1. Registration and Assessment
There are 3 stages of internal assessment during the PhD:
Research Plan
Early Stage Assessment (ESA)
Late Stage Review (LSR)
Shortly after registration, Hayley sends each student an containing their milestone deadlines.
All assessments should be electronic.
Paper copies will not be accepted.

2. First Assessment: Research Plan (by 8 weeks)
Students must complete the research plan assessment within 8 weeks of starting their studies.  The Progress Review Panel (PRP) must have been approved by the Department before the assessment procedure can begin.
The purpose of the Research Plan is to ensure, as far as possible, that a successful PhD will follow. The PRP report aims to be helpful and provide constructive feedback as appropriate.

3. Progress Review Panel (PRP)
The PRP is made up of two subject experts, at least one of whom must be external to the student’s Section or Centre.  The PRP is proposed by the supervisor and approved by the Higher Degrees Research Committee in advance of the first assessment.
The Panel will make all three assessments.
There is no flexibility with assessment timings. The milestone dates must be followed.

4. Registration and Assessment
Research Plan Assessment: to confirm student has the required
academic qualifications
proficiency in spoken and written English
Research Plan and Supervisor meet the required standard:
Well defined aims
Appropriate plan of investigation
Comments on pilot of work where appropriate
Scope to carry out your own research even though you may be working in a large team with complementary projects
Appropriate supervision can be given throughout the PhD.
The PRP may, on occasion, find it necessary to interview a student if clarification is needed on any aspect of the application (eg to confirm proficiency in English ).

5. Registration and Assessment
The Research Plan is completed on a pro forma with two pages for an overview of the project. 
It should contain: Background, aims and plan of investigation.
The hypothesis to be explored and details of the methods (are they established in the group? need to be established?) should be discussed. Other potential issues eg patient recruitment, ethical approval to be mentioned. Expected to demonstrate understanding of the research to be undertaken.

6. Step by step guide to Research Plan
Student completes Section A of Research Plan proforma and passes to Supervisor for signature
Supervisor completes PRP nomination form and sends it to Section Rep for approval
Once PRP nomination form has been approved, supervisor passes Research Plan proforma to PRP for comment
PRP complete Section B and return it to Section Cohort Leader via Supervisor
Section Cohort Leader returns paperwork to Hayley for consideration at next HDRC

7. Second Assessment: Early Stage Assessment (by 9 months FT, 18 months PT )
Student to arrange time/location/send report to assessors
4,000-word report, comprising a literature review, an overview of progress to date and a plan of future work. The student will give a minute oral presentation followed by a viva (up to 30 minutes can include open question and answer session).
Students must have met the Graduate School’s professional skills courses requirement by this stage.

8. Third Assessment: Late Stage Review (by 24 months FT, 30-36 months PT)
Student to arrange time/location/send report to assessors
oral presentation of at least 30 minutes and submit a summary document not longer than 4 pages including an overview of the presentation and a detailed plan of future work. 
Presentation followed by a viva.

9. Recommendations
  At each stage of assessment, the assessors make a recommendation:
Approval by the HDRC
Approval by the HDRC subject to certain revisions and/or amendments being satisfactorily completed
Re-submission within a stipulated length of time
Recommend that the work is not suitable for PhD registration and the applicant should be transferred to MPhil registration
To recommend that the student should not continue
The final decision on all recommendations rests with the Departmental HDRC.

10. Assessments will provide practice for PhD viva
Good luck!