Graduate School Handbook

Graduate School Handbook This document is provided for all Postgraduate Researchers (MPhil, PhD, DPhil, Prof Doc), PGR supervisors, PGR Examiners/ Reviewers and Independent Chairs Academic Year 2016-17 To be read in conjunction with the UWE Academic Regulations and Procedures (Section K) and the UWE Code of Practice for Postgraduate Research Degree Programmes Disclaimer: The information contained in this Handbook is correct at the time of going to press, but no guarantee can be given that it will not be amended before the commencement of, or during, the degree programmes to which it refers Graduate School Handbook 2016-17 CONTENTS Introduction Communication Graduate School Contacts Key Dates PhD and MPhil Descriptors Professional Doctorates International Students 11 Admissions 13 PGR Registration 14 Committees 16 Supervision 18 Credits 21 Research Culture and Development 23 Registration of Project (RD1) 25 Research Governance and Ethics 27 Progression Examination 30 Progress Review 34 Changes to Registration 36 Assessment Phase 40 Independent Chairs 55 Support and Facilities 61 Intellectual Property 63 PGR Conduct 64 Quality Assurance, Representation, Complaints and Appeals 66 RD forms 68 Glossary 69 Further Reading 71 P a g e |2 Graduate School Handbook 2016-17 INTRODUCTION This handbook is for all Postgraduate Researchers/ Doctoral Candidates and supervisors at UWE and gives advice, guidance and information from registration through to submission of the thesis and the final examination It is intended to be read in conjunction with the UWE Academic Regulations and Procedures (Section K) and the UWE Code of Practice for Postgraduate Research Degree Programmes Both of these documents can be accessed via the following link: http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/research/postgraduateresearchstudy/studysupport/regulations.aspx All information and other useful material is available from the Graduate School web pages at: http://www.uwe.ac.uk/graduateschool You should keep this handbook so you can refer to it as necessary It will be updated at the start of each academic year P a g e |3 Graduate School Handbook 2016-17 COMMUNICATION MYUWE MyUWE is the portal through which PGRs can access information and services, e.g student email and Library Services To get started, PGRs should visit the following link, using their UWE student log-in ID and password, which are received at the point of initial registration: https://my.uwe.ac.uk CONTACT DETAILS Any changes to address, telephone number or email address should be updated via myUWE or notified to the Graduate School office UWE STUDENT EMAIL All PGRs are given a student email account, which is used to contact them and disseminate important information Therefore all PGRs are required to check their UWE student email at least once a week to make sure they are up to date on information relating to their studies This account will be available for the full duration of their registration at UWE PGRs are considered as being aware of any message sent to their UWE student account within one week of it being sent, and are responsible for taking any necessary action We will not normally attempt to contact PGRs using any other email address Please note that, in contrast to other communications, notifications of Inter-library loans will be sent to staff email accounts, where one is present Information on how to set up automatic forwarding of email messages can be found via the following link: http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/its/itfacilities/uweemail/faqs.aspx BLACKBOARD Blackboard is UWE’s online learning environment for taught programmes, which gives access to dedicated course materials and community groups, and allows communication with other students taking the same modules Blackboard can be accessed via myUWE, and also via the following link: https://blackboard.uwe.ac.uk/ P a g e |4 Graduate School Handbook 2016-17 GRADUATE SCHOOL CONTACTS The Graduate School Office provides administrative support to implement the Academic Regulations and Code of Practice There are many ways to get support As well as contacting us directly, using the details below, please also look at the Communications webpage: http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/research/postgraduateresearchstudy/communication.aspx MANAGEMENT TEAM Dr Neil Willey Graduate School Director +44(0)117 32 82314 neil.willey@uwe.ac.uk Vicky Nash Graduate School Manager +44(0)117 32 83848 victoria.nash@uwe.ac.uk GRADUATE SCHOOL OFFICERS AND ADMINISTRATORS For postgraduate research support from application enquiry until submission of thesis Email graduateschool@uwe.ac.uk OFFICERS ARTS, CREATIVE INDUSTRIES AND EDUCATION ENVIRONMENT AND TECHNOLOGY Yasmin Al Rehani +44 (0)117 32 81363 Marisa Downham +44 (0)117 32 81509 BUSINESS AND LAW HEALTH AND APPLIED SCIENCES HELEN FRISBY +44 (0)117 32 83429 Carolyn Morgan +44 (0)117 32 88568 ADMINISTRATORS Lizzie Cooke Jill Jarrold Claire McLaren Caterina Vettori Samantha Watts +44(0)117 32 83462 +44(0)117 32 83309 +44(0)117 32 83309 +44(0)117 32 84845 +44(0)117 32 82921 POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSESSMENT TEAM Postgraduate research support from initial thesis submission to final thesis submission Email research.degrees@uwe.ac.uk Pat Hughes +44 (0)117 32 82544 Helen Mulligan +44 (0)117 32 81072 Jill Jarrold +44 (0)117 32 82544 Helen Jackson +44 (0)117 32 82877 PGR policy and quality processes: Brigid Hewett +44 (0)117 32 81079 P a g e |5 Graduate School Handbook 2016-17 POSTAL ADDRESS UWE Graduate School, Room 3E37, Frenchay Campus, Coldharbour Lane, University of the West of England, Bristol BS16 1QY SKILLS DEVELOPMENT Support for all researcher skills development needs at UWE Email skillsdevelopment@uwe.ac.uk Dr Paul Spencer +44 (0)117 32 83974 Helen Mulligan +44 (0)117 32 81072 http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/research/postgraduateresearchstudy/skillsdevelopment.aspx Twitter.com/uwegraduateschool