University Calendar for Postgraduate Students 2012/13 - Queen's ...

2. Entrance Requirements and Admissions
Prospective students should refer to the Postgraduate
Admissions Policy which is published on the University’s
website at http://www.qub.ac.uk/ado.
2.1 Admission procedures
Application for the majority of Postgraduate Taught and
Research programmes should be made through the online
direct applications portal https://dap.qub.ac.uk/portal/ and full
guidance is included on this website.
Applications shall be considered, in accordance with the
University Postgraduate Admissions Policy, by the School
which shall have overall responsibility for the admission of
students, and Heads of School shall be responsible for
ensuring that suitable arrangements for postgraduate
admissions are in place in their School. This may include
provision for interviewing students.
Where responsibility has been delegated, the Admissions and
Access Service will make decisions on Postgraduate Taught
applications on the School’s behalf on the basis of clear
written criteria and will refer non-standard applications to the
School, when necessary.
In considering applications for research degrees, decisions
must involve at least two members of the School’s staff and
the School shall take into account:
i. The applicant’s academic qualifications. By the start of
the research, an applicant must hold or have qualified
for a degree of this University, or any university or other
institution approved by the Academic Council, or a
qualification which is approved by the Academic Council
as being a suitable alternative to a primary degree.
Relevant publications or achievements by the applicant
may also be considered as additional evidence of
suitability for admission. The normal minimum
requirement for admission is upper second class
honours, or equivalent.
ii. Referees’ reports on the applicant.
iii. The availability of evidence from applicants for whom
English is not their first language of proficiency in the use
of the English Language, in the form of one of the
qualifications on the University’s list of acceptable
English Language qualifications
(http://go.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs). Applicants
who are non-EEA nationals must also satisfy the UK
Border Agency (UKBA) immigration requirements for
English Language for visa purposes
(www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk).
iv. Whether the proposed programme of research can be
studied to the depth required to obtain the research
degree.
v. The likelihood that the proposed programme of research
can be completed within the time to be designated for it.
vi. Whether there is at least one appropriate supervisor
with relevant knowledge of the proposed field of
research, and whether proper supervision can be
provided and maintained throughout the research
period, including during any periods of absence of the
supervisor(s) or time spent away from the University by
the applicant.
vii. The availability of the necessary resources (e.g. library,
computing and laboratory facilities, technical assistance,
running costs).
viii. The applicant’s funding arrangements.
Applicants must not be admitted if appropriate supervision,
resources and facilities cannot be provided.
Applicants for a PhD by Published Works are required to
establish a prima facie case that their work is of an
appropriate standard. The application must include:
i. Details of the applicant’s academic qualifications.
ii. A list of the publications to be submitted.
iii. A brief statement of the nature and scope of the research
work on which the application is based, and an
explanation of the inter-relationship between the cited
publications.
iv. A statement about joint authorship of publications, and
the extent of the applicant’s contribution to the work.
Applicants must be academic members of staff at Queen’s,
who have been a member of staff for a minimum of one year
prior to application. Their case will be considered by the
School Postgraduate Research Committee.
Applicants for a Higher Doctorate are required to establish a
prima facie case that their work is of an appropriate standard.
The application must include:
i. The proposed title.
ii. A statement of the intended award.
iii. A CV.
iv. A publications list, indicating works to be submitted.
v. A précis of the work to be submitted (500 – 1000 words,
with reference to how the applicant meets the
requirements for the award (see Study Regulations for
Higher Doctorates 4.3)).
vi. A statement about joint authorship of publications, and
the extent of the applicant’s contribution to the work.
vii. A statement describing any previous submission of the
works for a degree of this or any other university.
Applicants must have a significant link to the University,
normally by being a graduate of the University or a current
academic member of staff. Normally applicants will also have
a minimum of ten years research experience at a postdoctoral
level. Their case will be considered by the School
Postgraduate Research Committee who should have the right
to seek views from outside its membership.
2.2 Registration of entrance qualifications
Applicants who have been accepted for admission to the
University will be instructed about the arrangements for
verification of their entrance qualifications. They will be asked
to produce photographic proof of identification or, in the case
of international students, a passport. Full information is
provided with the Welcome Pack provided to new
undergraduate and postgraduate students.
2.3 Enrolment for classes
Students will normally enrol at the start of the academic year
for all the modules which they wish to study for credit in that
year. Students must obtain the approval of their Adviser of
Studies for their choice of modules and shall not normally be
permitted to enrol for a module unless they have satisfied the
prerequisites and/or corequisites for that module. The details
of the modules required for general honours and particular
specialist degrees (‘Programmes’) can be found on the
Queen’s Student Information System (Qsis).