Addendum to the Swansea University Framework Regulations for Joint Doctoral Degrees - Swansea University to govern Swansea University and the Universite Grenoble Alpes joint PhD programmes.
1. General Background information
The Grenoble Strategic Partnership - Swansea University was established in 2012 for international research collaboration.
2. Examination of Research Students
The Examination of Research Students is explained in the Guide to the Examination of Research Students. The Viva follows the format of the home institution. If the Viva is held in Swansea University there are the following exceptions:
2.1
Composition of the Examination Board for students studying in partnership with Universite Grenoble Alpes shall consist of the following individuals:
- An independent Chair from Swansea University who will be the Executive Dean or professorial 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. The Viva will occur at Swansea University either in person or online.
For Vivas held in Grenoble, one of the examination board members (i.e. two external and two internal examiners known as “the jury”) will be selected as Chair.
- Two External Examiners (one from each partner)
- Two Internal Examiners (one from each partner).
- The number of Internal (as in internal to Swansea and Grenoble) Examiners cannot exceed the number of External Examiners under French law. In addition, the number of non-professors cannot exceed the number of professors on the panel and the Chair has to be a professor. The panel has to be a minimum of four members, maximum of eight members. Supervisors can attend as observers but, as per UK requirements, cannot be members of the panel.
- All members of the Board will participate in discussion and questioning.
- All members of the Board will be in agreement with the final assessment.
2.2
Universite Grenoble Alpes require a pre-viva report. Normally this occurs one month before the Viva, but if agreed, can occur one week before the Viva. Two of the examiners are nominated as rapporteurs and submit the report before the Viva (this enables Universite Grenoble Alpes to formally approve the panel).
2.3
The amount of time for corrections is limited to 3 months due to French legislation on oral examinations. Doctoral candidates in France are considered an employee with associated rights. If the Examining Board decides that corrections are needed that take longer than 3 months this can be permitted but the student will require a new defence at the end of the time permitted.
2.3.1
If corrections are requested by the jury, they must be made by the doctoral student within a maximum of 3 months. The Universite Grenoble Alpes will declare the doctoral student admitted to the doctoral degree as soon as the defence is completed. At the end of the 3-month period, the thesis is deposited by its author in Grenoble AND in Swansea. The submission of the corrected typescript does not require a new defence.
2.3.2
Corrections requested by the jury can be permitted with more than 3 months to complete. The Universite Grenoble Alpes will translate this on its PV by an adjournment of the doctoral student whereas Swansea will translate this by a request for corrections in more than 3 months. When the typescript is ready, a new defence process will be launched including:
• appointment of referees (can be the same)
• sending the thesis to the referees
• study and opinion on the thesis by the referees
• sending the thesis to the other members of the jury
• Defence
• the submission of the revised typescript is necessarily correlated with a new thesis defence.
*The regulations will be subject to regular review to ensure compliance with legal requirements.