https://www.facebook.com/groups/uwegradschool/ Researcher development blog: http://www.thedigitaldoctorate.com OTHER CONTACTS FACULTY PGR DIRECTORS AND CHAIRS OF FACULTY RESEARCH DEGREES COMMITTEES ARTS, CREATIVE INDUSTRIES AND EDUCATION ENVIRONMENT AND TECHNOLOGY Dr David Greenham Dr Alistair Clark BUSINESS AND LAW HEALTH AND APPLIED SCIENCES Dr Svetlana Cicmil Dr Tim Moss CHAIR OF GRADUATE SCHOOL COMMITTEE Dr Neil Willey CHAIR OF RESEARCH DEGREES AWARD BOARD Professor Martin Boddy P a g e |6 Graduate School Handbook 2016-17 KEY DATES FOR ACADEMIC YEAR 2016-17 Term dates for the Academic Year 16-17 may be found here: http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/about/termdates/2016-17termdates.aspx Teaching and assessment block dates apply for all taught modules PGRs are expected to engage with their research throughout the calendar year Any leave must be agreed with your supervisory team P a g e |7 Graduate School Handbook 2016-17 DOCTORAL DESCRIPTOR The award of a Doctorate of the University (other than a Higher Doctorate) requires that a PGR should demonstrate that he/she:       has conducted enquiry leading to the creation and interpretation of new knowledge through original research or other advanced scholarship, shown by satisfying scholarly review by accomplished and recognised scholars in the field; can demonstrate a critical understanding of the current state of knowledge in that field of theory and/or practice; shows the ability to conceptualise, design and implement a project for the generation of new knowledge at the forefront of the discipline or field of practice including the capacity to adjust the project design in the light of emergent issues and understandings; can demonstrate a critical understanding of the methodology of enquiry; has developed independent judgement of issues and ideas in the field of research and/or practice and is able to communicate and justify that judgement to appropriate audiences; can critically reflect on his/her work and evaluate its strengths and weaknesses including understanding validation procedures MPHIL DESCRIPTOR The overall difference between a doctorate and an MPhil is not one of time or length but rather an issue of depth and sophistication The award of a Master of Philosophy requires that a PGR should demonstrate that he/she:       has engaged in enquiry which makes a contribution to knowledge within his/her field of study; can demonstrate a systematic understanding of the current state of knowledge within his/her field of theory and/or practice; shows the ability to conceptualise, design and implement a project capable of contributing new knowledge close to the forefront of the discipline or field of practice; can demonstrate a sound understanding of the methodology and techniques of enquiry relevant to the discipline or field of study; has developed a capacity to form judgements of issues and ideas in the field of research and/or practice and communicate and justify these to relevant audiences; can critically reflect on his/her work and evaluate its strengths and weaknesses P a g e |8 Graduate School Handbook 2016-17 PROFESSIONAL DOCTORATES UWE’s Professional Doctorates are programmes designed to provide doctoral level studies leading to a professional qualification In addition, the Professional Doctorates in Health Psychology and Counselling Psychology confer professional recognition and licence to practice The detailed structure of each of the Prof Doc programmes varies, but programmes comprise a taught element, where students complete a number of credit bearing modules through workshops and assignments, and a research element involving the submission of a thesis and examination by viva voce There is a credit requirement of 120 – 270 credits at level M but these credits are built into the taught element of each programme The research components of Professional Doctorates are governed by Section K (Research Degrees) of the Academic Regulations and the Doctoral Descriptor applies to both Professional Doctorates and PhDs The taught components are governed by appropriate sections of the regulations The full current academic regulations can be accessed via the following link: http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/students/academicadvice/assessments/regulationsandprocedures.aspx You will find information on the Prof Doc programmes at the following links: COUNSELLING PSYCHOLOGY http://courses.uwe.ac.uk/LC5811 HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY http://courses.uwe.ac.uk/c84141/ BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES http://courses.uwe.ac.uk/B90011 EDUCATION http://courses.uwe.ac.uk/X90012/ Please direct queries regarding programme content, etc., to the Programme Leader: COUNSELLING PSYCHOLOGY Dr Zoe Thomas HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY Dr Julian Bath BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES Dr Ruth Morse EDUCATION Dr Jane Andrews & Dr Richard Waller The minimum and maximum registration periods for a Professional Doctorate are: Full-time Part-time Minimum 36 months 48 months Maximum 48 months 72 months P a g e |9 Graduate School Handbook 2016-17 EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES FOR TAUGHT MODULES Any requests for extenuating circumstances related to the formal assessment of taught elements would be considered by the relevant extenuating circumstances panel Further information on extenuating circumstances can be found at the following webpage: http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/students/academicadvice/assessments/extenuatingcircumstances.aspx SUSPENSIONS AND EXTENSIONS FOR RESEARCH REGISTRATION Where circumstances have arisen that may require you to suspend your studies or, in very exceptional cases, to extend your registration period, you may be eligible to apply for suspension or extension of your registration Please refer to `Changes in Registration’ for full details EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES FOLLOWING SUBMISSION OF A SOFT BOUND THESIS