University of Southampton Calendar 2008/9


University Calendar 2008/9 Section VIII : Academic Regulations - Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences School of Medicine

Regulations for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Science

Award of the Degree

The degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Biomedical Science may be awarded by the Senate to postgraduate students who have successfully pursued a course of study as prescribed below to the satisfaction of the School of Medicine Board and have fulfilled any other University requirements.

Admission

The requirements for candidature shall normally be a degree in a suitable subject of any approved university or other institution of higher education which will normally be a minimum of upper second class. All candidates must satisfy the Programme Director that they are competent to pursue the programme. Candidates whose first language is not English are required to reach a satisfactory standard in an approved test in English.

Transfer of credits from previously completed academic work in other institutions shall only be considered in exceptional circumstances as the taught modules require group work within each year's student cohort, and the research project modules require supervision by three potential MPhil/PhD supervisors at the University of Southampton.

Candidates shall not normally be admitted on transfer from another University (with or without their supervisor).

Candidates satisfying the requirement for candidature may be admitted provided the School of Medicine Board is satisfied that the chosen subject for research fits within the remit of the programme, that there is access to appropriate resources and facilities, and that there are satisfactory supervisory arrangements in place. The right to refuse permission shall be reserved to the School of Medicine Board.

In approving candidature the School of Medicine Board shall state the effective starting date which shall normally be at the beginning of the academic year.

For the purposes of these regulations, the University shall be deemed to include any institutions where the School is satisfied that University staff can arrange proper supervision of a research candidate.

Candidature and Progress

The programme to be followed shall be one of supervised study, including taught modules at M7 level, research and generic skills training, and may be undertaken on a full-time basis only.

Candidates are required to undertake the scheme of study over a period of four years full-time registration, to pass the required assessments, and to submit a thesis not more than 12 months later than the end of the third year of study. In exceptional circumstances the School Board may approve a later date for submission.

10.

Candidates may be approved to change to a programme of part-time study during years 2-4, in which case the maximum permitted period of candidature shall be determined by the School Office in accordance with regulation 32 below.

Year 1

11.

A candidate is normally required to register initially for the degree of MRes. In the first year candidates shall be required to follow a prescribed programme of units and research rotations which shall be taught and supervised in the University. Candidates who complete these units and pass the required assessments at an appropriate standard at the first attempt will normally be recommended for the award of Master of Research at the end of the first year and be permitted to proceed to the second year of the programme.

12.

Candidates who fail in any component at the first attempt shall have the right to be reassessed on one further occasion. Candidates who reach the required standard at the second attempt, and who meet the criteria for progression aat the end of the first year, will be recommended for the award of Master of Research and will be permitted to proceed to year 2.

13.

Candidates who fail in any component at the first attempt but who can prove extenuating circumstances may be given the opportunity to progress to year 2 at the discretion of the School of Medicine Special Considerations Board providing that they have satisfied the criteria in regulation 29 below.

14.

Any further opportunity for re-assessment shall be at the discretion of the relevant Board of Examiners and shall only be granted in exceptional circumstances.

Years 2 - 4

15.

The second, third and fourth years shall be devoted to a programme of supervised research and preparation of a thesis. The programme shall be pursued in the University except in special cases where the School Board permits a period to be spent elsewhere.

16.

The School Board may approve arrangments for an individual candidate to receive supervision provided jointly by the University and another institution. In such cases, the School Board may permit a period or periods of study to be undertaken at the other institution. The minimum period of full-time study at the University shall be 24 months (including year 1) for candidates of jointly-supervised research degrees with approved institutions.

17.

On successful completion of year 1 and approval to continue with the subsequent years of the programme, a candidate is normally required to register for the degree of MPhil. A candidate will normally apply to transfer from such registration to the degree of PhD but must successfuly complete the required upgrade process to the satisfaction of the School Board not less than six months before submission of the thesis. A candidate for the degree of PhD may be permitted at any time prior to submission of the thesis to transfer to a course leading to the degree of MPhil. The period spent in candidature up to the point of transfer will be counted towards the period of candidature required for the degree to which the transfer is made.

18.

The School Board may at any time review the progress of an individual candidate. If this is unsatisfactory and if, after due warning, there is insufficient improvement, the School Board may recommend termination of candidature to Senate. The candidate may appeal against the decision by using the procedure set out in General Regulations.

Supervision

Year 1

19.

Academic staff within the School of Medicine and other staff approved for this purpose will supervise candidates during the first year and every candidate will be allocated a personal tutor. The appointment of tutors and supervisors shall be subject to the approval of the School of Medicine Board.

Years 2 - 4

20.

During the second and subsequent years, every candidate will be allocated to a supervisory team by the School Board on the recommendation of the candidate's Head of School. The supervisory team shall consist of at least two members, one of whom will be the 'main supervisor'. The main supervisor will have main responsibility for the supervision of the design and progress of the candidate's research project and for providing academic advice to the candidate. The supervisory team may contain additional supervisors and/or advisors and shall report on the candidate's work and progress when requested to do so by the School Board. Paragraph 40 of the Code of Practice of Research Candidature and Supervision sets out the responsibilities of the supervisory team.

