General Regulations for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy: Part 8 Supervision, extension and suspension following examination

[For students submitting their thesis for the first time on or after Sunday of Week 1 MT 2025: 

• 1. Following examination for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, the right to further supervision will depend on the outcome of the examination. The outcome will also affect requests for extensions of time and suspensions from the Register of Students as outlined below.

Supervision 

• 2. Candidates whose outcome is minor corrections should receive supervisory guidance on the changes required to facilitate a successful resubmission.
• 3. Candidates whose outcome is major corrections either with or without a mandatory viva (Outcome C or Outcome D) are entitled to supervision in accordance with Part 5 of this section. 
• 4. Candidates who have received an outcome of reference back of the thesis (Outcomes E, F or G) are entitled to supervision in accordance with Part 5 of this section. 

Suspensions 

• 5. Any period of suspension taken prior to first examination for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy will not be counted against any period of suspension taken following examination. Any period of suspension taken as maternity, extended paternity or adoption leave, whether taken before or after examination for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, will not be counted against the periods of suspension available following examination set out below.
• 6. Requests for suspension from candidates whose outcome is minor corrections (Outcome B) will be considered by Council’s Education Committee 
• 7. Candidates whose outcome is major corrections either with or without a mandatory viva (Outcome C or Outcome D) may submit a request to the Board for no less than four weeks and no more than twelve months of suspension. In exceptional circumstances, candidates may request further periods of suspension; such requests will be considered by Council’s Education Committee.
• 8. Candidates who have received an outcome of reference back of the thesis (Outcomes E, F or G) may submit a request to the Board for no less than four weeks and no more than twelve months of suspension. In exceptional circumstances, candidates may request further periods of suspension; such requests will be considered by Council’s Education Committee.

Extensions of time 

• 9. Candidates may only submit a request for an extension of time, following examination for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, in exceptional circumstances; such requests will be considered by Council’s Education Committee. 

Submission of a revised thesis 

• 10. Candidates who do not submit their revised thesis within the timeframe set out in Part 7, cl. 9., are no longer entitled to supervision except for any exceptional period of extension that has been approved by Council’s Education Committee.]