Project Approval Form
Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine
Dental Institute
Please read the notes of guidance before completing this document 1
Project Details and Peer Review
Name of Student:
Title of project Please do not use more than fifty characters, including spaces
Research Degree title: MPhil/PhD or MD (please delete)
Was the project proposal subject to external peer review in the form of a grant
application or award?
Yes
If yes, attach the description from the application and go to next section. If no, complete details below
Aim of the investigation (100 words)
Proposed plan of work (300 – 600 words in total)2
This information may also be used by the Graduate School for the electronic submission of Doctoral Training Grants.
Background
Why this project is important
Research methods to be used
Why is this project suitable for a PhD
Any cross-departmental, cross-school, or external collaboration
Key references (maximum 5)
No
Statutory Issues
Delete one
Does project involve the following?
If yes, complete details below, deleting as necessary
Human subjects
Yes
No Yes/No
Ethical Committee Protocol #:
Storage of patient data on a computer
Yes
No Yes/No
Will patients’ details be anonymised?
/NoYes No N/A
Access to confidential data
Yes
No Yes/No
Is computer password protected?
/NoYes No N/A
Use of radioisotopes/radiation source
Yes
Is project registered with Radiation Protection
No Yes/No
Advisor?
Experimental animals
Yes
No Yes/No
Home Office Licences in place?
Genetically manipulated organisms
Yes
Has appropriate HSE approval been obtained?
No Yes/No
Yes No N/A
Dangerous pathogens
Yes
No Yes/No
Have appropriate arrangements been made?
Yes No N/A
Yes No N/A
NoYes No N/A
If ethical or other statutory approvals are required for the project but are not currently in place, explain how and when these will be obtained,
and who will take responsibility to ensure all approval and permission is obtained.
Has a full COSHH risk assessment been carried out?
Yes
No
If No, who will be responsible for ensuring a risk assessment is conducted before the project commences?
Is a DBS check required?
If yes, is clearance required by registration?
Is an Occupational Health check required?
If yes, is clearance required by registration?
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No (please indicate date):
No
No (please indicate
date):
If yes, who will be responsible for ensuring that this carried out before the project commences?
Collaborative Provision or Off Campus Study
Collaboration (if applicable)
Name & address of collaborating organisation(s):
Name & address of industrial supervisor:
Total Value of Collaborating Organisation Contribution:
£__________________
Total Period spent on Industrial Premises (months):
Other Off Campus Study (if applicable)
Arrangements for work to be conducted off campus3 Please provide details of any project work that will be conducted outside KCL. Give
details of institution, address, length of placement, reasons for placement. Attach extra sheet if necessary
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Funding Information4
Origin of financial support - please tick as appropriate (full funding must be confirmed prior to sign off)
Tuition fees
Living costs
Travel/Misc
Research Council Grant
Graduate School Funding Scheme
Overseas Government
UK Government
Charity
Industry
Self/family
Other (please specify)
Bench Fees4: Please indicate band of bench fee and account code
Band
Amount
Account Code:
 Band 1
£1000
 Band 2
£3000
 Band 3
£5000
 Band 4
£7000
 Band 5
£10000
For Band 5 fees, a brief summary of costs must be attached to the Project Approval Form,
 Band 6
>£10000
Account Code
Divisional Manager Authorisation:
Name:
Signature:
Please only state bench fees if they are to be invoiced separately and are not covered by a grant or studentship
For bench fees that are only PARTIALLY covered by a grant or a studentship, please state the amount not covered (i.e to be invoiced
separately) per annum.
Amount:
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Account code:
3
Please complete either A or B
Name of Sponsor?
Duration of funding?
A) Projects funded by Doctoral Training Grants ONLY
Please note this information will also be used by the Graduate School for the electronic submission of Doctoral Training Grants
Please state the Research Council(s) funding this student:
Type of studentship:
Standard DTA / CASE / DHPA / Capacity Building / MRC Unit DTA / Quota / other (please state)
For grants paid through School please give departmental account to pay tuition fees.
