Postgraduate Research Administration Tuesday 26 September 2017 Dr Edward Smith, Postgraduate Officer Student and Academic Services (SAS)

Research Degree Administration Local - Research Institutes and Faculty Research Offices Central - Student and Academic Services (formerly Planning and Academic Administration) Key Policy Documentation - Regulations, PGR Code of Practice Committees - Research Degrees Committee, University Postgraduate Research Committee

Research Institutes & Offices Your particular Research Institute/Faculty Research Office is your main research ‘home’ and your central administrative, academic, and support unit: Research Institute for Science and Technology in Medicine (ISTM) Research Institute for Primary Care & Health Sciences (PCHS) Research Institute for Applied Clinical Sciences (IACS) Faculty of Natural Sciences Research Office Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Research Office

Faculty Research Offices/Research Institutes will: Oversee your supervision, training, and Personal Development and Learning Plan (PDLP) Manage funding, bursaries, and sponsorship Make recommendations to Faculty/RI Committee and central PGR committees (Research Degrees Committee and University Postgraduate Research Committee)

Local PGR Committees will: Consider applications for leave of absence and changes to student status (e.g. FT to PT) Consider applications for doctoral progression; pre-submission review; submission statements; continuation Make recommendations to University PGR committees (Research Degrees Committee) regarding: Examination panels Extension requests

The Role of the PGR Directors Each Faculty Research Office/Research Institute has a Postgraduate Research Director (PGRD) PGRD has extensive experience as a supervisor of research students, and is responsible for local arrangements for research degrees You can report any issues you experience (e.g. with supervision, facilities, or your research environment more broadly) to your PGRD Member of central PGR committees (Research Degrees Committee, University Postgraduate Research Committee) Principal liaison between the Faculty Research Office/Research Institute and senior figures within PGR at Keele (the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise and the Strategic Lead for PGR)

Student and Academic Services (1/2) (Tawney Building) Quality Assurance Handles queries about: General PGR matters and PGR Code of Practice Research Degrees Committee Thesis submission, examination process, examiners’ reports Contact exams.pgr@keele.ac.uk or visit the Tawney Building Student Records and Examinations Handles queries about: Enrolment and registration Recording periods of absences and changes of student status Supervisory arrangements Recording outcome of examination process and awards status letters and confirmation of attendance to research councils Contact studentrecords@keele.ac.uk or visit the Tawney Building

Student and Academic Services (2/2) (Tawney Building) Visa Compliance Handles queries about: CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) Tier 4 visas and other student visa types Contact visa@keele.ac.uk or visit the Tawney Building Student Services Handles queries about, and provides information and services regarding: Support and wellbeing Different student groups (e.g. Asylum seekers, LGBT+ students, Care Leavers) Faith Counselling and mental health support Disability and Dyslexia support Money advice and guidance Contact student.services@keele.ac.uk or visit the Tawney Building

Key Policy Documentation PGR Code of Practice Framework for delivery of all research degrees at Keele Defines responsibilities of students and staff Accessible from: https://www.keele.ac.uk/research/currentpgrstudents/pgrcodeofpractice/ Accompanying guidance and forms to be published at intervals between now and Spring 2018 (‘PGR Guidance and Forms’ web page houses all documents) New PGR Code of Practice came into effect on 1 August 2017 Regulations PGR students must adhere to University Regulations, noting in particular: Regulation 2D (for PhD, MPhil, DM); or Regulation 2C (for Professional Doctorates)

University Committees (1/2) Research Degrees Committee Operates as a pan-University examination board approving PGR degree awards on behalf of University’s Senate. RDC is also responsible for: approving extension requests recommendations to withdraw a student the appointment to examination panels

University Committees (2/2) University Postgraduate Research Committee (UPGRC) Central University committee which considers matters of strategy and policy relating to PGR students Also responsible for developing PGR Code of Practice and overseeing quality matters Any policy changes made at this Committee will be communicated to you via your Faculty Research Office/Research Institute

Thank You! Questions?