POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH DEGREE STUDENTS
Doctoral Progression
TO BE COMPLETED BY RI’S PGR DIRECTOR
All students wishing to pursue doctoral level study need to be formally assessed after 10 months’
full-time study (or equivalent for part-time) in order to evaluate their suitability for doctoral study.
(See Section 3.6 and Annex B4 of the Code of Practice on Postgraduate Research Degrees)
Research Institute recommendations need to be approved by the Research Degrees Committee.
Directors of Postgraduate Research, as chairs of their RI Postgraduate Committees, should
complete this form with respect to each student who has been evaluated for suitability for
progression with doctoral studies.
1
STUDENT DETAILS
Name of student
Student number
Research Institute
Lead Supervisor
Degree for which registered
FT/PT
Start date (initial registration)
2
REVIEW DETAILS
Broad field of student’s research project
Date of student review
Was this delayed from the normal time?
Yes/No
If yes, give reasons in report in section 4
Members of review panel
Date of RI postgraduate committee
approving recommended outcome
Annex C4, Doctoral Progression
V5, 07/11/11
3
CRITERIA FOR SATISFACTORY PROGRESSION (from Annex B4)
Please indicate whether the student has met each criterion for progression (Yes/No/Partially) and
give any comments as appropriate. Any issues identified should be explained in the report.
Criteria
Y/N/P
Comments
Thorough literature review undertaken
Able to understand the context (background and
rationale) for the proposed research
Able to demonstrate progress in developing
intellectual and cognitive skills for satisfactory
completion of a doctoral thesis
Able to clearly identify a research question or topic
Has an appropriate research plan
Appropriate methodologies presented
Successful research training undertaken – has
acquired the necessary skills and competencies to
carry out the research plan
Successful implementation of preliminary studies
Able to set and keep to realistic deadlines for the
production of work
Has the student submitted a Personal
Development & Learning Plan
.For students who started between 1 August 2005
and 1 August 2013: Obtained at least 40 credits of
approved research training
The Research Institute is satisfied that the student
is on course to fulfil the relevant research training
requirements for thesis submission as set out in
COP section 2.2.
Has the project been approved by one of the
Yes
University’s Ethical Review Panels (or by a
or
recognised external committee, such as an NHS- No
REC).*
Give module codes
Append copy of approval letter
or
explain (briefly) here why
approval is not required or
explain (briefly) why approval is
not yet in place and what plans
are in place for obtaining it?
* All research involving human participants, their tissues, or personal information must be approved by a
recognised research ethics committee before the research can commence. This includes social science
research (e.g. fieldwork-based, interview and questionnaire studies). For more information about how to
obtain the appropriate ethical approval for your research please access
http://www.keele.ac.uk/researchsupport/researchgovernance/ethics/
Annex C4, Doctoral Progression
V5, 07/11/11
4
REPORT
Please present a brief case from the RI’s PGR Committee supporting your recommendation,
outlining key points, any areas of concern, and how these will be addressed.
5
RECOMMENDED OUTCOME
The student named above has been evaluated by the Research Institute Postgraduate Committee
for progression with doctoral studies in accordance with the requirements of the Code of Practice,
and the recommendation of the Postgraduate Committee is as follows (check one):
The student is suitable for doctoral study and may progress
The student is not yet suitable for progression and, following review, has been given a
programme of work to complete over a period not exceeding 2 months (FT) 4 months (PT),
after which period the RI will confirm the appropriate final outcome
The student is not suitable for doctoral study, but is suitable for masters level study, and
should now be required to prepare a thesis for submission for a research masters degree
The student is unlikely successfully to complete a research degree and should be required
to withdraw
Signed ……………………………………………………… Date ………………………
Director of Postgraduate Research
Name in capitals
………………………………………………………………………..
Annex C4, Doctoral Progression
V5, 07/11/11