Understanding Major &
Annual Review
September 2014
Donna Crighton, Cheryl Strong
& Nikki Sowerby
Research Section, QMD, Academic
Registry
Session Objectives
By the end of this session, you will:
• Have an overview of the Major/Annual Review
processes
• Know what sources of guidance are available for
the Major/Annual Review processes and where to
find them
Useful Contacts
• Faculty/Department
– Departmental Research Degree Coordinators (DRDC’s)
– Chair, Faculty Research Degree Committee (FRDC)
• Central
– Research Section, Academic Registry
• Donna Crighton, Faculty Advisor (Research) Ext. 3288
• Cheryl Strong, Faculty Advisor (Research) Ext. 3050
• researchdegrees@port.ac.uk
• majorreview@port.ac.uk
• annualreview@port.ac.uk
Academic Regulations
• Research Students are governed by the
Regulations for Higher Degrees by Research ,
Regulations for Professional Doctorates or
Regulations for the Integrated Doctorate
Programme
• Available at:
http://www.port.ac.uk/researchdegrees
Postgraduate Research Handbooks
• Initial point of reference for all Research
Students and Supervisors (updated
annually)
• Guidance on the key processes and other
circumstances that may arise
• Available at:
www.port.ac.uk/researchdegrees
Reviewing Process
• UK Quality Code for Higher Education (Part B –
Assuring and Enhancing Academic Quality)
– Chapter B11: Research Degrees
(The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA), June
2012) http://www.qaa.ac.uk/
• Indicator 13
– “Higher education providers put in place clearly defined
mechanisms for monitoring and supporting research
student progress, including formal and explicit reviews
of progress at different stages. Research students,
supervisors and other relevant staff are made aware of
progress monitoring mechanisms, including the
importance of keeping appropriate records of the
outcomes of meetings and related activities.”
Major Review Process
• “The purpose of the assessment
procedure is to assess whether the
student has the capability to complete
satisfactorily, within the prescribed time
limits, a PhD or MD thesis.”
(Regulations for Higher Degrees by Research, 2013, Major
Review, Section 6, 1.2.1)
Major Review
Part-Time
PhD/MD &
Integrated
Doc – End of
Year 2
Full-Time
PhD/MD – End
of Year 1
Major
Review
MPhil students
may submit to
upgrade
(within these
timescales)
Major Review Submission Dates
October
intake =
30th
September
February
intake =
31st
January
Exceptional
June intake
= 31st May
Major
Review
Further information on the Major Review process
is available in the University Postgraduate
Research Student Handbook
Flowchart of the Major Review Process
Academic Registry send reminder to PGR
Student and First Supervisor for Major Review
to be submitted by ~DATE~
PGR Student
completes Major
Review document
First Supervisor completes
UPR10 & e-mails to Chair,
FRD Committee for Faculty
Assessor to be appointed
Flowchart of the Major Review Process (cont’d 2)
PGR Student submits
document to Academic
Registry
majorreview@port.ac.uk
UPR10 sent to Academic
Registry by Chair, FRD
Committee
majorreview@port.ac.uk
Report & UPR10 sent to Assessment Panel
(FS & Two Assessors) by Academic Registry
Flowchart of the Major Review Process (cont’d 3)
First Supervisor
arranges Major
Review Meeting
All Panel Members
and PGR Student in
attendance at the
Major Review
Meeting
Flowchart of the Major Review Process (cont’d 4)
Decisions at Major
Review meeting
Confirm Registration (PhD or
MD) – upgrade to PhD if MPhil
Student
Application Insufficient:
Final Review meeting
required (see cont’d 5)
Assessment Panel’s recommendation sent to Academic
Registry who confirm decision in writing
Flowchart of the Major Review Process (cont’d 5)
Application Insufficient: Final Review meeting
required
Work required and submission date notified to PGR
Student by Academic Registry
After submission documents are sent to the panel, First
Supervisor organises Final Review meeting date, time &
venue
Flowchart of the Major Review Process (cont’d 6)
Confirm Registration (PhD or MD)
Upgrade MPhil to PhD
Final Review
meeting decisions
(confirmed in writing)
Further Supporting Evidence is
necessary
Change PhD to MPhil
Continue with MPhil registration
Discontinue registration
Annual Review Process
• “The purpose of the assessment
procedure is to assess whether the
student is actively engaged in the
research programme and making
satisfactory progress.”
(Regulations for Higher Degrees by Research, 2013, Annual Review,
Section 7, 1.2.1)
Annual Review
Unless, a
Major Review
is due
All PGRS for
each year
of
registration
Unless, the
PGRS has
interrupted
their studies
Annual
Review
Unless, the
PGRS has
submitted for
examination
Annual Review Submission Dates
October
intake =
30th
September
February
intake =
31st
January
Exceptional
June intake
= 31st May
Annual
Review
Further information on the Annual Review process
is available in the University Postgraduate
Research Student Handbook
Flowchart of the Annual Review Process
Academic Registry send reminder to PGR
Student and First Supervisor for Annual Review
to be submitted by ~DATE~
PGR Student
completes UPR8A and
gathers additional
evidence as required
First Supervisor
completes UPR8B
Academic Registry
request list of
Reviewers from
FRDC’s
FRDC’s supply list of
Reviewers prior to
deadline
Flowchart of the Annual Review Process
PGR Student submits
documents to Academic
Registry
annualreview@port.ac.uk
UPR8B sent to Academic
Registry by First
Supervisor
annualreview@port.ac.uk
UPR8A, UPR8B & required evidence sent to
Review Panel by Academic Registry
Flowchart of the Annual Review Process
Annual Review
Meeting arranged
All Panel Members
and PGRS in
attendance at the
Annual Review
Meeting
Flowchart of the Annual Review Process
Decisions at Annual Review meeting
Confirm
Registration
Confirm
Registration, with
recommendations
Application Insufficient:
Final Review meeting
required
Review Panel’s recommendation sent to Academic Registry
who confirm decision in writing
Flowchart of the Annual Review Process
Application Insufficient: Final Review meeting
required
Work required and submission date notified to PGR
Student by Academic Registry
After submission documents are sent to the panel, First
Supervisor organises Final Review meeting date, time &
venue
Flowchart of the Annual Review Process
Confirm Registration
Final Review
meeting decisions
(confirmed in writing)
Further Supporting Evidence is
necessary
Change PhD to MPhil
Discontinue registration
Thank you for listening
Any questions?