gr@du@te		Annual appraisal of research student progress
On this page … Appraisal procedure Monitoring progress Go to … Homepage Academic Admissions Housing Welfare & Support		Monitoring of student progress helps us to identify those who are struggling (for whatever reasons) and offer appropriate help and guidance. Informal monitoring takes place partly through the regular meetings students should be having with supervisors. If supervisors have any concerns about the pace at which their student is making progress, they should draw it to the attention of their Department Postgraduate Director of Studies. Approved procedures Departments are required to submit an annual progress report on each of their research students. Supervisor and student complete sections of the report, and both should see what the other has written. The completed report should be forwarded before the deadline date to the Postgraduate Studies Office, where its receipt is formally logged and added to the student’s file. In February 2008 the Senate agreed that all research students must, within their first year (first 2 years for part-time) - attend the approved induction programme; carry out the approved development needs analysis (DNA) in consultation with their supervisors, and keep a record of agreed follow-up to the DNA; take the appropriate research training activities, informed by the DNA and guided by their supervisors; complete a research proposal or plan of work which the supervisors approve as appropriate and viable; and agree a projected completion timetable with their supervisors. These requirements form the basis of the criteria under which the confirmation/transfer panel should base its decision to confirm PhD registration or confirm upgrade to PhD. Where research students do not have a confirmation (previously upgrade) panel in year 1, an annual appraisal (progress) meeting must be held and the annual appraisal (progress) report must be submitted to the Postgraduate Studies Office. Senate agreed that continued registration of each research student in years 2, 3 and 4 is conditional upon – submission of an annual appraisal (progress) report, involving input from the student, supervisors and department; evidence, confirmed in the annual (appraisal) progress report, that the student has – attended the annual faculty-based progress briefing session; reviewed/revised their DNA; completed the agreed research training; been offered adequate supervision (as outlined in the University’s Code of Practice for Research students), accepted it, and attended supervisory sessions; agreed a realistic completion timetable with their supervisors; and made sufficient progress with their research/thesis. Where students fail to meet the criteria for continued registration they will be excluded. Each student must agree a realistic completion timetable with their supervisors, review/revise it each year, and evidence this at confirmation and in annual appraisal (progress) reports, flagging any reasons for concern and noting what remedial action is being taken. At 30 months into a student’s registration (full-time, pro rata for part-time), research students who have not yet submitted must have a formal (minuted) meeting at six monthly intervals with their supervisors and the department’s Director of Studies for research students, to review progress against expected submission date, agree remedial action as appropriate, and report to Faculty Associate Dean and the Postgraduate Studies Office. A research student who has not been recommended for upgrade, or confirmed for PhD, has the right of appeal to the Standing Academic Committee.
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