External PhD Regulations

This section should be read in conjunction with the Guide to Research Students 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, of a quality to satisfy peer review, extend the forefront of the discipline and 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 research students must enrol as students of Swansea University and pay the appropriate fees prescribed by the University.

1.3      

Normally, research students may not concurrently be enrolled on another award bearing programme in this or any other university/institution.

1.4      

All research students are required to monitor the allocated University email account throughout the candidature period, since all electronic correspondence from the University will only be sent to their University email account. All research students are strongly advised 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 8 of the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ Level 8).

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

2.1      

Applicants for doctoral research degrees must normally hold an undergraduate degree from an approved university and have achieved (or be expected to achieve) a minimum classification of upper second (2:1) or equivalent. Applicants will also normally have, or be studying for, a master’s degree or similar level of qualification at an approved university.*

Please consult the course page for the programme you would like to study for any additional programme-specific requirements. As well as academic qualifications, admissions decisions may be based on other factors, including (but not limited to): the standard of the research synopsis/proposal, performance at interview, intensity of competition for limited places, and relevant professional experience.

*Approved universities include all UK and most major international universities. For a full list, please contact study.

2.2

Applicants holding qualifications from non-UK institutions will be checked using the ENIC database which has been established by the British Council. An ENIC Comparability will be included on all non-UK applications.

2.3      

Applicants whose native language is not English must provide evidence of competence in English Language sufficient for research study. Different Faculties/School will require different levels of competence in English Language. The University’s English Language Training Services (ELTS) offers a range of English Language courses during the year. ELTS offers its own internal test of English Language proficiency which is recognised for the purpose of admission to the University’s degree programmes. Students will be required to provide proof of their English Language qualifications before being permitted to enrol fully with the University.

2.4    

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

• The Faculty/School is satisfied that the applicant is of the required academic standard to complete the programme of research proposed, irrespective of their 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 section 7;
• 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.

 2.5   

All research students must matriculate within the first three months of candidature in accordance with the general University regulations governing Matriculation.

2.6     

All research students are required to comply with the regulations and policies included in the Guide to Research Students Admissions.

2.7

All research students’ candidatures shall be underpinned by a Student Learning Agreement that must be signed by all parties.

This section should be read in conjunction with the Guide to Research Students Admissions.

3.1      

The Doctor of Philosophy (External) is a Swansea awarded research degree that may be studied full or part-time. The research is undertaken externally from the University either independently at a distance, or, in conjunction with a partner HEI/research establishment/workplace in the UK or overseas.

3.2      

The degree of Doctor of Philosophy may not be conferred as an honorary degree.

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

4.1      

A research student must pursue a programme of supervised study, including research and generic skills' development as either a full-time or a part-time student. The minimum periods of supervised study from the date of enrolment are set out in the University’s Guide to External Research Degree Candidature.

4.2      

Notwithstanding paragraph 4.1, a student enrolling onto an external research degree programme shall be permitted to study externally to the University, which will be agreed at the time of admission. The research student would not normally be expected to attend the University during their candidature. However, in exceptional cases, should a research student’s research require them to attend the University, for example, to access services or to use specialised equipment, permission will be required from their Faculty/School. Maximum time limits for visits must adhere to the UK immigration regulations.

4.3

The regulation governing transfer of credits for the training element is not relevant to this degree. 

4.4

Research students may in some cases apply to, or be required by, the Student Cases Board, to transfer mode of study or programme of study as set out in the University’s Guide to Transfer and Withdrawal of External Research Students. In such cases the University will determine a revised minimum registered period.

4.5

Research students shall be prohibited from transferring their candidature to another institution after the minimum period of candidature, as outlined in paragraph 4.1, has been completed at this University.

4.6

Research students will not normally be permitted to transfer their mode of study from a Swansea University campus based PhD to a Swansea University non-campus based (remote study) PhD.

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

5.1      

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

5.2      

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

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

6.1    

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

6.2      

Under exceptional circumstances research students 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 the University’s Guide to Suspensions and Extensions for External Research Students.

6.3      

Where a research student undertakes a suspension of candidature, as outlined in paragraphs 6.1 and 6.2 above, a return to study date must be specified at the time of suspension.

6.4      

Where a research student fails to resume study by the return to study date, they will be considered to have withdrawn from the programme, as set out in the University’s Guide to Transfer and Withdrawal of External Research Students. 

6.5   

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 two years from the date of suspension). Only under these circumstances may a student be allowed a reduced candidature period.

This section should be read in conjunction with the University’s Guide to External Postgraduate Research Supervision. 

7.1      

Research students shall be supervised, on a regular and continuing basis, in accordance with the procedures for postgraduate supervision as set out in the University’s Guide to External Postgraduate Research Supervision. 

7.2    

Every research student will have a supervisory team appointed by their 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 Guide to External Postgraduate Research Supervision. One supervisor will be designated as the first/primary supervisor.

 7.3      

The internal supervisors must be members of staff at Swansea University as set out in the University’s Guide to External 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 section 8.

7.4      

Research students whose research is in conjunction with a workplace, partner HEI or research establishment, will have an external advisor appointed in addition to the internal supervisor(s) as outlined in paragraph 7.2. External advisors are appointed in accordance with the University’s Guide to External Postgraduate Research Supervision with the approval of the Faculty/School and/or the Regulations, Quality and Standards Board. Such advisors may also be given official recognition within the University.