FOR FINAL EXAMINATION Where circumstances have arisen whilst you are in the final assessment stage of your degree which may require you to postpone your viva, or to extend the period you have been granted in which to make any revisions to your thesis following your viva, you may be eligible to apply for an extension to your deadline Please refer to `Assessment Phase’ for full details P a g e | 10 Graduate School Handbook 2016-17 The RD12/RD13 form gives Recommendation of the examiners following the viva The IC is responsible for ensuring it is signed by all examiners and themselves prior to the examiners leaving the viva The Independent Chair will collect the candidate and return to the room before announcing the recommendation to the candidate The candidate is then handed the `post-viva information’ sheet which notifies the candidate of the process following the viva and dates of forthcoming Award Boards It also contains information on when the award will be made and when the title of Dr may be used The Independent Chair is responsible for returning all documents to the PGR Assessment Team in the Graduate School, Frenchay 3E37, as soon as possible and ideally within one week of the viva This should include: • • • • Any preliminary reports that have been brought to the viva; The Examiners’ Recommendation form (RD12/RD13) including the IC’s report; A feedback and required changes report for the candidate agreed by all examiners; Any expense claims forms you may have been handed; The Independent Chair is responsible for collating the feedback and required changes report for the candidate and may need to chase the examiners following the viva for any parts of their reports Any information to be provided to the candidate should be included in the `required changes and feedback’ form for the candidate, this includes any extracts from the preliminary reports that the examiners feel would be useful for the candidate The candidate will not be sent the individual preliminary reports Once the post-viva paperwork is submitted, the PGR Assessment Manager will liaise with the candidate throughout the rest of the assessment period and will liaise with the IC and the Examiners where necessary OUTCOMES OF THE VIVA Following the first viva examination the examiners are required to make a recommendation to the Research Degrees Award Board from the following options: A The candidate fulfils the criteria for the award on which they are registered: Pass; corrections; amendments - minor and major The candidate fulfils the Doctoral/MPhil award criteria and examiners may recommend that the candidate be awarded the degree: i Without further correction or amendment; ii Subject to correction of presentational/typographical errors within the material* (maximum weeks FT/6 weeks PT) Corrections to be approved by one or both/all examiners; iii Subject to minor amendment of the material* as indicated by the examiners and which can reasonably be completed within a maximum 12 weeks FT/18 weeks PT Amendments to be approved by one or both/all examiners; iv Subject to major amendment The material* submitted displays some deficiencies of content, analysis and/or presentation in areas specified by the examiners requiring additional work which can reasonably be expected to be completed within a maximum months FT/9 months PT No re-examination is required, amendments to be approved by all examiners P a g e | 57 Graduate School Handbook 2016-17 B The candidate does not currently fulfil the criteria for the award on which they are registered: Referred for resubmission and re-examination The candidate does not currently fulfil the Doctoral/MPhil criteria and the material* as submitted displays significant deficiencies of content and/or presentation in areas specified by the examiners The candidate is permitted to revise and re-submit the material for the degree and be re-examined on one further occasion with or without viva Revisions indicated by examiners may reasonably be expected to be completed within a maximum 12 months FT/18 months PT The re-examination shall be of the submitted material as a whole and by all examiners C i Additional outcomes for PhD or DPhil examination only: MPhil with amendments The candidate does not fulfil the doctoral award descriptor criteria but does meet the criteria for MPhil and may be recommended for this award subject to amendment of the material* in a manner and to a timescale as recommended by the examiners (up to a maximum of months FT/9 months PT) No further examination is required Amendments to be approved by one or both/all examiners; Or ii Resubmit and be examined for MPhil The candidate does not fulfil the doctoral award criteria but has the potential to meet the criteria for MPhil and may revise and resubmit the material* as indicated by the examiners for examination for the award of MPhil (within a maximum of 12 months FT/18 months PT) The examination shall be of the submitted material as a whole, shall include a viva and shall be undertaken by all examiners D Degree not awarded The candidate is not awarded the degree and is not permitted to be re-examined (Unsuccessful candidates for DPhil/MPhil by publication may be permitted to re-apply after a period of three years.) *NB Material in the case of DPhil/MPhil by publication material refers to the critical commentary element of the submission An outcome of award subject to corrections (A.ii above) is restricted to typographical/presentational errors within the material only An outcome of an award subject to minor amendments (A.iii above) is normally restricted to amendment of representational errors or re-presenting and restructuring existing text only; new work should not normally be required An outcome of an award subject to major amendments (A.iv.above), indicates that the candidate meets the award criteria but the presentation of the material submitted does not reflect the quality of the research undertaken and requires some additional work This outcome may include a measure of new work including limited