Doctoral element of the PhD (integrated +2) Award

This section should be read in conjunction with the University’s Guide to Research Student Admissions.

1.1      

Doctoral degrees are awarded to students who have demonstrated:

• The creation and interpretation of new knowledge through original research or other advanced scholarship, which is of a quality to satisfy peer review, which extends the forefront of the discipline and which merits publication.
• A systematic acquisition and understanding of a substantial body of knowledge which is at the forefront of an academic discipline or area of professional practice.
• The general ability to conceptualise, design and implement a project for the generation of new knowledge, applications or understanding at the forefront of the discipline, and the ability to adjust the project design in the light of unforeseen problems.
• A detailed understanding of applicable techniques for research and advanced academic enquiry. 

Typically, holders of the qualification will be able to:

• Make informed judgements on complex issues in specialist fields, often in the absence of complete data, and be able to communicate their ideas and conclusions clearly and effectively to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
• Continue to undertake pure and/or applied research and development at an advanced level, contributing substantially to the development of new techniques, ideas or approaches. 

And holders will have:

• The qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment requiring the exercise of personal responsibility and largely autonomous initiative in complex and unpredictable situations, in professional or equivalent environments.

1.2

All candidates must enrol as students of Swansea University and pay the appropriate fees prescribed by the University. As enrolled students, candidates must comply with the University’s academic and general regulations.

1.3

Candidates may not concurrently be enrolled on another award bearing programme in this or any other university/institution unless permission has been expressly granted by the Regulations, Quality and Standards Committee or unless the award is part of the identified qualifications within this degree framework.

1.4      

All candidates are required to monitor their allocated University email account throughout the candidature period as all electronic correspondence from the University will only be sent to this account. All candidates are required to use the allocated University email account when communicating with the University.

1.5

The level of study of the research degree governed by these regulations shall be at Level 8 (Doctoral Element) of the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ).

This section should be read in conjunction with the University’s Guide to Research Student Admissions.

2.1        

A candidate for the Doctoral Element of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (integrated +2) must hold an initial degree of a UK university or another university approved by Senate and must complete and pass the Taught and Research Master’s elements of the programme in sequence, before formally progressing to the doctoral element of the programme. Candidates may be provisionally enrolled on the Doctoral Element following submission of the Directed Independent Learning element from the Research Master’s element, in line with the regulation on concurrent enrolment, to a maximum of three months.

2.2      

In order to progress to the doctoral element of the programme, candidates are required to complete and pass (either at the first or second attempt) all taught modules comprising the Research Master’s element and submit the directed independent learning component.

AND

Candidates must also pass all modules comprising the Research Master’s element, achieving 60% or more in over half of taught modules by credit weighting, and achieve 60% in the Research Master’s dissertation.

2.3        

Any candidate who is required resubmit the Directed Independent will have one further attempt to pass. Such candidates must pass at the second attempt and will be required to commence the Doctoral Element at the next available entry point.    

Candidates who submit extenuating circumstances as part of their Research Master’s element which affects the duration of candidature, will be provided with support and the option to suspend their studies.

Any candidate who fails to complete the Research Master’s element at the first or second attempt will be withdrawn from the PhD (Integrated) programme.

All candidates are required to meet the University and programme English Language entry requirements, further details can be found at:

http://www.swansea.ac.uk/admissions/englishlanguagerequirements/

Candidates may be required to take additional instruction in English language.

2.4        

The decision as to whether an applicant should be admitted to a proposed programme of research shall rest with the relevant Executive Dean or Faculty/School Admissions Tutor. Decisions should be based on the following factors:

• Whether the Faculty/School is satisfied that the applicant is of the required academic standard to complete the programme of research proposed, irrespective of the candidate’s qualification;
• Whether the applicant’s chosen research topic is appropriate for study in the depth required for the degree;
• Whether adequate supervision could be provided by an appropriate member of staff in accordance with the regulations set out under ‘Supervision’;
• Whether there are appropriate resources and facilities in place to support the proposed programme of research;
• Whether it appears reasonable that the proposed programme could be completed in the prescribed minimum period.
• Whether the candidate meets the required English language competency outlined in 2.3.