Account Code___________________________
Does the grant pay a stipend? (If applicable please give details of amount per annum and duration)
£____________
Classification
For MRC studentships
Please select the subject board most relevant to the research project:
For BBSRC studentships
please select the subject area most relevant to the research project:
 Health Services & Public Health Research Board
 Infections & Immunity Board
 Molecular & Cellular Medicine Board
 Neurosciences & Mental Health Board
 Physiological Systems & Clinical Sciences Board
~ Animal Systems, Health & Wellbeing
~Plants, Microbes, Food and Sustainability
~Technologies and Methodological Development
~Molecules, Cells & Industrial Biotechnology
B) Projects funded by all other sources of funding
Please detail type (studentship, fellowship, project grant, or specify other) and source of funding
For grants paid through School please give departmental account to pay tuition fees.
Account Code______________________________
Does the grant pay a stipend? (If applicable please give details of amount per annum and duration)
£______________
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Supervisors5
First Supervisor
Full Name:
Academic Position (Lecturer, Senior Lecturer etc)
Degree Qualifications
Date of Expiry of Contract
Number of research degree students previously supervised
MPhil
PhD
MD/MS
Number of above who withdrew or did not complete
MPhil
PhD
MD/MS
Number of FT research degree students currently supervised
Year 1
Research Degree Supervisory courses attended
If you have not attended a supervisor training course, give:
Course Name
Date of booked course
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Date:
Hosted by:
Division/Department:
Research Group or Division
Telephone Number
Email address
Room, Building and Campus
Second Supervisor
Full Name:
Academic Position (Lecturer, Senior Lecturer etc)
Degree Qualifications
Date of Expiry of Contract
Number of research degree students previously supervised
MPhil
PhD
MD/MS
Number of above who withdrew or did not complete
MPhil
PhD
MD/MS
Number of research degree students currently supervised
Year 1
Research Degree Supervisory courses attended
If you have not attended a supervisor training course, give:
Course Name
Date of booked course
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Date:
Hosted by:
Division/Department:
Research Group or Division
Telephone Number
Email address
Room, Building and Campus
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Thesis Committee Panel 6 (FoLSM only)
Thesis Committee Chair
Full Name:
Research Group or Division
Telephone Number
Email address
Room, Building and Campus
Independent Scientific Expert 1 7
Full Name:
Research Group or Division
Telephone Number
Email address
Room, Building and Campus
Independent Scientific Expert 2 7
Full Name:
Research Group or Division
Telephone Number
Email address
Room, Building and Campus
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Approval of Research Student
First name
Family name
Proposed date of registration:8
Study mode (delete one)
Expected date of completion:
Full-time
Department10
Research Division10
Part-time9
Advertisement and selection of student
Was project advertised, and in accord with policy of Funding Provider11 (delete one)
Yes
No
Yes
No
Give details here
Did recruitment take place by competitive selection?(delete one)
Date and form of interview12
Interview Panel (Give names and affiliations)
Agreement and Approval
We approve the application and agree to the appointment of the above named student. We certify that the information given in this form is
accurate. We understand that the research for a PhD and the preparation of the thesis must be completed in the period prescribed for this
particular degree programme. We believe that the student will be able to devote the necessary time required to complete their research and
thesis in the specified study period. Sufficient resources are available to enable the student to complete the project satisfactorily. Please
sign below
First Supervisor
Print_______________________________
Signed_________________________________________
Date_______________________________
Second Supervisor (NB Faxed signature is acceptable)
Print_______________________________
Signed_________________________________________
Date_______________________________
Head of Department / Division:
Print__________________________________
Signed_________________________________________
Date__________________________________
Postgraduate Co-ordinator
Print__________________________________
Signed_________________________________________
Date__________________________________
Student Agreement
I have read the project definition and understand that the research for a PhD and the preparation of the thesis must be completed in the
period prescribed for this particular degree programme13.
