Research Degrees in the Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences Division

Differences from 2015/16 to 2023/24

1. PERMISSION TO WORK IN A WELL-FOUND LABORATORY OUTSIDE THE UNIVERSITY

Applicants who are admitted to undertake research under the supervision of the Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences Divisional Board may, exceptionally, be permitted by the divisional board to undertake their research in a well-found laboratory outside the University. Such candidates shall be dispensed from the residence requirements, but shall be required to attend the University for such instruction as the division and department concerned shall require. Before admitting a candidate on this basis, the department concerned shall be required to satisfy itself and the divisional board that appropriate arrangements are in place for approving all aspects of the student's academic work, including the following:

  • (i) the availability of the equipment and facilities necessary for the project in the agency concerned;

  • (ii) the existence of a wider collaboration between the department and the agency in which the student is based;

  • (iii) the subject of their doctoral studies;

  • (iv) satisfactory induction procedures;

  • (v) satisfactory health and safety arrangements;

  • (vi) satisfactory supervision arrangements, to include specification of a minimum number of contact hours between student and supervisor, which shall include not less than two face-to-face meetings between student and supervisor, for a total of at least 8 hours, each term;

  • (vii) satisfactory arrangements for monitoring the student's progress within the department;

  • (viii) provision for the student to attend the University for such instruction as the division and department shall require.

Dispensation from these rules shall be sought from the HeadDirector of the Mathematical,Graduate Physical and Life Sciences DivisionSchool through the departmental Director of Graduate Studies.

 2. TRANSFERExamination OFby STATUSintegrated AND CONFIRMATION OF STATUSthesis

  • 1. Transfer of Status

  • All research students will be admittedSubject to the status of Probationer Research Student in the first instance. The status of Probationer Research Student may be held for a maximum of four terms (other thanapproval, students registered on research programmes (DPhil, MSc (Res) and CDTs/DTPs) in the following departments may submit an integrated thesis rather than a conventional thesis: 

    • Biology,  
    • Chemistry, 
    • Earth Sciences, 
    • Engineering Science, 
    • Statistics.  

    Where a student is admitted to an interdisciplinary doctoral training programmes listed in the Doctoral Training Programmes in MPLS section). Probationer Research Students should normally apply to transfer status to M.Sc. by Research or D.Phil. status before the end of the fourth full-term from admission, subject to the further guidance below. Cases to defer applications for the transfer of status must be made by the candidate with the supervisor's support to the departmental Director of Graduate Studies by the end of the fourth full-term after admission. Approval will only be granted in exceptional circumstances, in accordance with the General Regulations Governing Research Degrees, set out in §4.

  • In the Biological Sciencesprogramme (the Departments of Plant Sciences and ZoologyCDT/DTP), candidates should apply to transfer from the status of Probationer Research Student by the end of the fourth full-term after admission as a research student.

  • In the Mathematical Sciences (the Departments of Computer Science, Mathematics and Statistics) students in Category A (those who have had no previous experience of research work, and normally all candidates in the Department of Computer Science) should apply to transfer from the status of Probationer Research Student between the second and fourth full-term after admission as a research student. Students with no previous experience of research work are advised to apply in the third full-term after admission. Students in Category B (those who have had previous experience of research work who may have completed a taught master’s course) should apply to transfer immediately after admission to Probationer Research Student status. (This category is only available to candidates in the Department of Computer Science in exceptional circumstances with the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies.)

  • In the Physical Sciences (the Departments of Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Engineering Science, Materials and Physics), candidates should apply to transfer from the status of Probationer Research Student in the third or fourth full-term after admission as a research student.

  • In the Biological Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, and Physical Sciences, a first application for transfer of status must take place within the six term limit of PRS status, as set out in the General Regulations Governing Research Degrees, §4. Any application outside those limits (other than in the General Regulations Governing Research Degrees, §4, cl.6), must be approved by or on behalf of Education Committee.

  • Doctoral training programmes, the regulations applyingfor the department hosting the student will determine whether the student can apply for permission to researchsubmit studentsan followingintegrated doctoral training programmes are set out in the Doctoral Training Programmes in MPLS Sectionthesis. 

  • AdviceAn onintegrated thethesis timingmay either be a hybrid of transferconventional ofchapters statusand inhigh-quality eachscientific departmentpapers, willor be providedfully bypaper-based. the departmental Director of Graduate Studies.

    Applications to transfer status should be considered by a minimum of two assessors on behalfRegardless of the Boardformat, the content of the Mathematicalthesis should reflect the amount, Physicaloriginality and Life Sciences Division, onelevel of whomwork mayexpected for a conventional thesis. It should not be assumed that the student’sact of publication (in whatever form) means the work is of suitable academic advisorquality and content for inclusion in a thesis, butand neitherstudents should discuss all papers in detail with their supervisor before including. It would be anticipated that the candidate would be a lead contributor, rather than a minor author, on at least some of whom should be the student’spapers supervisorin nororder normallyto consider this format. There is no minimum, or maximum, number of papers a membercandidate ofis hisexpected/herallowed supervisory team. Each department has its own assessment procedures, which shouldto include as part of such a minimumthesis and it will remain a matter for the examiners to conclude whether the contributions are equivalent to that which would be expected of a standard DPhil.