Where the candidate meets all requirements to enrol (in accordance with Regulation 3.1) except for the University’s requirements governing matriculation, the candidate may, at the discretion of the Admissions Office, be permitted to provisionally enrol for a specified period of time, conditional upon the candidate agreeing to meet the University’s requirements governing matriculation by the deadline stipulated by the Admissions Office. If the candidate then fails to meet the University’s requirements governing matriculation by the deadline stipulated by the Admissions Office, the provisional enrolment will lapse, the candidate will be deemed ineligible to enrol and Regulation 15.6 below shall apply.

2.5   International Students and Visa Requirements

International students who need a visa to study in the University should be aware that their continued study at the University is dependent upon them meeting the conditions of their visa and the time-limits set by the Home Office UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). For more information please refer to https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/study-visas.

2.6        

Decisions taken by the University with regard to a candidate’s enrolment status, academic performance, progression and award shall be made in accordance with the University’s academic and financial regulations and shall not be informed by visa restrictions and time-limits set by the Home Office. However, continued study is conditional upon meeting the University’s enrolment requirements and Home Office guidelines of which a valid visa is essential. An international student who qualifies to progress to the next level or year of study cannot continue studying at the University without a valid visa. Students who have any concerns or queries regarding their visa should contact the University’s International@Campus Life Service. http://www.swansea.ac.uk/international-campuslife/immigration/

2.7     

All candidates are required to comply with the University’s Guide to Research Student Admissions.

This section should be read in conjunction with the University’s Guide to Research Student Admissions.

3.1   Enrolment

3.1.1     

The University expects all candidates to enrol in order to be recognised as a student of the University. All candidates shall enrol in accordance with the enrolment instructions for the particular programme of study and within the prescribed enrolment period.  

3.1.2     

Candidates are required to enrol within the prescribed enrolment period:

• If enrolling for the first time with the University;
• If enrolling for the first time on a particular programme of study;
• If progressing to the next level of study, the next year of study or in some cases, the next part of study and attending on a full-time or part-time basis;
• If the University is expecting a fee to be paid in accordance with the University’s regulations governing student finance and fees.

3.1.3     

In order to enrol with the University, candidates, where applicable, are required to provide evidence of entitlement to study at the University in accordance with:

• The specific programme requirements;
• The University’s regulations governing matriculation;
• The laws governing study in the United Kingdom. 

3.1.4     

Failure to enrol within a prescribed enrolment period will result in candidature lapsing and withdrawal of the candidate from the University. Requests for the reinstatement of the candidature and permission to enrol late shall be considered by the Executive Dean and Education Services.

3.1.5

The University shall notify the relevant authorities, within a prescribed period in accordance with United Kingdom laws governing study in the UK, of students who have been withdrawn for failure to enrol on a programme of study within the prescribed enrolment period.

3.2  Methods of Study

A candidate may study for the degree of PhD (integrated) by one of the following Methods:

A) As a full-time student, by pursuing teaching and research at the University;

B) As a part-time student, by pursuing teaching at the University and research either at the University or externally;

C) As a full-time student, by pursuing teaching/research at the University and/or teaching/research within an approved programme of research offered collaboratively by the University and another University/approved partner within the Doctoral Training Programme.

3.3      

The degree of PhD (integrated) may not be conferred as an honorary degree.

This section should be read in conjunction with the University’s Guide to Research Degree Candidature and the University’s Guide to Transfer and Withdrawal of Research Students.

4.1

A candidate must have completed a programme of teaching at Master’s Level (the Taught Master’s and Research Master’s elements) and supervised study, including research and generic skills' development as either a full-time or a part-time student, before being eligible to commence the Doctoral Element. 

4.2

The Master’s elements shall be completed (both in terms of award and duration of candidature) as prescribed by the relevant Faculty/School or Collaborative Partner (Method D) and assessment completed by the dates set. 