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

8.1      

The Faculty/School is required to confirm the candidature of each research student within three months of their initial enrolment as set out in the University’s Guide to Progress Monitoring of External Research Students. 

8.2      

If a Faculty/School is unable to confirm the candidature of a research student within three months of initial enrolment, then they may be required to suspend or withdraw from the programme. 

8.3      

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

8.4      

Research students 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. 

8.5      

If a research student’s progress is deemed to be unsatisfactory, they may be required to transfer on to another programme, or to withdraw from the programme.

NB: As outlined in 4.6, research students will not normally be permitted to transfer their mode of study from a Swansea University campus based PhD to a Swansea University non-campus based (remote study) PhD. 

8.6      

In the case of paragraphs 8.2 and 8.5 above, research students shall have the right to seek an appeal against progression decisions in accordance with the Swansea University Accuracy of Published Marks procedures or Academic Appeals procedures.

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

9.1    

Full-time research students 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 External Research Students.

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

10.1   

Research students for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy shall be examined in two parts:

• The first part 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 External Research Students.
• The second part shall take the form of an oral examination (viva voce) as detailed in paragraph 15.

10.2   

In accordance with the Guide to the Examination of External Research Students, the Executive Dean or nominee 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 of the Examining Board 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 student.

11.1

The regulations governing the assessment of professional/industrial practice and training are not relevant to this degree.

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

12.1   

Research students shall notify of their intention to submit a thesis for examination, at least three months prior to the expected date of submission. 

12.2   

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

12.3   

An updated thesis should be submitted electronically after examination if any corrections or amendments have been made.

12.4   

Any research student 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 research student who wishes to be assessed in a language (i.e. either English or Welsh) 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 External 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.

12.5   

In cases where it may be considered appropriate for a thesis to be submitted in a language other than English/Welsh for academic reasons or where submission of the thesis in another language is a requirement of the specific programme, permission may be given by the Student Cases Board where a reasoned case has been submitted for approval. The Student Cases Board shall not, however, give approval to requests based upon the research student’s lack of ability to produce work for submission in either English or Welsh.

12.6   

On notification of intention to submit, Executive Dean or nominee shall nominate members of the Examining Board which shall be constituted in accordance with paragraph 14 below and as set out in the University’s Guide to the Examination of External Research Students. The research student 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.

12.7   

Research students who are resubmitting a thesis which has previously failed to satisfy the Examiners shall be required to submit the modified thesis in accordance with the University’s Guide to the Submission and Presentation of a Thesis for External Research Students. The research student may also be required to pay an additional resubmission fee.

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

13.1  

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.

13.2   

Notwithstanding paragraph 13.1, the University may be permitted, on a special recommendation approved by the Executive Dean or nominee, to place a bar on access to a research student’s work for a period of up to five years. An application for a bar on access should be made to the Executive Dean or nominee prior to the examination of the thesis.

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

14.1   

All Examining Boards for research students 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 External Research Students.
• An internal examiner appointed in accordance with the University’s Guide to the Examination of External Research Students.

14.2  

The Examining Board will be constituted in line with the Guide to the Examination of External Research Students.

14.3 

The research student’s supervisors, or any member of staff involved in the supervision of the research student, 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 research student, to attend the oral examination in an advisory role. An advisor may speak only when invited to do so by the Chair.

14.4   

In the case of a research student 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 14.1 a) above.
• Two external examiners appointed in accordance with the University’s Guide to the Examination of External Research Students. 

14.5   

The Chair of the Examining Board or nominee shall have overall responsibility 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 External Research Students.

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

15.1   

The Examining Board shall be required to conduct an oral examination of students 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.

15.2   

All oral examinations would normally take place within six months of the date of submission of the thesis. Any exceptions would either have to be agreed as an exception or agreed to reflect the nature of the degree (see paragraph 3.1).

15.3   

A research student requiring special provision for the oral examination is required to notify the Executive Dean or nominee prior to the submission of the thesis. Arrangements will be put in place as outlined in the University’s  Guide to the Examination of External Research Students. 

15.4   

A research student’s supervisors shall have the right to convey to the Chair of the Examining Board any concerns relevant to a research student’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 research student as soon as practicable after the presentation of the thesis to the Examining Board and, in any event, early enough to allow the research student sufficient time prior to the examination of the thesis (including any oral examination) to consider the points made and prepare a response.

15.5   

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

16.1   

For Aegrotat guidance regulations refer to the Aegrotat Degree Regulations. 

16.2   

For Posthumous guidance regulations refer to the Posthumous Degree Regulations. 

17.1   

Research students 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.

18.1   

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

19.1   

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

20.1   

Students who feel dissatisfied with their supervision, 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.

21.1

International students who need a visa to study at the University should be aware that their continued study at the University is dependent upon them meeting the conditions of their visa and the time-limits set by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). For more information, please refer to Study in the UK - GOV.UK.

21.2 

Decisions taken by the University with regard to a candidate’s enrolment status, academic performance, progression and award shall be made in accordance with the University’s academic and financial regulations and shall not be informed by visa restrictions set by the UKVI. However, continued study is conditional upon meeting the University’s requirements and holding a valid visa. Students who have any concerns or queries regarding their visa should contact VISA Advice.