Degree of PhD (Integrated (1+3) Award)

The Doctor of Philosophy (Integrated) regulations provide candidates with the opportunity to undertake and complete a Master’s degree and progress to a PhD, receiving two awards: an MSc and a PhD. 

The Programmes comprise two elements: an MSc in Social Research Methods (the Master’s element) and a PhD across a range of subject areas (the doctoral element).

The Programme at Swansea University is offered as part of the Doctoral Training Programme with collaborative partners across Wales, enabling students to study elements at multiple institutions.

All students must complete the Master’s element at their delivery institution before formally progressing to doctoral element either the same institution or another member of the partnership. Once students have submitted the directed independent learning element, they will be permitted to provisionally enrol on the Doctoral element, on the express understanding that completion of the Master’s element is a requirement for full enrolment. Any students failing to complete the Master’s element  will normally be withdrawn from the PhD programme.

Where students are studying at multiple institutions, the local regulations will apply.

Where possible, the partners have attempted to ensure that the programme regulations are comparable.

This section should be read in conjunction with the University’s Guide to Research Student Admissions.

1.1      

Doctoral degrees are awarded to students who have demonstrated:

• The creation and interpretation of new knowledge through original research or other advanced scholarship, which is of a quality to satisfy peer review, which extends the forefront of the discipline and which merits publication.
• A systematic acquisition and understanding of a substantial body of knowledge which is at the forefront of an academic discipline or area of professional practice.
• The general ability to conceptualise, design and implement a project for the generation of new knowledge, applications or understanding at the forefront of the discipline, and the ability to adjust the project design in the light of unforeseen problems.
• A detailed understanding of applicable techniques for research and advanced academic enquiry.

Typically, holders of the qualification will be able to:

• Make informed judgements on complex issues in specialist fields, often in the absence of complete data, and be able to communicate their ideas and conclusions clearly and effectively to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
• Continue to undertake pure and/or applied research and development at an advanced level, contributing substantially to the development of new techniques, ideas or approaches. 

And holders will have: 

• The qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment requiring the exercise of personal responsibility and largely autonomous initiative in complex and unpredictable situations, in professional or equivalent environments.

1.2      

All candidates must enrol as students of Swansea University and pay the appropriate fees prescribed by the University. As enrolled students, candidates must comply with the University’s academic and general regulations.

1.3      

Candidates may not concurrently be enrolled on another programme leading to the award of a qualification in this or any other university/institution without the express permission of the Chair of the Regulations, Quality and Standards Committee or unless the award is part of the identified qualifications within this degree framework.

1.4      

All candidates are required to monitor their allocated University email account throughout the candidature period as all electronic correspondence from the University will only be sent to this account. All candidates are required to use the allocated University email account when communicating with the University.

1.5      

The level of study of the research degree governed by these regulations shall be at Level 7 (for the Masters’ element) and Level 8 (for the Doctoral element) of the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ).

This section should be read in conjunction with the University’s Guide to Research Student Admissions.

2.1      

A candidate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (1+3) must hold an initial degree of a UK university or another university approved by Senate and will be required to complete the Master’s element of the programme before formally progressing to the doctoral element of the programme. Candidates may be provisionally enrolled on the doctoral element following submission of the Directed Independent Learning, in line with the regulation on concurrent enrolment, to a maximum of three months.

2.2      

All candidates are required to meet the University and programme English Language entry requirements, further details can be found at

http://www.swansea.ac.uk/admissions/englishlanguagerequirements/

Candidates may be required to take additional instruction in English language.

2.3      

The decision whether an applicant should be admitted to a proposed programme of research shall rest with the relevant Executive Dean or Faculty/School Admissions Tutor. Decisions should be based on the following factors:

• Whether the Faculty/School is satisfied that the applicant is of the required academic standard to complete the programme of research proposed, irrespective of the candidate’s qualification;
• Whether the applicant’s chosen research topic is appropriate for study in the depth required for the degree;
• Whether adequate supervision could be provided by an appropriate member of staff in accordance with the regulations set out under ‘Supervision’;
• Whether there are appropriate resources and facilities in place to support the proposed programme of research;
• Whether it appears reasonable that the proposed programme could be completed in the prescribed minimum period;
• Whether the candidate meets the required English language competency outlined in 2.2.

Where the candidate meets all requirements to enrol (in accordance with Regulation 15.2) except for the University’s requirements governing matriculation, the candidate may, at the discretion of the Admissions Office, be permitted to provisionally enrol for a specified period of time, conditional upon the candidate agreeing to meet the University’s requirements governing matriculation by the deadline stipulated by the Admissions Office. If the candidate then fails to meet the University’s requirements governing matriculation by the deadline stipulated by the Admissions Office, the provisional enrolment will lapse, the candidate will be deemed ineligible to enrol and Regulation 15.6 below shall apply.

