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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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)

5. 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

6. 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)

7. 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 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 or visit the Tawney Building

8. 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 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 or visit the Tawney Building

9. Key Policy Documentation
PGR Code of Practice
Framework for delivery of all research degrees at Keele
Defines responsibilities of students and staff
Accessible from:
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)

10. 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

11. 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

12. Thank You!
Questions?