Terms and Conditions of Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) PhD
studentships
Amount of award
ARU will pay tuition fees and a maintenance award (studentship) for a PhD student equivalent
to that provided by the relevant UK Research Council.
Duration of award
The studentship will be for a maximum of three years full-time or six years part-time. It will be
renewed annually, subject to confirmation of the award holder’s satisfactory progress via
Annual Monitoring and attendance monitoring.
ARU expects students to complete their PhD in a single continuous period and does not
encourage the suspension of awards. Where suspensions are agreed, total periods of
suspension must not normally exceed one calendar year during the lifetime of the award.
Sympathetic consideration will though be given to requests for intermission due to personal or
family reasons.
Eligibility
The studentship may not be held together with another substantial award or
scholarship/studentship. An applicant, who is offered a studentship and subsequently
receives another substantial award, or studentship, will be required to relinquish the ARU
studentship.
The studentship may not be deferred.
The studentship must be taken up in the academic year in which it is offered.
Agreement
Candidates will be required to sign a copy of these terms and conditions to indicate that they
agree to them.
The formal letter accompanying these terms and conditions will specify the start and end date
of the studentship, the amount of the studentship and the method and frequency of payment.
Regulations governing PhD programmes
Studentship holders are subject to the same policies and regulations governing research
degree programmes as all other research degree students of the university.
Supervision
Studentships are awarded on the undertaking that the Faculty/Department will provide all
necessary support, training and supervision throughout the period of study.
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Research Skills Development
Award holders must attend all required institutional and Department/Faculty specific research
skills development.
Residency
Award holders should normally be resident within a reasonable distance of ARU throughout
the period of the award and study so that they may maintain regular contact with their
department and their supervisors. This is to ensure that they are not isolated and get the full
support, mentoring, training and access to facilities they need to complete their research
successfully and to a high standard.
The only exceptions to this requirement are to cover periods of absence that are an essential
part of a students’ study (e.g. fieldwork, study visits or conference attendance) or where the
student is domiciled outside the UK.
Absence through illness
Award holders must notify their First Supervisor and supply a medical certificate if they are
prevented by illness or accident from following their studies for a period of more than one
week. During periods of certified illness, studentship holders will be paid at the full rate of
maintenance for the first thirteen weeks within any 12-month period. Such periods will be
treated as part of the tenure of the award, and the award will not be extended
correspondingly.
If the award holder is unable to resume their award after the thirteen week period, and they
have been overpaid their maintenance grant, ARU reserves the right to ask them to repay the
amount that has been overpaid.
If the illness of the award holder lasts for more than thirteen weeks they should apply for a
suspension of their award and registration.
Unauthorised absence
If a student takes unauthorised absence the First Supervisor must notify the relevant Chair of
Faculty Research Degrees Committee in writing immediately who will decide if the
studentship should be terminated.
Holidays
Full-time award holders are allowed up to 35 days holiday (inclusive of public holidays) in
twelve months as approved by their First Supervisor (pro rata for part-time students).
Maternity leave
N.B. Tier 4 Visa holders are reminded that if they cease to be an active full-time student
this fact will be reported to the Home Office who will take steps to curtail (shorten) the
validity of the student’s visa. Tier 4 visa holders in this situation will be expected to
leave the UK within 60 days of ceasing to be an active full-time student. They will need
to apply for fresh entry clearance when they return to the UK as a full-time student.
ARU funded PhD students who become pregnant, with an expected date of childbirth that
occurs during the period of the studentship, are entitled to 26 weeks of maternity leave during
which funding will continue. After this 26 week period of paid maternity leave a student may
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have a suspension of the studentship for a further 26 weeks, during which no maintenance
grant or tuition fees are payable.
The paid period of absence and the suspension can only be taken consecutively.
Periods of maternity leave will be taken into account when calculating the date by which the
University expects the student’s thesis to be submitted.
There is no qualifying period for maternity leave.