This section should be read in conjunction with the University’s Guide to Research Student Admissions.

3.1  Enrolment

3.1.1     

The University expects all candidates to enrol in order to be recognised as a student of the University. All candidates shall enrol in accordance with the enrolment instructions for the particular programme of study and within the prescribed enrolment period. 

3.1.2     

Candidates are required to enrol within the prescribed enrolment period:

• If enrolling for the first time with the University.
• If enrolling for the first time on a particular programme of study.
• If progressing to the next level of study, the next year of study or in some cases, the next part of study and attending on a full-time or part-time basis.
• If the University is expecting a fee to be paid in accordance with the University’s regulations governing student finance and fees.

3.1.3     

In order to enrol with the University, candidates, where applicable, are required to provide evidence of entitlement to study at the University in accordance with:

• The specific programme requirements.
• The University’s regulations governing matriculation.
• The laws governing study in the United Kingdom.

3.1.4     

Failure to enrol within a prescribed enrolment period will result in candidature lapsing and withdrawal of the candidate from the University. Requests for the reinstatement of the candidature and permission to enrol late shall be considered by the Executive Dean and Education Services.

3.1.5     

The University shall notify the relevant authorities, within a prescribed period in accordance with United Kingdom laws governing study in the UK, of students who have been withdrawn for failure to enrol on a programme of study within the prescribed enrolment period.

3.2  Methods of Study

A candidate may study for the degree of PhD (1+3) by one of the following methods:

• As a full-time student, by pursuing teaching and research at the University;
• As a part-time student, by pursuing teaching at the University and research either at the University or externally;
• As a full-time student, by pursuing teaching/research at the University and/or teaching/research within an approved programme of research offered collaboratively by the University and another University/approved partner within the Doctoral Training Programme.

3.3      

The degree of PhD (1+3) may not be conferred as an honorary degree.

This section should be read in conjunction with the University’s Guide to Research Degree Candidature and the University’s Guide to Transfer and Withdrawal of Research Students.

4.1

A candidate must pursue and complete a programme of teaching at Master’s Level (The Master’s element) and supervised study, including research and generic skills' development as either a full-time or a part-time student.

4.2

The Master’s element shall be completed as prescribed by the relevant Faculty/School or Collaborative Partner (Method D) and assessment completed by the dates set by Faculties/Schools. 

4.3

Full time Candidates on the PhD Integrated 1+3 Award must successfully complete the taught components of the Master’s element and submit the Directed Independent Learning no later than 12 months after enrolment and prior to provisional enrolment for the doctoral element. Part time candidates must successfully complete the taught components of the Master’s element and submit the Directed Independent Learning no later than 24 months after enrolment and prior to provisional enrolment for the doctoral element.

 4.4

Candidates on both the full and part time version of the programme will only be able to formally enrol following successful completion of the Master’s element. Candidates who fail to successfully complete the Master’s element will normally be withdrawn from the PhD programme.

4.5

The full degree programme shall be completed within the following periods from the date of the initial registration:

4.6

Notwithstanding paragraph 4.1, a candidate enrolling as a student under Method D (as defined in paragraph 3.1) may, with the expressed permission of the Faculty/School and University, be permitted to undertake a period or periods of study at another institution. Should such permission be granted, the revised minimum period of study shall be agreed by the Regulations, Quality and Standards Committee.

4.7

Candidates are permitted to undertake the Master’s element at any institution within the Doctoral Training Programme Collaborative agreement, and once successfully completed may commence the doctoral element at any institution within the Doctoral Training Programme, progressing directly to Year 2 (full-time) or Year 3 (part-time) of the programme.

4.8

Candidates enrolled under Method D shall also be permitted, upon successful completion of the Master’s element, to commence the doctoral element at any institution within the Doctoral Training Programme, progressing directly to Year 2 (full-time) or Year 3 (part-time) of the programme.

4.9

The regulation governing reduction in candidature period is not relevant to this degree.

5.1

Candidates for the degree of PhD (1+3) will normally be expected to study the whole programme at Swansea University and will not normally be permitted to transfer credits for the training element from other institutions or from other programmes within Swansea University.

5.2

Candidates may in some cases apply to, or be required by, the Student Cases Board to transfer mode of study or programme of study. Such transfers will be governed by the University’s Guide to Transfer and Withdrawal of Research Students. In such cases the University will determine a revised minimum period of study.

5.3

Candidates shall normally be prohibited from transferring their candidature to another institution after the minimum period of candidature for the research element, as outlined in paragraph 1 of the University’s Guide to Research Degree Candidature, has been completed at this University.

6.1

Faculties/Schools must specify the structure and delivery model of a programme at the point of programme approval.

6.2

The degree of PhD (integrated 1+3 award) shall comprise a Postgraduate Taught Master’s element (Year 1 full-time, Years 1 and 2 part-time) and a Postgraduate Research element (Years 2-4 full-time, Years 3-8 part-time), along with a final writing up period of 1 year maximum.