extra research or analysis, undertaking some new experiments or repeating existing ones, or re-writing sections of material This however, should not amount to a significant extension or fundamental change in direction of the original research, and will not involve a complete re-write of the material as a whole If the corrections or amendments required are mainly matters of presentation, then it will be appropriate for the corrections or amendments to be approved by the internal examiner only Where P a g e | 58 Graduate School Handbook 2016-17 the deficiencies in the thesis are more ones of substance resulting in an outcome recommendation of “major amendments”, then the corrections or amendments should be checked by both external and internal examiners Referred for resubmission and re-examination (Outcome at B above) indicates that the candidate does not currently meet the relevant award criteria but with substantial new work and re-writing of the material the examiners judge that they have the potential to so at re-examination Revision of the material may relate to theoretical and/or methodological aspects and new work may include any or all of the following: new research and/or new data, fieldwork or practice, new analysis, substantial new literature Very exceptionally the examiners may recommend that the candidate be re-examined by viva only without having to resubmit revised material, Please note however that this variant is almost never used and might be appropriate only where the candidate’s submitted work meets the award criteria, but performance at viva was so poor or disjointed that the examiners were unable to establish to their satisfaction the candidate’s understanding of their submitted research It is important to note that a candidate who is referred for resubmission and re-examination with or without a further viva will only be exempt the additional viva where the examiners unanimously agree after re-examining the resubmitted thesis that there is no need for it, and that the degree can be awarded However, a candidate may not be failed outright at resubmission and the degree not awarded without the opportunity to undergo a further viva In determining the recommended outcome, examiners need to bear in mind that outcomes A i – iv are pass outcomes, albeit subject to corrections or amendments being made whereas outcome B is a referral Examiners will also sometimes need to consider the possibility of recommending that the work be represented for the award of MPhil to a candidate who has submitted work for a PhD/DPhil award Where the view of the examiners about a PhD/DPhil submission is that it falls short of the standard for a PhD/DPhil outcome, and that the candidate is unlikely to be able to bring the work to the required standard by resubmission, then the examiners should separately consider whether the work, when judged against the specific descriptor for the MPhil award, meets the required standard Where this is the case, the examiners may recommend the award of MPhil, outcome either following amendment of the material to their satisfaction (outcome C i.) above, or revision and resubmission of the material for examination for MPhil (outcome C ii) It should be noted in this context that the standard of presentation is not lower for the MPhil, and the award of MPhil cannot be justified in the case where the deficiencies against the PhD/DPhil requirement are ones of presentation The most significant difference between the PhD and the MPhil is one of depth and sophistication and hence for example the MPhil does not make the same demand of an original contribution to the knowledge base within the discipline Thus the outcome at C ii will always require examination of the resubmitted material as a whole by all the examiners and will require a viva Where the examiners cannot see evidence that any material progress towards meeting the relevant award descriptor has been made in the conduct of the work, then the appropriate outcome will be not to award the degree (outcome D above) NB This is a fail outcome P a g e | 59 Graduate School Handbook 2016-17 Where the examiners are unable to make a unanimous decision the Independent Chair must report this to the PGR Assessment Manager in the Graduate School for the attention of RDAB It is likely that two RD12s will need to be completed, one for each possible outcome of the viva If a re-submission of the thesis is required, it is possible that the student will require a second viva In that case the Independent Chair will be required to re-engage with the process as above P a g e | 60 Graduate School Handbook 2016-17 SUPPORT & FACILITIES HEALTH AND WELLBEING The UWE Bristol Health and Wellbeing service offers guidance and support to help you stay happy and healthy during your studies In particular, the Wellbeing service can help with personal and mental health difficulties when they affect study For information, please visit: http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/students/healthandwellbeing.aspx IT SERVICES IT Services (ITS) provide a wide range of services, support and resources, for up to date information visit: http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/its/ The IT guide for new students can be found at: http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/its/getstartedwithitatuwe.aspx Please check carefully the IT Acceptable Use Policy via the following link: http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/its/itpolicies/itacceptableusepolicy.aspx LIBRARY The Library provides access to a wide range of sources for research This includes books, newspapers, journals, government publications, statistics, encyclopaedias, dictionaries, specific company information, market reports, DVDs and others Many of these sources are in both print and electronic format and can be located and accessed through the Library Catalogue (www.uwe.ac.uk/library/catalogue) The Research Zone is room 5D20 on Level of Frenchay library and is a quiet, relaxed space away from the general flow of