4.3

The Doctoral Element shall be completed within the following periods from the date of the initial registration: 

4.4

Notwithstanding paragraph 4.1, a candidate enrolling as a student under Method D (as defined in paragraph 3.2) may, with the expressed permission of the Faculty/School and University, be permitted to undertake a period or periods of study at another institution. Should such permission be granted, the revised minimum period of study shall be agreed by the Regulations, Quality and Standards Committee.

4.5

The regulation governing reduction in candidature period is not relevant to this degree. 

4.6   Transfer of Credit or Candidature

Candidates for the degree of PhD (integrated) will normally be expected to study the whole programme at institutions within the Doctoral Training Programme, and will not normally be permitted to transfer credits for the training element from other institutions outside of the consortium, or from other programmes within Swansea University.

4.7

Candidates may in some cases apply to, or be required by, the Student Cases Board to transfer mode of study or programme of study. Such transfers will be governed by the University’s Guide to Transfer and Withdrawal of Research Students. In such cases the University will determine a revised minimum period of study.

4.8

Candidates shall normally be prohibited from transferring their candidature to another institution after the minimum period of candidature for the research element, as outlined in the University’s Guide to Research Degree Candidature, has been completed at this University.

5.1

The degree of PhD (integrated +2 award) shall overall comprise a Postgraduate Taught Master’s element (Year 1 full-time, Years 1 and 2 part-time) delivered at Cardiff or Swansea University, a Master of Research (MRes) (Year 2 full-time, Years 3 and 4 part-time) delivered by Cardiff University, and a Doctoral  Element (Years 3-4 full-time, Years 5-8 part-time) delivered by Swansea University. Candidates may also apply for a final writing up period of 1 year maximum.

5.2

The research element of the programme shall consist of the production and submission of a substantial research thesis, and viva voce examination.

5.3

The structure of the PhD programme (integrated) shall be as follows, with elements out of the immediate scope of these regulations greyed out:

6.1

Candidates shall be supervised, on a regular and continuing basis from the point of enrolment onto the Doctoral Element of the programme in accordance with the procedures for postgraduate supervision as set out in the University’s Guide to Postgraduate Research Supervision.

6.2

Every candidate will have a supervisory team appointed by the candidate’s Executive Dean or nominee. The supervisory team shall consist of at least two internal supervisors who are eligible for appointment as set out in the University’s Guide to Postgraduate Research Supervision. One supervisor will be designated as the first/primary supervisor.

6.3

The internal supervisors must be members of staff at Swansea University as set out in the University’s Guide to Postgraduate Research Supervision. The first/primary supervisor will have main responsibility for reporting progress to the Faculty/School and Progression and Awards Board, as set out in paragraph 8.

6.4

All candidates admitted under Method B (as defined in paragraph 3.2 above) will have an external supervisor appointed in addition to the internal supervisor(s) External supervisors are appointed in accordance with the University’s Guide to Postgraduate Research Supervision with the approval of the Progression and Awards Board. Such supervisors will be given official recognition within the University.

This section should be read in conjunction with the University’s Guide to Progress Monitoring of Research Students.

7.1

The Faculty/School is required to confirm the candidature of each candidate within three months of the initial enrolment of the candidate to the doctoral element, as set out in the University’s Guide to Progress Monitoring of Research Students.

7.2

If a Faculty/School is unable to confirm the candidature of a candidate within three months of initial enrolment to the doctoral element, the candidate may be required to suspend or withdraw from the programme. 

7.3

A candidate’s progress in minimum candidature shall be monitored on a regular basis by the Progression and Awards Board in order to decide whether the candidate be permitted to progress. Progress will be monitored at specific stages as detailed in the University’s Guide to Progress Monitoring of Research Students. 

7.4

Candidates who go beyond their minimum candidature will continue to be monitored on a regular basis by the Progression and Awards Board until the submission of the thesis or the end of the candidature.

7.5

If a candidate’s progress is deemed to be unsatisfactory by the Progression and Awards Board, the candidate may be required to transfer on to another programme, or required to withdraw from the programme.

