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General Regulations for the Degree of Master of Science by Research: Part 5 Residence and other Requirements

  • 1. A Student for the Degree of Master of Science by Research shall, after admission for full-time study, keep statutory residence and pursue their work at Oxford for at least three terms. 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. Any student who, after admission under Part 3 of this regulation, 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.

  • 3. Applications for leave to reckon any period as a term under the provisions of the preceding clause shall be made to the board, through the Registrar, by the student's society.

  • 4. Part-time students holding the status of Student for Degree of Master of Science by Research shall in each case be required to pursue their course of study for a minimum of six terms, subject to the provisions of Part 3, cl. 5. 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 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 board or other relevant body.

  • 5. 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 equivalent to three FTE terms.

  • 6. Any student may, with the permission of the board, alter the subject of research approved by the board, provided that the conditions of suitability set out in Part 2 above 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 determine otherwise.

  • 7. If a full-time Student for the Degree of Master of Science by Research has held that status for nine terms, or a part-time student for fifteen 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 three 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 an 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.

  • 8. A Student for the Degree of Master of Science by Research shall cease to hold such status if:

    • (i) they shall have been refused permission to supplicate for the Degree of Master of Science;

    • (ii) the board concerned shall, in accordance with provisions set down by regulation by the Education Committee, and after consultation with the student's society and supervisor, have deprived the student of such status;

    • (iii) they shall have failed to complete their thesis within nine terms for a full-time student, or fifteen terms for a part-time student, or within such further extension of time as may have been granted by the board concerned.