About the Handbook
Welcome to the Department of Social Science, Health & Medicine at King’s College London and to our
programmes. We are delighted that you have chosen to pursue your doctoral research with us, and
hope that you will find the coming years both intellectually stimulating and relevant to your future
career.
This handbook is intended as a guide for all postgraduate research students in the Department during
the academic session 2012-2013. It should be your first point of reference about the Department, in
conjunction with our website, and it also provides general information for all students about the
School of Social Science & Public Policy.
In particular, this handbook provides details of important procedures which you will need to follow
during the session, assessment information and facilities and services available to you in the College.
In addition, you will find contact details for the faculty and professional services staff in the
Department.
Information in the handbook is as accurate as possible at time of going to press, but it may
subsequently be necessary to make changes and students will be advised of these as they arise. Any
updates will also be available on our website version of this handbook. http://www.kcl.ac.uk/sshm
We hope you find this handbook a useful accompaniment to your studies at King’s, and wish you an
enjoyable and successful year.
Contact Details
Academic Office Address:
Department of Social Science, Health & Medicine
King’s College London
Room K4L.21
th
4 floor Lower Mezzanine
King’s Building
Strand Campus
London
WC2R 2LS
Tel: 020 7848 7061 / 7062 / 7063
Email: david.hardy@kcl.ac.uk or sshm@kcl.ac.uk
Web: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/sshm
2
Contents
About the Handbook .......................................................................................................................................... 2
Contact Details ................................................................................................................................................... 2
Contents.............................................................................................................................................................. 3
Welcome From the Principal .............................................................................................................................. 4
Professor Sir Richard Trainor, KBE................................................................................................................... 4
About King’s College London ........................................................................................................................... 5
About The School Of Social Science & Public Policy (SSPP) .......................................................................... 6
Welcome to the Department of Social Science, Health and Medicine ............................................................... 7
Department of Social Science, Health and Medicine ......................................................................................... 9
Faculty ................................................................................................................................................................ 9
1. Enrolment & Key Dates ............................................................................................................................... 12
2. Department Research Degrees...................................................................................................................... 13
3. Generic Skills ............................................................................................................................................... 15
4. Progress Reviews ......................................................................................................................................... 15
5. Responsibilities of Students ......................................................................................................................... 16
6. Responsibilities of Supervisors .................................................................................................................... 17
7. Responsibilities of Subsidiary Supervisors (where relevant) ........................................................................ 18
9. Responsibilities of Head of Department ....................................................................................................... 19
10. Change of Supervision ............................................................................................................................... 20
11. PGR Staff-Student Committee and Staff Meeting Representative.............................................................. 20
12. Upgrading from MPhil to PhD ................................................................................................................... 20
12. Writing Up Status and Registration Fees.................................................................................................... 21
13. Supervision During Writingh Up ............................................................................................................... 22
14. PhD Submission Procedure ........................................................................................................................ 23
15. Format of the Thesis ................................................................................................................................... 23
16. The PhD Examination ................................................................................................................................ 24
17. Core Code of Practice for Postgraduate Research Degrees ........................................................................ 26
18. King’s Interdisciplinary Social Science Doctoral Training Centre (KISS-DTC) ....................................... 27
19. Plagiarism ................................................................................................................................................... 28
20. Referencing ............................................................................................................................................... 30
21. Extensions And Mitigating Circumstances ................................................................................................. 35
22. Computing and Library Facilities ............................................................................................................... 39
23. General Information for Students ............................................................................................................... 46
24. King’s College London Site Details And Maps ......................................................................................... 56
24. Appendices: Key forms .............................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
3
Welcome From the Principal
Professor Sir Richard Trainor, KBE
Welcome to King’s College London, situated in the heart of London, one of
the top 30 universities in the world (2011/12 QS World University Rankings)
and ‘Sunday Times University of the Year 2010/11’. You are part of an
institution which already has centuries of distinguished achievement to
celebrate, including eight Noble Prize winners amongst its current and former
staff, and alumni such as Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Lord Justice
(Robin) Auld. In your time here you too will be helping to form King’s
present and its future.
King’s has five campuses: four within a single square mile on the banks of
the Thames in central London and one at Denmark Hill, in South London.
Wherever you are based, and whichever School and Department you belong
to, I hope you will be very happy here and will enjoy your studies and all
aspects of your College life.
King’s is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge, learning and
understanding in the service of society. I believe that the spiritual spirit of
King’s, its warmth and humanity, will stimulate a life-long enthusiasm for
learning. I hope you will keep that sense of excitement and commitment, that ‘can do’ feeling, and will be able to
apply it to the services of society in a variety of ways while you are here and in the years ahead.
Rick Trainor
Principal and President of King’s College London
4
About King’s College London
King’s College London is one of the top 30 universities in the world (2011/12 QS World University
Rankings), The Sunday Times ‘University of the Year 2010/11’ and the fourth oldest in England. A
research-led university based in the heart of London, King’s has nearly 23,000 students (of whom more
than 8,600 are graduate students) from nearly 140 countries, and some 5,500 employees. King’s is in
the second phase of a £1 billion redevelopment programme which is transforming its estate.
King’s has an outstanding reputation for providing world-class teaching and cutting-edge research. In
the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise for British universities, 23 departments were ranked in the top
quartile of British universities; over half of our academic staff work in departments that are in the top
10 per cent in the UK in their field and can thus be classed as world leading. The College is in the top
seven UK universities for research earnings and has an overall annual income of nearly £450 million.
King’s nine Schools of Study are Arts and Humanities, Biomedical Sciences, the Dental Institute; Law,
Medicine, the Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery, Physical Sciences and
Mathematics, the Institute of Psychiatry, and Social Science and Public Policy (where the Department
of Social Science, Health and Medicine, and the Institute of Gerontology, are based).
King’s has a particularly distinguished reputation in the humanities, law, the sciences (including a
wide range of health areas such as psychiatry, medicine, nursing and dentistry) and social sciences
including international affairs. It has played a major role in many of the advances that have shaped
modern life, such as the discovery of the structure of DNA and research that led to the development of
radio, television, mobile phones and radar. It is the largest centre for the education of healthcare
professionals in Europe; no university has more Medical Research Council Centres.
The College is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge, learning and understanding in the services
of society. Since its foundation in 1829, King’s has come to occupy a leading position in higher
education in the UK and to enjoy a worldwide reputation for teaching and research.
The College’s objective is to build on its reputation and to have all its research and teaching activities
judged excellent by peer review. In line with its founding principles, King’s will continue to foster the
highest ethical standards in a compassionate community.
5
About The School Of Social Science & Public Policy (SSPP)
The School of Social Science and Public Policy (SSPP) was established in 2001 to provide an institutional focus
for social science teaching and research at King’s. The Head of School is Professor Denise Lievesley – one of
the country’s leading social statisticians, who has campaigned for evidence to be used as the basis for the
development of sound public policies within the UK and more widely. The School of Social Science and Public
Policy comprises the Department of Social Science, Health & Medicine, which incorporates the Institute of
Gerontology, alongside the departments of Political Economy, Education and Professional Studies, Geography,
Management, War Studies and Defence Studies, to form one of the largest UK university groupings focusing on
policy-orientated research in a multi-disciplinary environment. It is this variety of specialisms and the School’s
approach to working in teams comprising different disciplines which enables the School to develop insights from
a wide range of perspectives to tackle some of the most important social, political and ethical issues of our time.
These issues include: public service reform, urban sustainability and climate change, new security uncertainties
and risks, the changing nature of war and conflict, age and ageing, the ethics of biomedical innovation, scientific
literacy and cultural inclusion, social cohesion in multi-faith societies, inequalities in health, education and the
future of the professions.
The School’s excellence is consistently recognised in national and international league tables and research
awards, and in the appointment of staff to influential positions within their wider international scholarly
communities, for example as editors of some of the major social science journals and as members of Research
Council review panels.
As part of the School’s long-standing commitment to influential, policy relevant scholarship, it maintains close
and productive links with key national and international policy, practitioner and activist communities. By
bringing its considerable academic resources to bear upon the policy problems and processes of the modern
world, the College has established a formidable reputation in the fields of international and domestic public
affairs. The College is committed in its Strategic Plan 2006-2016 to build upon these achievements and take
forward further vigorous growth in public policy work, building relationships with the worlds of policy and
practice beyond the university through research, teaching, training and knowledge transfer.
6
Welcome to the Department of Social Science, Health and
Medicine
The Department of Social Science, Health & Medicine was established in 2011. Its aim is to confirm King’s as a
world leader in social scientific approaches to health and medicine, with innovative research and research-led
teaching as the basis for a significant input into global health policy.We are a unique interdisciplinary social
science department working in collaboration with biomedical researchers and clinicians. We seek to understand
the social determinants of health, illness and ageing, and the way in which advances in biomedicine and
biotechnology are changing the nature of medical practice and conceptions of health and illness.
Our department
 has the international focus necessary to prepare students for work in our increasingly interdependent world
 offers an opportunity to combine a high level social science education with a special focus on key areas of
health and illness, medical knowledge and clinical practice.
 equips students for a wide range of career options in the health services, in public health, in government and
NGOs in the UK and elsewhere, and in the commercial medical and health sectors.
The Department is unique in the UK and Europe, not just because of our interdisciplinary focus on health and
disease, and our integrated collaborations with biomedical researchers and clinicians, but also because we use this
as the basis for a full research led teaching and doctoral programme, as well as consultancy and policy work. At
the heart of our work is the belief that the path to better individual, public and global health must be based on an
understanding of the social, cultural and economic processes that generate illness and shape the provision of
medical and health care services, and hence lead to health inequalities. We believe that these questions have to
be understood by bringing the resources of all the social sciences together, and by collaboration between social
scientists, biomedical researchers and clinicians. King’s unrivalled concentration of health and medical education
provides a unique opportunity to develop this kind of collaborative work, where rigorous social scientific
research is coupled with the development of biomedical innovation and health policy.
The Institute of Gerontology, founded in 1986, is incorporated within the Department. It is dedicated to the study
of ageing and later life, serving as a bridge between social science and medical research and providing theoretical
frameworks for the understanding of the health and social care needs of older people. The Institute is one of the
leading gerontological research and teaching centres world-wide and has many long-standing research and
teaching collaborations including the Institute of Psychiatry, the School of Medicine, the School of Nursing and
Midwifery and the School of Biomedical Sciences.
The objectives of the Institute are to:
 Engage in state of the art research into the demographic, sociological, psychological, financial and
institutional processes of adult ageing
 Provide multidisciplinary, research-led education and research training for both clinical and social scientists,
including practitioners in health, social care, government and the voluntary sector
 Engage critically with social policy issues for the benefit of older people both internationally and nationally.
The degree programmes offered by the Department are

The MSc Medicine, Science & Society

MA Bioethics and Society (jointly with the Centre for Medical Law and Ethics) from 2013

MSc Global Health (from 2013)

The MSc Gerontology – the first such programme in Britain (PG Diploma added in 1998 and the PG
Certificate in 2008).

The MRes Gerontology (the Institute is part of the School’s Mres programme)

The MA/PG Diploma and PG Certificate Public Policy & Ageing (run jointly with the Department of
Political Economy).

The MSc/MA/PG Diploma and PG Certificate Ageing and Society.

The PG Certificate in Research Methods for Social Science and Health.

The iBSc in Gerontology (for medical students) – the first such programme in Britain
7
Our research
We also undertake the highest quality research on social science, health and medicine, placing this in a global
context with a specific focus on questions of the social determinants of health inequality, and the role and
implications of advances in biomedicine and biotechnology. Excellence in transdisciplinary and transnational
social science research, grounded in a knowledge of history, law and philosophy, will be the basis of nationally
and internationally recognized expertise, policy development and consultancy provided by the Department.
Our research focuses on the following areas:







