1. John Kirby Graduate School Faculty of Medical Sciences
Student Progression
John Kirby
Graduate School
Faculty of Medical Sciences

2. Etc….

3. Our commitment
We are committed to ensuring each student maximises his or her opportunity to gain a higher degree.
Students who submit a thesis very rarely ‘fail’
No point continuing to struggle with a PhD if along the way we agree that an MPhil is a more suitable degree for you
We must make sure all students complete their work within the set time limits

4. Your project Must be suitable for higher degree research Peer review
Internally by assessment team (usual for MDs) or
Externally by grant reviewers

5. Etc….

6. Your project Must be suitable for higher degree research
Peer review
Internally by assessment team (usual for MDs) or
Externally by grant reviewers
Your supervisor(s) must have appropriate experience
Fellowship of the Graduate School

7. Day-to-day progress and training
Research project specific
Don’t worry if you seem to be progressing more slowly than the next student (he or she might have problems later!)
Ask and listen to:
Your supervisor
Post-docs
Technicians
Senior students

8. Keeping everyone on track is complex!
A full-time PhD (regulation a) must be submitted within 4 YEARS
A full/part time PhD (regulation b) must be submitted within 5 YEARS
A part-time PhD (regulation c) must be submitted within 7 YEARS
A full-time MD/DDS (regulation a) must be submitted within 3 YEARS
A full/part time MD (regulation b) must be submitted within 4 YEARS
A part-time MD (regulation c) must be submitted within 5 YEARS
A full-time MPHIL (regulation a) must be submitted within 2 YEARS*
A part-time MPHIL (regulation b) must be submitted within 4 YEARS*

9. Assessment You will be examined by 2 assessors
Experts in your field
Not part of your supervisory team
You will submit appropriate written work before the assessment
You and your supervisor(s) will receive formal feedback after the assessment
It’s good to gain experience of oral examination before the ‘big one’!

10. Monitoring progress Research Degree (minimum period) 1st assessment
2nd assessment
3rd assessment
4th assessment
final
assessment
PhD 3 years full-time (including short period JRA & staff)
9 months
21 months
30 months
PhD 1 year full-time + 3 years part-time (including JRA & staff normal period)
21 month
33 months
45 months
PhD 5 years part time
12 months
every 12 months
57 months
MD 2 years full-time
18 months
MD 1 year full-time + 2 years part time
24 months
MD 4 years part-time
42 months
MPhil 1 year full-time
6 months
MPhil 2 years part-time

11. Monitoring progress Research Degree 1st assessment 2nd assessment
3rd assessment
4th assessment
final
assessment
PhD 3 years full-time (including short period JRA & staff)
9 months
21 months
30 months
PhD 1 year full-time + 3 years part-time (including JRA & staff normal period)
21 month
33 months
45 months
PhD 5 years part time
12 months
every 12 months
57 months
MD 2 years full-time
18 months
MD 1 year full-time + 2 years part time
24 months
MD 4 years part-time
42 months
MPhil 1 year full-time
6 months
MPhil 2 years part-time

12. Monitoring progress Research Degree 1st assessment 2nd assessment
3rd assessment
4th assessment
final
assessment
PhD 3 years full-time (including short period JRA & staff)
9 months
21 months
30 months
PhD 1 year full-time + 3 years part-time (including JRA & staff normal period)
21 month
33 months
45 months
PhD 5 years part time
12 months
every 12 months
57 months
MD 2 years full-time
18 months
MD 1 year full-time + 2 years part time
24 months
MD 4 years part-time
42 months
MPhil 1 year full-time
6 months
MPhil 2 years part-time

13. First assessment We recommend the following structure for your report:
Table of contents
A literature review
A clear statement of the aims of your project
A summary of the methods developed and results obtained to date
A discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of your work to date
An outline of your future work
In order to stop students from submitting over-long mini-theses, the Graduate School suggests a maximum word limit for this report (excluding references and figures) of 7,500 words (or 3,000 for MPhil)

14. Assessment report forms

15. The outcomes

16. Don’t panic This all seems very daunting – but it really isn’t
We are all here to help you to get your degree
Everyone involved in your work is an enthusiast and shares an interest in your research
They want to know the answers as much as you do!
Good Luck!