6.3

The Taught Masters’ element will comprise a range of discrete educational components (modules) of the academic level and content deemed to be appropriate for the award in a particular subject area.

6.4

A full or part time Master’s programme of study consists of modules totalling 180 credits, where Directed Independent Learning* (totalling 60 credits) or an approved alternative authorised by the Regulations, Quality and Standards will be delivered in one of the formats below:

a) Concurrently with taught modules.

b) Embedded within the taught component

c) A combination of a) and b)

*Directed Independent Learning is defined as a single piece or pieces of self-directed learning (undertaken under the guidance of a supervisor), totalling 60 credits, which provide(s) an opportunity to engage in extended research on one or more aspects of the syllabus relating to the programme. The independent work can take a variety of forms, chosen to be the most appropriate for the programme, and/or to enhance the employability prospects of the students. This can be defined at programme approval and will be equivalent to the effort required to prepare a dissertation of up to 20,000 words.

6.5

The research element of the programme shall consist of the production and submission of a substantial research thesis, and viva voce examination.

6.6

The structure of the PhD programme (1+3) shall be as follows:

7.1                 

All candidates will be enrolled on the Integrated PhD (1+3) programme. 

7.2           

All candidates will commence with the Taught Master’s element in Year 1.

7.3           

In order to formally progress to the doctoral element of the programme, candidates are required to complete and pass (either at the first or second attempt) all taught modules comprising the Master’s element and submit the directed independent learning component. 

7.4           

Candidates will be eligible to progress to the doctoral element provisionally before confirmation of award of the Master’s element following successful completion of all taught modules and submission of the directed independent learning. Candidates who subsequently fail to be awarded the Master’s element will be withdrawn from the PhD programme.

8.1

A module is a distinct educational component of a programme. Each programme shall consist of taught modules which may be single modules of not less than 5 Swansea University credit points and not normally more than 30 credit points. For Masters Programmes there shall also be additional 60-credits of directed independent learning/approved alternative.

8.2

Each module:

• Is assigned a unique reference code.
• Is assigned to a level of study which reflects the academic standard of a module and its learning outcomes.
• Shall also be assigned European Credit Transfer System Credits (5 ECTS credits is roughly equivalent to 10 Swansea University credits).
• May have pre-requisites and/or co-requisites.

8.3

Modules may be grouped into the following categories: lecture based; practical based; external practice based; directed independent learning; dissertation based; computer based; fieldwork based; placement based, work based or an appropriate combination of these categories (composite module).

8.4

All modules for any qualification offered under these regulations shall be equivalent to the Framework for Higher Education (FHEQ) Level 7.  

8.5 

The different types of module include:

Compulsory Modules 

For most degree programmes there shall be compulsory modules to be determined by the Faculty(ies)/School(s) concerned. Such modules should be identified by Faculties/Schools and listed in Faculty/School handbooks.

Optional Modules

To supplement the compulsory modules, candidates may be expected to pursue optional modules from a prescribed list of options in the specialist subject area(s). Candidates should seek the guidance of the 'home' Faculty/School when choosing the optional modules.

Core Modules

Faculties/Schools might identify modules which are fundamental to a programme. Faculties/Schools can stipulate that such 'Core' modules must not only be pursued but also passed before a candidate can proceed to the next part of study or qualify for an award. Failures in core modules must be redeemed.

Substitute Modules

Substitute modules are those modules which are normally studied in place of modules which were previously failed (at first attempt only). Candidates may apply to their home Faculty/School to be permitted to pursue substitute modules (s). The mark for a substitute module shall be capped regardless of the actual mark.

8.6   Transfer of Modules

Candidates shall be permitted to transfer from one module to another provided that the transfer is approved by the relevant Faculty(ies)/School(s) within the following time-scale:

• Short intensive modules (2 weeks) before the end of the second day of teaching on the module concerned.
• Short modules (11 weeks) before the end of the 2nd week of teaching on the module concerned.
• Long modules (22 weeks) before the end of the 4th week of teaching on the module concerned. 

Only in exceptional cases, and with the approval of the Chair of the Faculty Education Committee, will transfers outside those deadlines be approved.

Students will be expected to follow the procedures for transfers in force at the time and adopted by the Senate of the University.

9.1

Full-time and part-time postgraduate taught candidates may be permitted to change their mode of attendance prior to the start of their degree programme, provided that it does not contravene rules governing sponsor/studentships. Full-time and part-time candidates may change their mode of attendance between 1 or 4 weeks of commencement of their programme with the approval of the Executive Dean or their appointee. Candidates wishing to change their mode of study beyond these deadlines would normally be advised to suspend studies and return the following session. However, with the express support of the Executive Dean a case may be submitted to Education Services who will consider the case administratively on behalf of the Student Cases Board.