There is no limit to the number of periods of maternity leave that can be taken during a
studentship.
Paternity leave
N.B. Tier 4 Visa holders are reminded that if they cease to be an active full-time student
this fact will be reported to the Home Office who will take steps to curtail (shorten) the
validity of the student’s visa. Tier 4 visa holders in this situation will be expected to
leave the UK within 60 days of ceasing to be an active full-time student. They will need
to apply for fresh entry clearance when they return to the UK as a full-time student.
ARU funded PhD students are entitled to take up to 10 days of paternity leave on full stipend
and up to a further 26 weeks of unpaid additional paternity leave.
The paid period of absence and the further 26 weeks of unpaid additional paternity leave can
only be taken consecutively.
Periods of paternity leave will be taken into account when calculating the date by which the
University expects the student’s thesis to be submitted.
There is no qualifying period for paternity leave.
There is no limit to the number of periods of paternity leave that can be taken during a
studentship.
Adoptive leave
N.B. Tier 4 Visa holders are reminded that if they cease to be an active full-time student
this fact will be reported to the Home Office who will take steps to curtail (shorten) the
validity of the student’s visa. Tier 4 visa holders in this situation will be expected to
leave the UK within 60 days of ceasing to be an active full-time student. They will need
to apply for fresh entry clearance when they return to the UK as a full-time student.
Adoptive leave will be granted on the same basis as maternity leave.
Shared Parental Leave
N.B. Tier 4 Visa holders are reminded that if they cease to be an active full-time student
this fact will be reported to the Home Office who will take steps to curtail (shorten) the
validity of the student’s visa. Tier 4 visa holders in this situation will be expected to
leave the UK within 60 days of ceasing to be an active full-time student. They will need
to apply for fresh entry clearance when they return to the UK as a full-time student.
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Award holders are entitled to 50 weeks Shared Parental Leave. While recognising that
students are not employees, the Shared Parental Leave should be calculated on the same
basis as an employee with an employment contract (excluding the qualifying period).
Please see the attached question and answer sheet for further details.
Teaching and other work for ARU
Holders of ARU PhD studentships may be asked to undertake duties which would reasonably
be considered to constitute employment. Where students funded through an ARU PhD
studentship undertake demonstration or teaching, or other types of employment, this must not
exceed an average of six hours in any week and 180 hours in any academic year, including
preparation.
Termination of studentship
ARU reserves the right to terminate the studentship if the award holder breaks the terms and
conditions set out above and/or if their progress is unsatisfactory.
If an award holder submits a thesis before the end of the award period, the studentship will be
terminated on the date of submission.
Extensions
ARU will not normally extend the award beyond the period indicated in the initial offer letter.
Thesis submission
A PhD studentship holder accepts a commitment to submit their thesis by the end of the
period of funding.
Intellectual Property Rights
ARU’s Intellectual Property Regulations apply to all studentship awards.
International students
Immigration regulations for non-EEA full-time students studying in the UK were introduced by
the UK Government on 31 March 2009. These regulations and subsequent amendments to
the regulations cover all new students enrolling from October 2009 onwards and all existing
students seeking to extend their current student visa. Where primary legislation or
subsequent amendments conflict with any part of these terms and conditions the legislation or
amendment will supersede these terms and conditions. The award holder will not normally
receive financial or other compensation as a consequence.
It is the responsibility of the award holder to ensure that they comply with all legislative
requirements of the UK Government and the conditions of their Tier 4 Visa.
Modification of Agreement
ARU reserves the right to amend these terms and conditions, in accordance with UK law
including immigration law, and with University Regulations, Policies and Procedures.
Supplement, amendment, or modification of this Agreement shall normally be binding on all
parties. No financial or other compensation will normally be offered in such circumstances.
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Acceptance of Terms and Conditions
I agree to these terms and conditions.
Signature of Award Holder: ...................................... Date: .................................
Print Name: ...................................... Faculty/Department: ...................................
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