Global Health
Global Mental Health
Health, Disease and Biosecurity
Ageing and Society
Bioethics and Society
Emerging biosciences and biotechnologies: translation and governance
Pharmaceutical policy and politics, with a specific focus on cancer.
8
Department of Social Science, Health and Medicine
Faculty
NAME
Professor John Abraham*
Dr Dominique P. Béhague
Dr Orkideh Behrouzan
Mr Kevin Brewer
Dr Carlo Caduff
Dr Laurie Corna*
Dr Courtney Davis*
Dr Giorgio Di Gessa
Dr Karen Glaser
Dr Hanna Kienzler
Dr Karen Lowton
Professor Bronwyn Parry
Dr Barbara Prainsack*
Dr Debora Price**
Dr Annette Rid
Professor Nikolas Rose
Dr Ilina Singh
Professor Anthea Tinker
Dr Scott Vrecko
POSITION
Professor of Sociology
Senior Lecturer in Social Science, Health &
Medicine
Lecturer in Social Science, Health & Medicine
Visiting Lecturer
Lecturer in Social Science, Health & Medicine
Lecturer in Sociology of Ageing
Senior Lecturer in Sociology
Teaching Fellow in Social Science Research
Methods
Director IoG, Reader in Gerontology
Lecturer
Senior Lecturer in Ageing & Health
Professor of Social Science, Health & Medicine,
Director of Undergraduate Studies
Reader in Sociology
Senior Lecturer in Social Gerontology
Senior Lecturer in Bioethics & Society
Professor of Sociology and Head of Department
Reader in Bioethics and Society, Director of
Research
Professor of Social Gerontology
Lecturer, Programme Director MSc Medicine,
Science & Society
LOCATION
SSHM
SSHM
SSHM
IoG
SSHM
IoG
IoG
IoG
SSHM
IoG
SSHM
SSHM
IoG
SSHM
SSHM
SSHM
IoG
SSHM
* starts January 2013
**on teaching sabbatical from September 2012 to September 2013
Professional Services Team
NAME
Ms Lucy Brown
Mrs Susan Chandler
Mrs Sabrina Fernandez
Mr David Hardy
POSITION
Research & Outreach Officer
PA to Head of Department
Department Manager
Postgraudation Programmes Officer
DEPARTMENT
SSHM
SSHM
SSHM
SSHM
Research Staff
NAME
Dr Jean-François Bissonnette
Ms Hanna Eklund
Dr Mayumi Hayashi
POSITION
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Postdoctoral Researcher
Leverhulme Research Fellow in Ageing &
Policy
DEPARTMENT
SSHM
IoG/IoP
IoG
Ms Hannah Hayward
Dr Chris Hiley
Dr Stuart Hogarth
Dr Filippa Lentzos
Research Assistant
Research Associate
Research Fellow
Senior Reseach Fellow
IoG/IoP
IoG
SSHM
SSHM
9
Dr Lara Marks
Dr Claire Marris
Mr Eloi Ribe Montserrat
Rachel Stuchbury
Senior Reseach Fellow
Senior Research Fellow
Research Associate
Research Associate
SSHM
SSHM
IoG
IoG
Honorary Staff
NAME
Dr Ajay Bhalla
Professor Finbarr Martin
Dr Jane Preston
Professor Robert Weale
POSITION
Consultant Geriatrician, Guy’s & St Thomas’
Foundation NHS Trust, visiting Senior Research
Fellow
Consultant Geriatrician, Guy’s & St Thomas’
Foundation NHS Trust, visiting Senior Research
Fellow
Senior Lecturer in Pharmacology and
Therapeutics – Pharmaceutical Sciences
Research Division, King’s College London
Emeritus Professor
DEPARTMENT
IoG
IoG
IoG
IoG
Visiting Academics
NAME
Professor Simon Biggs
Dr Dinah Bisdee
Dr Sergio Carvalho
Dr Giovanni Frazzetto
Professor Paul Freemont
Professor Jay Ginn
Professor Tullio Giraldi
Dr Edlira Gjonca
Dr Cathy Herbrand
Professor Uffe Juul Jensen
Professor Richard Kitney
Dr Lynne Livsey
Professor Ilana Lowy
Dr John MacArtney
Dr Erika Mansnerus
Dr Mianna Meskus
Dr Fiona Miller
Dr Francisco Ortega
Professor Jenny Reardon
Professor Christoph RehmannSutter
Professor Renata Salecl
Dr Luis Santos dos Sanchos
Professor Norman Sartorius
Dr Debora Street
Dr Ulrike Waginger
Dr Hannah Zeilig
POSITION
Visiting Professor
Visiting Research Fellow
Visiting Research Fellow
Visiting Research Fellow
Visiting Professor
Visiting Professor
Visiting Professor
Visiting Research Fellow
Visiting Postdoctoral Fellow
Visiting Professor
Visiting Professor
Visiting Research Fellow
Visiting Professor
Visiting Research Fellow
Visiting Research Fellow
Visiting Research Fellow
Visiting Research Fellow
Visiting Senior Research Fellow
Visiting Professor
Visiting Professor
DEPARTMENT
IoG
IoG
SSHM
SSHM
SSHM
IoG
SSHM
IoG
SSHM
SSHM
SSHM
IoG
SSHM
SSHM
SSHM
SSHM
SSHM
SSHM
SSHM
SSHM
Visiting Professor
Visiting Research Fellow
Visiting Professor
Visiting Research Fellow
Visiting Research Fellow
Visiting Research Fellow
SSHM
SSHM
SSHM
IoG
IoG
IoG
10
Current Research Students
NAME
Nicole Batsch
Rebecca Blackwell
Valerie D’Astous
Hanna Eklund
Angela Filipe
Jonathon Guillemot
Suzanne Hardy
Namino Kunitoh
Sam Maclean
Eloise Radcliffe
Peter Simcock
Cameron Spence
Andreas Xyrichis
PhD TOPIC
Maximising quality of life while living with
early dementia: The role of chronic disease
education
Using patient, carer and staff experiences to
improve palliative care provision for older
people in Accident & Emergency departments
Transitions in Caregiving for an Adult with
Autism: facing the mortality of elderly parents
Study of service use, needs and family care
among young adults with neuodevelopmental
disorders (ADHD and ASD) during the
transitional years from adolescence to young
adulthood
Medicine, practice, and culture: A socioepistemological perspective on the clinic and the
diagnosis of ADHD
Selection processes of medical treatments for
older people in France and England: the
example of anti-osteoporotic drugs
The role of assistive technology in enabling
families to care for relatives with dementia in
their location of choice
Psychiatry in Contemporary Society: The
Deinstitutionalisation of Mental Health Care in
Japan
Foucault’s philosophy of the limit and the
government of problem drug use in the UK
Stroke and self-identity among people of
advanced older age: A biographical approach
Society’s most vulnerable? An exploration of
the lived experience of vulnerability amongst
older deaf blind adults and the implications for
safeguarding
Title TBC
Teamwork in Intensive Care: an ethnographic
investigation of interdisciplinary team practices
11
DEPARTMENT
IoG
Nursing
IoG
IoG
SSHM
IoG
IoG
SSHM
SSHM
Medicine
IoG
SSHM
Nursing
1. Enrolment & Key Dates
Enrolment
2.1 Enrolment Procedure
Detailed guidance about the enrolment process can be found online, and we would urge you to familiarise yourself
with this as soon as possible.
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/campuslife/services/newtokings/enrol/index.aspx
Key Dates
2.2 Department Key Dates
Induction 2012:
International Orientation Enrolment
Registration Week
Induction 2012:
Main Enrolment Day For IoG & SSHM Students
Induction 2012:
Departmental Introductory Day – Postgraduate Taught &
Research And Ibsc Students
Autumn Term Starts
Reading Week
Sshm Staff-Student Liaison Meeting
Autumn Term Ends
Spring Term Starts
Spring Term Ends
Summer Term Starts
Summer Term Ends
Graduation Ceremonies
Start
Wed
12/09/2012
Mon
17/09/2012
Wed
19/09/2012
09:30
Thu
20/09/2012
10:00
Mon
24/09/2012
Mon
05/11/2012
Thu
06/12/2012
13:00
Fri
14/12/2012
Mon
07/01/2013
Fri
29/03/2013
Mon
29/04/2013
Fri
07/06/2013
October
The College will also be closed on English public holidays. In 2012/13 these will be
Christmas closure 4 pm, Friday 21 December 2012 - 1 January 2013 inclusive (re-open 2 Jan)
Easter closure
29 March -1 April inclusive 2013 (re-open 2 April)
May Bank Holiday 6 May 2013
Spring Bank Holiday
27 May 2013
End
Fri
21/09/2012
Wed
19/09/2012
11.00
Thu
20/09/2012
16:30
Sun
11/11/2012
Thu
06/12/2012
14:00
Summer Bank Holiday
26 August 2013
2. Department Research Degrees
Full time students have a period of three years in which to complete their study, after which a further year
is allowed for completion ('writing-up') of the PhD thesis. Part time students have a period of six years in
which to complete their study, after which a further year is allowed for completion ('writing-up') of the
PhD thesis.
All students and supervisors are required to sign a student-supervisor agreement at the outset of the
research project confirming the initial frequency of meetings and outlining how any issues in the studentsupervisor relationship can be resolved. You can obtain a copy of the form here:
https://internal.kcl.ac.uk/student/study/arc/pgr/ssa.aspx
Student-supervisor agreements should be returned to the Department’s Postgraduate Programmes Officer,
David Hardy, and these are reviewed by the Department’s Research Postgraduate Committee (PaRC) and
retained at Departmental level rather than by the Assessments & Records Centre.
The progress of all students is subject to regular, formal review. During their first year of study it is
College policy that both full- and part-time students will have their progress formally reviewed within 3
months of initial registration and again after a period of nine months registration. Thereafter, the progress
of all students is reviewed at every six months. The nature and management of formal progress reviews
including upgrade reviews is determined by Schools. Progress reviews are now reported to the College
using the Online Progress Reporting system. When a report is due, students (and their supervisors)
receive an automatic notification email to their KCL email address with instructions on how to complete
the report.
A formal progress review has one of three possible outcomes:
1. Satisfactory progress: the student’s registration is allowed to continue unconditionally;
2. Conditional progress: there is cause for concern about the student’s progress such that continued
registration is subject to completing whatever conditions are set out in writing prior to a subsequent
follow-up review. This may include cases where the lack of progress is due to supervision problems;
in such cases the assessors should ensure that steps are taken to resolve those problems as part of the
conditions set down;
3. Unsatisfactory progress: the student has not made the normal academic progress expected of all
students and compulsory withdrawal proceedings will begin under section b4 of the college’s
regulations concerning students (academic progress regulations). In the event of (iii), the student has a
right of appeal.
For further details please refer to section 9.2 of the Core Code of Practice for Research Degrees.
A typical timetable for Full-Time MPhil/PhD Students involves completing the indicated work no later than
the end of the specified month (months are counted forward from the official start date which is usually
either in September or January). NOTE that this is a guide only, your schedule will be set by your
supervisors:
Year 1
month
1
Action
Enrolment and Induction
Prepare individualized training plan, set personal research goals & attend approved
training courses, including Masters modules to be taken in Year 1
Complete staff- student agreement: All students and supervisors are required to sign
13
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
a student-supervisor agreement at the outset of the research project confirming the initial
frequency of meetings and outlining how any issues in the student-supervisor
relationship can be resolved.
Submit preliminary draft of Research Proposal (2000 words) to supervisory committee:
 title
 outline of purpose & rationale for proposed research
 preliminary description of methods and data
 proposed timetable
First supervisors meeting to discuss preliminary draft of Research Proposal
Submit amended/revised draft of Research Proposal to supervisors (if required)
Commence draft of critical literature review chapter
Work on draft of critical literature review chapter
Second supervisors meeting and formal review of progress
Complete and submit draft of critical literature review chapter to supervisors
Third supervision meeting to discuss critical literature review chapter
Commence draft of methods chapter
Plan any pilot research (as required)
Complete and submit draft of methods chapter to supervisors
Map out field research plans + make field contacts
Complete and submit draft of introductory chapter to supervisors
Fourth supervision meeting to discuss methods and introductory chapters
Revise critical literature review, methods and introductory chapters in light of feedback
received from the supervisory committee
Detailed draft plan for field research
Complete and submit risk assessment form
Complete and submit ethics review form
Submit Aims and Methods essay to your supervisors for formal assessment to determine
passage into Year Two. A&M essay, of approximately 5000 words, containing aims of the
research, statement of research question, location of that question in the literature, outline
of methods of empirical research to be undertaken, description of methods of analysis of
empirical data, and conclusion.
Aims and Methods to be formally assessed and must be passed in order for your
supervisors to recommend passage into Year Two.
Action
Year 2
Month
At month 15 Complete formal progress review forms
and
month 21
By month
Submit Proposal to Upgrading Committee for Upgrade from MPhil to PhD:
15
 Title and an abstract of proposed PhD, ready for posting to Department website
 Revised introductory chapter discussing the significance of the principal research
objectives, hypotheses, or problems to be addressed in the thesis and their relationship
to current understanding in the subject area.
 Revised critical literature review chapter
 Revised methods chapter
Decision of supervisory committee concerning PhD proposal: either (1) upgraded to PhD;
(2) confirmed as MPhil; or (3) programme of study terminated.
13-24
Undertake field research (as required under the approved timetable linked to upgrade
session)
Draft background chapter(s) (as required) and submit to supervisors
Meet supervisors(as feasible) to review progress and personal training needs
Review and revise (as appropriate) personal training needs plan
Complete any new training required
14
Conference presentations and publication work (as discussed with supervisor)
Commence data analysis
Action
Year 3
Month
At month 27 Complete formal progress review forms
And
Month 33
25- 34
Write and revise all empirical chapters + concluding chapter
Revise critical literature review, methods and introductory chapters
Meet supervisors regularly to review progress and training needs
Review and revise (as appropriate) personal training needs plan
Complete any training required
Conference presentations and publication work (as discussed with supervisor)
Completion of a seminar presenting the thesis findings to the Department
Postdoctoral career planning
Discuss potential examiners and date for PhD viva with supervisors
Submit exam entry forms (obtainable online via KCL Research Degrees) 6 months prior to
thesis submission
35-36
- Final revision of entire thesis
- Submit thesis to KCL Research Degrees
To enable each student to maintain this timetable, students, supervisors, the PhD tutor and the Department
have certain responsibilities, which are outlined in this Handbook. More detailed information is also
provided in the College’s Core Code of Practice for Postgraduate Research Degrees.
3. Generic Skills
Over the course of your postgraduate programme, you will acquire skills that will be useful for your study at King’s,
and once you leave for further study or employment. In general, the School seeks to support the development of
skills specified by the Research Councils:







General Research Skills: These include, bibliographic and computing skills, teaching skills, language skills,
ethical skills, and the competence to exploit research and intellectual property rights.
Personal Development and Employment-related Skills: these include communication skills (writing,
dissemination and media skills), and research management skills.
Framework for Research Methods Training:under this heading the Department seeks to promote the skills
relating to: principles of research design, data collection and data analysis.
Discipline Specific Skills: the skills necessary to use the concepts and theories appropriate to the disciplines
taught within the School of Social Science & Public Policy.
Subject Mastery Skills: related to the development of a postgraduate student’s understanding of the academic
content of their chosen programme.
Intellectual Skills: associated with a student’s ability to synthesise and analyse information, think critically, and
develop reasoned arguments.
Key Skills: including a student’s time management, the use of initiative, employment of IT, and written and oral
communication of ideas and information.
4. Progress Reviews
The purpose of these reviews is provide an explicit framework for planning and assessing the progress of
research training, and the conduct of PhD research and writing. The reports provide both students and
15
superviosrs with objectives for the following period, and a record of progress at achieving research and
training goals. In this way we can ensure that students make the steady progress required to submit the PhD
thesis within the prescribed period.
The College’s Core Code of Practice for Postgraduate Degrees requires the progress of every registered
student to be formally reviewed at least twice annually. When a report is due, students (and their
supervisors) receive an automatic notification email to their KCL email address with instructions on how
to complete the report. Failure to take part in such a progress review is a breach of academic regulations.
Continued registration depends upon a positive assessment of academic progress by your Department
Postgraduate Research Students Committee (PaRC) based on these reports and the advice of your
supervisors.
At the individual progress review meeting, the student and supervisors discuss your progress and agree any
changes proposed research and training plan for the next 6 months of your programme of study. Supervisors
are strongly advised that if they have concerns about the progress of a particular student they should consult
with each other, and, where appropriate, with the chair or other members of the PaRC before the actual
progress review meeting with the student, to resolve any doubts they may have about the soundness of their
assessment. Supervisors complete the form, making any additional comments to the PaRC in time for its biannual review of all student progress reports. Should students or staff wish to bring any confidential
comments to the attention of their PaRC, they may submit them either anonymously or under their own
name in a letter to the Chair.
The Department PaRC is responsible for reviewing all the reports and making final assessments about
whether student progress is satisfactory and if it is not, for investigating further and feeding
recommendations for action back to the student and supervisors
5. Responsibilities of Students
1.
2.
3.
4.
Students should discuss with their supervisor the kind of guidance that would be most helpful to
them. Students should bring to a supervisor's attention any problems that are affecting their work
(whether of an academic or a personal nature). Keep in regular contact with the supervisor. It is part
of the supervisor’s job to advise the student. Thus students must notify their supervisors of any
changes to their address, and change their contact details on https://mykcl.kcl.ac.uk/.
Students should agree to a programme of regular meetings and work with their supervisors. Any
written work should be completed to an agreed timetable allowing sufficient time for comments and
discussion by the supervisors. During your first year of study, you should meet with your first
supervisor for the equivalent of one hour at least once a fortnight. You should meet your second
supervisor at least once a month and some of these meetings should be joint meetings with both
supervisors present. In subsequent years, it is likely that supervision requirements will vary, but
there should still be planned meetings with both your supervisors to discuss your progress.
During induction, students will agree with their supervisors an initial research training plan, setting
out any training courses or research objectives to be achieved during the students first six months of
study. This plan must be submitted for approval by the Department Postgraduate Research Students
Committee within two weeks of induction, so that the student can begin any appropriate training
courses without delay. Students starting at other times of the year must have submitted their initial
research training plan within two weeks of their start date.
Thereafter, students will prepare a bi-annual research plan & progress report which must be
discussed with and approved by their Supervisory Committee (consisting of the primary Supervisor
and subsidiary Supervisor). Details of procedure are given above.
(i) a report on the student’s progress in achieving the goals set out in previous research plans;
16
5.
6.
7.
8.
(ii) a report of the results of any essays, exams, or other formally assessed work completed by the
student as part of his/her research training program in the period since the last report;
(iii) a plan laying out specific the research work and training (such as courses or fieldwork to be
completed, chapter drafts to be written, etc.) that the student is expected to complete in the
period before the next report as well as details of the written work or other tasks to be
completed for formal assessment as part of this training.
An upgrade meeting to consider whether a student is to be transferred from MPhil to PhD status
takes place by Month 15 of full-time registration (or part-time equivalent). Such a transfer is not
automatic. To be upgraded a student must have completed any training agreed with their
supervisors and set out in their initial research plan. In addition students must submit a substantial
and well polished report providing the following detail about the proposed PhD research:
 Title and an abstract of proposed PhD, ready for posting to Department website; it is the
student’s responsibility, subsequently, to keep this website information updated;
 Revised introductory chapter discussing the significance of the principal research objectives,
hypotheses, or problems to be addressed in the thesis and their relationship to current
understanding in the subject area;
 Revised critical literature review chapter;
 Revised methods chapter;
 Proposed timetable for completion of PhD;
 For the upgrade meeting, your supervisor may request that you provide additional material,
notably in the form of an extra chapter that sets out the background context to the emperical
research site.
The decision to upgrade will be made on the basis of this report and a formal meeting of the student
with an Upgrading Committee, consisting of the student’s Supervisory Committee and one other
member of staff, recommended by the Supervisory Committee and approved by the PhD Tutor.
In their third year students will prepare a formal seminar for the lunch time seminar series based on
their research.
Students should take account of their supervisor's comments on the timing of thesis submission.
However, the decision on a submission date is the student's; the supervisor's role is advisory, not
regulatory.
Students have responsibilities for health and safety which parallel those of supervisors (e.g. by
taking reasonable care to ensure that others are not affected by their negligence and by not
intentionally or recklessly interfering with or misusing equipment). They must acquaint themselves
with and abide by the Department and College Code of Practice.
6. Responsibilities of Supervisors
1.
2.
Each student will have two supervisors, whose roles may be equal or divided in relation to expertise
or other criteria. The superviors to provide a formal mechanism to monitor and assist student
research progress, with particular reference to: [a] the acquisition of technical skills, methodological
knowledge and expertise in the relevant field of study; and, [b] the elaboration and refinement of a
research design, thesis plan and research timetable.
A primary responsibility of supervisors is to give guidance about the nature of research and the
standard of work expected. This includes advice on planning a research training programme, on the
formulation of a research problem, on relevant literature, data sources, and techniques (including
arranging instruction where necessary), and about the problem of plagiarism. The Supervisor has the
responsibility to advise students, not to instruct them. In particular, the responsibilities of the
sueprvisors are:
17