7.6

In the case of paragraphs 7.2 and 7.5 above, affected candidates shall have the right to appeal against progression decisions in accordance with the Swansea University Accuracy of Published Marks procedures or Academic Appeals procedures.

This section should be read in conjunction with the University’s Guide to the Employment of Research Students.

8.1      

Candidates who seek employment in addition to their studies, either within the University or external to it, shall abide by the guidelines on employment as published in the University’s Guide to the Employment of Research Students.

This section should be read in conjunction with the University’s Guide to the Submission and Presentation of a Thesis for Research Students and the University’s Guide to the Examination of Research Students.

9.1

All candidates are required to submit a thesis by the maximum submission date as set out in the University’s Guide to Research Degree Candidature, current at the time of admission and as stated in the formal Offer Letter.

9.2

Where a candidate fails to submit a thesis by the maximum submission date the University may require the candidature to be terminated.

9.3

Candidates shall notify the University of their Intention to submit at least three months prior to the expected date of submission.

9.4

On completion of the minimum candidature period, a candidate shall be permitted to submit copies of a thesis for examination in accordance with the University’s Guide to the Submission and Presentation of a Thesis for Research Students.

9.5

A candidate following the integrated PhD (integrated) programme may be permitted to submit work which has previously been assessed as part of the Master’s element (either whole, in part or modified) as part of the thesis for the Doctoral element, where there is a clear and proven link between the assessment and the research element. 

9.6

In addition to submitting copies of the thesis according to paragraph 9.1 above, all candidates must also submit an electronic copy of the thesis prior to examination. An updated electronic copy of the thesis should be submitted after examination if any corrections or amendments have been made. 

9.7

Any candidate who is following a programme of research at the University may choose to submit a thesis or other work in either English or Welsh. A candidate who wishes to be assessed in a language which is not the main language of tuition/assessment for the programme concerned is required to notify the Student Cases Board before the end of the minimum period of candidature. Arrangements will be put in place as outlined in the University’s Guide to the Examination of Research Students. Also, requests to be assessed in Welsh must be submitted via the Faculty/School before the end of the minimum period of candidature to enable appropriate arrangements to be established to assess the work through the submitted language, wherever possible, or if not possible, through translation.

9.8

The Student Cases Board shall not, however, give approval to requests based upon the candidate’s lack of ability to produce work for submission in either English or Welsh.

9.9

Once the University has been notified of the candidates’ intention to submit, the Executive Dean or nominee shall nominate members of the Examining Board which shall be constituted in accordance with paragraph 14 below and as set out in the University’s Guide to the Examination of Research Students. The candidate shall be informed of the names of the proposed members of the Examining Board. The appointment of members of the Examining Board shall be confirmed by the Postgraduate Research Committee.

9.10

Candidates who are resubmitting a thesis which has previously failed to satisfy the Examining Board shall be required to submit the modified thesis in accordance with the University’s Guide to the Submission and Presentation of a Thesis for Research Students. The candidate will also be required to pay an additional resubmission fee.

This section should be read in conjunction with the University’s Guide to Suspensions and Extensions for Research Students and the University’s Guide to Transfer and Withdrawal of Research Students.

10.1

Under exceptional circumstances and in accordance with the University’s Guide to Suspensions and Extensions for Research Students a candidate may be required to undertake a suspension of candidature due to disciplinary, financial or health reasons.

10.2

Under exceptional circumstances candidates may request a suspension of candidature or an extension to candidature. All requests for suspensions of candidature and extensions to candidature should be made in accordance with paragraph 2 of the University’s Guide to Suspensions and Extensions for Research Students.

10.3

Where a candidate undertakes a suspension of candidature, as outlined in paragraphs 6.1 and 6.2 above, a return to study date must be specified at the time of suspension.

10.4

Where a candidate fails to resume study by the return to study date, the candidate will be considered to have withdrawn from the programme effective from the start of the suspension, as set out in paragraph 7 of the University’s Guide to Transfer and Withdrawal of Research Students.

