Code of Practice Career Education, Information and Guidance

Code of Practice – Postgraduate Research Programmes

QAA code of Practice Section 1: Postgraduate Research Programmes

Institutional arrangements Evidence Comments 1. Institutions will put in place effective arrangements to maintain  Section G – Academic Principles and Regulations appropriate academic standards and enhance the quality of (‘Regulations’) postgraduate research programmes.  Quality Manual for Research Degree Programmes (‘Quality Manual’)  http://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/students/research. htm 2. Institutional regulations for postgraduate research degree  All Academic Principles and Regulations and programmes will be clear and readily available to students and associated guidance and information provided at staff. Where appropriate, regulations will be supplemented by via the following webpage: similarly accessible, subject-specific guidance at the level of the  http://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/students/research. faculty, school or department. htm

Institutional regulations can cover:  requirements for admission to the programme;  Sections G10 and G11 of Academic Principles and Regulations  Section 4 of Quality Manual  ‘Considering Applications to a Research Degree Programme’ guidance  procedures for considering claims for the accreditation of prior experiential and/or prior certificated learning (AP[E/C]L);  Section 4 of Quality Manual

 the academic and procedural requirements for particular postgraduate research awards;  Section G of Regulations (All sections)  Quality Manual (All sections)  Research Candidate Handbook  the requirements for progression, including monitoring and review arrangements for the award and the minimum and  Sections G3, G4, G5 and G13 of Regulations maximum periods within which the programme may be  Section 10 of Quality Manual completed;  Research Candidate Handbook

 assessment methods, requirements and procedures, including the criteria for achieving the award;  Sections G16 – 21 / G22.4 - 22.6 / G23.4 – G23.5 of Regulations (all sections)  Sections 11 and 12 of Quality Manual (all University Research Office Leeds Beckett University Code of Practice – Postgraduate Research Programmes

sections)  ‘Criteria for Assessment of Research Awards’ guidance  Research Candidate Handbook  the institution's procedures for dealing with research misconduct, including plagiarism;  Sections C9 / G7 of Regulations  Code of Good Practice and Regulations relating to Misconduct in Academic Research  Section 3 of Quality Manual  Complaints and appeals processes. Complaints  Student Complaints Procedure  Section 16 of Quality Manual  Section 3.1.8 of Research Candidate Handbook

Appeals  C16 / G6 of Regulations  Section 15 of Quality Manual  Section 3.1.7 of Research Candidate Handbook

3. Institutions will develop, implement and keep under  Quality Manual (all sections) review a code or codes of practice applicable across the  http://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/students/research. institution, which include(s) the areas covered by this document. htm The code(s) should be readily available to all students and staff involved in postgraduate research programmes.

4. Institutions will monitor the success of their postgraduate  Section G4 of Regulations research programmes against appropriate internal and/or external  ‘Annual Student Activity and Quality Report’ indicators and targets. process  submission and completion times and rates;  Section 14 of Quality Manual  pass, referral and fail rates;  withdrawal rates;  the number of appeals and complaints, the reasons for them, and how many are upheld;  analysis of comments from examiners;  recruitment profiles;  feedback from research students, employers, sponsors and other external funders;  information on employment destinations and career paths of former University Research Office Leeds Beckett University Code of Practice – Postgraduate Research Programmes

students.

The research environment 5. Institutions will only accept research students into an  RAE / REF Results environment that provides support for doing and learning about  External finding generated by university research and where high quality research is occurring.  On-going Staff and Research Candidate Research  University Strategic Plan  Research and Enterprise Strategy  Provisions relating to Supervision (Regulations, Quality Manual and Research Candidate Handbook)  University Policy, Framework Principles and Procedures for Research Ethics (and provisions relating to Intellectual Property)  Research Training Programme and Training Needs Analysis  Health and Safety Risk Assessments  Student Representation (Research Candidate Forums / STARS / Committee Membership)  Research related lecture and seminar series arranged by University Research Office (URO)  Library Facilities open 24/7 and Off-site study options  IT Facilities  English and Cultural Skills for International Students free for International students  Welfare and support services  PORESO  UKGRAD  PG Conference, Annual Research Conference, Staff and Student Research Dev programme, Professors inaugural lectures  Careers and Employability support services