3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
To discuss and approve within the first week of a student’s arrival a research and training plan
for the student.
 To meet with the student formally at least twice annually to assess progress and discuss the
student’s research progress and training report, copies of which will be placed in the student’s
file and forwarded to the PaRC for approval.
 To hold an Upgrading Panel meeting to evaluate the case for upgrading from MPhil to PhD. For
details on School procedures and forms for upgrading, please refer to the PGR section of the
School website: https://internal.kcl.ac.uk/sspp/index.aspx
 To evaluate the case for registering for ‘writing-up status’.
 To inform the PhD Tutor and Head of Department of unsatisfactory student progress and to
assess whether students should be recommended to withdraw from the degree. The final
decision on such a recommendation is made by the Head of Department, in consultation with the
PhD Tutor.
Supervisors have a responsibility to ensure students are aware of any inadequacies in their work or
in their rate of progress and to inform students of Department policy with regard to written work and
the evaluation of student performance, including guidance on completion dates for thesis work.
Supervisors should have regular 'tutorial' meetings (at least every two weeks in the first year) and to
be generally accessible to their students to provide feedback about any difficulties that may arise
during the course of a student’s research.
Supervisors should return draft chapters or other written work within a reasonable time, with
constructive criticism to help research progress. Students should seek clarification on any advice
that is unclear.
Supervisors should take account of, and provide assistance with, any particular difficulties the
student faces (e.g. in the case of overseas students, over problems of adapting to the British
lifestyle).
Supervisors should discuss procedures and personnel for thesis examination and take note of student
concerns and comments on the external examination process, while following University regulations
and ensuring that the examination process is academically appropriate.
Supervisors should provide advise about career prospects and possibilities.
The supervisor has a responsibility to ensure that students obtain relevant teaching experience but
not to the detriment of their research
With regard to health and safety, supervisors have a duty under common law of reasonable care for
their students, so as to prevent foreseeable injury caused by a supervisor's or a student's negligence.
Hence, supervisors should draw the students attention to the Department and College Code of
Practice in relation to Health and Safety, and try to ensure that students devise a safe system of work
which should include: an effective system of personal supervision, training and instruction in safety
methods and techniques, instruction in the use of protective clothing and other safety measures,
planning of specific tasks, hazard identification and risk assessment.
7. Responsibilities of Subsidiary Supervisors (where relevant)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Compared to the primary supervisor, whose responsibilities are reflected in Department teaching
load calculations, the role of the subsidiary supervisor is relatively minor.
The subsidiary supervisor should supplement the expertise of the primary supervisor so as to
provide a source of occasional informal advice to the student.
The subsidiary supervisor will attend the formal meetings of the Supervisory Committee
When the Primary Supervisor is on leave, the subsidiary supervisor may be designated to act as a
stand-in.
The subsidiary supervisor should also serve a first point of contact should there be a breakdown in
communication between the student and the primary supervisor and on any other occasion when the
PaRC, supervisors, or student may think it desirable.
18
6.
The initial choice of subsidiary supervisor is subject to approval by the PaRC and may only be
changed with that Committee’s approval.
8. Responsibilities of the Department PaRC
(Postgraduate and Research Committee)
1.
2.
3.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
The PaRC will hold bi-annual meetings (typically in December and May) at which it will review
and approve the bi-annual research training and progress reports of each individual student. These
reviews are designed to flag-up of individual cases of unsatisfactory student progress so that the
appropriate corrective measures can be taken.
The PaRC will make recommendations to the student, Supervisory Committee and the PhD Tutor
about how to address individual cases of unsatisfactory progress.
The Chair of the PaRC also has the role of the PhD Tutor for the department. The PhD Tutor will
monitor postgraduate progress and supervisory arrangements. Generally, no supervisor will have
responsibility for more than five full-time research students, although the number allocated to one
supervisor does depend upon their other duties in the Department and their experience as a
supervisor.
As chair of the PaRC, the PhD Tutor has a responsibility to organise the PaRC’s review of students’
bi-annual research training and progress reports.
It is the responsibility of the PhD Tutor to follow up on any recommendations of the PaRC reports if
action is called for.
The PhD Tutor will receive representations from students who feel that their progress is not
satisfactory for reasons outside their control. If students are unhappy with raising the matter with the
PhD Tutor (who might be their supervisor), they should speak to another member of the PaRC. If a
student is not satisfied with the result of such a meeting, s/he can apply to the Head of Department.
Students who are unable to establish a working relationship with a supervisor can call on this
procedure to institute a change, as can those who are concerned about the composition of their
supervisory panel.
The PhD Tutor will discuss with students all matters concerning the composition of their
supervisory panel.
The PhD Tutor will monitor the appointment of examiners for each student's thesis. Only in very
exceptional circumstances will an examiner be from within the Department. Students who are
troubled by any aspect of the examination process can ask the PhD Tutor, and ultimately the Head
of Department, to clarify matters or sort out any dispute.
As Chair, it is the responsibility of the PhD tutor to organise the meetings of the PGR Staff-Student
Committee, which is held three times a year, features PhD student representatives (one for each of
the four Department Research Groups), and is designed to discuss student concerns and issues as
well as to consider relevant department policies and rules.
9. Responsibilities of Head of Department
1.
2.
3.
The Head of Department has overall responsibility for all aspects of graduate research, whether
involving individual students, individual staff members or the programme as a whole.
If students are unable or unwilling to use the PhD Tutor to circumvent problems, the Head of
Department will act as the mediator.
The first call for funding for student presentations or conference attendance should be the student's
funding body. However, some assistance may be available from the Department when the cost of
19
meeting invitations to present papers at conferences exceeds a research organisation's grant.
Application for such funding should be made with the supervisor's support to the PhD Tutor.
10. Change of Supervision
In the event of dissatisfaction with a supervisory arrangement, the tutor or the student should raise the issue
of change with the PhD Tutor. Students supervised by the PhD Tutor who are considering a change of
supervisor should discuss matters with the Head of Department.
11. PGR Staff-Student Committee and Staff Meeting
Representative
For the Department, it is important that MPhil/PhD students have a say in the organisation and operation of
activities that affect them. Although this is often achieved informally through discussion with supervisors or
other staff, a formal mechanism for presenting research student views is available through the Staff-Student
Committee. During the first term, you will be asked to nominate/elect a representative from amongst the
research students in each research group. The meeting is chaired by the PhD Tutor. In addition, one
representative will be nominated to attend the Open Business sessions of the Department Staff Meetings as
the research student representatives. The Student Union runs a programme of training and support for
student representatives on Staff/Student committees and students should contact the Student Union for
details.
12. Upgrading from MPhil to PhD
Research students at King's are normally registered as MPhil students. To receive a PhD they must
transfer to PhD status by undergoing a formal ‘upgrading’ examination conducted by an Upgrading Panel,
consisting of the two members of the Department (or where appropriate from cognate Departments)
recommended by the supervisors, and approved by the Departmental Postgraduate Research Students
Committee (PaRC).
The Department of Social Science, Health and Medicine expects that students should normally have
upgraded within 15 months full time equivalent (FTE) study of having initially enrolled as an MPhil
student. In practice and to allow time for an examination to occur (recognising as well holidays and
research time), this means that students should have submitted their upgrade report to their Upgrading
Panel early in their second year of registration.
The formal review should involve the student producing either a substantial report, draft chapters or other
pieces of work, along with a research schedule, a clear research question and evidence of a clear
methodology, set of research procedures or framework of inquiry and a formal review meeting to assess
the submitted work.
Although the precise content and format of the upgrade report may vary somewhat depending on the
particular discipline of study, the report will normally be approximately 20-25,000 words and consist of
the following elements:
20
1. An introduction to the principal research objectives, hypotheses, or problems to be addressed in
the thesis such as might form a substantial basis for an introductory chapter of the PhD thesis;
(conceivably this would be updated and expanded from the initial proposal).
2. A discussion of the methods, sources, and analytical techniques to be used in completing the
proposed work which might form the basis of a methodological chapter in the PhD thesis
(conceivably this would also be updated and expanded from the initial proposal).
3. One other substantial piece of written work, such as a literature review, some preliminary analysis
of a pilot study, or other work as may be appropriate, which might, in a some revised form,
constitute a portion of the eventual thesis and suggest the project’s potential to achieve the
standard expected of PhD at King’s: “form[ing] a distinct contribution to the knowledge of the
subject and afford evidence of originality by the discovery of new facts and/or by the exercise of
independent critical power” such as “might be reasonably expected” after the equivalent of three
years of full study.
4. A provisional outline of the structure of the thesis and a plan of work for achieving it.
5. Where other expectations are more appropriate to the student’s particular research project,
alternative criteria should be specified in advance by the Upgrading Panel.
Several weeks after you submit your upgrade report, your Upgrading Panel will meet with you to discuss
your report and your plans for the completion of your PhD research. Typically upgrade vivas last an hour
or two and involve your examiners asking to defend your interpretation of the literature, any findings you
presented in your upgrade report, and your proposals for conducting the remainder of your PhD research.
As well as providing an additional check to make sure students being upgraded to PhD status are prepared
to complete their studies in the time frame allowed, the upgrading examination also gives you a sort of
dress rehearsal for what the viva voce examination of your PhD might be like.
The key principle for upgrading is that the student is well on course to produce research of the required
standard within the permitted timescale. With that in mind, the upgrading panel will base its judgment on
your upgrading report and your performance in the viva voce examination. To ensure that you are well
enough prepared to conduct your PhD research, the upgrading panel will also require you to have
satisfactorily completed any training agreed with yours supervisors and set out in your initial progress
reviews plans.
There will be three possible outcomes to a formal upgrade review:
1. to upgrade the student,
2. to defer the decision for a defined period, subject to the student meeting conditions for upgrade
set by the panel, or
3. a refusal to upgrade the student’s registration.
The Department submits a notification form to ARC and a letter confirming the outcome will be sent to
the student.
For more information on the upgrade process and the possible outcomes of the process, please consult
section 7.1b) of the Core Code of Practice for Research Degrees.
12. Writing Up Status and Registration Fees
With no remission of your registration period, the minimum period of registration shall be two calendar
years of full-time study, or the part-time equivalent, for a student registered on a PhD, MPhil, MPhil(Stud)
or MD(Res) programme. During this period full fees for your category of registration must be paid.
21
Postgraduate students are required to continue their registration as research students, full or part-time until
such time as they are formally notified by their School that they have completed their research and have
satisfied the period of study requirement. At this stage they apply for 'writing up' status. A student will only
be permitted to be registered as writing up for the maximum of one year. A much lower fee is charged which
maintains registration, and provides library support, plus (minimal) academic support (Home/EU and
Overseas). Rates for fees are available from the Student Funding Office. Students should be aware that it is
now College policy that any student who has not submitted their thesis after one year registered as ‘writing
up’ must return to full fees or face deregistration.
For details on School procedures and forms for transferring to writing up status, please refer to the PGR
section of the Assessments & Records Centre’s website: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/schools/artssciences/arc/research/.
Moving to writing up status is not automatic. The Department PARC must be satisfied that a student has
completed the bulk of the work required for the PhD. This means that data collection and analysis has been
completed and no more than two or three chapters still have to be completed for the thesis to be finished. In
essence, the thesis has to be close to completion before a student is allowed to move to writing-up status and
it must be clear to the supervisor that the thesis can be completed within a year. To go on to writing up
status the procedure is as follows:





Read and fill in the writing up form that can be downloaded from the Assessments & Records Centre’s
website: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/schools/arts-sciences/arc/research/write/ssp.html
Submit the form along with a timetable that outlines targets for completion of each of the remaining
chapters and a statement of which of these targets will have been achieved after six months. Both
student and supervisor must sign the timetable and submit it with the form to the Senior Programme
Officer.
Email copies of the already completed chapters to the PhD Tutor, who will then forward this set of
documentation to a PARC representative for checking. This member of the PARC committee will
assess if you have reached the appropriate stage for writing up. If you have, the Chair of the PaRC
Committee will authorise your form and you will be advised that you have passed on to writing up
status. You will receive a decision within two weeks, although this may be slightly longer during the
vacation period as staff are often away on their own research activities.
If it is deemed that you have not made enough progress you can apply again in three months time
following the same procedure. Meanwhile you should be aware that you will be required to pay the full
tuition fee rate. Appeals against review decisions may be made to the Chair of the PARC and must be
made within one calendar month of the decision being notified to you.
After six months on writing up you must submit a brief report to the Senior Programme Officer a brief
report outlining to what extent you have achieved the six monthly goals set out in your initial timetable.
This report must be signed by both yourself and your supervisor.
13. Supervision During Writing Up
You will be expected to submit a draft of each chapter of your thesis to your supervisor. Your supervisor
will suggest improvements that should be made. Your subsidiary supervisor may be asked to read segments
of your thesis and you should make use of his or her specialist knowledge. In the final analysis, a research
degree is a student's work. A supervisor will give a realistic assessment on standards for thesis submission,
but you need to show you can research independently and the final thesis is the student's responsibility. In
the thesis viva examination it is the student and not the supervisor who has to defend the work. You are
reminded that all work submitted must be expressed in your own words and incorporate your own ideas and
22
judgements. Citation from other sources must be clearly stated, as unacknowledged collaboration may result
in a charge of plagiarism.
14. PhD Submission Procedure
The first element in submission is to have your title and your examiners approved. The following stages
apply to students submitting their examination entry form and their thesis.
 Stage 1 - Six months prior to submission, student and supervisor must complete the examination entry
form AND the nomination of examiner form.
 Stage 2 - Completed forms are forwarded to the Research Degrees Officer, College Examinations
Office, James Clerk Maxwell Building, Waterloo Campus.
 Stage 3 – Once your forms have been received this sets in motion the approval of examiners.
 Stage 4 – You submit your thesis to the Research Degrees Officer, College Examinations Office, James
Clerk Maxwell Building, Waterloo Campus (failure to submit the thesis within 18 months of submitting
the title cancels your title registration - you are able to make a new submission but approval of
submission a second time around is not automatic). When you submit your thesis the date will be
recorded as the date of submission.
 Stage 5 – Your examiners will then be approved by Subject Area Boards (SABs) and a copy of your
thesis and background documentation will be forwarded to them. Under the Regulations for Geography
Research Degrees, one examiner should normally be from within the University of London but not from
this Department and one should be from outside the University of London. A third name is submitted in
case the first two examiners cannot reach an agreement. This third person must be equivalent in
academic rank (lecturer/senior lecturer/reader/professor) to the more senior of the first two examiners.
Requests for adjustment to these rules must be discussed with the PhD Tutor and a written application
must be made to the PhD Board of Studies. The final decision is in the hands of the Board of Studies. It
is Department policy that students have the opportunity to express their views on the appropriateness of
potential examiners. The final decision on names to suggest to the Board of Studies is made with a view
to maintaining academic standards, as well as ensuring that the selected examiners are appropriate for
the student's project.
 Stage 6 - When the examiners have been approved, and you have submitted, the viva is arranged, for at
least one month after receipt of the thesis. If a date for the viva has been set prior to approval, it can only
take place if the examiners have been approved.
 Stage 7 - The outcome of the viva will be ratified on receipt of the examiners’ joint report.
For comprehensive information on the submission procedure please see the Core Code of Practice for
Postgraduate Research Degrees 2011-12.
15. Format of the Thesis
The Regulations for a PhD thesis state that it should not be more than 100,000 words in length (60,000 for
an MPhil). Through your supervisor, you can apply for permission to exceed this limit, but this is not
encouraged.
The thesis must be written in English. It must be typed on one side of the paper only. The paper size should
be A4 (210 x 297 mm), as well as being good quality and white. The binding margin should be not less than
40 mm (1.5"). Other margins should be not less than 20 mm (0.75"). Double or one-and-a-half line spacing
23
should be used throughout, except for indented quotations and footnotes, where single spacing is allowed.
All pages must be numbered in one continuous sequence, using Arabic numerals.
You must submit three bound copies of the thesis (binding usually takes about a week). You should bring
one copy of your thesis with you to the oral examination (this copy does not have to be bound). If the
examination is successfully completed, one bound copy is returned to you, one goes to Senate House Library
and one to the College Library. When submitting your thesis you must also provide a one page abstract and
sign a declaration allowing the University of London to reproduce your thesis on microfilm.
Examiners can be hard on typing mistakes (including tables that do not 'add up') and on poor grammar,
spelling mistakes and sloppy expression. It is advisable to have someone read your thesis who has not been
closely associated with it. This especially applies if English is not your first language (in which case your
thesis should be checked by a native English speaker). A very full guide to referencing and bibliographical
citations is published by the Centre for English Studies, University of London. This is:
Alston, R.C. 1992. Notes, References & Bibliographical Citations: A Brief Guide for Students, Centre for
English Studies, University of London, London (Copies of the guide can be bought from: The Secretary,
Centre for English Studies, Room 360, Senate House, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HU, and from the
Department of English, KCL)
You might also find that the following books have material that will help them undertake their dissertation
and prepare it for examination:
Bell, J. (1993) Doing Your Research Project, second edition, Open University Press, Milton Keynes
Collinson, D., Kirkup, G., Kyd, R. and Slocombe, L. (1992) Plain English, second edition, Open University
Press, Milton Keynes
Fairbairn, G.J. and Winch, C. (1991) Reading Writing and Reasoning: A Guide for Students, Open
University Press, Milton Keynes
Marshall, L. and Rowland, F. (1993) A Guide to Independent Learning, Open University Press, Milton
Keynes
Pentz, M. and Shott, M. (1988) Handling Experimental Data, Open University Press, Milton Keynes
Phillips, E.M. and Pugh, D.S. (1994) How to get a PhD, second edition, Open University Press, Milton
Keynes [has a useful section on research practice.]
Vartulli, S. (1982, ed.) The PhD Experience: A Woman's Point of View, Praeger, New York
Further information
‘theeditplace.com’ specialise in helping students with English grammar, punctuation or sentence structure.
Their English editing service not only proofreads your documents for spelling, grammar and punctuation,
but will, where necessary, improve your choice of words and tighten your sentence structure to make your
meaning clearer. Their contact details are website: www.theeditplace.com; email: info@theeditplace.com;
telephone: 0871 218 0396.
16. The PhD Examination
1. Preliminary Independent Reports (before the Viva Examination)
Each examiner is asked to write an independent preliminary report on the thesis. It is expected that this will
be written by each examiner after reading the thesis but before conferring with the co-examiner about it.
Typically the preliminary report identifies particular areas which the examiner believes should be explored
with the candidate during the oral examination, and, if possible, a tentative recommendation, based on an
24
assessment of the thesis, for the result of the examination. Tentative recommendations should not be
indicated to the candidate in advance of the oral, which is an integral component of the examination. The
examiners will exchange their preliminary reports with each other before conducting the oral examination
and the preliminary reports are sent to the College Examinations Office in advance of your viva.
2. The Viva Examination
The date for the oral examination (the viva) is arranged by your supervisor after the thesis is submitted.
Every effort is made to fix a date soon after submission, but some examiners have busy timetables which can
result in considerable delay. The likely timing of a viva is an issue to discuss when considering examiners
for the thesis. Your supervisor can be an observer during the viva, but should not take part in the
examination unless the examiners ask her/him to contribute. In some cases examiners prefer the supervisor
not to be present during the viva, so you should not expect your supervisor to be present. Your supervisor
will not take part in the decision process. After a decision has been reached the examiners provide a written
report to the University.
3. Examination Outcomes
Examiners can reach one of a variety of decisions on a thesis. The options open to the examiners in
determining the result are set out in the Regulations for the MPhil and PhD degrees. These, in summary, are:
 Pass.
 Pass, subject to minor amendments to be completed and checked by one or both of the examiners
within 3 months. The amendments required will be set out clearly, normally in writing, and normally
provided within two weeks of the oral examination and the examiners may arrange directly with you
making the amendments required.
 Pass, subject to major amendments to be completed and checked by one or both of the examiners
within 6 months. The amendments required will be set out clearly, normally in writing, and normally
provided within two weeks of the oral examination and the examiners may arrange directly with you
making the amendments required.

 Not pass, but candidate allowed to re-present the thesis in a revised form within 18 months (PhD) or 12
months (MPhil). The examiners may hold an oral examination on the revised thesis;
 Not pass, but candidate allowed to be re-examined, including oral examination, within 18 months on
the same thesis and by the same examiners;
 Fail PhD, but suitable for consideration for the MPhil. Minor or major amendments, or therepresentation of the thesis within 18 months may be permitted before consideration for the MPhil;
 Outright fail. No further entry to the research degree will be allowed. (This decision is rare and will
only be considered if all other options above have been considered and discounted).
4. Examination of re-entry candidates
Unless it is impossible for them to do so, it is expected that the original examiners will examine you on reentry whether to the PhD or to the MPhil. In examining a re-entry candidate the examiners will have regard
to the report they made on the first examination. Apart from the possibility of not holding an oral
examination, the re-entry examination for the PhD is subject to exactly the same rules and procedures as the
original examination and all the decisions set out in the Regulations for the MPhil and PhD degrees are open
to the examiners. No fee is charged if a thesis passes or minor corrections are made to it (within a month of
the oral) but a re-entry fee is otherwise charged.
5. Appeals Procedure
The University has a Procedure for the Consideration of Appeals by Candidates for Research Degrees,
which is available on request from the Senior Administrator (Research Degrees), College Examinations
25
Office located on the 7th floor of the James Clerk Maxwell Building, Waterloo Campus. Telephone number:
020 7848 3225; email: research.degrees@kcl.ac.uk.
The full set of guidelines governing research degrees is set out in A5: Academic regulations for research
degrees and can be located on the College website.
6. Availability of Theses
In special circumstances access to your thesis can be restricted upon application. However, after reviewing
the circumstances of such restrictions, the University of London has made a policy statement which makes it
clear that approval for such a step will be difficult to obtain, as: - there are two circumstances in which
restriction is most unlikely to be granted. These are when requests are made on the grounds that the thesis
contains sensitive or confidential material or because the reproduction of material contained in the thesis
would infringe the rights of third-party holders of copyright. In the former case the Council considers that
such material is inadmissible in a thesis which is intended to advance science and learning and in the latter
the Council firmly believes that a thesis should not be submitted in a form in which this problem is likely to
arise.
17. Core Code of Practice for Postgraduate Research Degrees
The Core Code of Practice for Postgraduate Research Degrees sets out the policy of King's College
London on good practice in all matters concerning postgraduate research students. Itshould be read in
conjunction with the guidelines set out in this Handbook, the ‘Academic regulations, Regulations
concerningstudents and General regulations’ of King’s College London, procedures for quality assurance
of research degrees published under the authority of the Academic Board by the College; and programme
specifications (for research degrees involving taught elements only).
The Core Code is compliant with the requirements of the Quality Assurance Agency Code of practice;
Section 1 Postgraduate research programmes that came into effect inSeptember 2004. It is reviewed
annually by the College Postgraduate Research StudentSubcommittee, on behalf of the College Education
Committee.
The purpose of the Core Code is to provide a framework for the effective management of and
implementation of good practice in all matters relating to research students at King's College London. It
aims to ensure that all students are effectively supported and supervised so that the full potential of their
research may be achieved and their thesis submitted within the target period of study, which is as set out in
the College academic regulations for the year in which the student commenced their studies.
The documents refererd to above can also be downloaded from the College Policy Zone:
www.kcl.ac.uk/college/policyzone.
26
18. King’s Interdisciplinary Social Science Doctoral Training
Centre (KISS-DTC)
Funded by the Economic and Social Research Council as part of its national network of doctoral training
centres, the KISS-DTC is based in the Graduate School and provides studentships, training courses, and
other support for doctoral research in the social sciences at King’s. It is organized around 15 cross-cutting
research themes in the broad domains of health, regulation and public services, social change, and security.
Each theme is overseen by a designated theme leader, responsible for organizing seminars, workshops, and
other activities designed to bring together postgraduate students and staff working on cognate research but
based in different departments and divisions across the college. Information about the KISS-DTC themes
and the activities they are sponsoring can be found at
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/pg/school/dtc/welcome.aspx.
In addition to these theme based activities and a programme of internships and advanced training courses to
be developed over the coming year, the KISS-DTC will also be running a series of linked courses designed
specifically to support first year PhD students thru the process of upgrading:



Research design and evaluation
Reviewing the literature
Upgrade clinics
Each course combines lectures and practical exercises with theme-based workshops in which PhD students
work in small groups along with others from across the College doing similar research to ground the more
general concepts and skills in their particular fields and individual research programmes. By the end of these
courses, each student will have written, received feedback on, and had a chance to revise initial drafts of the
material required for an upgrade report. For more information about these courses and how to sign up for
them, see http://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/pg/school/dtc/welcome.aspx
19. Plagiarism
The College statement on plagiarism and related forms of cheating can be found at:
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/learningteaching/kep/plagiarism/index.aspx
The following are specific guidelines used by the School for Social Science and Public Policy Examinations
Board to identify cases of plagiarism and should be read carefully:
Plagiarism in written work may be construed as any item of text that appears to have been taken from
another work without acknowledgement. If you paraphrase work from a paper or article (i.e. change
the words or the order of words), a reference (author, year and page numbers) must still be given to
the original source.
Plagiarism may be construed as a continuous length of text (i.e. approaching paragraph length) or a
recurring number of instances of text that appear to have been taken from another work without
acknowledgement.
Please note that even if the work is referenced, improper paraphrasing (ie altering a few words here
and there but still lifting phrases without using quotation marks) is still considered to be plagiarism.
Plagiarism is a form of cheating and a serious academic offence. All allegations of plagiarism will be
investigated, referred to the Academic Registrar and may result in action being taken under the College’s
Misconduct Regulations. A substantiated charge of plagiarism will result in a penalty being ordered ranging
from a mark of zero for the assessed work to expulsion from the College.
Collusion is another form of cheating and is the unacknowledged use of material prepared by several persons
working together.
Students are reminded that all work that they submit as part of the requirements for any examination or
assessment of the College or of the University of London must be expressed in their own words and
incorporate their own ideas and judgments. Direct quotations from the published or unpublished work of
others, including that of other students, must always be identified as such by being placed inside quotation
marks with a full reference to the source provided in the proper form. Paraphrasing – using other words to
express another person’s ideas and judgments – must also be acknowledged (in a footnote or bracket
following the paraphrasing) and referenced. In the same way, the authors of images and audiovisual
presentations must be acknowledged.
It is possible for plagiarism to occur in examination scripts but students should take particular care to avoid
plagiarism and collusion in coursework, essays and reports, especially when using electronics sources or
when working in a group.
Students should also take care in the use of their own work. Credit can only be given once for a particular
piece of assessed work. Submitting the same piece of work (or significant part thereof) twice for assessment
will be regarded as cheating, whether the work was submitted at King’s or at another University.
Unacknowledged collaboration may result in a charge of plagiarism or in a charge of collusion.
Students are advised to consult Department guidance on the proper presentation of work and the most
appropriate way to reference sources and should ensure that they have read and understood it.
In accordance with recommendation from the College Board of Examiners the department requires every
student to sign a plagiarism statement at the beginning of the course to record that they understand the nature
28
of plagiarism and will make every effort to avoid it (see the Appendices section). In addition, the department
requires the submission of a signed plagiarism statement with every piece of assessed work (a copy can be
found in the same section).
Students should be aware that academic staff have considerable expertise in identifying plagiarism and have
access to electronic detection services to assist them.
Approved by the Academic Board June 2005 and endorsed by the Council July 2005.
If you are in any doubt about what is or is not permissible you should consult your tutor or course
organiser as soon as possible.
By submitting coursework to KEATS, it is assumed that you have read and understood the rules regarding
plagiarism.
In addition you must sign and date a copy of the declaration in the pack issued to you at the Department
Introductory Day at the start of each academic year and hand it in to the School Office by Monday 24th
September 2012 at the latest.
Plagiarism Summary