21.

Every candidate will take part in an individualised assessment of their research training needs with their supervisor(s) at the commencement of their postgraduate research studies. Candidates will also be required to take part in a postgraduate student research training programme which addresses research, generic and transferable skills and may include a range of compulsory and optional elements, the former as determined by the School Board.

Duration of Research Courses

22.

The duration of the PhD in Biomedical Science programme is set out below; these paragraphs should be read in conjunction with Regulations 23 to 30.

Except as provided under (b) and (c) below, the minimum period of candidature from the date of enrolment shall be:

MPhil	Not less than 12 months (following completion of the MRes degree)
PhD	Not less than 24 months (following completion of the MRes degree)

This minimum period of candidature must be spent in supervised study. In practice, the period of candidature will usually be longer than the minimum period.
In exceptional circumstances, and for academic reasons only, a student may be permitted to submit a thesis earlier than the specified minimum period of candidature. In such a case, the request must be made by the main supervisor to the Head of School for recommendation (on behalf of the School Board) to the appropriate Associate Dean for approval on behalf of the Faculty.

23.

The period of study for a research degree ends when the thesis is submitted. The maximum period of candidature for the degree of PhD in Biomedical Science, including nominal registration but excluding periods of suspension (see Regulations 26 and 28 below) is four years (48 months). A candidate who fails to submit a thesis by the end of the maximum period of study shall be deemed to have withdrawn from the course (see Regulations 29 and 30 below).

Nominal Registration

24.

The School Board may allow transfer to nominal registration for a period not exceeding 12 months in the first instance. The supervisor(s) must confirm that the minimum period of candidature has been completed, upgrade has taken place (in the case of a PhD candidate), research is substantially complete as determined by the School Board, and the thesis is being written up. If a candidate is on nominal registration for longer than six months, a fee becomes payable (see Section IV of the University Calendar).

25.

Candidates retain access to library and computing facilities until their thesis is examined and, where appropriate, any revisions requested by the examiners have been made. Access to other facilities (eg: office space) may be extended at the discretion of the School.

26.

With support from his/her supervisor, a candidate may apply in writing to extend the period of nominal registration beyond 12 months, taking account where applicable of Regulations 29 and 30 below regarding extension of candidature.

27.

Periods of nominal registration count towards the maximum period of candidature.

Temporary Suspension

28.

Candidates for the degrees of MRes, MPhil or PhD must continue in registration for the degree until such time as they submit their thesis or withdraw, except that the School Board may permit temporary suspension of candidature. The School may allow suspension of candidature having considered a request from the student accompanied by a written justification and supported by the supervisory team. In general, suspensions are allowed in extenuating circumstances (eg: illness, family crisis) but should not be granted as a matter of course. The maximum period of suspension should be stipulated in accordance with University of Southampton General Reguations 11 and 12 (Section IV of the University Calendar). In the case of Research Council and other externally funded candidates, due regard should be given to the sponsor's rules governing suspension. Periods of temporary suspension shall not count towards the maximum period of study.

29.

Candidates must attend at least 80% of all taught components and at least 2 out of 3 laboratory rotations in the first year to be eligible for consideration for progression to year 2.

30.

Suspended students should not receive supervision and normally should not have access to services. However, where the School judges that there is a need, access to services can be granted on an individual student basis through the Student Administration System.

Extension of Candidature

31.

The minimum and maximum periods of candidature should be strictly adhered to. Extensions of candidature beyond the maximum period of time will be granted only where there is good cause and on specific application by the candidate, supported by the supervisory team, before the candidature is due to expire. The School Board may allow extension of candidature having considered a request from the student accompanied by a written justification and supported by the supervisory team. An action plan should be agreed with the candidate setting out what needs to be achieved during the extension period.

32.

Extensions may be approved at School level by the Chair of the appropriate committee (see Section 2-7-3-2 of the Quality Assurance Handbook and application form for extensions). Applications for extension must be submitted with the supervisory team's approval through the School Office, for approval by the Chair of the appropriate Committee.

Submission of Thesis

33.

After completion of the necessary period of study, a thesis shall be submitted for examination in accordance with the instructions in the booklet Completion of Research Degree Candidature (available through the School Office or via the Student Resources Network on the University website).

34.

The submission following full-time candidature shall be made not later than four years from the date of first registration, excluding periods of extension and suspension. In cases where there have been periods of full-time and part-time candidature, the maximum permitted period of candidature shall be determined by the School Office and agreed by the Chair of the appropriate Committee on the basis that periods of part-time candidature shall be deemed to be equivalent to four-sevenths of an equal period of full-time candidature.

35.

A candidate who is about to submit a thesis shall give at least two months' prior notice in writing to the School Office which shall include the full title of the thesis. Such notice of intention to submit a thesis shall be given not later than 31 January if the candidate seeks award of the degree by the following July.

36.

