1. Understanding Major & Annual Review September 2014 Donna Crighton, Cheryl Strong & Nikki Sowerby Research Section, QMD, Academic Registry

2. Session Objectives By the end of this session, you will: Have an overview of the Major/Annual Review processes Know what sources of guidance are available for the Major/Annual Review processes and where to find them

3. Useful Contacts Faculty/Department – Departmental Research Degree Coordinators (DRDC’s) – Chair, Faculty Research Degree Committee (FRDC) Central – Research Section, Academic Registry Donna Crighton, Faculty Advisor (Research) Ext. 3288 Cheryl Strong, Faculty Advisor (Research) Ext. 3050 researchdegrees@port.ac.uk majorreview@port.ac.uk annualreview@port.ac.uk

4. Academic Regulations Research Students are governed by the Regulations for Higher Degrees by Research, Regulations for Professional Doctorates or Regulations for the Integrated Doctorate Programme Available at: http://www.port.ac.uk/researchdegrees

5. Postgraduate Research Handbooks Initial point of reference for all Research Students and Supervisors (updated annually) Guidance on the key processes and other circumstances that may arise Available at: www.port.ac.uk/researchdegrees www.port.ac.uk/researchdegrees

6. Reviewing Process UK Quality Code for Higher Education (Part B – Assuring and Enhancing Academic Quality) – Chapter B11: Research Degrees (The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA), June 2012) http://www.qaa.ac.uk/http://www.qaa.ac.uk/ Indicator 13 – “Higher education providers put in place clearly defined mechanisms for monitoring and supporting research student progress, including formal and explicit reviews of progress at different stages. Research students, supervisors and other relevant staff are made aware of progress monitoring mechanisms, including the importance of keeping appropriate records of the outcomes of meetings and related activities. ”

7. Major Review Process “The purpose of the assessment procedure is to assess whether the student has the capability to complete satisfactorily, within the prescribed time limits, a PhD or MD thesis.” (Regulations for Higher Degrees by Research, 2013, Major Review, Section 6, 1.2.1)

8. Major Review Full-Time PhD/MD – End of Year 1 Part-Time PhD/MD & Integrated Doc – End of Year 2 MPhil students may submit to upgrade (within these timescales)

9. Major Review Submission Dates Major Review October intake = 30 th September February intake = 31 st January Exceptional June intake = 31 st May Further information on the Major Review process is available in the University Postgraduate Research Student Handbook

10. Flowchart of the Major Review Process Academic Registry send reminder to PGR Student and First Supervisor for Major Review to be submitted by ~DATE~ PGR Student completes Major Review document First Supervisor completes UPR10 & e-mails to Chair, FRD Committee for Faculty Assessor to be appointed

11. Flowchart of the Major Review Process (cont’d 2) Report & UPR10 sent to Assessment Panel (FS & Two Assessors) by Academic Registry PGR Student submits document to Academic Registry majorreview@port.ac.uk majorreview@port.ac.uk UPR10 sent to Academic Registry by Chair, FRD Committee majorreview@port.ac.uk majorreview@port.ac.uk

12. Flowchart of the Major Review Process (cont’d 3) First Supervisor arranges Major Review Meeting All Panel Members and PGR Student in attendance at the Major Review Meeting

13. Flowchart of the Major Review Process (cont’d 4) Decisions at Major Review meeting Confirm Registration (PhD or MD) – upgrade to PhD if MPhil Student Application Insufficient: Final Review meeting required (see cont’d 5) Assessment Panel’s recommendation sent to Academic Registry who confirm decision in writing

14. Flowchart of the Major Review Process (cont’d 5) Work required and submission date notified to PGR Student by Academic Registry Application Insufficient: Final Review meeting required After submission documents are sent to the panel, First Supervisor organises Final Review meeting date, time & venue

15. Flowchart of the Major Review Process (cont’d 6) Final Review meeting decisions (confirmed in writing) Confirm Registration (PhD or MD) Upgrade MPhil to PhD Further Supporting Evidence is necessary Change PhD to MPhil Continue with MPhil registration Discontinue registration

16. Annual Review Process “ The purpose of the assessment procedure is to assess whether the student is actively engaged in the research programme and making satisfactory progress.” (Regulations for Higher Degrees by Research, 2013, Annual Review, Section 7, 1.2.1)

17. Annual Review All PGRS for each year of registration Unless, a Major Review is due Unless, the PGRS has interrupted their studies Unless, the PGRS has submitted for examination

18. Annual Review Submission Dates Annual Review October intake = 30 th September February intake = 31 st January Exceptional June intake = 31 st May Further information on the Annual Review process is available in the University Postgraduate Research Student Handbook

19. Flowchart of the Annual Review Process Academic Registry send reminder to PGR Student and First Supervisor for Annual Review to be submitted by ~DATE~ FRDC’s supply list of Reviewers prior to deadline First Supervisor completes UPR8B PGR Student completes UPR8A and gathers additional evidence as required Academic Registry request list of Reviewers from FRDC’s

20. Flowchart of the Annual Review Process UPR8A, UPR8B & required evidence sent to Review Panel by Academic Registry PGR Student submits documents to Academic Registry annualreview@port.ac.uk annualreview@port.ac.uk UPR8B sent to Academic Registry by First Supervisor annualreview@port.ac.uk annualreview@port.ac.uk

21. Flowchart of the Annual Review Process Annual Review Meeting arranged All Panel Members and PGRS in attendance at the Annual Review Meeting

22. Flowchart of the Annual Review Process Decisions at Annual Review meeting Confirm Registration Application Insufficient: Final Review meeting required Review Panel’s recommendation sent to Academic Registry who confirm decision in writing Confirm Registration, with recommendations

23. Flowchart of the Annual Review Process Work required and submission date notified to PGR Student by Academic Registry Application Insufficient: Final Review meeting required After submission documents are sent to the panel, First Supervisor organises Final Review meeting date, time & venue

24. Flowchart of the Annual Review Process Final Review meeting decisions (confirmed in writing) Confirm Registration Further Supporting Evidence is necessary Change PhD to MPhil Discontinue registration

25. Thank you for listening Any questions?