library activity There are generous workspaces, all with room for fixed IT and laptops, used by research staff and students as a space in which to read, write and think Comfortable seating provides space for reading or laptop use and glass boards and whiteboards give space for notes and free thinking Lockers provide storage for books and papers Please note that, in contrast to other communications, notifications of Inter-library loans will be sent to staff email accounts, where one is present Additional services and information for researchers are listed at: http://www.uwe.ac.uk/library/info/research/ REFERENCING In the course of your studies you will be expected to acknowledge books, journal articles, websites, etc, used in the preparation of assignments, projects, essays, dissertations and theses by producing a list of references and/or a bibliography with each one The reference list gives details of sources you have referred to (cited) within your text; the bibliography lists sources you have used but not referred to directly References (citations) within the body of a report should be referenced using a formal reference system, appropriate to the field of study P a g e | 61 Graduate School Handbook 2016-17 For details of how to reference according to acceptable referencing systems, please see: http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/students/studysupport/studyskills/referencing.aspx You will find advice on how to list references within the body of the text, as well as how to present the reference list Examples and guidance on over 60 different types of resources are given to assist you DISABILITY SERVICE UWE has a team of professional advisers who are on hand to help disabled students to access their programmes of study This can include sourcing specialist help, reasonable adjustment and funding For further information please visit: http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/students/studysupport/disabilityservices HEALTH AND SAFETY All students, staff and visitors have a responsibility to observe good Health & Safety practices; information on Health & Safety policies and procedures are available from the Health & Safety Unit: http://imp.uwe.ac.uk/imp_public/displayentry.asp?URN=9367&rp=listEntry.asp&pid=4 MAPS Maps of all UWE campuses, together with travel and other useful information can be found at: http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/comingtouwe/campusesmapsandtravel.aspx CAR PARKING Please consult the UWE website for information on car parking at the university: http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/comingtouwe/campusesmapsandtravel/carparking.aspx PGRs who are not also members of academic staff are required to use the student car parking facilities To apply for accessible parking, please contact the Transport department directly P a g e | 62 Graduate School Handbook 2016-17 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Intellectual property (IP) is the product of human thought, creativity and intellectual effort Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) are the legal recognition of the ownership of intellectual property The main types of IPR recognised by English Law are: copyright, patents, design rights, registered design, trademarks, know-how and confidential information UNIVERSITY IP POLICY The University’s Intellectual Property (IP) Policy is available at http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/aboutus/policies It outlines the rights, responsibilities and procedures of the University in relation to intellectual property Your attention is drawn to section 3.4 in particular You are agreeing that you will, if necessary, assign your IP Rights to the University You may also be required to keep information relating to your project confidential The University may already have decided on these matters and/or entered into commitments relating to your project and will advise you if this is the case The University will consult with you before entering into any new commitments that might affect your rights Please note that in the event of you being required to assign IP, the University will treat you as an employee for the sharing of net revenue received by the University The University will use reasonable endeavours to enable you to publish, but please note that in some cases, you may be required to have a thesis (either in full or in part) examined in confidence The University will advise you if this is necessary COPYRIGHT PGRs should be careful to copy within permitted limits and ensure they obtain any necessary permission and attribute these appropriately in the thesis Copyright approval must be obtained regardless of whether a thesis is electronic or printed All material is subject to copyright rules unless there is an explicit statement to the contrary All copyright permissions should be sought and granted prior to submission of your thesis for assessment DATA PROTECTION Following the publication of the Data Protection Act 1998, the University of the West of England’s staff and students must comply with the basic rules and regulations which the Act dictates For further details please see http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/its/itpolicies/dataprotection.aspx for further information P a g e | 63 Graduate School Handbook 2016-17 PGR CONDUCT Please remember that all staff are here to help you with your studies Do treat staff with respect – they will all try their best to help you achieve a successful outcome Remember to conduct yourself professionally and be aware that some types of behaviour will not be acceptable to others Think carefully about your conduct Behaviour you may consider to be assertive may be seen by others to be bullying or harassment Please also remember that we are a diverse international community; bear in mind that there may be cultural differences in what is considered acceptable behaviour Some forms of behaviour, however, are universally unacceptable, and these will not be tolerated and in exceptional