    Any papers utilised must concern a common subject, constitute a continuous theme and conform to the following four componentsguidelines:

    • (i) completionIf a candidate for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy wishes to be examined through an integrated thesis, they should apply for permission to be examined in this way when they apply for confirmation of status, as detailed in the relevant departmental handbook. A candidate for the Degree of Master of Science by Research should normally apply for permission to be examined in this way six months before submitting their papers for examination. To revert to being examined by a conventional thesis rather than an integrated thesis, the candidate must inform their department of the appropriatechange graduateas studiesdetailed application forms to be submitted toin the Divisionalrelevant Graduatedepartmental Studies Office, 9 Parks Road;handbook.

    • (ii) submissionWork can be included regardless of writtenits acceptance status for publication but candidates may be questioned on the publication status of their work by the studentexaminers. For example: a progress report; a literature review; any required course work; a plan for the development of the student’s research; any published papers. Each department will set out its own requirements in this area;

    • (iii) anAny interviewsubmitted/published betweenpapers theshould studentrelate anddirectly his/her assessors. The process of assessment must always include an interview withto the candidate’s ifapproved field of study, and should have been written whilst holding the assessorsstatus cannotof recommendPRS transferor toa Dstudent for the MSc (by Research), or DPhil.Phil. status;

    • (iv) theThe studentcollection shouldof havepapers mademust include a briefseparate presentation or talk whilstintroduction, a Probationerfull Researchliterature Student.review, Thisdiscussion needand nota conclusion, so that the integrated thesis can be partread of the transfer interview.

  • A report will be written to provide feedback to the student, their supervisor, and college. The report will include an assessment of the viability and suitability of the proposed research, and of its completion onas a reasonable timescale.

  • A candidate whose first application for transfer to D.Phil. status is not approvedsingle, shallcoherent be permitted to make one further application, and shall be granted an extension of time for one term if this is necessary for the purposes of making the application.

  • These procedures are also set out in the Division’s Postgraduate Research Student Handbookdocument.

  • 2.(v) ConfirmationThe candidate must ensure all matters of Status

  • Confirmationcopyright are addressed before a paper’s inclusion. A pre-print version of statusany forpublished D.Phil.papers studentsshould mustbe take place no later than nine terms after admission to graduate status. Students are advised to apply for their first attempt at confirmation of D.Phil. status by the end of the eighth full-term after admissionincluded as a graduate research studentstandard.

  • Doctoral(vi) trainingJoint/multi-authored programmes,papers are common in science based subjects and thus acceptable if the regulationscandidate applyingcan toboth researchdefend studentsthe followingpaper doctoralin trainingfull programmesand provide a written statement of authorship, agreed by all authors, that certifies the extent of the candidate’s own contribution. A standard template is available for this purpose.

The length and scope of theses, including word limits for each subject area in the Division are set out in theDepartmental Doctoral Training Programmes in MPLS Sectionguidelines.

  • Students are encouraged very strongly to apply for confirmation of status at least six–twelve months before they expect to submit their thesis for examination to make this process a constructive part of the development of the student’s research. The application for confirmation of status must be made and approved before requesting the formal appointment of examiners.

  • The requirements for confirmation of status may vary for each department within the following framework:

    • (i) completion of the appropriate graduate studies application forms to be submitted to the Divisional Graduate Studies Office, 9 Parks Road. The candidate and their supervisor are required to provide a clear indication of progress to date, and the timetable for submission of the thesis;

    • (ii) all applications must be reviewed by two assessors, one of whom may be the departmental Director of Graduate Studies, but neither of whom should be the candidate’s supervisor;

    • (iii) the candidate should produce a brief written report about their research achievements to date. The specific requirements will be set out by the department, for example a publication(s) or draft chapter(s) from the candidate’s thesis, a plan and the timetable for submission of the thesis;

    • (iv) the assessor(s) may request to interview the candidate, and the candidate may request to have an interview with the assessor(s). The process of assessment must always include an interview with the candidate if the assessor(s) are unable to recommend confirmation of D.Phil. status.

  • The assessor(s) will write a brief report to provide feedback to the candidate, the supervisor, and college. The report will include an assessment of progress and submission of the thesis within the planned timescale.

  • A candidate whose first application for confirmation of status is not approved, shall be permitted to make one further application, normally within one term of the original application, and shall be granted an extension of time for one term if this is necessary for the purposes of making the application.

  • If a candidate’s application for confirmation of status is unsuccessful, the board may approve a transfer from D.Phil. to M.Sc. by Research status.

  • Cases to defer applications for the confirmation of status must be made by the candidate with the supervisor's support to the departmental Director of Graduate Studies by the end of the ninth full-term after admission. Approval will only be granted in exceptional circumstances. Students may apply to defer confirmation of status for a maximum of three terms. The Director of Graduate Studies in each department may decide how many terms, up to the maximum, a candidate may be allowed to defer.

  • These procedures are also set out in the Division's Postgraduate Research Student Handbook.

  •  3. APPOINTMENT OF EXAMINERS

    In applying for appointment of examiners, candidates should note that a supervisor is disqualified from appointment, and that the divisional board will not normally appoint as examiner individuals previously closely associated with the candidate or his or her work, representatives of any organisation sponsoring the candidate's research, representatives of any organisation at which a candidate dispensed from residence under the provisions of cl.1 above, is based, or former colleagues of the candidate. In particular, an examiner, whether internal or external, who has played a significant part in advising the candidate is inappropriate and particularly so where the collaboration has led to the publishing of joint papers by the candidate and the examiner. It is accepted that examiners will usually be acquainted with the supervisor, and sometimes the candidate, and that this in itself is not a bar to acting as an examiner. Dispensation from this rule should be sought from the Head of Division through the departmental Director of Graduate Studies.