Institute of Cardiovascular Science
Update of Divisional Regulations for
Postgraduate Research Students
Professor Philippa Talmud
Institute of Cardiovascular Science
Postgraduate Tutor
Dr Ruth Lovering
Deputy Postgraduate Tutor
Key Messages
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Deputy Postgraduate Tutors are here to help
Metrics matter, so submit on time
Upgrade on time (not negotiable)
Use the mandatory E-log
Consult the Graduate School code of practice guidelines
School of Life and Medical Sciences (SLMS)
UCL Institute of Cardiovascular Science
UCL Institute of Child Health
UCL Institute of Epidemiology and Health care
UCL Institute of Women’s Health
Director of ICS
Professor Aroon Hingorani
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/cardiovascular/
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/cardiovascular/educatio
n
Postgraduate and Deputy PG Tutors
Departmental Graduate Tutor
Prof Philippa Talmud, Bloomsbury Campus (p.talmud@ucl.ac.uk)
Faculty Graduate Tutor
Dr Andrew Stoker, ICH campus (a.stoker@ucl.ac.uk )
Deputy PG Tutor
Research Department
Dr Ruth Lovering
Rayne Building
(r.lovering@ucl.ac.uk)
Education Administrator
Joanna Pajerska 3rd Floor 170 Tottenham Court Road (j.pajerska@ucl.ac.uk)
Thesis Submission Deadlines
• Current on time submission rate:
• Minimum funding council expected rate:
• ICS target rate:
52%
70%
95-100%
Expected Programme Completion times
PhD F/T
PhD P/T
Years
<3+1
<5+2
MD (Res) F/T
MD (Res) P/T
<2+1
<2+2
Clinical PhD training fellows
MBPhD
<3+1
<3
MPhil Upgrade Guidelines
• MPhil/PhD upgrade
Full time students (incl MBPhD & CT Fellows)
• 1st attempt
12 – 18 months
• 2nd attempt
18 – 24 months
Part time students
• 1st attempt
20 – 30 months
• 2nd attempt
30 – 40 months
• MD (Res) checkpoint
12 months
MPhil Upgrade Procedure
Upgrade Thesis
10,000 words. This equates to ~30 pages
Student Statement
Project description and progress made (200 words)
Report by Principal Supervisor
Short report from the Principal Supervisor on the student’s work is submitted
on the Upgrade Request Form, and is made available in advance of the vivavoce to the Upgrade Panel.
Upgrade Talk
Upgrade Presentations are incorporated into ICS monthly PhD / MD (Res)
seminars that are held in the Hatter Institute or The Heart Hospital. Please
contact j.pajerska@ucl.ac.uk if you would like to schedule in your Viva
presentation.
MPhil Upgrade Procedure con’t
Upgrade Examination Panel
Minimum two members of academic staff:
1. Student’s Subsidiary Supervisor (who chairs the Panel)
2. External Examiner (who can be within the department, within UCL or
external to UCL but should not be involved directly in the research project)
Joint Report
Panel compiles a joint report (200-300 words) of the examination and the final
recommendation (Satisfactory/ Some concern/ Unsatisfactory)
Divisional MPhil Pre-Viva Upgrade Form
UCL INSTITUTE OF CARDIOVASCULAR SCINCE
Proposal form for upgrade from MPhil to PhD
Student’s name:
Principal supervisor:
Subsidiary supervisor:
Proposed upgrade panel
(Minimum of supervisor(s) plus one other
member of academic staff)
Principal supervisor:
Subsidiary supervisor:
“External” academic:
Others:
Proposed date of upgrade:
I agree to my principal supervisor being present at my viva
Upgrade attempt
1st
*
Y
N
2nd
Signature of student:
Date
Signature of principal supervisor:
Date
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The Departmental Graduate Tutor (DGT) confirms the
student has been completing the Research Student Log
Y
N
The DGT confirms appropriate participation in the
skills development programme
Approved by the DGT
Y
N
Signature:
Date:
* If the principal supervisor is not present at the viva, he/she must submit a report on
the student’s work to the upgrade panel and the student in advance of the viva.
» » Return completed form to Deputy
Postgraduate Tutor
UCL Registry MPhil/PhD Upgrade Form
» » Return completed form to Deputy
Postgraduate Tutor
DPG Tutor will check all paperwork (reports etc)
are in order, including mandatory use of E-log and
slide pack from upgrade talk
Guidelines for Postgraduate Study con’t
• E-Log: https://researchlog.grad.ucl.ac.uk/
• CRS (Completing Research Student) status
Full time PhD students are eligible to enter CRS status 3 years from the
registration start date, part time students can register their CRS status 5 years
after the initial registration.
MD (Res) students can enter CRS 2 years from the initial registration (this
applies to both part and full time students).
Length of CRS for both PhD and MD (Res) students:
F/T: 1 year
P/T: 2 years
MD/PhD Examination Process
Exam Entry forms
Remember to submit 4-6 months before expected thesis submission date
Nomination of Examiners
2 examiners: one Internal and one External Examiner
Internal Examiner must be from within UCL;
Note: Nomination of Examiners is the responsibility of the primary supervisor and not
the student
Staff Student Consultative Committee
• All students on research and taught degree programmes are
invited to attend the ICS Staff Student Consultative Committee
• Frequency – twice per year
• Please contact Joanna Pajerska for further details –
j.pajerska@ucl.ac.uk
StAR Opportunity Profile
1.Play an active role in the development and enhancement of the course
2.Take up students’ complaints and grievances about the course to the tutor
3.Communicate information about students’ rights provided by the UCL Union
4.Raise difficulties students encounter about the access to equipment and
facilities with the appropriate people and departments
5.Help negotiate changes in the timetable for students whose circumstances
require it
6.Be a point of contact for the UCL Union on changes and developments within
the department and faculty
7.Advise students that they can get assistance from the UCL Union if they wish to
appeal against an assessment or examination result;
8.Ensure that courses are being pursued in accordance with UCL’s policies on
equality;
9.Promote the value of the UCL Union to other students on the course
Cont’d..
StAR Opportunity Profile
Further to these responsibilities, the opportunities that exist are:
1.Be an active part of UCL Union, by publicising UCL Union activities
and matters;
2.Can be a member of the UCL Union Council, through the faculty
representative;
3.In conjunction with the UCL Union, negotiate with any revisions that
are being made to the course regulations;
4.Explain to students their rights under the University’s regulations and
code of practices; and
5.Take part in the development of transferable skills and improve your
personal employability
Mentoring Buddy Scheme
Mission statement:
To support, inspire and guide postgraduate students to further their careers in the
Institute of Cardiovascular Science and in the scientific community as a whole.
Foster a more supportive environment for students and contribute to the
creation of an infrastructure for effective pastoral care within ICS.
Increase the Institute's organisational effectiveness and enhance its reputation
within UCL and externally, for students, current and prospective employees and
funding agencies.
How will mentees benefit?
Mentoring will
• Support
• Improve morale
• Enhance awareness of career options
• Be a source of information about available fellowships
• Create new opportunities for networking
• Help people make informed and appropriate choices
• Provide practical help in exploring options
• Direct mentees to sources of information and other
available resources
• Build confidence and encourage pro-activity
• Expand horizons within and beyond the immediate
working environment