With the exception of restrictions on access as defined in Regulation 37 below, research work submitted as a thesis for a higher degree shall be openly available and subject neither to security classification nor to restriction on access. Candidates may publish the whole or part of their work prior to its submission as a thesis, provided that in the published work it is nowhere stated that it is in consideration for a higher degree.

37.

In exceptional circumstances access to a thesis may be restricted by the relevant School Board, on behalf of Senate, where such restriction is regarded as desirable on commercial grounds or pending patent applications, or as necessary to maintain confidentiality. The period of restriction shall be determined by the relevant School Board but shall not exceed three years from the date of examination. Each instance of School Board approval of restriction of access to a thesis should be reported to Senate and the Library should also be informed.

38.

On submission of a thesis a candidate shall be required to sign two documents:

A form of consent that the thesis, if successful, may be made available for inter-library loan or photocopying from a date stipulated (subject to the law of copyright).
A declaration stating that the thesis is the result of work done wholly or mainly while the student was in registered candidature; that, where the thesis is based on work done by the candidate jointly with others, a substantial part is the original work of the candidate; the extent to which the thesis incorporates material already submitted for another degree.

39.

A thesis may not exceed 75,000 words in length in the case of a PhD, or 50,000 words in the case of an MPhil, unless prior permission to exceed this length has been given by the School Board on the recommendation of the supervisor. Where appropriate, the School Board may determine a higher word limit for a specific discipline. Candidates who exceed this limit without School Board permission will normally be required by the examiners to resubmit in a form which does not exceed the stipulated length. Candidates may, in addition, submit a separate volume of factual information only, related to the content of the thesis, which must be prepared and bound in the same style as the thesis. Such additional information will be available to the examiners and will form part of the record.

Examination

Year 1

40.

Assessments of first year modules will include written assignments, oral presentations and group presentations. All modular assignments will be marked by two assessors one of whom will be the module leader. The short research project reports will be marked by the supervisor and the module leader.

41.

Module pass marks and the overall pass mark for the Masters degree in the first year are 50%. Candidates who fail in any first year module at the first attempt will be allowed one attempt to resit each failed module. Candidates who achieve a mark of at least 50% at the second attempt will be permitted to progress to year 2 of the PhD in Biomedical Science programme.

42.

Candidates who pass all first year modules at the first attempt with a mark of 70% or above will be considered for the award of Master of Research with Distinction.

Years 2 - 4

43.

For each candidate, normally one internal and one external examiner will be appointed to examine the thesis; in exceptional cases, one additional external examiner may be appointed. Members of the supervisory team, and other researchers, who have had a substantial involvement in the student's work such that there would be a conflict of interest or potential lack of objectivity may not be appointed as internal examiners. In particular, the main supervisor may not be appointed as an internal examiner.

44.

Candidates for the PhD will normally be required, and candidates for the MPhil may be required, to attend for an oral examination. In conducting the oral examination, arrangements will be made where necessary to accommodate the requirements of students with special communication needs.

45.

The examiners for each candidate shall recommend one of the following courses of action.

That the degree for which the candidate has submitted a thesis be awarded.
That the degree for which the candidate has submitted a thesis be awarded subject, if necessary, to minor amendments to the thesis being made by a date specified (minor amendments include: minor omissions of substance, typographical errors, occasional stylistic or grammatical flaws, corrections to references, addition/modification of one or two figures, minor changes to layout and require no new research). These changes need only be certified by the internal examiner. The date specified for the submission of such minor amendments should normally be no later than a month after the formal notification to the candidate.
That the degree for which the candidate has submitted a thesis be awarded subject to the correction of modest errors/omissions of substance being made by a date specified (the procedure for re-examination of the thesis should be clearly specified in the report). Such amendments may require limited further analysis but will not affect the originality of the central thesis. They will be of a scale to require certification by both the internal and external examiners, though normally not so extensive that an oral examination is required. The date specified for the submission of such intermediate amendments should normally be no later than six months after the formal notification to the candidate.
That the candidate be required to attend a further oral examination.
That the candidate be permitted to submit, by a date specified, a revised thesis for the same degree for re-examination on one subsequent occasion. The date specified for submission of the revised thesis should normally be no later than twelve months after the formal notification to the candidate.
That, in the case of a PhD candidate who has failed to satisfy the examiners, permission be given to the candidate to apply within a specified time limit for the award of the degree of MPhil. This may be allowed without re-examination, subject to any minor amendment of the thesis which may be required by the examiners, or may be subject to re-examination of a revised thesis. In such circumstances, the work must meet the normal criteria for the award of the MPhil degree.
That the degree be not awarded and that resubmission of the thesis be not permitted.

46.

A candidate who fails to submit a corrected or revised thesis by the date set by the examiners shall normally be regarded as having failed the examination and the recommendations of the examiners shall lapse.

47.

Where the examiners recommend that the degree be not awarded and that submission of a revised thesis be not permitted, the candidate may ask for the case to be reviewed in accordance with the procedures laid down by Senate. A copy of the procedures may be obtained from the School Office.

SOBS	School of Biological Sciences
SOHS	School of Health Sciences
Medicine Index	School of Medicine
Psychology	School of Psychology