic skills training. Research skills development is the responsibility of supervisors (undertake training needs analysis and discuss generic skills training requirements and personal development planning with students on a regular basis), and students (responsible for undertaking the specified skills training). One condition of transfer/confirmation of PhD registration is the completion of the skills training plan outlined in the student’s candidature form. The Researcher development framework should be used when planning research postgraduate development.
In some faculties/departments/schools the completion of certain PGSkills Modules is a compulsory element of students’ transfer from MPhil to PhD. Supervisors need to be aware of any such local requirements, and to encourage students to take advantage of the wide range of training opportunities on offer.
Generic Skills Training provision is coordinated by the Graduate Development and Centre Manager, Dr Neil Bannister who oversees the central skills training programme for research postgraduates ( x3625). The University of Bath’s central services (Library, Computing Services, and Careers Service) also offer a wide variety of generic skills training.
Guidance on skills training for research postgraduates and supervisors and a course booking system are all available at http://www.bath.ac.uk/learningandteaching/rdu/ .
Maximum and minimum durations of study / These are set out in Regulation 16. In addition to the durations set out in the Regulations, there are constraints imposed by the Research Councils – typically a full-time student is expected to have submitted the thesis within four years of starting the registration, and the University is at risk of expensive sanctions and/or reduction in the number of studentships offered in future from the Research Council if certain submission rates are not achieved. Additionally, the HEFCE measures ‘qualification rates’. This is a measure of the time lapsed between initial registration of a student and the date that the final degree is conferred. At present, full-time PhD students are expected to have ‘qualified’ within 7 years, and part-time students within 9 years. These periods of study include any suspensions, extension, delays in examining, resubmission of theses etc, and national comparison tables are published regularly.
Monitoring research students’ progress / This is covered in QA7, section 8. Monitoring is carried out at several different levels, but the supervisor, as the person closest to the work of the student, has a particular responsibility for monitoring progress.
Confirmation of PhD status/transfer from MPhil to PhD / The regulatory requirements are covered in Regulation 16.5 (b) (i) and (ii). The procedural requirements are set out in QA7 section 11. Students first registered before 1 October 2012 generally have an initial qualification aim of MPhil, and transfer to PhD; those first registered on or after 1 October 2012 start as probationer PhD candidates, and their registration is then either confirmed for PhD, or transferred to MPhil. Students are normally expected to make a first attempt within 12 months of first registration.
Suspension of study / A suspension of study is when the student stops their study for a fixed period of time, with the effect that the expected end date moves on by the length of the suspension: for example, a student whose registration was originally due to expire on 30 September 2014 and who was granted a 6-month extension would have a new expiry date of 30 March 2015. The student should not be conducting any work during a period of suspension, and will not receive any financial support from either Research Councils or the University. Suspensions should be requested at or before the time that the reason for the suspension takes place, and not retrospectively. Evidence such as a medical certificate is required where appropriate, and each request will be judged against the criteria set out in Regulation 16.1 (d). Approval of the suspension is required from the Faculty/School Research Students Committee, and no more than 12 months of suspension will normally be granted within the total period of registration. Suspensions should be requested at or before the time that the reason for the suspension takes place, and not retrospectively. Suspensions will not normally be granted in the final year of study for a research degree.
Extension of study / An extension of study is when a student is granted additional time rather than being permitted a gap in their studies. Regulation 16 sets out how many periods of extension are permitted for each research degree. Extensions should be viewed as an exception rather than a rule or an automatic right, and Regulation 16.1 (e) sets out criteria to be used by the F/SRSC when considering requests. Requests submitted within the last 3 months of registration for a research degree will not normally be granted.
Re-registration / If a student has used up the maximum period of extension permitted for the degree, a re-registration should be sought from the Faculty/School Research Students Committee. This will require a new candidature form to be completed, and a recommendation about how much more time the student is to be permitted on the new registration.
Transfer to ‘writing up’ / In accordance with Regulation 16, students may transfer to ‘writing up’ only once they have completed the minimum period of study required for the particular degree, and once they have completed the substantive research work. For PhD students initially registered for the degree of MPhil, the transfer from MPhil to PhD must occur before the transfer to writing up takes place.
Restriction of access to thesis / Approval for this should be sought from the Board of Studies at the point of candidature. No more than 3 years’ restriction can be approved by the Faculty/School.
Plagiarism / The Learning and Teaching Enhancement Office publishes guidance on the avoidance of plagiarism at http://www.bath.ac.uk/learningandteaching/resources/plagiarism/
Additionally, QA53 Section 7 provides detailed guidance on Examination and Assessment Offences in relation to research degree programmes.
Ethical considerations / Information about ethics in the context of the University’s work is available at
http://www.bath.ac.uk/research/governance/ethics/
Fieldwork / If fieldwork either in the UK or overseas is involved, a risk assessment should be made including issues of contact, safety, insurance etc. Advice can be obtained from the Safety, Health and Environment Unit.
Additionally, Departments publish their own guidance.
Timing of, and responsibility for, submission of the thesis / Although QA7 requires that the supervisor(s) provide input to the student, ultimately it is the responsibility of the student to decide when and what to hand in, as stated in QA7 Appendix 2.
Changes of supervisory arrangements / This requires approval by the Faculty or School Research Students Committee. If, for whatever reason, the supervisory arrangements need to be changed, the student should be involved in the discussions. It is not acceptable for a department to leave a student, at any stage of their registration, without at least one official University supervisor.
Thesis requirements / All aspects of thesis production are covered in QA7 section 12 and the Specifications for Higher Degree Theses. It is helpful to direct students to the Specification document as early as possible. The Regulation for the particular degree sets out the regulatory requirements.
Changes to all aspects of registration / Regulation 16.1 (b) requires that all changes are approved by the Faculty or School Board of Studies (although this power is delegated to the Faculty or School Research Students Committee). This regulation sets out the range of changes that require approval. The forms to be used to seek permission from the Faculty or School Research Students Committee are given on the SREO website at http://www.bath.ac.uk/student-records/pgresources/docs.html .
Examination process and appointment of examiners / This is covered in QA7 sections 12 to 17. The Guidelines for Examiners and all the Examination Forms and other documentation are available at
http://www.bath.ac.uk/student-records/pgresources/docs.html .
Reviews and appeals / Information about Reviews and Appeals is given in QA7 section 21 and Regulation 17.
Students taking on teaching responsibilities / Expectations of research students undertaking teaching are set out in QA9.
International students / There is a large amount of information and guidance specifically for international students on the International Office website, which is at
http://www.bath.ac.uk/students/international . In particular it should be noted that only trained staff may give advice about visas, so please refer any questions to the International Student Advice team. Extensive information about UK Border Agency requirements is given at
http://www.bath.ac.uk/university-secretary/compliance/index.html
Postgraduate Research Ombudsman / Problems that cannot be solved at Departmental/Faculty level can be taken to the Postgraduate Ombudsman, Professor Mike Threadgill, or the Deputy Ombudsman, Dr Marcelle McManus. Professor Threadgill’s website is at http://www.bath.ac.uk/student-records/pgresources/PGombudsman.html and he can be contacted at or on phone extension 6840. Dr McManus can be contacted at or on 3877.
Financial matters / Financial advice may be sought be students from Student Services, at http://www.bath.ac.uk/studentservices/money-service/ Information about payment of stipends for studentships etc is available from the Student Finance Office, which is at http://www.bath.ac.uk/finance/student/
Further Reading