Student:
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Date:
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NOTES FOR GUIDANCE ON COMPLETING THE FORM
This form is designed to ensure that students are admitted to a research degree in accordance with College policy on
good practice, as defined by the College's Regulations Governing Students and the Core Code of Practice for
Postgraduate Research Degrees. It responds to the requirements of the QAA Code, HEFCE, the Research Councils and
other funding providers. It ensures that (a) students are appropriately selected, and (b) adequate arrangements are in
place to support the student and the research project.
This form must be completed and approved before an applicant for a MPhil/PhD or MD(Res) degree is given a formal
offer by the School/Faculty and before the student commences work on their project, whether full or part-time. If an
informal offer is made to an applicant (for example, after interview) it must be made clear that it will only be confirmed
after approval is obtained within the School/Faculty through completion of this form.
Notes on completing the form
1.
The completed form must be accompanied by a completed KCL Postgraduate Application form, plus independent
references and exam transcripts. It is noted that exam transcripts are not available in some countries, in which case
other checks will be applied.
The complete form should be sent to the Admissions Office with accompanying documents, via the appropriate
administrator.
2.
The postgraduate coordinator may seek appropriate expertise regarding the project
3.
Students working “off-campus” must comply with the provisions of the College regulations
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/college/policyzone/assets/files/research/Guidelines_on_off_campus_study_in_research_
degrees-2012.pdf
4.
Please attach a letter from the sponsors confirming the studentship, and the confirmation of account code from
Finance if appropriate. Bandings for PhD bench fees (annual charges):
Band 1: £1000, desk-based project with some fieldwork, trials etc. but no lab-based costs.
Band 2: £3000, laboratory-based project with routine running costs in terms of consumables.
Typically no in vivo or expensive facility use.
Band 3: £5000, laboratory-based project with a preponderance of low but some higher running costs.
Band 4: £7000, laboratory-based project with a combination of routine and some higher running
costs.
Band 5: £10000, laboratory-based project with normal/high running costs plus in vivo work and/or
use of expensive facilities etc.
Band 6: >£10000-precise figure to be proposed by the supervisor, based on the real costs of a
project. This cost may typically involve stem cell or equivalent expensive activity. For Band 5 fees,
a brief summary of costs should be attached to the Project Approval Form.
(In some instances sponsors may provide funding at a different rate)
5.
The first supervisor must be a member of KCL academic staff. Both supervisors should normally have obtained a
doctorate, and have established research experience. At least one of the supervisors must have a successful record of
supervising PhD students. All new supervisors must undertake the training course “Being a new postgraduate
research supervisor”, organised by Organisational and Staff Development (https://internal.kcl.ac.uk/student/gradschool/s-visor/train/index.aspx)
6.
The Thesis Committee Panel section is applicable for FoLSM registrations only
7.
The nomination of Independent Scientific Experts as members of the panel is not mandatory at the offer stage but can
be deferred to registration of the student + 2 months
8.
Backdating of registration will only be permitted upon the approval of the School/Faculty’s Head of Graduate Studies
or equivalent, and in accord with prevailing College regulations.
9.
Students registering part-time must be able to devote at least 50% of a normal working week to their research degree
10. Department/Divisional affiliation must reflect current School/Faculty structure and practice.
11. All potential research degree students must be interviewed by a panel that must comprise at least 2 members of staff,
who each must have clearly defined roles, and who should have completed equal opportunities or unconscious bias
training. Single gender panels are not permitted. Students who have not been appointed on the basis of competitive
selection (i.e. self-funded students, independently-sponsored individuals or members of staff who have not been
explicitly employed to do a PhD) must complete an interview with a panel that includes a Postgraduate Co-ordinator,
where appropriate,. Where the principal supervisor is also the Postgraduate Co-ordinator (in FoLS&M), an alternative
independent academic member of staff should be a member of the interview panel. Interview panels should ensure
that candidates have appropriate English language skills.
12. Appropriate arrangements must be made for overseas students who cannot be interviewed in person.
13. If the student is registered for either a 3 or 4 year PhD, the thesis must be submitted within 4 years. If the student is
registered part-time, the thesis must be submitted within 7 years
Further information can be obtained from the Admissions Centre.
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