10.1

Candidates will be allocated a Research Supervisory Team at the point of enrolment. Candidates will also be allocated a Personal Tutor in accordance with Swansea University’s Policy on Personal Tutoring, and a dissertation supervisor for the Master’s element.

10.2

During the Master’s element, candidates will receive tutorial support and dissertation supervision consistent with the University’s dissertation supervision, and will also meet with their research supervisory team to monitor their progress.

10.3

During the research element, candidates shall be supervised, on a regular and continuing basis in accordance with the procedures for postgraduate supervision as set out in the University’s.

10.4

The supervisory team will be appointed by the candidate’s Executive Dean or nominee. The supervisory team shall consist of at least two internal supervisors who are eligible for appointment as set out in the University’s. One supervisor will be designated as the first/primary supervisor.

10.5

The internal supervisors must be members of staff at Swansea University as set out in the University’s Guide to Postgraduate Research Supervision. The first/primary supervisor will have main responsibility for reporting progress to the Faculty/School and Progression and Awards Board, as set out in paragraph 7.

10.6

All candidates undertaking study through Method D at a collaborative partner will be assigned Personal Tutors or research supervisors in accordance to the regulations of the institution of study.

10.7

External supervisors are appointed in accordance with the University’s with the approval of the Progression and Awards Board. Such supervisors will be given official recognition within the University.        

This section should be read in conjunction with the University’s Guide to Progress Monitoring of Research Students.

11.1

During the Master’s element, candidates shall be expected to attend all scheduled learning sessions associated with each module which they have elected to pursue.

11.2

Attendance during the Master’s element shall be monitored in accordance with the University’s Engagement Monitoring Policy.

11.3

Progress shall be monitored through regular discussion sessions with tutors and supervisors, and through Examination Boards.

11.4

The Faculty/School is required to confirm the candidature of each candidate within three months of the initial enrolment of the candidate to the doctoral element, as set out in the University’s Guide to Progress Monitoring of Research Students.

11.5

If a Faculty/School is unable to confirm the candidature of a candidate within three months of initial enrolment to the doctoral element, the candidate may be required to suspend or withdraw from the programme.

11.6

A candidate’s progress in minimum candidature shall be monitored on a regular basis by the Progression and Awards Board in order to decide whether the candidate be permitted to progress. Progress will be monitored at specific stages as detailed in the University’s Guide to Progress Monitoring of Research Students.

11.7

Candidates who go beyond their minimum candidature will continue to be monitored on a regular basis by the Progression and Awards Board until the submission of the thesis or the end of the candidature.

11.8

If a candidate’s progress is deemed to be unsatisfactory by the Progression and Awards Board, the candidate may be required to transfer on to another programme, or required to withdraw from the programme.

11.9

In the case of paragraphs 11.5 and 11.8 above, affected candidates shall have the right to appeal against progression decisions in accordance with the Swansea University Accuracy of Published Marks procedures or Academic Appeals procedures.

12.1

Candidates whose work is interrupted by illness for more than seven days are required to inform the Faculty/School in writing and to submit a medical certificate. 

 12.2

A candidate who has been absent from an examination is required to send, without delay to the Faculty/School, a written explanation within five working days of the examination taking place. In the case of illness, he/she shall also be required to submit a medical certificate.

 12.3

All candidates shall note that it is their responsibility to make their Faculty/School aware as soon as possible of any extenuating circumstances which could have an effect on their performance either during the academic year or during examinations, in accordance with the University’s Policy on Extenuating Circumstances Affecting Assessment. Academic appeals based on extenuating circumstances which could have been brought to the attention of the appropriate Faculty/School prior to the meeting of examination boards shall not be considered.

13.1

Suspension of studies shall be considered in accordance with the University’s Suspension of Studies regulations.

This section should be read in conjunction with the University’s Guide to the Employment of Research Students.

14.1    

Candidates who seek employment in addition to their studies, either within the University or external to it, shall abide by the guidelines on employment as published in the University’s Guide to the Employment of Research Students.

This section should be read in conjunction with the University’s Guide to Research Degree Candidature.

Master’s Element

15.1

All candidates are required to complete 180 credits, including 60 credits of independent learning, submitting all assessment within the timeframes included below.

15.2

Where a candidate fails to submit assessments by the maximum submission date the University may require the candidature to be terminated.

16.1

Directed independent learning must be submitted in accordance with the University’s requirements. Faculties/Schools may choose one of the following options:

• To accept an electronic copy of the work.
• To accept two soft bound copies and an electronic copy.

        Faculties/Schools must inform students of the method of submission in the Faculty/School Handbook.

