keele university code of practice on postgraduate research degrees

• Is the student’s MPhil work to date likely to meet PhD progression criteria
(see 3.6)?
• Does the time spent and training completed on the MPhil meet, in part, PhD
timescale and training requirements?
• What allowance should be made towards PhD requirements in light <strong>of</strong> the
time, work and training completed on the MPhil?
If the RI Postgraduate Committee finds that the student meets the criteria for the PhD
programme, the student will be permitted to submit for PhD progression. The
Committee should arrange for a PhD progression as soon as possible. If the student
passes PhD progression, the Committee will approve transfer onto and progression
with the PhD programme. Research Institutes should inform the Records & Exams
Officer for Postgraduate Research Students <strong>of</strong> any change <strong>of</strong> course approved,
together with the time allowance agreed towards the PhD period, the date <strong>of</strong> transfer,
and PhD submission deadline.
3.1.8 For as long as students are pursuing their programmes <strong>of</strong> study, they must remain
formally registered with the University and pay the appropriate level <strong>of</strong> fees. Although
the normal expectation is that students will retain the same mode <strong>of</strong> attendance
throughout their periods <strong>of</strong> study, they may choose to change their mode <strong>of</strong>
attendance. Possible mode <strong>of</strong> attendance options are as follows:
• Full-time
• Part-time
• Leave <strong>of</strong> absence
• Continuation.
More information about mode <strong>of</strong> attendance is given in Annex A3. Approval needs to
be obtained from the Postgraduate Committee for any change <strong>of</strong> mode <strong>of</strong> attendance.
There are additional requirements and procedures for Leave <strong>of</strong> Absence (see 3.1.9),
transfer to continuation status (see 3.8) and for transfer from Full-time to Part-time
(see Annex A3).
3.1.9 Students may be permitted to take leave <strong>of</strong> absence from their programmes for a
specified and limited period, for good reason (examples on the application for a leave
<strong>of</strong> absence form). In summary, students should make requests (using the required
documentation) to the Postgraduate Committee, which will make a recommendation
to the Research Degrees Committee (RDC). During periods <strong>of</strong> approved leave <strong>of</strong>
absence, students will not be required to maintain active study on their research
programmes, will not have access to <strong>university</strong> resources and facilities, and will not
be required to pay any fees (also see 3.2.5 and Annex A3).
3.1.10 Any student who wishes to transfer from PhD to MPhil should make a formal request
to the Research Institute Postgraduate Committee for permission to transfer from
PhD to MPhil stating the reasons for the request and the expected time to completion
and submission <strong>of</strong> the MPhil thesis. This request may be accompanied by a request
to transfer to Continuation status (see 3.8 and Annex A3) if appropriate. The time
allowed to complete and submit the MPhil from the transfer date shall not exceed the
maximum continuation period (see 3.2.1 and Regulation 2D) <strong>of</strong> 1 year for FT and 2
years for PT, and will normally be significantly less. Any request for transfer that
includes a submission date beyond that allowed for MPhil (calculated from initial
registration, see 3.2.1 and Regulation 2D), will be subject to approval <strong>of</strong> an extension
(see 3.2.7) by Research Degrees Committee.
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