circumstances sanctions may be taken against any PGR found responsible You can find a copy of the student conduct policy by following this link: http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/students/academicadvice/studentconductpolicy.aspx The UWE Code of Good Conduct in Research can be found on the Research Governance web pages, together with information on research misconduct: http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/research/researchgovernance The Code outlines the duties of research project managers in maintaining:       standards of academic practice and integrity; accountability; conduct and publication of research; duty of care to all associated with the research; financial management awareness of legal, regulatory and ethical requirements of the University and other relevant bodies It also makes clear the responsibilities of the University's Senior Management Team, Executive Deans and Associate Deans for Research & Scholarship to:    ensure an appropriate research climate; make adequate provision in training and development for all researchers; and provide training for supervisors in supervisory skills through a structured framework of staff development for research staff Research misconduct relates to fabrication, falsification, plagiarism or deception in proposing, carrying out or reporting results of research and deliberate, dangerous or negligent deviation from accepted practice in carrying out research It includes failure to follow established protocols if this failure results in unacceptable risk or harm to humans, other vertebrates or the environment and facilitating of misconduct in research by collusion in, or concealment of, such actions by others Research misconduct and assessment offence allegations made against research degree students and relating to research undertaken for a research degree will be investigated under academic regulations and procedures (see below) All other research misconduct is investigated under procedures described in the UWE Code of Good Conduct in Research ACADEMIC INTEGRITY AND ASSESSMENT OFFENCES The University’s approach to academic integrity is to foster and facilitate good academic practice, providing practical guidance to help PGRs develop skills to reference their work correctly However, assessment offences, including plagiarism are an offence under the University’s academic regulations and where suspected P a g e | 64 Graduate School Handbook 2016-17 will be investigated rigorously under official procedures Allegations of assessment offences are always treated very seriously You must always ensure that your work is your own and that any work done in conjunction with others, or using other people’s material, or material previously published by you in other fora, is appropriately referenced Penalties vary depending on the nature of the offence, but can be very severe up to and including the termination of your registration without receiving your award, and ultimately expulsion from the University You can find out more about the University’s expectations for all students, including research degree students, by referring to the University Assessment Offence policy at: http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/students/academicadvice/assessments/assessmentoffences.aspx It can sometimes be easy to lose track of the origin of literature and other source material It’s a good idea to get a referencing system in place to organise your literature from an early stage in your research, and you should aim to reference your work as you go along The University supports the RefWorks referencing management package and training in this is available through the University library There are also research development training workshops that you can attend to learn more about managing your material effectively If you have any concerns about your work in this respect you should also seek the advice of your Director of Studies sooner rather than later P a g e | 65 Graduate School Handbook 2016-17 QUALITY ASSURANCE, REPRESENTATION, COMPLAINTS AND APPEALS QUALITY PROCESSES Academic Quality is a measure of how well a Higher Education provider supports students in the quality of the learning opportunities it provides, the quality of teaching and assessment, and the support and resources it makes available Quality Assurance is the process for checking that the standards and quality of Higher Education provision meet agreed expectations The Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) is responsible for ensuring that higher education qualifications in the UK are of a sound standard, by reviewing the performance of individual universities and colleges in maintaining their academic standards and quality arrangements, and comparing them with a set of national expectations A key benchmark or reference point used for this purpose is the ‘UK Quality Code for Higher Education’ The Code sets out expectations that all providers of UK HE who are reviewed by the QAA must commit to meeting, in order to secure funding from the Higher Education Council for England (HEFCE) HE providers that offer research degree programmes must align with the QAA Quality Code, in particular Section B11, which deals specifically with PGR provision and sets out what a doctoral student can expect from a University and vice versa, including the need for:           Clear and accessible regulations, policies and codes of practice on PGR programmes; High quality research environments to support postgraduate research Clear, accessible and transparent admissions procedures; Clear communication of the entitlements and responsibilities of PGRs; Consistent induction processes and the provision of clear information to PGRs; Appropriate procedures for the appointment of supervisors and the management of supervision processes; Formal and informal review mechanisms for monitoring and supporting PGR progress; Provision of opportunities for research, personal and professional skills development; Clear and fair assessment procedures; Appropriate