Each copy shall contain:

• A statement that it is being submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree.
• A summary of the work not exceeding 300 words in length.
• A statement, signed by the candidate, showing to what extent the work submitted is the result of the candidate's own investigation. Acknowledgement of other sources shall be made by footnotes giving explicit references. A full bibliography should be appended to the work.
• A declaration, signed by the candidate, to certify that the work has not already been accepted in substance for any degree other than awards made as part of the integrated PhD programme, and is not being concurrently submitted in candidature for any degree.
• A signed statement regarding availability of the work.

16.2

Detailed instructions on the presentation of work shall be available to candidates in the section Preparation & Submission of Assessment for Directed Independent Learning.

16.3

Submission of directed independent learning shall be defined as submission of a piece or pieces of work submitted in accordance with the requirements specified under submission of directed independent learning (above) and should also meet the requirements (format, word limits, etc.) specified by the Faculty/School. A Faculty/School shall have the discretion to determine whether a submission fails to meet these requirements.

16.4

Due to the nature of the integrated PhD, the final dates for submission of the piece or pieces of directed independent learning shall normally be:

16.5

A Faculty/School may set an earlier deadline for submission of a work, which must be printed in the Faculty/School handbook. 

16.6

Candidates who entered the University who fail to submit their work by the deadline will be required to withdraw from the University and may be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma as an exit award.

16.7

Each degree has a maximum period of candidature (as outlined above). The maximum period is designed to enable candidates whose studies have been interrupted for whatever reason to complete their degree. Candidates must aim to complete their programme by the deadlines as given in Regulation 4 above. A candidature shall lapse (and examination be thereby precluded) if the programme is not completed within the University time limits outlined in Regulation 4.

17.1

If the piece/pieces of directed independent learning is not accepted by the examiners by the set deadline the candidate may be allowed to resubmit it once only and, due to the nature of the integrated PhD, within the following time limits:

*where the directed independent learning is divided into modules totalling less than 60 credits, Faculties/Schools may impose shorter resubmission periods. This will be made clear to students in the Faculty/School handbook.

17.2

A fee shall be payable to the University for the re-examination and the mark will be capped.

17.3

Students resubmitting should be given written feedback on the reasons for failure immediately following confirmation of the result by the University Progression and Awards Board. Faculties/Schools should ensure that feedback reflects all comments from the Examiners (Internal and External) and that the student is informed of the necessary changes required. 

17.4

Students re-submitting are only permitted to make minor changes to the title of their work with the permission of their Supervisor. Such changes should not require any further original research. 

17.5

Students resubmitting their work shall be considered as external students. Such students will not normally be expected to be in attendance at Swansea during the resubmission period. Students who are required to be in attendance at Swansea during the resubmission period may make a case to Education Services and must be supported by the Executive Dean or their designate.

18.1

Faculties/Schools shall set deadlines for the submission of work. Candidates who fail to submit work by the deadline shall be awarded a mark of 0%. Candidates, who are prevented from meeting such deadlines due to extenuating circumstances, may apply to the Faculty/School for an extension. It shall be presumed that, unless the Faculty/School received details of extenuating circumstances and a request for an extension, that the student was not unduly affected in the preparation of the assessment in question.

This section should be read in conjunction with the University’s Guide to the Submission and Presentation of a Thesis for Research Students and the University’s Guide to the Examination of Research Students.

19.1

All candidates are required to submit a thesis by the maximum submission date as set out in paragraph 1 of the University’s Guide to Research Degree Candidature, current at the time of admission and as stated in the formal Offer Letter.

19.2

Where a candidate fails to submit a thesis by the maximum submission date the University may require the candidature to be terminated.

19.3

Candidates shall notify the University of their Intention to submit at least three months prior to the expected date of submission.

19.4

On completion of the minimum candidature period, a candidate shall be permitted to submit copies of a thesis for examination in accordance with the University’s Guide to the Submission and Presentation of a Thesis for Research Students.

19.5

In addition to submitting copies of the thesis according to paragraph 19.4 above, all candidates must also submit an electronic copy of the thesis prior to examination. An updated electronic copy of the thesis should be submitted after examination if any corrections or amendments have been made.

19.6

Any candidate who is following a programme of research at the University may choose to submit a thesis or other work in either English or Welsh. A candidate who wishes to be assessed in a language which is not the main language of tuition/assessment for the programme concerned is required to notify the Student Cases Board before the end of the minimum period of candidature. Arrangements will be put in place as outlined in the University’s Guide to the Examination of Research Students. Also, requests to be assessed in Welsh must be submitted via the Faculty/School before the end of the minimum period of candidature to enable appropriate arrangements to be established to assess the work through the submitted language, wherever possible, or if not possible, through translation.

19.7

The Student Cases Board shall not, however, give approval to requests based upon the candidate’s lack of ability to produce work for submission in either English or Welsh.

