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General Regulations for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy: Part 6 Residence and other Requirements

  • 1. Except as provided in clause 2 of this Part, a Student for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy shall after admission for full-time study keep statutory residence and pursue their course of study at Oxford for at least six terms, provided that a Student for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy who is also a Bachelor or Master of Philosophy or Master of Science or Master of Letters or Master of Studies or Bachelor of Civil Law or Magister Juris or Master of Theology (except for those who hold the degree having studied for it at Westminster College) shall keep statutory residence and pursue his or her their course of study at Oxford for at least three terms after admission as a Student for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Time spent outside Oxford during term as part of an academic programme approved by Council shall count towards residence for the purpose of this clause.
  • 2. The board concerned may dispense a student for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, on application through the student’s society and with the support of the student’s supervisor, from not more than three terms of residence and study in Oxford either on the ground that it is necessary to the student's work that they should be allowed to pursue their course of study at some other place than Oxford, or for other good cause.
  • 3. Students exceptionally permitted to undertake their research in a well-found laboratory outside Oxford shall not be required to keep statutory residence, but must attend for such instruction as the board shall require.
  • 4. Any student who, after admission under Part 3 of this section, has kept statutory residence and studied at Oxford for a period of forty-two days, not necessarily consecutive, but falling within the same academic year, may apply to the board concerned for leave to reckon such period as one term towards the total required under the preceding clause. The board shall have power to grant such leave provided that:
    • (i) no day so reckoned which falls within any term shall also be reckoned for the purpose of keeping that term; 
    • (ii) no student who has kept the Michaelmas, or the Hilary, or the Trinity Term shall be allowed to reckon in this manner any day that falls within the eight weeks beginning on the first day of Full Term in Michaelmas, or Hilary, or Trinity Term, as the case may be; 
    • (iii) no student shall be allowed to reckon in this manner more than one such period in the same academic year; 
    • (iv) no student shall be allowed to reckon more than three terms in the same academic year. 
  • For the purposes of this clause, the academic year shall begin on the first day of Michaelmas Term and end on the day preceding the first day of Michaelmas Term in the following calendar year. 
  • Applications for leave to reckon any period as a term under the provisions of this clause shall be made to the board, through the Registrar, by the student's society.
  • 5. Part-time students holding the status of Student for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy shall in each case be required to pursue their course of study for a minimum of twelve terms, subject to the provisions of Part 3, cl. 6. Part-time students shall not be required to keep statutory residence, but must attend for such instruction as the board or other relevant body shall require, subject to the approval of the Education Committee. No student may apply to the relevant faculty board or other body for the appointment of examiners unless their supervisor has certified that the student has fulfilled the requirements for part-time students laid down by the faculty board or other relevant body.
  • 6. For a student who changes from full-time to part-time study or vice-versa, the period of study will be calculated on the basis that each term of full-time study counts as 1 FTE, and each term of part-time study counts as 0.5 FTE, and the student must pursue their course of study for a minimum of 6 FTE terms.
  • 7. Any student may, with the permission of the board alter the subject of the research originally approved provided that the conditions of suitability set out in Part 3 of this section continue to be met. In such cases the date of the student's admission for all the purposes of this section shall remain unchanged, unless the board shall order otherwise.
  • 8. If a full-time Student for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy has held that status for twelve terms, or a part-time student for twenty-four terms, but has been prevented by exceptional circumstances from completing their thesis, the board shall have power to grant an extension of time for a period or periods, not exceeding six terms in all for a full-time student, or three terms in all for a part-time student, to be determined by the board. Applications for such extension of time shall be made through the Registrar not later than the term in which the student is due to apply for permission to supplicate.
  • 9. A Student for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy shall cease to hold that status if:
    • (i) they shall have been refused permission to supplicate for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy; or 
    • (ii) the board concerned shall in accordance with Part 2, cl. 3 of this section, and with the provisions set down by regulation by the Education Committee and after consultation with the student's college and supervisor, have deprived the student of such status; 
    • (iii) they shall have been transferred under the relevant provisions to another status; 
    • (iv) they shall have failed to complete their thesis within twelve terms for a full-time student, or twenty-four terms for a part-time student or within such further extension of time as may have been granted by the board concerned. 
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