It is very important that students refer correctly to studies and publications they have read and included in
their essays.
Students are reminded that all work submitted must be their own, and they must not collaborate with any
one else.
Students must use their own words at all times. If you wish to use a quote from a paper or article, it must be
placed in quotation marks, and the author and year given.
Students must not re-use essays they have previously written for another module or programme.
29
20. Referencing
For the essays and dissertations that you will need to do as part of your programme, referencing is important to enable
identification of whose ideas and arguments are being used. There are three specific reasons for using referencing:



To acknowledge other people’s intellectual creations (not doing so constitutes plagiarism).
To enable verification of information and interpretations.
To provide sources of information to the reader. Sources need to be acknowledged in two different places:
o At the point at which a source is discussed in the text (the citation).
o In a list at the end of the paper (the reference list). There needs to be a complete match between these
two: every citation needs to appear in the reference list, and the reference list can only contain sources
that are cited in the text.
Citation Conventions
There are recognised conventions for citing the work of others in essays, journal articles etc. Within the text of the
essay/article citations are included at the point at which the work is referred to. These citations are linked to the reference
list, which is usually placed at the end of the essay/article.
Reference List and Bibliography
The terms reference list and bibliography are often wrongly confused. The reference list should only present sources that
are specifically cited in the essay, while a bibliography only shows sources that you have studied while composing your
essay but not cited in the text. In nearly all cases students will be using in-text citations and thus a reference list.
Quoting
When the exact words of a writer are quoted they must be reproduced exactly in all respects: wording, spelling,
punctuation, capitalisation, paragraphing. Quotations should be carefully selected and sparingly used, as too many
quotations can lead to a poorly integrated argument.
Use of a direct quotation is justified when:




Paraphrasing may cause misinterpretation.
Original words are so concisely and convincingly expressed, that they cannot be improved upon.
A major argument needs to be documented as evidence.
A student wishes to comment upon, refute or analyse the ideas expressed.
A short quotation (less than about 40 words) may be included in the body of the text in quotation marks, but if it is longer
start a new line and indent it. For both, as these are direct quotes, include the page number. Long direct quotes should in
general be avoided. If part of the quotation is omitted then this can be indicated using three dots “…”, for example:
“good practices… must be taught” (Smith 1996, p.15) so we should… or: McFee (1971, p. 245) noted that “many of the
facts in this case are incorrect”.
Paraphrasing
Paraphrasing the words of others does not make them one’s own. It must always be clear that the ideas being expressed
are those of the original author, and the work should be cited. Paraphrasing should not be too close to the source – just a
word or two changed here and there is still considered plagiarism. Either quote small elements or read the passage until it
is thoroughly understood, and then write an own version without looking back too often to the original. A citation should
always be given to acknowledge the source of the ideas.
Secondary Referencing
30
Students should never cite an article that they have not seen in full. Students should also not cite an article based only on
an abstract. If it is impossible to read the original article, but the findings of the research need to be included as reported
in a review or textbook, then, it is necessary to cite the article or book which refers to the original work, for example:
Brown’s results cited by Jones (1999, p 159) indicated that…
The Harvard System of Referencing
The Author Citation Harvard System of referencing is the practice of letting the reader of written work know where ideas
or information were obtained. This system must be used in dissertations and essays and uses an abbreviated form of
citation in the text which relates to the full reference listed towards the end of the work. For each citation there must be a
corresponding reference. A comprehensive online guide to the Harvard referencing system can be found at
http://libweb.anglia.ac.uk/referencing/harvard.htm . Please note there are different versions of Harvard referencing and
the information provided here is only a guide. The main thing is that it is important to be consistent.
Citations
The citation appears in brackets at the end of a sentence or clause. It usually consists of the author’s surname (or
authors’ surnames), and the year of publication (with no punctuation between the two items), as well as the relevant page
number(s) if the reference is to a particular place in a book or article. Citations should be, whenever possible, placed at
the end of a sentence (before the concluding punctuation).

Example Studies have shown a significant decline in the proportion of mid-life adults living with an elderly parent
in the 1980s in England and Wales (Grundy 2000).
It is sometimes appropriate to expand what is included in the bracket to make the text read more smoothly.

Example (See, for example, Grundy 2000, p. 193).
However, if you have already referred to an author, it is not necessary to repeat their name in the citation, provided that it
appears soon after the author’s name in the text.

Example According to Grundy (2000) there has been a significant decline in the proportion of mid-life adults living
with an elderly parent in the 1980s in England and Wales.
If you are referring to the whole of a book or article, then the citation does not need a page number. In all other cases the
page number is necessary to show the reader exactly where a specific fact or statement can be found. This is particularly
important after a quotation or statistic. For example, ‘…relative declines in co-residence were greater among the married
than the unmarried’ (Grundy 2000, p. 204).
Citing a Work With More Than One Author
The following conventions are used for works with more than one author.
If there are two authors, both names appear in the citation:
(Glaser & Tomassini 2000).
If there are three or more authors only the name of the first author appears in the citation. The name is followed by the
Latin ‘et al.’ :
(Askham et al 1999).
The reference list, however, should contain the names of all the authors.
Citing More Than One Work by the Same Author
If there is a need to reference two different articles by the same author, eg Lowton in 2003, the way to do this is to
reference the first one as (Lowton 2003a) and the second one as (Lowton 2003b). It is important to keep the ‘a’ and ‘b’
in the reference list. If authors have the same surnames, distinguish them by their initials (Lowton, K 2002). Above all,
it is important to be consistent.
31
Books
The list of references section appears immediately after the conclusion of the essay or final chapter. The following
format is preferred for individual references.
Format
Author(s) Year of publication, Book Title, Place of publication, Publisher.
Note: The author’s name should consist of the surname separated from the initials or given name with a comma. As a
general rule initials are used. Be consistent.
The year of publication is written immediately after the author’s surname (some style guides, use brackets around the
date) and the title of the publication should be italicised.

Example single author
Tinker, A 1997, Older People in Modern Society, 4th edn, London , Longman.

Example multiple author
Askham, J, Nelson, H, Tinker, A and Hancock, R 1999, To Have and to Hold: The Bond Between Older People and
the Homes They Own, London, Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

Example edited work
Berthoud, R & Gershuny, J (eds) 2000, Seven Years in the Lives of British Families, Bristol, The Policy Press.
Chapter or Article in an Edited Book
The chapter or article title is enclosed in single quotation marks and only the first word and any words that normally bear
capitals are capitalised.
Format
Author(s) of chapter Year of publication, ‘Chapter title’, in Editor(s) ed, Book Title, Place of
Publication, Publisher, pp Chapter pages.
Example
Evandrou, M 1997, ‘Social Care: Today and Beyond 2020’, in M Evandrou ed, Baby Boomers. Ageing in the 21st
Century, London, Age Concern England, pp. 119-141.
Government Publications
Office for National Statistics 1999, Birth Statistics, Series FM1 No. 27, London, Stationery Office.
Conference Paper in Published Proceedings
Murphy, M & Grundy, E 1996, ‘Changes in Intergenerational Support Transfers in the 1980’s: The Case of Living
Arrangements’ in EAPS/IUSSP Evolution or Revolution. Proceedings of the European Population Conference, Milan,
Italy, 4-8 Milan September 1995, Franco Angeli, Milan, pp. 249-266.
Theses
Student, A 2003, Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Gerontology, MSc thesis, King’s College London.
32
Articles in a Journal
Format
Author(s) Year of publication, ‘Article title’, Journal Title, volume, issue, article pages.
Example
Preston, JE 2001, ‘The Ageing Choroid Plexus-Cerebrospinal Fluid System’, Microscopy Research Techniques, vol.
52(2), pp. 31-37.
Article in a Newspaper with a Known Author
Format
Author(s) Year of publication, ‘Article title’, Newspaper Title, Day and month of publication, pp,
article page(s).
Example
Berwick, I 2003, ‘The Interview: Alison O’Connell, Pensions in Future Are Going to Cost More’, The Financial Times,
22 March , p. 16.
World Wide Web Page or Web Document
Format
Author/editor Last update or copyright date, Title, (online), available at: <URL> (accessed <date
of access>) .
Note: If no easily identifiable author can be found, use the title page. If a web document includes both a date for the last
update and a copyright date, use the date of last update. Listing the publisher is optional.
Examples
Gjonca, A, Tomassini, C & Vaupel, JW 1999, Male-Female Differences in Mortality in the Developed World, MPIDR
Working Paper WP-1999-009. (Online) Available at http://www.demgr.mpe.de 18 June 2004.
UNECE
2003,
Trends
in
Europe
and
North
http://www.unece.org/stats/trend/trend_h.htm. (Accessed 18 June 2004).
America,
(Online)
Article from Online Databases
Format
Author(s) Year of Publication, ‘Article title’, Journal Title, (Online), Volume, (issue),pp article
pages. Available at: <URL> (Date of access).
Example
33
Available
at
Zeng, Y & Vaupel, JW 2003, ‘Oldest Old Mortality in China’, Demographic Research, (Online) 8(7), pp. 213-244.
Available at http://www.demographic-research.org/. Accessed 18th June 2004.
It can be difficult to decide how to reference some items. For example, conference proceedings, some United Nations
publications, and items which have only a corporate author (that is, an institution or organisation rather than an
individual) may present problems. Seek advice from a member of the library staff if in doubt.
The Order of References
Full references should be listed at the end of the thesis or paper, alphabetically by the author’s surname (or by title if
there is no specific author) and in chronological order and without numbering or bullet points. Any reference, which
exceeds more than one line in length, should have the subsequent lines indented (note: to do this in Word go to Format
and click on Style, from the list of Styles highlight Index 1 and then click on Apply). As the position of the author’s
surname varies between countries, you may need to know the author’s nationality before you can decide which is the
surname. In most European countries the surname is written last, but this is not true for many countries in Asia and
Africa. For example, a Chinese author whose surname is Wang would appear as Wang Jiao in China, but the
Westernised version would be Jiao Wang.
In a list of references Brown comes before Jones, and Brown 1991 comes before Brown 1997. Joint publications follow
solo publications, even if the date is earlier.
34
21. Extensions And Mitigating Circumstances
Guidance notes on mitigating circumstances
It is a College requirement that all students take or submit their assessments at times prescribed by the College.
However, it is acknowledged that exceptionally, through illness or other good cause a student may be unable to meet
these requirements. In such instances College regulations allow students to submit details of their mitigating
circumstances for consideration by boards of examiners. The boards will use the information submitted to determine
whether the mitigating circumstances provided by the student are an acceptable reason for missing an assessment for
example. This section provides information on the College’s mitigating circumstances procedures.
What are Mitigating Circumstances?
They are unforeseen circumstances, outside a student’s control, that have a significant detrimental effect on his/her
performance.
In what ways might mitigating circumstances affect my academic performance?
There are two situations in which a board of examiners within the College can take mitigating circumstances into
account;
1) Where the mitigating circumstances mean that a student is unable to meet a published deadline for submission of
assessed work
2) Where the mitigating circumstances mean that a student is unable to take an examination at the prescribed time
Each of these situations requires a student to submit a different form in order to notify the boards of examiners of their
mitigating circumstances (see below).
What should I do if my mitigating circumstances mean I am unable to meet a deadline ?
In this situation you are required to submit an Extension Request Form
You should use this form to request an extension to a deadline as soon as you become aware that you will be unable to
meet the original published deadline. You can submit the form, along with appropriate documentary evidence, anytime
before the deadline.
If at all possible you should continue to work towards the original published deadline until the outcome of your request
is known. Whilst the Chair of the Board of Examiners will reach a decision on your request as soon as is reasonably
possible, you should be aware that it can take up to 14 calendar days. Consequently, when you make a request close to
the original published deadline your submission may not be considered until after the deadline has passed. In that
situation you should submit your work as soon as is reasonably possible after the deadline, even if you have not been
notified of the outcome of your extension request.
Please note that work submitted late will only receive a mark if the mitigating circumstances are considered acceptable.
If your mitigating circumstances are considered unacceptable your coursework will be deemed late and will receive a
mark of zero as per College policy.
If you need help in deciding whether your mitigating circumstances might constitute an acceptable reason for late
submission of work then you are advised to seek advice from a member of academic staff (for example your personal
tutor, senior tutor or the relevant module leader) or the KCLSU Advice Centre. The final decision rests with the Chair
of the Programme Board of Examiners responsible for your degree programme.
35
What should I do if my mitigating circumstances mean I am unable to sit an examination? (includes in-course
assessments and primary summative assessments)
In this situation you are required to submit a Notification of Examination Absence form.
The form can be submitted at any time before an examination but no later than 7 calendar days after the date of a missed
examination. The completed form must normally be supported by appropriate documentary evidence, but you should not
delay submitting the form if you do not yet have the appropriate documentary evidence.
When submitting the form before an examination it is important that you continue to work towards your examination if
at all possible until the outcome of your submission is known (normally within 14 calendar days from the from the date
of submission).
If you need help in deciding whether your mitigating circumstances might constitute an acceptable reason for missing an
examination then you are advised to seek advice from a member of academic staff (for example your personal tutor,
senior tutor or the relevant module leader) or the KCLSU Advice Centre. The final decision rests with the Chair of the
Programme Board of Examiners responsible for your degree programme.
You should be aware that the College operates a strict “fit to sit” policy; if you present yourself for an examination then
you are declaring yourself as fit to be assessed and cannot subsequently decide that taking the examination was a
mistake because you did not perform as well as you had hoped because of your illnessfor example. The only exceptions
to this are;


where you are taken ill during an examination and so are unable to complete it. In that instance you should
report your illness to an invigilator in the examination hall who will provide you with a signed “incidence
report form”. You should make an appointment with a doctor to obtain a medical certificate as soon as is
reasonably possible and submit the medical certificate and incidence report form along with a completed
Notification of Examination Absence form.
where you have evidence that illness or other circumstances rendered you unable to make a rational decision as
to your fitness. In this instance you should submit the Notification of Examination Absence form along with
supporting documentation that explains why you were unfit and why you were unable to make a rational
decision as to your fitness.
If your mitigating circumstances are deemed a valid reason for missing an assessment then one of the following will be
applied to the missed assessment;
 You will be awarded a replacement assessment at a later date
 You will be awarded an alternative form of assessment at a later date
 The assessment will declared void and your module mark rescaled such that the module mark is based only on
those elements of assessment you completed
If your mitigating circumstances are not deemed a valid reason for missing an assessment then you will be marked as
absent from the assessment and awarded a mark of zero.
Will my marks be increased due to my mitigating circumstances?
No. College regulations do not permit marks for individual elements of assessment to be adjusted to compensate for
mitigating circumstances.
What kind of mitigating circumstances would normally be considered valid?
It is not possible to provide a complete list and each claim made by a student is considered on its merit. However, listed
below are some examples of mitigating circumstances that when supported by appropriate documentary evidence would
normally be deemed acceptable:



Bereavement – loss of close relative/significant other;
Serious short term illness affecting the student;
Serious illness affecting a close family member;
36



Deterioration of a long term physical health and / or mental health condition
Significant adverse personal/family circumstances;
Other serious unforeseen factors, which have a significant impact on your ability to complete your assessments;
What kind of mitigating circumstances would normally be considered in invalid?
It is not possible to provide a complete list but claims made on the basis of the following mitigating circumstance would
not normally be deemed acceptable:






Minor ailments such as cough, cold, headache etc.
Personal disruptions or events that could have been anticipated such as holidays, moving house;
Poor time management;
Financial pressures;
Computer/printer/photocopier problems;
Feeling unprepared for an examination;
What is acceptable supporting documentary evidence?
Supporting documentary evidence must be provided by an independent third party and is required in all cases to support
a student’s claim of mitigating circumstances. In all cases the evidence provided must be signed, dated and presented on
official headed paper. It must be written in English with the source of translation provided if the document has been
translated.
It is not possible to provide a complete list of acceptable evidence but examples include:







Doctor’s note;
Letter from a hospital consultant;
Hospital appointment form showing clearly the students name and date of birth;
Letter from a counsellor;
Letter from a solicitor;
Police report;
Death certificate;
You should seek advice from your personal tutor if you are unsure of what evidence you might be able to provide in
support of your claim.
Where should I submit the forms?
To the Department Office.
Who makes the final decision?
All claims of mitigation are considered by the Chair of the Programme Board of Examiners responsible for your degree
programme.
In reaching a decision the Chair of the Programme Board will take into consideration;



Whether the mitigating circumstances are significant including the period covered;
The number of assessments affected; within a given module there is a limit to the number of assessments you can
miss whilst still being able to demonstrate that you have achieved the learning outcomes of the module;
The authenticity of the evidence provided;
When will I get a response to my submission and what will I get back?
You will normally be notified of the Chair’s decision within 14 calendar days from the date you submit the form, but
bear in mind that it may take longer during periods when the College is closed, notably the Christmas and New Year
period. You will be contacted via your KCL email address and normally the response will summarise the outcome of
37
your submission. You can however request a full copy of the Chair’s decision letter.
Can I appeal against the decision?
You can appeal against a decision of the Board of Examiners but submitting an EDR2 form. Please read the guidance
notes associated with the EDR2 form carefully before lodging an appeal.
38
22. Computing and Library Facilities
Library Services
Library Services and IT Services work together to provide you with the information resources, IT facilities and support
you need during your time at King’s.
Visit the Library Services pages at www.kcl.ac.uk/library and the IT Services pages at www.kcl.ac.uk/it to access our
services and to find out more.
LIBRARIES
There are libraries at all the main campuses and each has information resources relevant to the subjects taught there.
An Enquiry Desk is provided in each Library, and at busy times, roving staff within the libraries can offer basic
assistance so you won’t always need to queue.
The libraries are at:





Strand Campus – The Maughan Library at Chancery Lane
Waterloo Campus – Franklin-Wilkins Library
Guy’s Campus – New Hunt’s House Library; Wills Library in the Hodgkin Building
Denmark Hill Campus – Weston Education Centre Library; the Institute of Psychiatry (IOP) Library
St Thomas’ Campus – St Thomas’ House Library
Your nearest library will be the Maughan Library.
Maughan Library & Information
Services Centre
King's College London
Chancery Lane
London
WC2A 1LR
Tel: 020 7848 2424
Temple underground station
Maps and locations for each of the Libraries and Student Computing Rooms are available at
www.kcl.ac.uk/library/visiting
Opening hours
You can find the libraries’ opening hours at www.kcl.ac.uk/library/visiting/hours. 24/7 IT facilities are available on most
sites and during exam time the larger libraries are also open 24/7.
You will need your College ID card to enter any library, as well as the 24/7 student computing rooms (see Student
Computing below). Your ID card is for your use alone and should not be shared.
Zoning
Zoning has been introduced in libraries and student computing rooms, indicating areas where different activities are
appropriate. These include, silent, quiet and group study areas, and in some libraries, social space. Mobile phones
should be set to silent in most zones. Eating hot food or drinking alcohol is not allowed in any of the zones, but hot and
cold soft drinks may be consumed, so long as they are in cups or containers with lids.
39
Information Specialists
Information Specialists with subject expertise are on hand to discuss your research needs. They offer 1:1 and group
support and provide training on finding and managing information. They also maintain the subject support pages
available at www.kcl.ac.uk/library/subjectsupport
The Information Specialists for Social Science & Public Policy and the Lau China Institute are listed overleaf:
Defence Studies
Education & Professional Studies
Management
Social Science, Health and Medicine
War Studies
Lau China Institute
Vimal Shah
vimal.shah@kcl.ac.uk
020 7848 3425
Geography
Elizabeth Simpson
elizabeth.m.simpson@kcl.ac.uk
020 7848 2986
Political Economy
Liz Murray
liz.murray@kcl.ac.uk
020 7848 2101
LIBRARY COLLECTIONS & SERVICES
The libraries’ collections are made up of both print and electronic material including over 1.25 million books and
thousands of scholarly journals. Other resources include: theses; dissertations; reference tools; official publications;
research reports; statistical data; maps; music scores; audio and video tapes; records; CDs; DVDs; photographs;
manuscripts and microforms.
You can suggest new resources to be added to Library collections by contacting the Information Specialist for your
subject area.
E-resources
Library Services provide access to a large and growing collection of electronic resources, including databases, ejournals
and ebooks. Most of these are accessible from outside King’s. Ejournals and databases can be accessed via the Library
Services home page, and ebooks via the Library catalogue. A further collection of ebooks can be accessed via the Ebook
Library (EBL) which is listed on the Databases list. A username and password is needed to use some of the e-resources,
especially off-campus - this will usually be your King’s username and password. For more information about e-resources
relevant to your subject area, see the Subject Support section of the Library Services home page.
The Library catalogue
The Library catalogue shows you where books are, how many of them we have and whether they are out on loan. You
can also use it to find a range of resources including journals, theses, official publications, videos, DVDs, CDs, music
scores and electronic resources and to request inter-library loans. You can find the library catalogue at
http://library.kcl.ac.uk. Login using your library barcode and PIN number to renew or reserve books and to request
inter-library loans.
Finding journals
Use the Library catalogue to find print or electronic copies of journals. Paper copies are arranged on the shelves in
alphabetical order by the full journal title. You can access electronic journals via the Ejournals link on the Library
Services home page www.kcl.ac.uk/library.
40
Borrowing books
There are different loan periods of four weeks, one week, day and short loan. The table below shows the number of
items you can have on loan at any one time. Some items, including print journals and theses cannot be borrowed. You
need your College ID card for all borrowing. You can also return one week and four weeks loans to any site, regardless
of which library you borrowed them from.
Postgraduate (Masters)
Postgraduate (PhD)
Four week
One week
One day
Short
Total
20
30
10
10
5
5
5
5
20
30
Renewals
You can renew your books as long as they are not reserved by someone else and you owe less than £20.00 in fines. With
your College ID card barcode and PIN, you can renew books online using the Library catalogue or the automated phone
service (020 7848 1555). Short and one day loans must be renewed in person at the site they were borrowed from.
Self-service machines
There are self-service machines in all the libraries and they are available to use even if the Service desk is closed. You
may borrow long loan, one week and short loans from here, provided you don't have any outstanding fines of more than
£20.00 or overdue items on your account.
Reserving books
If you find that all copies of a book are out on loan you can reserve a copy via the Library catalogue. You will receive an
email telling you when the book is ready for collection. Each library has an area set aside for reservations awaiting
collection. Your books will be shelved under the first 3 letters of your surname. You can then issue your reserved book/s
using one of the self-service machines.
Inter-site requests / Inter-library loans
Four week loan books and articles from print journals held at other sites can be requested to come to your home site by
using the ‘Request’ button on the Library catalogue. Your article(s) will be sent as an attachment to your King’s College
email address. You can also request books, theses, dissertations and other publications which aren’t held in King’s
Libraries as interlibrary loans. Further details are available at www.kcl.ac.uk/library/using/requests
Fines and charges
To make sure all students get a chance to use books and other materials, we charge fines if you bring them back later
than you are supposed to. Charges are:

 four week loans 10p per day
 one week loans 30p per day
 short/one day loans 50p per hour/part hour
 laptops £5 per hour/part hour

 You can avoid fines by regularly checking your library record and remembering to return or
 renew items on time.
Special collections
The Foyle Special Collections Library at Chancery Lane houses some 170,000 printed works, as well as maps, slides,
sound recordings and manuscript material. Its collections, built up over centuries by purchase, gift and bequest, contain
many unique items and cover all subject areas, but they are particularly strong in medicine, science, voyages and travels,
the history of Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean, European military and diplomatic history, the history of the British
Empire, 20th century Germany and Jewish and Christian theology.
41
You will need to ask staff for these items which you can look at in the Foyle Special Collections Library. The library is
open to all members of King’s and external scholars. Special collections staff can give you advice on using these
resources to help you with your research. The Archives & Special Collections web site is at
www.kcl.ac.uk/library/collections/archivespec
Archives
Library Services holds over four million original documents including records created by King’s and its amalgamated
institutions. These range from the minutes of governing bodies, title deeds and policy files to staff and student records,
photographs and research papers. These can be viewed in the Michael Howard Archives Reading Room on the Strand
which also provides access to the Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives. The archives team can provide advice and
support to graduate students and occasional internships are available to learn more about using the archives.
External resources
If a resource you need is not available locally, library staff can tell you about other libraries, archives and special
collections. You can find out more about these other libraries including the British Library and University of London
college libraries at www.kcl.ac.uk/library/visiting/visitingother
Disability
The Library Services disability adviser will be able to talk to you about any special requirements in confidence and tell
you about using libraries and IT. We also provide software to help students with special needs and individual tuition can
be arranged. More information is available at www.kcl.ac.uk/library/using/disability
---------------------------------------
STUDENT COMPUTING
There are currently 1,200 student computers available as well as media stations and scanners in the libraries and Canon
printers in the student computing rooms, and there is a range of online services to support flexible study.
King’s Global Desktop
The Global Desktop allows you to use software and to access your personal files and documents from any computer with
an internet connection. Software available on the Global Desktop includes: SPSS, Endnote and specialist departmental
software.
You can log on to Global Desktop at http://desktop.kcl.ac.uk using your King’s username and password. You will be
presented with a standard Windows desktop. Click on the ‘My Documents’ folder to get into your file store. Before
using the Global Desktop, we recommend that you read the user guide, available at https://internal.kcl.ac.uk/it
File storage: The Global Desktop file storage capacity for graduate taught students is 200 MB and for graduate research
students is 500MB. Your data can be accessed from both the Global Desktop and the Campus Desktop (see ‘Student
computing rooms’ below).
Student computing rooms
Student computing rooms are available at each campus. Location details can be found at
https://internal.kcl.ac.uk/it/student/locationdetails.aspx. All the machines are connected to printers.
Within a student computing room, there are two types of workstation:
 Campus Desktop workstation – access all the specialist subject applications and software and your own
personal file store

Global Desktop workstation – log in directly to your personalised Global Desktop. Please note: not all
specialist applications are available on the Global Desktop. A list of applications that can ONLY be accessed
from the Campus Desktop is available in student computing rooms. Signs in the room will tell you which PCs
are Global Desktop workstations.
42
Login access to both the Campus Desktop and Global Desktop workstations is via your King’s username and password.
The Desktops are synchronised so that when you save a work file in your Campus Desktop ‘My Documents’ folder, you
can access it again from the Global Desktop when you log in via the internet or a Global Desktop workstation.
Laptop Loan Service
Students can borrow laptops from most of the main libraries. These are available to borrow for free from the Service
Desk. The laptops are loaned for three hours, and are issued on a first-come, first-served basis.
Laptop Stations
Throughout the College, there are a number of laptop stations where you can plug in and charge your laptop while
working.
King’s email service
The King’s email service provides many features to help you get the most out of your email, including a range of
Microsoft communication tools such as: calendar and scheduling; tasks and personal contact information; Office
Communicator and synchronisation with handheld devices. To use your email account follow the link at
https://internal.kcl.ac.uk/it/email
Wireless network
A high speed, secure wireless network is accessible across all sites and at most halls of residence (further details at
https://internal.kcl.ac.uk/it/connected/Wireless/locations.aspx).
It is compatible with Windows PCs, Macintosh computers and handhelds (PDAs).
The Access Kings network is the most secure, but the Kingswireless network is also available. You can also register to
use Eduroam, which will enable you to use the network facilities at other universities participating in this scheme. Use
your King’s username and password to log on to all these networks.
Printing and scanning
All libraries have black and white and colour printers. There are also acetate printers and an A0 poster printing service.
Charges are: 5p for b/w A4, 50p for colour A4, 80p for acetate and £20 for A0 poster. You pay for this using a print
credit system linked to your King’s username and password. All students are given an initial print credit allocation
which allows a limited amount of free printing. Scanners are also available at all the main sites.
Follow-me printing
Follow me printing, available from both the Campus and Global Desktops allows you to send a document to one of
several designated ‘follow me’ printers located across the College. The document is only released when you enter your
King’s username and password into the printer.
Web printing
Web printing allows you to print from your own computer or mobile device to a King’s printer when you are connected
to the King’s wireless network. With web printing, you can print from home or you can print to any student computing
printer. Please note that you don’t need to be in the Global Desktop for this.
Photocopying
There are self-service photocopiers in all libraries. You’ll need a photocopying card – which you can recharge when it
runs out - from a coin-operated machine. This costs £2 and includes your first 10 units.
b&w / colour
black & white
black & white
colour
colour
size
A4
A3
A4
A3
units per side
1 units
2 units
14 units
21 units
cost
5p
10p
70p
£1.05
IT SECURITY – lock IT up!
Universities are increasingly becoming targeted by IT security threats such as phishing attacks and viruses. IT
Services has published a booklet that tells you all about the risks involved and provides advice on the steps you can take
to secure your work, your PC and the College network. You can download the booklet and free antivirus software from
https://internal.kcl.ac.uk/it/security/index.aspx.
43
Don’t forget: King's, and any other reputable organisations, will NEVER ask you for your username and password in an
email. Lock IT up!
For all student computing related services, visit https://internal.kcl.ac.uk/it
Services & systems status updates
IT Services provides regular updates and information on planned works to the services we support. This includes the
King’s email service, the Global Desktop, and online library services such as the Library catalogue and e-resources. You
are encouraged to check this webpage before calling the IT Service Desk if you find you can’t access a particular
service. The IT Services update page is available from MyPage or the Intranet https://internal.kcl.ac.uk.
TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
Together with Schools and departments, Library Services provide inductions for all new students. Information
Specialists also offer training together with other departments and play an important role in the College’s Graduate
Skills Development Programme. Seminars and updates for your department can be arranged, as can 1:1 consultations.
The Library training portfolio includes:

information skills training, including searching for, appraising and citing online and print resources

