Graduate School update 2020/21

Welcome from the new Dean of the Graduate School

Welcome back to the start of another academic year. This year has, without question, been one of the strangest and most demanding in memory. We are all grappling with new technologies to facilitate online meetings and viva examinations, and getting used to a 'new' normal. As the incoming Dean of the Graduate School, I would like to thank Professor Nigel King for his dedication to the role over the past four years. Additionally, I would like to thank all of the staff in Registry, Directors of Graduate Education and PGR administrators in the Schools for their untiring work to ensure that we are ready for the new academic year. Many things will be different this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. What will not change is the Graduate School's drive to provide an excellent environment for postgraduate research study here at Huddersfield.

Professor Monty Adkins, Dean of the Graduate School

What’s changed in PGR for 2020/21

Research supervisor/examiner update

Introduction

We have pulled together a snapshot of what has changed in PGR for this coming academic year. Hopefully, this will help you to understand and will support you with the changes. We have also included some useful links to important areas of our provision that we hope you will find helpful.

If you have any queries feel free to contact your School Director of Graduation Education or RegistryResearch@hud.ac.uk.

PGR charter

There is a new PGR Charter which has been developed jointly by the Students’ Union and the Graduate School. It sets out expectations for PGRs and the supervisory team.

PGR employment

We have provided some guidance as to what we would normally expect when PGRs work. In summary full-time PGRs are expected to work no more than 15 hours per week and must not be in full-time employment. Part-time PGRs are expected to work no more than 37 hours per week. More information can be found on our webpage PGR engagement & attendance (scroll to PGR Employment).

Maternity leave and interruption to study

For pregnant students who wish to interrupt their study, we have made it clearer that we do not normally count the time taken for maternity leave towards the maximum interruption time allowed. This means that pregnant students can have more time away from their studies than what is normally permitted.

There is a policy on Support for pregnant students and new parents that you can take a look at.

Progression monitoring

There has been a few changes in relation to progression, outlined below:

Examiners are now referred to as assessors.
Assessors will receive a copy of the Research Support Plan for PM1 and PM1 report for PM2 as part of the assessment process.
Main Supervisors should see progression reports and these will need to be signed off as part of the Progression monitoring student and supervisor submission declaration.
All Doctoral PGRs should complete Research Integrity training as part of progression and Master’s PGRs will need to do so as part of their research support plan.
For more information and the available forms, please see Progression monitoring and Research support plan.

On track to submit meeting

All PGRs should now receive an ‘On Track to Submit’ meeting with their supervisory team. Doctoral students must have a meeting three months before submission. Master’s students must have a meeting one month before submission.

The purpose of this meeting is to ensure appropriate support is in place and to check that the student is well prepared and on track to submit on time. The meeting can also ensure final arrangements are in place for the viva voce examination.

Virtual viva examination protocol

We have created a Virtual viva examination protocol to support viva examinations. Please take a look.

Change of supervisor and major change in research area

There is now a formal procedure for PGRs and staff when either a change of supervisor is required or there has been a major change to the PGRs research. For more information, please see our Supervision and Changes to your research project webpages.

PGR admissions

We now have a number of new policies and procedures in relation to PGR admissions:

Reasonable adjustments for viva examinations

We have guidance for PGRs who may need a reasonable adjustment for their viva and more information can be found on our webpage – Final thesis examination

Resources for supervisors and examiners

Further resources for research supervisors and examiners can be found on BrightSpace – Resources for supervisors and examiners.

Some useful links

Grad School website
PGR handbook
PGR wellbeing newsletter
Registry FAQs for Covid-19 - Staff (see the pink box)
Registry FAQs for Covid-19 – Students (scroll to the pink box)

Update provided by the Registry PGR & Events Team

21 September 2020