Selection, admission and induction of students 6. Admissions procedures will be clear, consistently applied and  Sections G10 and G11 of Academic Principles will demonstrate equality of opportunity. and Regulations University Research Office Leeds Beckett University Code of Practice – Postgraduate Research Programmes

 Section 4 of Quality Manual  ‘Considering Applications to a Research Degree Programme’ guidance 7. Only appropriately qualified and prepared students will be  Sections G10 and G11 of Academic Principles admitted to research programmes. and Regulations  Section 4 of Quality Manual  ‘Considering Applications to a Research Degree Programme’ guidance

8. Admissions decisions will involve at least two members of the  Sections G10 and G11 of Academic Principles institution's staff who will have received instruction, advice and and Regulations guidance in respect of selection and admissions procedures. The  Section 4 of Quality Manual decision-making process will enable the institution to assure itself  ‘Considering Applications to a Research Degree that balanced and independent admissions decisions have been Programme’ guidance made, that support its admissions policy.

9. The entitlements and responsibilities of a research student  Research Candidate Handbook undertaking a postgraduate research programme will be  Quality Manual (in particular Appendix A) defined and communicated clearly.

 the expected total fees, including extra charges (such as 'bench'  University website - fees) which will be levied, and any other expenditure on practical http://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/research/Fees- items relevant to the individual student; Finance.htm  Chapter 6 of Research Candidate Handbook

 the expected period of study for which the student is enrolled;  Section G3 of Regulations

 the requirements which the institution places upon the research  Regulations (all sections) student (for example, attendance, progress reports, contact with  Quality Manual (all sections) supervisors) and arrangements for enrolment and registration;  Research Candidate Handbook (all sections)

 http://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/students/research.  references to the institution's regulations, student handbook, sources of funding and other relevant information for a research htm degree programme, all of which will normally be available via institutional web pages;

 the responsibilities being accepted by the student for their academic studies and candidacy for a research degree;  Registration and Enrolment Forms University Research Office Leeds Beckett University Code of Practice – Postgraduate Research Programmes

 General Student Regulations: Leeds Beckett University Students  Regulations (all sections)  Quality Manual  Research Candidate Handbook

 if known, the requirements and conditions of any sponsor;  Research Candidate Handbook  As defined by any external sponsor

 an outline of any opportunities to undertake teaching or other duties  Research Training Programme and Training and any conditions associated with these (for example training for Needs Analysis teaching), to be defined in principle at the beginning of the student's programme unless already part of his/her funding arrangements;

 reference to practical information, for example concerning  Standard offer of a place letter and enclosures accommodation and financial or travel information.  Research Candidate Handbook  University website

10. Institutions will provide research students with sufficient  Standard offer of a place letter and enclosures information to enable them to begin their studies with an  Compulsory induction sessions for all candidates understanding of the academic and social environment in which they  Regulations (all sections) will be working.  Quality Manual (all sections)  Research Candidate Handbook (all sections)  http://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/research/index.htm  http://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/students/research. htm

Supervision 11. Institutions will appoint supervisors who have the appropriate  Sections G10 and G11 of Regulations skills and subject knowledge to support, encourage and monitor  Sections 4 and 7 of Quality Manual research students effectively.

12. Each research student will have a minimum of one main  Sections G10 and G11 of Regulations supervisor. He or she will normally be part of a supervisory team.  Sections 4 and 7 of Quality Manual There must always be one clearly identified point of contact for the  Chapters 8 and 10 of Research Candidate student. Handbook

13. Institutions will ensure that the responsibilities of all research  Sections G10 and G11 of Regulations student supervisors are clearly communicated to supervisors and  Sections 4, 7 and appendices to Quality Manual University Research Office Leeds Beckett University Code of Practice – Postgraduate Research Programmes students through written guidance.  Chapters 8 and 10 of Research Candidate Handbook 14. Institutions will ensure that the quality of supervision is not put at  Section 7 of Quality Manual risk as a result of an excessive volume and range of responsibilities assigned to individual supervisors. Progress and review arrangements 15. Institutions will put in place and bring to the attention of students  Regulations (all sections including G13 - G21) and relevant staff clearly defined mechanisms for monitoring and  Quality Manual (all sections including Sections 8 – supporting student progress. 13)  Research Candidate Handbook  http://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/students/research. htm