19.8

Once the University has been notified of the candidates’ intention to submit, the Executive Dean or nominee shall nominate members of the Examining Board which shall be constituted in accordance with section 14 of the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) regulations below and as set out in the University’s Guide to the Examination of Research Students. The candidate shall be informed of the names of the proposed members of the Examining Board. The appointment of members of the Examining Board shall be confirmed by the Postgraduate Research Committee.

19.9

Candidates who are resubmitting a thesis which has previously failed to satisfy the Examining Board shall be required to submit the modified thesis in accordance with the University’s Guide to the Submission and Presentation of a Thesis for Research Students. The candidate will also be required to pay an additional resubmission fee.

20.1

A candidate requiring special provision for their coursework or examination shall submit a written application, in the first instance, to the Executive Dean (or their nominee) who shall consult the Head of Student Services (or the appropriate University officer) as soon as possible. The application shall be supported by documentary evidence. The Executive Dean or nominee, in consultation with the Head of Student Services (or appropriate University officer) is permitted to disregard requests for special provision if not supported by appropriate documentary evidence.

20.2

If the Executive Dean or nominee is informed that a candidate should receive special provision, they shall forward the application, supported by copies of documentary evidence, to the Head of Student Services (or the appropriate University officer) as soon as possible. In the case of candidates with dyslexia, a report which is dated within three years of the date of entry of the candidate to the programme of study must be received from a qualified psychologist experienced in working with dyslexic adults or from someone with a qualification from a professional training course involving assessing adults with dyslexia.

20.3

Any candidate requiring special provision or special consideration for their coursework or examination due to unforeseen circumstances shall inform the Executive Dean or nominee as soon as possible. It shall be presumed that, unless the Faculty/School received details of extenuating circumstances and a request for an extension, that the student was not unduly affected in the preparation of the assessment in question.

20.4

If appropriate, suitable arrangements shall be made by the Executive Dean or nominee in consultation with the candidate.

21.1

Applications for extension to the deadline for submission of the piece of directed independent learning (Master’s element) can be considered by the Faculty/School, up to the minimum period of candidature. Extensions to candidature must be completed in accordance with the University regulations and must be routed via the candidate's supervisor to Education Services, in accordance with the stated deadlines. 

21.2

Extensions granted for submission of the Master’s element Directed Independent Learning may result in candidates being unable to take up the doctoral element of the programme until the next entry point.

This section should be read in conjunction with the University’s Guide to Suspensions and Extensions for Research Students and the University’s Guide to Transfer and Withdrawal of Research Students.

22.1

Under exceptional circumstances and in accordance with the University’s Guide to Suspensions and Extensions for Research Students a candidate may be required to undertake a suspension of candidature due to disciplinary, financial or health reasons.

22.2

Under exceptional circumstances candidates may request a suspension of candidature or an extension to candidature. All requests for suspensions of candidature and extensions to candidature should be made in accordance with paragraph 2 of the University’s Guide to Suspensions and Extensions for Research Students.

22.3

Where a candidate undertakes a suspension of candidature, as outlined in paragraphs 22.1 and 22.2 above, a return to study date must be specified at the time of suspension.

22.4

Where a candidate fails to resume study by the return to study date, the candidate will be considered to have withdrawn from the programme effective from the start of the suspension, as set out in paragraph 7 of the University’s Guide to Transfer and Withdrawal of Research Students.

22.5

Established research students that have completed a year or more of their full-time research study but have exceeded the maximum suspension time allowed, would usually be required to withdraw by the Student Cases Board; however, in exceptional circumstances, these students may be permitted to subsequently re-apply to be re-enrolled at the same stage of the previous research (within a maximum time period of 2 years from the date of withdrawal). Only under these circumstances may a student be allowed a reduced candidature period.

23.1

Candidates shall be assessed at the Institution at which they have pursued the programme of study.

23.2

Any candidate who is following a programme of study of the University may request, regardless of whether the main language of assessment of the programme in question is English or Welsh, to submit examination scripts or assessed work in either English or Welsh. Such requests shall be dealt with in accordance with the Guidelines on Assessment and Examination in Welsh or another Language other than the Language of Tuition. 

23.3

In cases where it may be considered appropriate for a thesis to be submitted in a language other than English/Welsh for academic reasons, permission may be given by the Faculty/School where a reasoned case has been submitted for approval, normally in advance of the candidate's registration for study. However, the Faculty/School shall not give approval to requests based upon the candidate's lack of ability to produce work for submission in either English or Welsh.

24.1

For every Postgraduate Taught Masters’ Examining Board there shall be a Chair who shall be responsible for ensuring that the correct administrative procedures for the submission and examination of the work are carried out. 

24.2

All work shall be marked by two internal members of staff, one of whom should normally be the supervisor for that particular candidate. However, in certain circumstances it may not be appropriate for the Supervisor to act as marker.

24.3

The role of the External Examiner is specified in Swansea University's Code of Practice for External Examining.

