keele university code of practice on postgraduate research degrees

SECTION 4 EXAMINATIONS AND APPEALS (See Regulation 2D
(4), (7) (10) and (11))
4.1 Submission
• Submission
• Examination
• Research Degrees Committee (RDC) and Senate
• Appeals
• Resubmission.
Students are expected to submit their thesis in accordance with the time limits set out
Regulation 2D (see also 3.2 above) as amended by any formal extensions granted by
the Research Degrees Committee or as granted automatically following periods <strong>of</strong>
leave <strong>of</strong> absence.
4.1.2 Within those time limits, it is the student’s responsibility to decide when to submit the
thesis. When submitting a thesis for examination, the student will be required to sign
a Part 1 Declaration about the conduct <strong>of</strong> the research and the presentation <strong>of</strong> the
research in the thesis (see 1.6.5 above). Lead supervisors will be notified that
students have submitted their theses.
4.1.3 Prior to submission it is essential that the Postgraduate Committee has approved the
final thesis title (see Annex D4 section 14 for details) and that the Research Degrees
Committee has subsequently approved the examiners for the thesis and the chair <strong>of</strong>
the oral examination (see Annex B7 for details). It is recommended that these
processes be initiated at least 3 months prior to expected submission date.
4.1.4 No student may submit their thesis unless and until he or she has fulfilled the relevant
research training requirements as set out in COP section 2.2.
4.1.5 When preparing a thesis for submission, students should follow the guidance set out
in Annex D4. In particular students should note that the following sections <strong>of</strong> Annex
D4 are formal requirements which must be complied with if students are not to
jeopardise the acceptance <strong>of</strong> their thesis or the award <strong>of</strong> their degree:
• Format for presentation <strong>of</strong> a thesis (sections 12-20)
• Submitting your thesis for examination (sections 21-24).
4.1.6 Students should submit their thesis to the Quality Assurance Officer (with
responsibility for PGR activities). There are some circumstances in which the Quality
Assurance Officer will refuse to accept a thesis for examination, as set out below:
• Where the student has not successfully completed the required research
training
• Where a student fails to sign the Declarations required on submission
• Where the Part 1 Declaration is not bound into the submission
• Where there is no Abstract
• Where no thesis title has been approved
• Where the thesis title on the thesis differs from the approved title
• Where the thesis is over the word limit
• Where the thesis does not comply significantly with the guidance on
preparation and presentation <strong>of</strong> a research thesis (see Annex D4 on
Preparation and presentation <strong>of</strong> a research thesis, sections 12-24).
COP on PGR Degrees, November 2011 27