procedures for the management of complaints and appeals Section B11 of the QAAs Quality Code can be found here: http://www.qaa.ac.uk/Publications/InformationAndGuidance/Pages/quality-code-B11.aspx and the University’s own Code of Practice on PGR Degrees can be found here: http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/research/postgraduateresearchstudy/studysupport/regulations.aspx WHERE ISSUES ARISE The University expects that the majority of issues can be resolved informally through normal contacts and discussion between staff, PGRs and other interested parties, without the need to instigate formal procedures An issue or complaint about any aspect of a PGR’s research degree programme or its supervision should P a g e | 66 Graduate School Handbook 2016-17 therefore initially be raised through someone close to its origin, for example the PGR’s Director of Studies or other member of the supervisory team If this is not appropriate, then with the Associate Head of Department or Director of Postgraduate Research in the relevant Faculty If a PGR is unable to resolve their concerns satisfactorily, then the University’s complaints and appeals procedures are available to them Details of this, together with information about external complaints processes, can be found here: http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/aboutus/departmentsandservices/professionalservices/corporateandacademicservice /quality/complaintsandappeals.aspx If it is a matter of more general concern a PGR may ask one of the research student representatives to raise it at the FRDC Directors of Studies and supervisors with problems that cannot be dealt with within the supervisory team should contact the Faculty’s Director of Postgraduate Research Please see Contacts page Administrative problems should be raised with the Graduate School Manager Please see Contacts page SUPERVISORY ISSUES Most PGRs will encounter no problems with their supervisory arrangements during their course of study, but it is important to know what to if a problem arises PGRs and supervisors are encouraged to identify and address issues as soon as they arise In the case of problems with supervision, PGRs are asked to raise the issue informally with their supervisors in the first instance if this seems appropriate However, if this feels inappropriate, the PGR may contact:     the Faculty’s Director of Postgraduate Research; the Department’s Associate Head for Research and Scholarship; a student representative member of the FRDC; the Graduate School Office to discuss the issues in confidence The University has in place formal appeals and complaints procedures Making an academic appeal may be appropriate if a PGR is unhappy with a decision of the Research Degrees Award Board P a g e | 67 Graduate School Handbook 2016-17 RESEARCH DEGREE FORMS The current version of each of these forms can be downloaded from the Graduate School website at: http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/research/postgraduateresearchstudy/studysupport/researchdegreeforms Please not use old versions of the forms as these cannot be accepted The Application Form Front Sheet should accompany all applications except RD1, RD2b and EX forms The Admissions interview form is available to trained interview chairs from graduateschool@uwe.ac.uk RD1 Application to register a research project RD2a Application for approval of progression examination arrangements RD2b Examiner’s preliminary report (prior to progression exam) RD2c Outcome of the progression examination RD3 Application for an extension to registration RD4 Application for a suspension of registration RD4MAT Application for maternity leave RD5 Application for change in approved supervision arrangements RD6 Application for change in approved mode of study RD7 Application for change in approved research topic RD8 Notification of withdrawal of registration RD9 Thesis outline – record of examination (FET only) PRa Progress Review - PGR and supervisory team in advance of review meeting PRb Progress Review – DoS and Principal Reviewer’s report, following the review meeting EX1 Application for final examination arrangements EXCV CV for each examiner; to be submitted along with the EX1 RD14 PGR’s declaration; to be submitted with first submission of thesis for examination RD15 Final deposition of research degree thesis and PGR's declaration; to be submitted upon submission of final version of thesis Will be provided by the PGR Assessment Team when appropriate RD20 Application for permission to submit thesis in other format RD21 Application to hold a viva off campus or via videolink P a g e | 68 Graduate School Handbook 2016-17 GLOSSARY Academic Regulations and Procedures The rules which govern the structure and conduct of research degree programmes at UWE Section K of the UWE Academic Regulations and Procedures is dedicated to research degrees; some other sections may also be applicable Advisor A member of academic staff who contributes to your supervision, but in a less regular and/or formal capacity than a supervisor Code of Practice Formally known as ‘The University’s Postgraduate Research Degree Programmes Code of Practice’ provides an institutional framework of expectations for standards relating to PGR provision across the University Department A subject grouping, each with a management structure and budget Every student is attached to a Department, normally the same Department as their Director of Studies Director of Postgraduate Research (PGR Director) The member of academic staff with overall management responsibility for the various PhD, DPhil, MPhil and Professional Doctorate programmes within their Faculty Director of Studies The lead academic supervisor on a PGR’s supervisory team Has final responsibility for the student’s academic progress Ethical approval The process of ensuring that any risks to yourself, the University, your research subjects and/or the environment in carrying out your project have been identified, and will be adequately managed Extension of