10.5

Established research students that have completed a year or more of their full-time research study but have exceeded the maximum suspension time allowed, would usually be required to withdraw by Student Cases Board; however, in exceptional circumstances, these students may be permitted to subsequently re-apply to be re-enrolled at the same stage of the previous research (within a maximum time period of 2 years from the date of withdrawal). Only under these circumstances may a student be allowed a reduced candidature period.

This section should be read in conjunction with the University’s Guide to the Submission and Presentation of a Thesis for Research Students and the University’s Guide to the Examination of Research Students.

11.1

Candidates for the degree of PhD (integrated) shall be assessed in the following ways: 

• The Doctoral element shall take the form of a thesis embodying the methods and results of the research project. All Theses should be presented in accordance with the University’s Guide to the Submission and Presentation of a Thesis for Research Students.
• The Doctoral assessment shall take the form of an oral examination (viva voce) as detailed in paragraph 11.3.

11.2

The Executive Dean may delegate the administrative tasks concerning the submission and examination of a thesis to a member of their staff and shall also nominate a Chair of the Examining Board. The Chair should be a member of staff of the Faculty/School with appropriate experience who has not been otherwise directly involved with the supervision of the candidate. 

Oral Examination (viva voce)

11.3

The Examining Board shall be required to conduct an oral examination of candidates for research degrees in all cases. In the case of a student who is allowed to re-submit within 12 months, a second viva would normally be expected. However, in exceptional cases, the requirement for a second oral examination may be waived where a detailed case for waiving the oral examination has been provided in the written report by the Chair of the Examining Board. The written report will have to be agreed and be counter-signed by all members of the Examining Board.

11.4

All oral examinations would normally take place at Swansea University within six months of the date of submission of the thesis.

11.5

A candidate requiring special provision for the oral examination is required to notify their home Faculty/School prior to the submission of the thesis. Arrangements will be put in place by the Faculty/School as outlined in the University’s Guide to the Examination of Research Students. 

11.6

A candidate’s supervisors shall have the right to convey to the Chair of the Examining Board any concerns relevant to a candidate’s research project, the resulting thesis or its examination which the supervisors consider the Board should take into account prior to reaching its decision. The supervisors shall convey these concerns, in writing, both to the Chair and to the candidate as soon as practicable after the presentation of the thesis to the Examining Board and, in any event, early enough to allow the candidate sufficient time prior to the examination of the thesis (including any oral examination) to consider the points made and prepare a response.

11.7

The oral examination shall be conducted in accordance with the University’s Guide to the Examination of Research Students. The recommendation of the Examining Board shall be presented to the Progression and Awards Board for confirmation.

This section should be read in conjunction with the University’s Guide to the Examination of Research Students.

12.1

All Examining Boards for candidates completing the Doctoral element shall consist of the following individuals:

• An independent Chair, who will be the Executive Dean or a member of staff with appropriate experience nominated by the Executive Dean. The Chair of the Examining Board is required to chair the oral examination and any meeting of the examiners.
• An External Examiner or examiners appointed in accordance with the University’s Guide to the Examination of Research Students.
• An Internal Examiner appointed in accordance with the University’s Guide to the Examination of Research Students.

The Chair of the Board shall be independent in the examining process and shall be responsible to the Postgraduate Research Committee for the conduct of the examination. The Chair of the Examining Board is required to chair the oral examination and any meeting of the examiners.

12.2

The Chair of the Examining Board shall be independent in the examining process and shall be responsible to the Postgraduate Research Committee for the conduct of the examination.

12.3

The candidate’s supervisors, or any member of staff involved in the supervision of the candidate, shall not be permitted to be part of the Examining Board, but may be invited by the Chair of the Examining Board, with the express prior written permission of the candidate, to attend the oral examination in an advisory role. An adviser may speak only when invited to do so by the Chair.

12.4

In the case of a candidate who is a member of staff of the University at the time of the examination, the Examining Board shall consist of the following individuals:

• A Chair, as described in paragraph 12.1 above.
• Two external examiners appointed in accordance with the University’s Guide to the Examination of Research Students.

