PENINSULA SCHOOLS OF MEDICINE & DENTISTRY
1.
Proposed draft regulations for inclusion in Plymouth University’s regulations
for the award of MD/MS1
APPENDICES: Current Research Degrees Codes of Practice (available on request)
Current (unamended) PCMD Codes of Practice pertaining to joint research degree
awards that currently underpin the higher level PCMD Academic Regulations
1Amended
from current PCMD Academic Regulations
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DEGREES BY RESEARCH: DOCTOR OF MEDICINE OR MASTER OF SURGERY
1.1
General Conditions
1.1.1
Candidates may register for the degree of Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Master of
Surgery (MS). They may also under prescribed conditions register initially for the
degree of Master of Philosophy (MPhil) 2 with possible, later transfer to the degree of
MD or MS. Candidates may transfer to the degree of PhD upon successful
completion of the process described in section 1.4.
1.1.2
Candidates successfully completing the degree of MD/MS will have demonstrated:
(a) 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 merit publication;
(b) 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;
(c) 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 to adjust the project design in the light of changing
circumstances;
(d) a detailed understanding of applicable techniques for research and advanced
academic enquiry.
1.1.3
Candidates whose work forms part of a larger group project may register for a
research degree but each registered doctoral programme must be distinguishable for
the purposes of assessment.
1.1.4
Candidates for MD/MS must integrate within their research degree programme an
approved element of transferable skills training.
1.1.5
Candidates who do not already hold an appropriate Masters award may be required
to undertake training in order to gain competence in research methodologies.
1.2
Admission and Registration
1.2.1
Applicants for admission must be medically qualified and eligible for professional
registration approved for this purpose by the Doctoral Training Centre.
1.2.2
Applicants whose native language is not English will be required to provide evidence
of competence in English language as outlined in the Postgraduate Research
Selections and Admissions section of the University’s regulations.
1.2.3
Applications for admission will be approved by the Doctoral Training Centre.
2
Separate Regulations exist for the degree of Master of Philosophy.
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1.2.4
The admission of a candidate proposing to work outside the UK will require the
specific approval of the Doctoral Training Centre, which must be satisfied that regular
contact between the candidate and the supervisors can be maintained.
1.2.5
Each candidate’s field of study must be approved by the Doctoral Training Centre
1.2.6
The normal period of supervised study and registration for the degree of MD/MS shall
be:
full-time
part-time
24 months*
36 months*
*either direct or via transfer from MPhil registration
The above periods of registration end on receipt of the thesis for examination by the
Central Graduate School office. In each case candidates may be permitted to submit
their completed thesis/dissertation up to 12 months earlier than the normal period of
registration at the discretion of the Graduate Committee.
An extension of registration up to 12 months beyond the normal period of registration
will usually be allowed by the Graduate Committee. Candidates seeking to extend
their registration must apply to the Committee.
1.2.7
A candidate’s registration may be suspended or extended for a specified period by
the Graduate Committee.
1.2.8
The Graduate Committee may permit a candidate who has started a programme of
study and research at another university to complete it as a registered candidate of
the University. The Committee shall specify the expected period of study and
research in such a case.
1.3
Supervision and Progress
1.3.1
All candidates shall normally have at least two and not normally more than three
supervisors, one of whom shall be nominated as the Director of Studies for the
candidate's programme. The appointment of supervisors shall be subject to the
approval of the Doctoral Training Centre.
1.3.2
The Director of Studies must be an individual holding a formal staff contract with the
University. If the Director holds an honorary contract, the second supervisor must
hold a substantive contract with the University.
1.3.3
All candidates are required to submit an annual report on their research at the end of
each academic year; failure to submit such a report can be expected to result in
termination of registration.
1.3.4
A candidate who fails to make satisfactory progress may be required to withdraw by
the Graduate Committee.
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1.3.5
Each candidate is required to re-register at the beginning of each academic year until
the submission of their thesis for examination.
1.4
Transfer from MPhil to MD/MS or MD/MS to PhD
1.4.1
The Doctoral Training Centre shall review all applications to transfer from MPhil to
MD/MS or MD/MS to PhD.
1.4.2
An application for transfer from MPhil to MD/MS or from MD/MS to PhD should be
made no earlier than one year after initial registration, but before the end of the 18th
month of registration in the case of full-time candidates and before the end of the
second year for part-time candidates. The transfer is retrospective to the date of
initial registration.
1.4.3
A candidate for the degree of MD/MS may apply to the Graduate Committee at any
time prior to the submission of the thesis to transfer to the degree of MPhil and to
count the period of study already completed under the former registration towards
that degree.
1.5
Submission / Examination
1.5.1
At least six months prior to the submission of a thesis for examination, a candidate’s
Director of Studies must submit a nomination of examiner’s form which will include
details of the examiners’ experience in research degree examining and areas of
research.
When submitting a thesis for examination each candidate will include an undertaking:
(a) that all the material in the thesis which is not the candidate's own has been
identified; and
(b) that the thesis does not include any material previously submitted and approved
for the award of a degree
1.5.2
Submissions for the degree of MD/MS may include papers by the candidate that
have been published or have been accepted for publication. Such papers should
relate directly to the candidate's approved field of study.
1.5.3
Examination arrangements for each candidate are subject to the approval of the
Graduate Committee.
1.5.4
Candidates will be examined by at least two examiners of whom at least one must be
an external examiner. No examiner, unless there are exceptional circumstances,
shall have acted as supervisor of the candidate.
1.5.5
If a candidate is a member of the academic staff of Plymouth University there will be
at least two external examiners in addition to chairperson.
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1.5.6
The candidate will be examined viva voce. All the approved examiners (and
chairperson if appropriate) will be present. The viva voce will be conducted in English.
Prior to the viva voce examination, each examiner should submit a written
preliminary report on the thesis.
1.5.7
After the viva voce examination the examiners will report on the thesis and the viva
voce examination. Where they are not in agreement, separate reports and
recommendations will be submitted to the University.
1.5.8
Where the appointed examiners are unable to reach agreement, provision will be
made for the appointment of an additional external examiner whose judgement will
be final.
1.5.9
Following completion of the examination the examiners will make one of the following
recommendations:
(a) that the degree be awarded;
(b) that the degree be awarded subject to minor corrections and/or amendments
being made to the thesis to the satisfaction of the examiners;
(c) that the degree be awarded subject to major corrections and/or amendments
made to the thesis to the satisfaction of the examiners;
(d) that the candidate be permitted to resubmit for the degree and be re-examined on
one further occasion with a further viva voce examination, by a specified date and
with or without further research;
(e) that the MD/MS degree be not awarded but that the degree of MPhil be awarded
subject to the presentation of the thesis amended to the satisfaction of the
examiners;
(f) that the degree be not awarded and the candidate be not permitted to be reexamined.
1.5.10 A thesis may be resubmitted on one occasion within a maximum of 12 months from
the date of the official notification of the outcome as the examiners recommend and
the Graduate Committee approves. A candidate preparing for resubmission will be
required to maintain registration as a student.
1.5.11 A candidate who fails to submit a corrected or revised thesis by the date approved by
the Graduate Committee will normally be regarded as having failed the examination
and the recommendations of the examiners shall lapse.
APPENDICES: Current Research Degrees Codes of Practice
These codes of practice are not included and are available on request. These codes
of practice will provide more detailed procedures and policies relating to both
MPhil/PhD and MD/MS awards. Plymouth University is likely to have parallel policies
in these areas already embedded in the University’s regulations. A further mapping
of these codes of practice to the University’s regulations will need to be undertaken
for both MPhil/PhD and MD/MS awards.