16. Institutions will put in place and bring to the attention of students  Regulations (all sections including G13 - G21) and relevant staff clearly defined mechanisms for formal reviews of  Quality Manual (all sections including Sections 8 – student progress, including explicit review stages. 13)  Research Candidate Handbook  http://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/students/research. htm

17. Institutions will provide guidance to students, supervisors and  Regulations (all sections including G13 - G21) others involved in progress monitoring and review processes about  Quality Manual (all sections including Sections 8 – the importance of keeping appropriate records of the outcomes of 13) meetings and related activities.  Research Candidate Handbook  http://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/students/research. htm

Development of research and other skills 18. Institutions will provide research students with appropriate  Research Training Programme and Training opportunities for personal and professional development. Needs Analysis

19. Each student's development needs will be identified and agreed  Research Training Programme and Training jointly by the student and appropriate academic staff, initially during Needs Analysis the student's induction period; they will be regularly reviewed during the research programme and amended as appropriate.

20. Institutions will provide opportunities for research students to  Research Training Programme and Training maintain a record of personal progress, which includes reference to Needs Analysis the development of research and other skills. University Research Office Leeds Beckett University Code of Practice – Postgraduate Research Programmes

Feedback mechanisms 21. Institutions will put in place mechanisms to collect, review and,  Annual Student Activity and Quality Report where appropriate, respond to feedback from all concerned with process postgraduate research programmes. They will make arrangements  Student Representation for feedback to be considered openly and constructively and for the  Candidate Focus Groups results to be communicated appropriately.  Section 14 of Quality Manual  Current students and completed research degree graduates  Supervisors, review panels and internal examiners  Research administrators  External parties, including external examiners, sponsors, collaborating organisations, employers, alumni

Assessment 22. Institutions will use criteria for assessing research degrees that  Sections G16 – 21 / G22.4 - 22.6 / G23.4 – G23.5 enable them to define the academic standards of different research of Regulations (all sections) programmes and the achievements of their graduates. The criteria  Sections 11 and 12 of Quality Manual (all used to assess research degrees must be clear and readily available sections) to students, staff and external examiners.  ‘Criteria for Assessment of Research Awards’ guidance  Research Candidate Handbook

23. Research degree assessment procedures must be clear; they  Sections G16 – 21 / G22.4 - 22.6 / G23.4 – G23.5 must be operated rigorously, fairly, and consistently; include input of Regulations (all sections) from an external examiner; and carried out to a reasonable  Sections 11 and 12 of Quality Manual (all timescale. sections)  ‘Criteria for Assessment of Research Awards’ guidance  Research Candidate Handbook

24. Institutions will communicate their assessment procedures  Sections G16 – 21 / G22.4 - 22.6 / G23.4 – G23.5 clearly to all the parties involved, i.e. the students, the supervisor(s) of Regulations (all sections) and the examiners.  Sections 11 and 12 of Quality Manual (all sections)  ‘Criteria for Assessment of Research Awards’ guidance  Research Candidate Handbook

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Student representations 25. Institutions will put in place and publicise procedures for dealing  General Student Regulations: Leeds Beckett with student representations that are fair, clear to all concerned, University robust and applied consistently. Such procedures will allow all  Regulations (all sections) students access to relevant information and an opportunity to present  Appeals Regulations and Procedures their case.  Complaints Policy and Procedures

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Complaints 26. Independent and formal procedures will exist to resolve  Student Complaints Procedure effectively complaints from research students about the quality of the  Section 16 of Quality Manual institution's learning and support provision.  Section 3.1.8 of Research Candidate Handbook  http://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/students/research. htm

Appeals 27. Institutions will put in place formal procedures to deal with any  C16 / G6 of Regulations appeals made by research students. The acceptable grounds for  Section 15 of Quality Manual appeals will be clearly defined.  Section 3.1.7 of Research Candidate Handbook  http://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/students/research. htm

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