12.5

The Chair of the Examining Board shall be responsible for ensuring that the internal examiner(s) and the external examiner(s) receive copies of the thesis to be examined as well as any other relevant documents as set out in the University’s Guide to the Examination of Research Students.

13.1

One copy should be stored by the Faculty/School for not less than two years. Where a student has submitted two soft bound copies the other copy should be made available for collection by the candidate, unless the content is deemed to be relevant to Wales, in which case the copy should be deposited in the University Library.

14.1

A candidate shall be at liberty to publish the whole or part of the work produced during their period of registration at the University, prior to its submission as a whole, or as part, provided that in the published work it is nowhere stated that it is in consideration for a higher degree. Such published work may later be incorporated in the piece of directed independent learning submitted for examination.

This section should be read in conjunction with the University’s Guide to the Submission and Presentation of a Thesis for Research Students and the University’s Guide to the Examination of Research Students.

15.1

A thesis submitted for a higher degree of the University shall normally be openly available and subject to no security classification or restriction of access.

Bar on Access

15.2

Notwithstanding the provisions in the regulations relating to the availability of the thesis or directed independent learning, the University may be permitted, on a special recommendation approved by the candidate’s Executive Dean or nominee, to place a bar on access to a candidate's work for a period of up to five years. It shall be the responsibility of the candidate's supervisor to make an application to the Executive Dean as soon as is reasonably practicable and in the case of the doctoral thesis, prior to the examination of the thesis. This bar would also apply to members of the University.

15.3

The summary and title shall be freely available.

15.4

Any recommendation for a bar on access must be made to the Executive Dean or nominee after consideration of an application by a candidate's supervisor. It shall be the responsibility of the supervisor to make the application as soon as is reasonably practicable. The recommendation must include a statement of the grounds on which the request is being made. Most requests of this nature are made on the grounds of the commercial sensitivity of the research, which may have been partially sponsored by a commercial or industrial organisation.

15.5

When a bar on access has been granted, the candidate’s Supervisor will be notified. In the case of work which is deemed to be of relevance to Wales, the Faculty/School shall inform the librarian of the National Library of Wales that the work is to be withheld from access for a specified period.

15.6

Although the bar shall be regarded as operative as soon as the work is submitted, the period approved shall be calculated from the date on which the candidate is formally notified by the University that they have qualified for a degree.

15.7

On submission, a candidate shall be required to incorporate a signed statement within the work to indicate:

• That the work, if successful, may be made available online in the University’s Open Access Repository and for inter-library loan after expiry of any bar on access.
• A summary may be made available to outside organisations.

16.1

All students who progress to the Doctoral Element will have completed and been awarded a Taught Master’s degree (MSc) and a Research Master’s degree (MRes).

17.1

Candidates who have qualified for their awards shall be admitted to their degrees in absentia, by decree of the Vice-Chancellor of Swansea University. Candidates shall be invited to an awards ceremony at a later date to celebrate their award.

18.1

Aegrotat guidance regulations refer to the Aegrotat Degree Regulations.

 19.1

For Posthumous guidance regulations refer to the Posthumous Degree Regulations.

20.1

Candidates who are not recommended by the Examining Board for the award of the PhD (integrated +2) Doctoral Element for which they submitted their thesis may appeal against the decision reached and request an academic appeal. All appeals shall be conducted in accordance with the Swansea University Accuracy of Published Marks procedures or Academic Appeals procedures.

21.1

Allegations of academic misconduct shall be considered in accordance with the Swansea University Academic Misconduct procedures and regulations. Allegations of academic misconduct received by the University after the PhD (integrated +2) degree (Doctoral Element) has been conferred upon the candidate shall be considered by the degree awarding institution.

22.1

Allegations of fitness to practise shall be considered in accordance with the Swansea University Fitness to Practise regulations in reference to the PhD (integrated) Doctoral element.

23.1

Students who feel dissatisfied with the teaching and learning, facilities or services provided by the University as part of the PhD (integrated) Doctoral element, or with the way the University, its students or its staff have acted or omitted to act, should follow the procedures set out in the Swansea University Complaints Procedure.