attempt at 15 months then they have only 3 months to pass a second attempt. Therefore 18 months is the final deadline for passing confirmation review. The implication of this new policy is that students who do not attempt their Confirmation Review by 18 months (36 months part-time), as well as those who attempt and fail two Confirmation Reviews, will be registered for the MPhil path only. Timeline for Confirmation Review(CR)* Apr Apr-Jun Jun Jun Approx 1 month prior to viva 30th Sept Oct 31st March Student and set targets for CR. Student prepares report. Supervisors nominate assessors and arrange a date for the Supervisor completes CR proforma and sends to PGR Deadline for student to submit CR. Assessors review document. DEADLINE FOR Review report takes place and relevant forms completed. Supervisor sends the PGR Administrator: 1. Assessment for Confirmation Review form 2. ScHARR transfer form. 3. Latest TNA Forms are processed by Faculty and outcome formally communicated to student. Deadline for final CR to take place and relevant forms completed. *Example for a full-time student registered on 1st October. It can be adjusted for any start date and time-limits are doubled for part-time students. There is also the option to register for the MPhil after the first failed Confirmation Review attempt. This is something that will need to be discussed between the student and the supervisors at the time. Confirmation Review process It is expected that the Confirmation Review should take place 12 months from initial registration for full time students, or 24 months for part-time. If a Confirmation Review does not occur within this timeframe, the Director of Postgraduate Studies will request a written account for the delay from the lead supervisor. We acknowledge that there may be valid reasons for a delayed Confirmation Review.
should include both the date of the meeting and the key points of the discussion, but does not have to be long and detailed and take the form of a series of bullet points. This is essential for both pedagogic reasons (i.e. to ensure the students understanding of points made by the supervisor) and to provide evidence in case of complaints/appeals/disciplinary issues. Agreed by both student and supervisor, copies kept by student and supervisor and sent to PGR admin. Desirable practices ScHARR procedure Practice met / how will it be met lt is desirable for records of student-supervisor meetings to be stored in a repository that enables them to be seen by all members of the supervisory team, including the student; for example a USpace group or the University's 1-to-1 Attendance Monitoring System (N.B. where supervisors are using the 1-to-1 Attendance Monitoring System to record supervisory meetings, they should ensure that they click the button to ensure that the meeting notes are automatically emailed to the student, as students do not have direct access to the System). PGR admin file records electronically in the student’s file and uploaded to the student attendance monitoring system. (NB As students have already received a copy of the record it is not deemed necessary to re-email the record from the student attendance monitoring system). Student and supervisor are able to obtain copies of records. Some supervisors and students are using private USpace groups as well. PGR admin identify improvements in the reporting systems throughout the year. Met 4. Progression milestones Essential practices ScHARR procedure Practice met / how will it be met It is essential for PGR students’ progress to be formally assessed by departments at 6 monthly intervals, in addition to the recording of formal student-supervisor meetings. This may take the form of a formal progress report (e.g. the University’s Annual Progress Report or a departmental variation) and/or a designated task to be completed by the student (e.g. a poster presentation). Annual Progress Reports completed for the university in July. Progression is looked at throughout the year and spreadsheet updated by PGR Quality & Progression Officer reports to PGRC in reserved business on progression issues. PGR admin and Q&P Officer work with supervisors throughout the year offering support and guidance where needed. Formal report in January to PGRC on progression. Re-introduction of formal six monthly reports in January/February
2 Supervisors were familiar with the guidance on supervision as set out in The Code of Practice for Research Degree Programmes and the ScHARR Research Student Handbook, the documentation of which is available via the supervisor portal. All supervisors Staff Support Officer 3 The lead supervisor ensured that new students participated in an appropriate induction programme to include a tour of the student working areas, library and administration offices, details of facilities on the campus and contact with the student representative. Lead supervisor Student Experience Officer 4 During the first or second contact period with the student after registration, the lead supervisor set up a meeting schedule for supervisory sessions for the coming year. Lead supervisor Quality and progression officer 5 During the early stages of the research, the lead supervisor helped new students to draw up a programme of work, and offered guidance on: formulation of a research question, literature reviewing, research design and methods, data collection, manipulation and analysis; writing skills and thesis planning; and publication and presentation of oral and/or written papers. Lead supervisor Quality and progression officer 6 The second supervisor was responsible for the student’s Doctoral Development Programme and ensured the Training Needs Analysis (TNA) was completed annually to assess training needs and tailor research training accordingly. Second supervisor Research Training Officer 7 The lead supervisors made her/himself available with reasonable notice for regular meetings with students, at least once every 4-6 weeks (full-time) or 8-10 weeks (part-time), and more frequently at key times, throughout the student’s candidature. Lead supervisor Research Training Officer