registration May be granted when, for good reasons, a student needs extra time to submit their thesis See page 32 for details of the application procedure FRDC Faculty Research Degrees Committee One committee in each Faculty responsible for the PGRs and their studies in their Faculty Reports to both the Graduate School Committee and Research Degrees Award Board Graduate School Part of Research, Business & Innovation (RBI), the Graduate School is a central service which provides administrative and other support for postgraduate researchers, their supervisors and the PGR Directors in each faculty The PGR Assessment Team is also located in the Graduate School PGR The acronym for Postgraduate Research and used to refer to Postgraduate Researcher This term applies to PhD, DPhil, MPhil and Professional Doctorate PGR Assessment Team The team responsible for the final assessment of all PGR awards in the University P a g e | 69 Graduate School Handbook 2016-17 Plagiarism Failure, whether knowingly or not, to properly reference one’s sources Plagiarism is a very serious academic offence and the penalties can include expulsion from the University Progression Examination A two-part examination taken approximately 1/3 of the way through the PhD or MPhil, consisting of a written report then a viva Must be taken within 12 months (full time) or 18 months (part time) These timescales may vary for DPhil and Professional Doctorates Progress Review A point of formal review, where PGRs are assessed to ensure that progress is being made towards completion at a satisfactory level, and within an appropriate timescale Registration The annual process of checking and updating your personal details, and paying the appropriate tuition fee Research Centre In addition to their Department, some PGRs may also be attached to or have contact with a Research Centre, which is a formally recognised group of academics who share a particular research interest RD1 The process of registering your project (and also the name of the relevant form) Must be completed and submitted to the Graduate School within months (full-time) or months (part-time) These timescales may vary for DPhil and Professional Doctorate RDAB Research Degrees Award Board The Awarding body for all PGR awards in the University Submission The initial submission of your softbound thesis to the PGR Assessments team in the Graduate School, 3E37 Suspension Sometimes also called a ‘time out’, a suspension may be granted when you need to take time away from your studies to recover from illness or deal with serious personal problems It is not, however, a method of buying extra time because you have fallen behind in your studies The application procedure is detailed in this handbook Supervisor A member of academic staff (normally internal to UWE, but may very occasionally be external) who contributes to your supervision Thesis The extended piece of written work you will present for final assessment The expected word count varies according to award and subject Viva From the Latin viva voce, literally meaning ‘live voice.’ This is the oral examination which is conducted for both your Progression Exam, and also the final assessment P a g e | 70 Graduate School Handbook 2016-17 FURTHER READING Barret E and Bolt B, (eds); Practice as Research: Approaches to Creative Arts Enquiry, I.B.Tauris, 2007 Biggs, M and Karlsson, H (eds); The Routledge Companion to Research in the Arts, Routledge, 2011 Blaxter, L, Hughes, C & Tight, C; How to Research, Open University Press, 2001 Boden, R, Kenway, J & Epstein, D; Getting Started on Research, Sage, 2005 Cryer, P; The Research Student’s Guide to Success, Open University Press, 2006 Dunleavy, P; Authoring a PhD: How to plan, draft, write and finish a doctoral thesis or dissertation, Palgrave Study Guides, 2003 Gray C and Malins J; Visualising Research: a Guide to the Research Process in Art and Design, Ashgate, 2004 Hart, C Doing a Literature Search, Sage, 2001 Howard, K, Sharp, J & Peters, J; The Management of a Research Student Project, Gower, 2002 Macleod, K & Holdridge, M; Thinking Through Art: Reflections on Art as Research, Routledge, 2006 Marshall, S & Green, N; Your PhD Companion: A Handy Mix of Practical Tips, Sound Advice and Helpful Commentary to See You Through Your PhD, How To Books, 2006 Mason, J Qualitative Researching, Sage, 2002 Mewburn, I How to Tame Your PhD Lulu Publishing, 2013 Murray, R; How to Write a Thesis, Open University Press, 2006 Murray, R; How To Survive Your Viva, Open University Press, 2009 Phillips, E & Pugh, D; How to Get a PhD, Open University Press, 2005 Potter, S: Doing Postgraduate Research, Sage, 2006 Rugg, G & Petre, M; The Unwritten Rules of PhD Research, Open University Press, 2004 Ryder, N Fail your viva – Twelve steps to failing your PhD (and fifty-eight tips for passing), 2013 Thomson, P & Kamler, B Writing for Peer Reviewed Journals: Strategies for getting published Routledge, 2012 Thomson, P & Walker, M; The Routledge Doctoral Student’s Companion, Routledge 2010 Tinkler, P & Jackson, C; The Doctoral Examination Process: A Handbook For Students, Examiners and Supervisors, Open University Press 2004 Wellington, J, Bathmaker, A, Hunt, C, McCulloch, G & Sikes, P: Succeeding With Your Doctorate, Sage, 2005 Wilkinson, D The Essential Guide to Postgraduate Study, Sage, 2005 Wisker, G The Postgraduate Research Handbook, Palgrave 2001 P a g e | 71 ... see the Graduate School webpage or contact the Graduate School P a g e | 22 Graduate School Handbook 2016-17 RESEARCH CULTURE AND DEVELOPMENT SKILLS DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS The UWE Graduate School. .. the following link: https://blackboard.uwe.ac.uk/ P a g e |4 Graduate School Handbook 2016-17 GRADUATE SCHOOL CONTACTS The Graduate School Office provides administrative support to implement the... information, please contact the Graduate School or see the Graduate School webpage INDUCTION To make sure that everything is ready for when the PGR starts, the Graduate School Office will send a checklist