PhD programme assessment

Upgrading

Research students enrol initially as MPhil candidates and are upgraded to PhD student status when they have demonstrated that they are on course to successfully complete their PhD. For more information regarding the ISI Group's upgrade procedures please read MPhil/PhD upgrade procedures (PDF).

End of second year review

In line with the School's policy to ensure that PhDs are completed within a three to four-year timescale, the department has improved its monitoring procedures for students in the period between the PhD upgrade and Viva examination.

With this is mind and in order to make the distinction between the stages of 'fieldwork' and 'writing up' we ask students at the end of their second year of study to produce a draft table of contents for their thesis, a revised abstract for the website, and a one page per chapter outline of the content of their thesis. These items must be submitted before the Summer vacation of the second year. This structured submission will provide the basis for presentations and provide students with an opportunity to share their research ideas, knowledge and experience with peers and academic colleagues.

The presentations will be scheduled to take place on the first and second Tuesdays of the Michaelmas Term at the beginning of the student's third year of study. In addition, during their third year, students are expected to present a further seminar as part of the IS 554 series in either the Michaelmas or Lent terms. These requirements and commitments are essential in securing the support of the department when re-registering and will be considered when assessing any requests for financial and material support.

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