24.4

However, if it is impossible to allocate two internal markers then the Faculty/School should pay an external marker to act in the capacity as the second marker and the External Examiner should be asked to oversee that moderation has occurred. 

24.5

Although it is customary for the same External Examiner to examine a candidate for the programme, an independent examiner may be appointed to examine the work where specialist knowledge or expertise is required.

24.6

Faculties/Schools may opt to use sampling regulations if the cohort is greater than 10. The sampling regulations are as follows:

At least 10% of the total number of pieces of work (minimum of 5) including at least one from each class (Pass, Merit, Distinction, where appropriate). In addition, all failed pieces of work must be sent to the External Examiner.

24.7

The marks shall be ratified at the University Progression and Awards Board.

24.8

For dealing with disputes or disagreements, see the Code of Practice for External Examining.

This section should be read in conjunction with the University’s Guide to the Submission and Presentation of a Thesis for Research Students.

25.1

Candidates for the degree of PhD (1+3) shall be assessed in the following ways:

• The Master’s element shall comprise continuous assessment and/or examinations of an advanced character in fields of study prescribed by the appropriate Programme Director.
• All candidates must satisfactorily complete the Master’s element and submit the directed independent learning before being eligible to provisionally progress to and enrol on the Doctoral element. Candidates subsequently failing the Master’s element shall be withdrawn from the PhD Programme.
• The Doctoral element shall take the form of a thesis embodying the methods and results of the research project. All theses should be presented in accordance with the University’s Guide to the Submission and Presentation of a Thesis for Research Students.
• The Doctoral assessment shall take the form of an oral examination (viva voce) as detailed in paragraph 26.

25.2

The Executive Dean may delegate the administrative tasks concerning the submission and examination of a thesis to a member of their staff and shall also nominate a Chair of the Examining Board. The Chair should be a member of staff of the Faculty/School with appropriate experience who has not been otherwise directly involved with the supervision of the candidate.

This section should be read in conjunction with the University’s Guide to the Submission and Presentation of a Thesis for Research Students and the University’s Guide to the Examination of Research Students.

26.1

The Examining Board shall be required to conduct an oral examination of candidates for research degrees in all cases. In the case of a student who is allowed to re-submit within 12 months, a second viva would normally be expected. However, in exceptional cases, the requirement for a second oral examination may be waived where a detailed case for waiving the oral examination has been provided in the written report by the Chair of the Examining Board. The written report will have to be agreed and be counter-signed by all members of the Examining Board.

26.2

All oral examinations would normally take place at Swansea University within six months of the date of submission of the thesis.

26.3

A candidate requiring special provision for the oral examination is required to notify their home Faculty/School prior to the submission of the thesis. Arrangements will be put in place by the Faculty/School as outlined in the University’s Guide to the Examination of Research Students. 

26.4

A candidate’s supervisors shall have the right to convey to the Chair of the Examining Board any concerns relevant to a candidate’s research project, the resulting thesis or its examination which the supervisors consider the Board should take into account prior to reaching its decision. The supervisors shall convey these concerns, in writing, both to the Chair and to the candidate as soon as practicable after the presentation of the thesis to the Examining Board and, in any event, early enough to allow the candidate sufficient time prior to the examination of the thesis (including any oral examination) to consider the points made and prepare a response.

26.5

The oral examination shall be conducted in accordance with the University’s Guide to the Examination of Research Students. The recommendation of the Examining Board shall be presented to the Progression and Awards Board for confirmation.

27.1

The following Examining Boards shall meet to assess candidates for the Master’s element:

• Faculty/School Examination Boards (Semesters 1 and 2 for full-time programmes).
• University Progression and Awards Board (end of third semester for full-time programmes).

27.2

Further details on the constitution, roles and responsibilities of Examining Boards are contained in the Assessment Regulations for Postgraduate Taught Awards.

27.3

All examinations shall be conducted under the jurisdiction of the University's Procedures for the Operation of Examinations. The operation of Examining Board shall be conducted in accordance with the Postgraduate Taught Assessment Regulations.

27.4

External Examiners shall be nominated and appointed in accordance with the procedures detailed in the Swansea University Code of Practice for External Examining.

27.5

Associate tutors/examiners must possess recent or current demonstrable professional standing in an area of practice closely relevant to the programme of study.

27.6

A full curriculum vitae will be provided to the University Education Committee for the approval of Associate Examiner status.

This section should be read in conjunction with the University’s Guide to the Examination of Research Students.

28.1

All Examining Boards for candidates completing the Doctoral element shall consist of the following individuals:

• An independent Chair, who will be the Executive Dean or a member of staff with appropriate experience nominated by the Executive Dean. The Chair of the Examining Board is required to chair the oral examination and any meeting of the examiners.
• An external examiner or examiners appointed in accordance with the University’s Guide to the Examination of Research Students.
• An internal examiner appointed in accordance with the University’s Guide to the Examination of Research Students.