bibliographic software training, comprising subject specific courses in EndNote

dissertation support workshops

dedicated NHS training provision

Information management courses on managing records and data, for staff and researchers
For further information see www.kcl.ac.uk/library/help/training
At King’s you also have the opportunity to further develop your IT Skills, either through online learning or by attending
our specially designed IT courses for graduates. These include Nvivo and SPSS, ‘Microsoft Office Word: working with
long documents’ and ‘Microsoft Office PowerPoint for posters’.
Both Library and IT training courses can be booked via Skillsforge https://training.kcl.ac.uk
Graduates can also highlight their IT skills to future employers by obtaining the globally recognised Microsoft Office
Specialist (MOS) certification.
Bibliographic software
Bibliographic software allows you to store, organise and cite references. You can either enter references yourself or
download them from databases. Reference lists can be tailored to particular journal or publishing styles. We offer
training and support for EndNote and RefWorks. These packages are available on the Campus Desktop and the Global
Desktop, and King’s has a site licence allowing unlimited use on College-owned or operated computers. The web based
software, RefWorks and EndNote Web are also available from any computer with an internet connection. You can find
out more about bibliographic software at www.kcl.ac.uk/library/help/bibsoftware
Research support
The Library Services Research Support pages provide advice on key research alerting strategies including RSS feeds,
funding alerts and other resources. You can find the Research Support pages at www.kcl.ac.uk/library/researchsupport
A training course called ‘Citations Count!’ is run to help research postgraduates and staff gain an understanding of
citation measures (bibliometrics) and how to use this knowledge to maximise publication impact.
SUPPORT AND ADVICE
IT - For support and advice, please contact the IT Service Desk on 020 7848 2430 (open Monday to Friday 08:0018:00) or email itservicedesk@kcl.ac.uk
44
Library Services - Run an online real-time ‘Ask ME Online’ service which you can access remotely from anywhere
with an internet connection www.kcl.ac.uk/library/contact
User guides available at www.kcl.ac.uk/library/help/guides.aspx should help to answer your questions.
Electronic Databases
For a comprehensive list of databases go to the electronic databases A-Z list by clicking on the link to ‘databases’ on
the library home web page http://metalib.kcl.ac.uk/V/?func=find-db-1.
Other electronic databases include:
JSTOR is an electronic database containing a number of electronic journals such as Demography, Population Studies,
Population and Development Review. Visit their website at: http://uk.jstor.org/ (you should have access from within
King’s College).
AgeSourceWorldwide is a free database describing clearing houses, databases, libraries, directories, statistical
resources, bibliographies and reading lists, texts and web sites focused on ageing.
The website is:
http://www.aarpinternational.org/home
Other Electronic Sources of Information
The Guardian
The Economist
The Times
Age UK
Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Pensions Policy Institute
http://www.guardian.co.uk/
http://www.economist.com/
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/
http://www.ageuk.org.uk
Useful online fact sheets on a range of issues concerning older people; up
to date press releases and other online resources
http://www.jrf.org.uk
Online summaries of recent JRF research projects on community care, the
voluntary sector, housing and social policy; press releases on the latest
social policy issues.
http://www.pensionspolicyinstitute.org.uk
The Pensions Policy Institute is an educational charity set up to
promote the study of pensions and other retirement provision. The
Institute provides a wealth of useful information on pensions.
45
23. General Information for Students
This section of the handbook provides some general information on some of the central College areas that may be
encountered during your period of study with the Department.
Equality and Diversity Department
The College's equal opportunities statement makes clear the College's commitment to equality of opportunity in all its
activities and its statement is as follows:
King's College London is committed to promoting and developing equality of opportunity in all areas of its work. This
involves embedding equality and diversity issues into every aspect of the College’s activities.
King’s College London Equality and Diversity Unit in the Governance Team are available to all staff and students for
information and advice on all equality and diversity issues.
Contact Details:
Address:
Tel:
Email:
Website:
Room 7.38 James Clerk Maxwell Building, Waterloo Campus
Tel 020 7848 3830
equality@kcl.ac.uk
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/about/structure/admin/equal-opps/
Policies: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/aboutkings/quality/academic/myhandbook/policies.aspx
Strategic Plan: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/aboutkings/strategy/index.aspx
Learning and Teaching at Kings: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/college/policyzone/index.php?id=288
Research at Kings: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/aboutkings/quality/academic/myhandbook/research.aspx
Regulations, Assessment and Feedback: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/aboutkings/quality/academic/myhandbook/regs.aspx
Student Support: http://www.kcl.ac.uk/aboutkings/quality/academic/myhandbook/support.aspx
The Compass
The Compass has been created to support and enhance the living and learning student experience at King’s. The
Compass team are multi cultural and multi lingual. The languages spoken are: French, Italian, Tagalog, Polish, Spanish
and Japanese. The Compass team aims to provide a variety of services at times when the student is looking for support
and guidance.
It aims to:
 Provide students with a central hub and point of access to a range of services.
 Provide specialist advisors for international and graduate students.
 Be available at the hours when students most need the service.
 Bring services to students by hosting drop-in sessions from other departments
 Provide consistent standards of customer service and ‘own’ issues until resolution.
 Increase the College’s ability to respond to changing student expectations and provide a base upon which to build
additional and improved services.
46
Some of the student services The Compass provides are as follows:

Student status letters: These will be produced 5 working days from the submission request.
If you are a current student the Compass can provide confirmation of study letters that states your programme of
study, duration of the programme and expected completion date. If your letter needs to confirm any further
information about your course details such as module selection, or you are re-sitting a year, then the letter can only
be produced by the Assessment Record Centre.
Bank accounts: The Compass can produce a letter to help you with opening a bank account. The letter confirms
that you are a current student at King's College London and includes your UK contact address held by the College.
NB: If your contact address is not up-to-date, you will need to change this via OneSpace before the letter can be
produced.
Visa letters: If you are an international student and need to extend your visa, you will need to request a
Confirmation of Acceptance of Study (CAS) number to supply with your application. The Compass can also
produce Post Study Work Visa (Tier 1) letters and supporting letters for international students who want to invite
family or friends to visit them in the UK, as well as letters for students who are applying form a visa to travel
abroad.
Library access: If you are a current student and have forgotten your ID card you can request a library access
letter at the Compass. Please specify the campus library that you want to visit. Please note that these letters give
you reference access to the libraries only, they do not allow you to borrow books. NB: You must collect this letter
from The Compass and you are required to provide an alternative proof of photo ID.
Council tax exemption: Eligible students must be enrolled on a full-time postgraduate programme, which
requires attendance for at least 21 hours a week and for at least 24 weeks a year. Part-time students may be
eligible for Council Tax Benefit.
Certificates: The Compass produces certificates for full time students who are eligible for council tax exemption.
New and replacement ID cards: New ID cards can be provided for students who enrol after the standard
enrolment week. Your new card will give you automatic access to all King’s College London Libraries, but you
will need to take it to Site Services to get access to Student Computer rooms. You must collect your ID card from
The Compass and you are required to provide an alternative proof of photo ID when you collect/pay for your card.
Fee payment: The Compass accepts payments for tuition, bench and accommodation fees by cheque only, for all
students. NB: It can take 2-3 weeks for the payment to be credited to your account. Please note that students who
do not pay their fees within the stated time are liable for suspension. Also you will need to ensure that you are
provided with a receipt for payment of your fees as this can save problems at a later stage. Any queries about fees
should be directed to The Compass in the first instance.
Corporate sponsor cheques: The Compass will forward cheques to the Cashier’s Office on the student’s behalf
and a manual receipt will be issued.
Sterling drawn abroad/Foreign cheques: The Compass will forward cheques to the Cashier’s Office and a
manual receipt will be issued.









Please note that The Compass cannot produce transcripts or letters with specific programme information. Transcripts
should be requested from the Student Registration Office.
How to Request Letters
Students are encouraged to order letters through Compass Online (which is accessed via OneSpace Student Records).
However, letters can be requested in person at the Strand. You will be sent an email to your King’s account which will
inform you when your letter is ready to be collected. You must then bring your student ID as you are required to present
this on collection. You can request your letter to be posted to your current contact address on OneSpace Student
Records. You will be sent an email to your King’s account which will inform you when your letter was posted.
Unfortunately The Compass is unable to scan documents for students.
Compass online
The Compass Student Support Centre offers a 24-hour enquiry service for students, which is called Compass Online.
The main functions of Compass Online are:

To request a service/document – confirmation of letters, ID cards etc
47

To search FAQs – eg finance, accommodation, course related enquiries, international student enquiries, campus
facilities and directions, student support enquiries, Compass information and service enquiries, graduate specific
enquiries and ISS specific enquiries.
Drop box
There is now a drop box at The Compass, Strand, so the following can be left for processing – cheques for tuition fees
and accommodation fee payments. Changes to registration status forms, changes of module registration forms and late
registration for examination forms. Forms must be complete and accurate before being dropped off.
Drop-in sessions
The Compass hosts drop-in sessions with specialist advisors from other departments within the College. These are fixed
at regular times each week, and some sessions require an appointment.
Study Space
The Compass at the Strand offers an attractive formal and group study space together with more comfortable seating for
quiet reading. Students doing group work are asked to work quietly so as not to disturb others. Mobile phones must be
kept on silent mode.
Contact Details:
Macadam Building ‘L’, Strand Campus
020 7848 7070
thecompass@kcl.ac.uk
Please provide your student ID number in the subject field box when
emailing the Compass team
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/thecompass
Term Time:
Out of Term:
Mondays: 0900-1700 hours
Mondays: 0900-1700 hours
Tuesdays: 0900-1900 hours
Tuesdays: 0900-1700 hours
Wednesdays: 1030-1700 hours
Wednesdays: 1030-1700 hours
Thursdays: 0900-1900 hours
Thursdays: 0900-1700 hours
Fridays: 0900-1700 hours
Fridays: 0900-1700 hours
Address:
Tel:
Email:
Website:
Opening Hours:
There is also a drop-in session fro advice on money, housing, immigration, consumer or employment issues run on
Fridays 1130-1330 hours. Advice Line 020 7848 6858, Email advice@kcl.ac.uk .
The Assessment Record Centre (ARC)
The Assessment Record Centre (ARC) maintains your student record on the official College student administrative
database. It is your responsibility to ensure that details such as your address, examination entry, emergency
contact etc are correct. Some of this can be done by using myKCL/OneSpace, the web portal for students, which you
can access via the College’s website. However, it is important that you also inform your department about any changes
in your circumstances.
Accommodation Services
The Accommodation Services team process all applications to the King's and Intercollegiate residences. A broad range
and choice of accommodation is offered. Their policy is to encourage integration within the residence populations from
all academic programmes represented at the College.
The Accommodation Team can help with:



Problems in Halls of Residence
Finding private accommodation
Using the online University of London Housing Service.
48
The majority of King’s residences are in central London and most are close to King’s teaching campuses. All are within
the London travel zones 1 and 2 and include catered/self-catered halls of residence, apartments, self-catering single
studios, intercollegiate accommodation.
Contact Details:
Address:
Tel:
Email:
Website:
Opening Hours:
Accommodation Services
The Compass, B1 Macadam Building
Strand Campus
Tel: 020 7848 2759 Monday – Friday 0930-1245/1445-1645 (1600
hours on Thursdays)
Fax: 020 7848 2724
accomm@kcl.ac.uk
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/campuslife/accom/kings/overview.aspx
Monday – Friday 1400-1600 hours
Student Applications
Applications will be considered in order of priority and date of receipt at the Accommodation Office. Priority for
graduate accommodation places is given to overseas applicants who are entering the College for the first time on a
programme of at least one year, who have not lived or studied in the UK before. Candidates with a permanent home
address in the UK, and those who have previously studied in London may apply for accommodation, although these
applications may only be considered if any late vacancies occur within the graduate quota. It is anticipated that many
students within this category will need to find accommodation in the private rented sector.
Private Accommodation
The Accommodation Office also holds lists of privately let properties and hostels as well as details of properties
managed by the University Head Lease scheme and a Sharers’ List. Students may access the University of London
Housing Services web-site http://www.lon.ac.uk/accom, which features an extensive list of different types of
accommodation. Alternatively, email housing@lon.ac.uk or telephone: 020 7862 8880).
English Language Centre
The English Language Centre (ELC) provides a wide range of quality general and academic English programmes that
give students the academic and cultural platform they need for future degrees at King’s College or other UK universities.
It is accredited by the British Council and is a member of BALEAP (British Association of Lecturers in English for
Academic Purposes), IATEFL (International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language) and AULC
(Association of University Language Centres).
The English Language Centre offers different types of support for all King’s Students. All the support is free and runs
throughout the academic year. The support focuses on the academic language and study skills that will help students
make the most of their time at King’s and settle into a new and challenging environment.
Study Skills Support
This is support if you are a native (or nearly native) English speaker and want to develop and receive input and guidance
on academic and study skills. Courses available include ‘Using Sources Effectively in Academic Written Work’ and
‘Strategies for Improving Presentation Skills’.
In-Sessional Support
This is support if your first language is not English and you would like some help relating to language and/or academic
skills.
Students can attend up to two classes per week and the length of courses varies between two and eight weeks.
Contact Details:
Address:
The English Language Centre
26-29 Drury Lane
49
Tel:
Email:
Website:
Opening Hours:
London
Tel: 020 7848 1600 Fax: 020 7848 1601
elc@kcl.ac.uk
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/elc/
Monday 0930-1700 hours
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 0900-1700 hours
Wednesday 0900-1400 hours
Modern Language Centre
The Modern Language Centre (MLC) offers a range of language modules for taught postgraduate students. A limited
number of places are available, for free for students who wish to take a language module NOT for credit but in support
of their studies. Places will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.
Contact Details:
Address:
Tel:
Website:
Opening Hours:
The Modern Language Centre
170 Strand
Tel: 020 7848 1179 Fax: 020 7848 0035
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/artshums/depts/mlc/modules/index.aspx.
Monday – Friday 0930-1730 hours
Information For International Students
Registration with the Police
Some non-EU and non-Commonwealth students admitted to the UK for more than six months are required to register
with the police within seven days of arrival. The stamp in your passport will tell you whether it is necessary to do this.
A fee is usually charged for each registration certificate.
Extension of Visas
Before you arrive in Britain you will have needed to secure a student visa from your nearest British Diplomatic Post
(Embassy, Consulate-General or High Commission). If you studying on a programme which is more than six months
long you must make an application for Entry Clearance as a student and have been granted your Tier 4 student visa
before you travel. You are normally granted one year of entry as a student into the UK. You will then be required to
extend your permit for each year of study. On arrival in the UK an Immigration Officer will stamp your passport
specifying the length of time you have been given permission to stay. You are required to extend your residence permit
for each year of study. This will involve contacting the Home Office and obtaining the relevant forms for completion.
Most forms can now be obtained online at the Home Office website http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk All queries
should be directed to the site in the first instance. Note that there is a large section which the Department must complete
so please ensure you give sufficient time for this before you need to return it to the Home Office. Overseas students can
also seek advice on visa and immigration issues, work permits, fees and awards from the KCLSU Advice service, or
from the Welfare Office, Room 1.19, Franklin-Wilkins Building.
Bank Accounts
Students from non-EU countries are usually allowed to open an account only after they register at the College. You are
advised to open a Student Account in a branch close to the College – for example, there is a branch of NatWest on the
Aldwych. Staff at this branch are more familiar with the facilities available to students and usually have a Student
Adviser on site. Banks offer a range of different packages for students, and you are advised to visit banks to discuss your
requirements.
International Students & Health Services
Students from the EEA are entitled to medical treatment and students subject to
immigration control can also access the NHS if their programme of study lasts for more than six months. If your stay is
for less than six months, and if your country does not have a reciprocal health agreement with the UK, it is essential that
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you take out health insurance to cover any possible medical expenses. If your period of study is longer, you may also
take out private health insurance without jeopardising your rights to benefit from treatment from the NHS.
Student Advice & International Student Support Services
Student Advice & International Student Support hosts an annual free Welcome and Orientation Programme at the
beginning of the autumn term, which includes several events to welcome you to London and to provide useful
information to help you settle in and meet other new international students.
If you haven’t studied in the UK before, it is worth bearing in mind that the academic culture at universities in the UK
could be quite different from the study environment that you are used to.
One of the key features of higher education in the UK, and particularly at King’s, is that you will have direct contact
with academic members of staff within your department. You are likely to have large group lectures, but you will also
have smaller group sessions, practical sessions and tutorials. You may also see members of staff individually on
occasions. Also, students are expected to actively participate in small group sessions and engage in discussions, rather
than simply listen.
The academic culture is also relatively informal. Staff members will tell you how they wish to be addressed, but in
many cases you will be on first name terms with them. Staff are also there to support and guide you through your
programme, but you should bear in mind that you are responsible for your own learning. Time outside of lectures etc is
your own but the understanding is that you will be spending a considerable amount of your time studying.
The Student Advice & International Student Support Services team also provides additional support in the form of
immigration advice and orientation sessions, as well as assistance with financial, practical, legal and all welfare-related
topics which may affect you during your time in the UK. The experienced team of Student Advisers offer advice on a
one-to-one basis in a confidential setting. They also run group information workshops. Topics that can be advised on
include:
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Entry clearance problems
Extending your student visa from within the UK
Immigration status
Working in the UK during/after your studies
Fee status queries
Travelling abroad whilst on a UK student visa
Opening a UK bank account
Police registration
Issues relating to dependants.
Advisors have particular experience in assisting with the following:
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Immigration law.
Student finance (student loans, tuition fees, grants etc).
Social security benefits and tax credits.
Housing rights.
Consumer law.
Fee payment problems.
Money management (planning a budget).
Dealing with debt.
International student issues.
Financial support for student parents (childcare costs etc).
Postgraduate funding.
Disability benefits.
Funding for repeat periods of study.
Interrupting your studies, re-sitting, withdrawing or transferring.
Hardship funds and bursaries.
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NHS funding.
Funding from trusts and charities.
Council tax.
If you are in the UK with student or Tier 4 visa, the immigration rules require that you have the funds to cover your
tuition fees and maintenance in order to obtain a student visa or entry clearance to come into the UK and to extend your
stay in the UK as a student. You should be able to maintain yourself and your family without having to work in the UK
and without claiming welfare benefits. This applies during all of your time in the UK. Therefore it is essential that you
seek advice as soon as you are aware that there may be a problem with your funding.
Contact Details:
Tel:
Email:
Website:
Student Advice Line 020 7848 6858.
advice@kcl.ac.uk
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/ug/international/Contacts.aspx
Appointments
You can phone the Student Advisers on the number given above to book an appointment. Most booked appointments
last 30 minutes and take place in a confidential one to one setting. Where it is necessary follow-up appointments are
made.
Drop-in Sessions
For brief enquiries, students may wish to simply ‘drop-in’ to see an Advisor. Sessions last approximately 15 minutes
and are available Monday – Friday. Please be aware that these sessions operate on a first come first served basis, so you
may need to wait until it is your turn to be seen.
Emails
Emails can be sent for initial enquiries or to request information. However, it must be noted that emails are not ‘strictly’
confidential as other authorised members of the College can obtain access. For confidential or more complex matters it
is therefore advisable to book an appointment to see an Adviser.
Student Funding Office
The Student Funding Office at King’s offers confidential advice is designed to both prospective and current students
covering issues such as bursaries, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans and other financial issues to assist
you during your studies.
Contact Details:
Address:
Tel:
Email:
Website:
Opening Hours:
Room G.31, James Clerk Maxwell Building, Waterloo Campus
020 7848 4362/4363/4471 Fax 020 7848 4366
funding@kcl.ac.uk
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/funding
Monday – Friday 1000-1630 hours
Access to Learning Fund (ALF)
The Access to Learning Fund is a limited discretionary fund given to universities by the government to assist students on
low incomes who may need extra financial support for their programme and to stay in higher education. All full-time
and most part-time ‘home’ students are eligible to apply. Applicants are assessed by the Student Funding Office. The
Access to Learning Fund is open throughout the year, but only whilst funds permit. Application forms may be obtained
from Student Welfare Offices and Student Funding Offices or can be downloaded from the website. Assistance cannot
be given towards tuition fees.
Graduate School
The prime purpose of the Graduate School is to encourage the best possible graduate student experience and outcomes.
It seeks to ensure that King’s attracts, teaches and supports a growing share of the highest quality postgraduates in the
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world. Its overall objective is to enhance the experience of graduate students at King’s and to ensure that all students
fulfil their full potential.
Oversight and Monitoring of Graduate Programmes and Practice Across the College:
The Graduate School has a responsibility to ensure that the quality and content of the programmes on which graduate
students are studying are of the highest standard and the students get the best possible preparation for their future
careers.
Funding Opportunities including Scholarships & Bursaries, Conference Grants, Skills Development Support:
The Graduate School has been instrumental in obtaining a great deal of funding for scholarships and other grants. They
administer many of the grants that graduate students receive and can advise on what is available and how to apply for it.
Graduate Space and Facilities:
There is graduate workspace in many of the College libraries and social space in the Graduate Lounges (at the Strand,
Waterloo, Denmark Hill and Guy’s Campuses).
Feedback:
The Graduate School obtains formal feedback via the PRES survey and attempts to address issues that are raised.
Contact Details:
Address:
Tel:
Email:
Website:
Appointments:
7.38 James Clarke Maxwell Building, Waterloo Campus
020 7848 5454
graduateschool@kcl.ac.uk
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/graduate/school
A representative from the Graduate School will be available at the
Compass for drop-in sessions held on a monthly basis, every third
Tuesday 1200-1400 hours, or appointments can be made by emailing
the Graduate School team.
Student Complaints Procedure
King’s College London is committed to considering and investigating genuine complaints from students. The College
defines a complaint as an expression of dissatisfaction that warrants a response. The College views this as an
opportunity to review what led to the complaint and where appropriate seek an early resolution. Outcomes can also be
used to improve services to all members of the College. Students who feel they have a complaint about any aspect of
their academic (or learning) experience, will need to raise this with their academic department initially. The Student
Conduct and Appeals Office manages the College’s Student Complaints Procedure.
In the first instance, if there is an issue connected with studies in the Institute of Gerontology, but not directly
concerning examinations, students should initially raise their complaint or concerns informally with the member of staff
responsible for the matter giving rise to the complaint or concern. If a student feels unable to raise the complaint or
concern with the member of staff responsible, or if the member of staff does not resolve the complaint or concern to the
satisfaction of the student, then the student should discuss the matter with their personal tutor. Their personal tutor will
then raise the complaint or concern with the member of staff responsible (respecting student anonymity where this is
agreed between the student and their personal tutor), and agree a course of action designed to resolve the complaint or
concern. The personal tutor and/or member of staff responsible will then report back to the student(s) who raised the
complaint or concern.
If students are not satisfied with the way their complaint or concern has been addressed or resolved, they may appeal to
the Head of Department to arbitrate. If students remain dissatisfied following this arbitration, they may appeal to the
Head of School - Professor Denise Lievesley.
Students may also raise complaints and concerns with the Programme Director indirectly, through the medium of the
Staff Student Liaison Committee. Complaints and concerns raised by student representatives at meetings of the Staff
Student Liaison Committee are handled in the same manner as complaints and concerns raised by individual students.
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Student complaints or concerns regarding examination matters should initially be discussed with the Chair of the Board
of Examiners, Professor Nikolas Rose. If the complaints or concerns are not resolved by the Chair to the student’s
satisfaction, the student may appeal through the formal King’s College examination appeal procedures, as set out in
College Regulations.
The procedure has one informal and three formal elements:
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Informal (dealt with at the most local relevant level)
Stage 1: Investigation by Head of Department, Division or School
Stage 2: Investigation by Director of Academic Services
Stage 3: Hearing by Complaint Review Committee.
The College also has a Student Complaints Procedure which can be used for complaints within the following areas, the
consequences of which have an alleged adverse affect on the complainant:
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Provision or delivery of programmes or parts of programmes.
Inadequate services or facilities of the School/College.
Decisions, actions or perceived lack of action taken by a member of College staff.
Decisions, actions or perceived lack of action taken by a central College service, or a member of staff acting on its
behalf.
You may wish to seek advice from one of the KCLSU representatives. Advice is also available through Student Advice
and International Student Support and/or the Counselling Service.
The Student Complaints Procedure does not cover complaints arising from matters related to academic progression,
assessment or examination.
For Information on the College’s Student Complaints Procedure please refer to the Student Guide to Regulations 201112 which you will have received as part of your registration. The full text of all College regulations can be found at
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/about/governance/regulations; the respective forms are downloadable from the King’s College
Policy Zone at http://www.kcl.ac.uk/college/policyzone.
If you believe your complaint cannot be resolved informally, you will find the college complaints procedure in the
Academic regulations, Regulations concerning students & General regulations:
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/about/structure/admin/facser/centre/current/complaints.
Living In London
Public Transport
In London, public transport is usually the best way to go as traffic is always bad. Buses, trains, tubes, coaches and even
some river services combine to cover the London region thoroughly. Rail services and underground services are fast and
frequent and buses are good for short journeys. The Oyster card is generally the cheapest way to make single journeys
in the Capital. It can be used on buses, tube, trams, DLR, London overground and some National Rail services in
London. An 18+ Student Oyster photocard entitles the holder to buy student rate Travelcards and Bus and Tram Pass
season tickets, which can cost 30% less than adult-rate tickets. Full time students aged 18 and over can apply for a LT
Discount Card, giving 30% discount on weekly and monthly tickets on buses, underground, Docklands Light Railway
and Tramlink within the M25 areas. To find out more, and about transport in London in general, go to:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/
There are also many local bus routes:
Location
Strand to Waterloo
Strand to Guy’s
Denmark Hill
St Thomas ‘ Hospital
Hampstead
Bus Route Number
1,4,59,68,139,168,171,172,175,243,341
RV1
59, 68, 176
77, 507
139, 168
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London Bridge
381, 521, RV1
Bus maps can be found at: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/modalpages/2605.aspx
Night Travel and Personal Safety
If you are out late in the evening, there is a bus service which runs throughout the night, interconnecting most areas of
London. Night buses have an ‘N’ prefix and usually depart from and arrive at Trafalgar Square on either an hourly or 30
minute schedule. If you decide you would like to travel by taxi, take care. It is recommended that you use only Black
Cabs as they are licensed. There is no way of knowing for sure if a mini-cab is legitimate or not so avoid them. If a
‘mini-cab’ driver attempts to offer you a ride unsolicited (this is illegal), do NOT accept it.
When walking late at night use only well-lit streets and do not take short-cuts you do not know. Walk quickly and hold
your bag or wallet tightly (this is a good idea at any time of the day). It is advisable to carry a personal alarm - they are
available from the Student Union shops, King’s Things and Guy’s Supplies.
A College leaflet, entitled safeandsecure@kings, contains advice on personal safety, and is available from all receptions.
Owning a Vehicle While at College
The College has no restrictions on students owning vehicles during their studies but has the general principle that no
student or member of staff should expect to park on College premises as of a right, with the exception of some staff and
anyone who has a disability or is mobility-impaired. You are advised against bringing motor vehicles into College
because of these parking limitations and the general problem of parking in central London. This also reflects the
College’s desire to exclude vehicles from the main circulation area of each campus in order to enhance safe and pleasant
movement around the campus.
Parking near residences is also likely to be difficult and you may have to purchase permits from the council at your own
expense.
Special arrangements can be made for the collection and delivery of your belongings at the start and end of each term.
The College does, however try to make provision for the safe storage of bikes on each campus and residence. Beware,
though, cycling in London can be dangerous so make sure you are fully aware of the Highway Code.
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24. King’s College London Site Details And Maps
King’s College London Site Addresses
This section gives information on the main King’s College London sites.
King’s College London: Strand Campus Map
The Department of Social Science, Health & Medicine and Institute of Gerontology are located in building ‘A’
Detail map: Strand Campus, King's College London
Key
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King’s College London: Waterloo Campus Map
Key
Further information and advice is available from the Research Ethics Office; see
http://www.kcl.ac.uk/research/ethics/contacts.html for contact details. Please note that the research ethics
application process is managed completely separately from the Department of Geography, and so any
queries about the application form, or approval procedures in general, should be directed in the first instance
to the Research Ethics Office.
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The Waterloo Campus is the home of the Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery,
the School of Biomedical and Health Sciences (also at the Guy's Campus), parts of the School of
Social Science and Public Policy (also at the Strand Campus) and LonDEC (London Dental
Education Centre), part of the Dental Institute (also at Guy's and Denmark Hill).
Name of Building:
Franklin-Wilkins Building and Waterloo
Bridge Wing
King's College London
150 Stamford Street
SE1 9NH
James Clerk Maxwell Building
King’s College London
57 Waterloo Bridge Road
SE1 8WA
Phone Numbers:
Tel: 020 7848 5454
(switchboard)
Nearest Train/Underground Station:
Waterloo (rail and underground) station
Tel: 020 7848 5454
(switchboard)
Waterloo (rail and underground) station
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24. Appendix A: Forms for Research Students
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN (PDP)
PDP Year (i.e 1st, 2nd, 3rd)
Personal Development Plan
Date plan agreed
Name of Supervisor
Supervisor’s signature
Student’s signature
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School of Social Sciences and
Public Policy
Department of Social Science,
Health & Medicine
REGULAR SUPERVISION RECORD FORM
Students and supervisors should use this form to help structure and provide a record of
their meetings. You can, with the agreement of your supervisor, also complete and submit
the personal supervision form electronically, in the form of an email as follows:
SECTION 1 to be completed by the STUDENT prior to supervision meeting
a) Name:
b) Supervisor’s name:
c) Date/time of supervision:
d)
Date of last supervision:
e) Work submitted to supervisor since last supervision meeting (with date work submitted and returned
to you)
f) Work undertaken since last supervision meeting:
g) Issues you would like to discuss in the supervision meeting:
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SECTION 2 to be completed at the supervision meeting
a) Topics covered in supervision meeting (please refer to Section 1(g) above):
b) Work student should undertake between now and next formal meeting (with dates:
SECTION 3 Date/Time of next meeting:
This form contains a good summary of our meeting
Signatures :
Student
Date
Supervisor Date
A copy of this form should be kept by the supervisor , the student, and in the student’s file in the
Departmental Office
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