28.2

The Chair of the Examining Board shall be independent in the examining process and shall be responsible to the Postgraduate Research Committee for the conduct of the examination.

28.3

The candidate’s supervisors, or any member of staff involved in the supervision of the candidate, shall not be permitted to be part of the Examining Board, but may be invited by the Chair of the Examining Board, with the express prior written permission of the candidate, to attend the oral examination in an advisory role. An adviser may speak only when invited to do so by the Chair.

28.4

In the case of a candidate who is a member of staff of the University at the time of the examination, the Examining Board shall consist of the following individuals:

• A Chair, as described in paragraph 28.1) above.
• Two external examiners appointed in accordance with the University’s Guide to the Examination of Research Students.

28.5

The Chair of the Examining Board shall be responsible for ensuring that the internal examiner(s) and the external examiner(s) receive copies of the thesis to be examined as well as any other relevant documents as set out in the University’s Guide to the Examination of Research Students.

29.1

One copy should be stored by the Faculty/School for not less than two years. Where a student has submitted two soft bound copies the other copy should be made available for collection by the candidate, unless the content is deemed to be relevant to Wales, in which case the copy should be deposited in the University Library.

30.1

A candidate shall be at liberty to publish the whole or part of the work produced during their period of registration at the University, prior to its submission as a whole, or as part, provided that in the published work it is nowhere stated that it is in consideration for a higher degree. Such published work may later be incorporated in the piece of directed independent learning submitted for examination.

This section should be read in conjunction with the University’s Guide to the Submission and Presentation of a Thesis for Research Students and the University’s Guide to the Examination of Research Students.

31.1

A thesis submitted for a higher degree of the University shall normally be openly available and subject to no security classification or restriction of access.

32.1

Notwithstanding the provisions in the regulations relating to the availability of the thesis or directed independent learning, the University may be permitted, on a special recommendation approved by the candidate’s Executive Dean or nominee, to place a bar on access to a candidate's work for a period of up to five years. It shall be the responsibility of the candidate's supervisor to make an application to the Executive Dean as soon as is reasonably practicable and in the case of the doctoral thesis, prior to the examination of the thesis. This bar would also apply to members of the University.

32.2

The summary and title shall be freely available.

32.3

Any recommendation for a bar on access must be made to the Executive Dean or nominee after consideration of an application by a candidate's supervisor. It shall be the responsibility of the supervisor to make the application as soon as is reasonably practicable. The recommendation must include a statement of the grounds on which the request is being made. Most requests of this nature are made on the grounds of the commercial sensitivity of the research, which may have been partially sponsored by a commercial or industrial organisation.

32.4

When a bar on access has been granted, the candidate’s Supervisor will be notified. In the case of work which is deemed to be of relevance to Wales, the Faculty/School shall inform the librarian of the National Library of Wales that the work is to be withheld from access for a specified period.

32.5

Although the bar shall be regarded as operative as soon as the work is submitted, the period approved shall be calculated from the date on which the candidate is formally notified by the University that they have qualified for a degree.

32.6

On submission, a candidate shall be required to incorporate a signed statement within the work to indicate:

• That the work, if successful, may be made available online in the University’s Open Access Repository and for inter-library loan after expiry of any bar on access.
• A summary may be made available to outside organisations.

33.1

A candidate who is enrolled on a PhD (1+3) but is subsequently unable or is not permitted to progress to completion (either during the Master’s or Doctoral element) may, depending on the level of study achieved, qualify for one of the following awards of the University:

33.2

All students who progress to the Doctoral element will have completed and been awarded a Master’s degree.

34.1

Candidates who have qualified for their awards shall be admitted to their degrees in absentia, by decree of the Vice-Chancellor of Swansea University. Candidates shall be invited to an awards ceremony at a later date to celebrate their award.

35.1   

For Aegrotat guidance regulations refer to the Aegrotat Degree Regulations.

35.2

For Posthumous guidance regulations refer to the Posthumous Degree Regulations.

36.1

Candidates who are not recommended by the Examining Board for the award of the degree in respect of which they submitted their thesis may appeal against the decision reached and request an academic appeal. All appeals shall be conducted in accordance with the Swansea University Accuracy of Published Marks procedures or Academic Appeals procedures.

37.1

Allegations of academic misconduct shall be considered in accordance with the Swansea University Academic Misconduct procedures and regulations. Allegations of academic misconduct received by the University after the degree has been conferred upon the candidate shall be considered by the degree awarding institution.

38.1

Allegations of fitness to practise shall be considered in accordance with the Swansea University Fitness to Practise regulations.

39.1

Students who feel dissatisfied with the teaching and learning, facilities or services provided by the University, or with the way the University, its students or its staff have acted or omitted to act, should follow the procedures set out in the Swansea University Complaints Procedure.