Welcome to your department Alan Thomas, Head of Department Welcome to the Philosophy department at the University of York. I hope you will find the department be a stimulating research environment for the next step in your studies. The aim of this guide is to make your time here as productive as possible by giving you the information you need about our postgraduate degrees. On behalf of all the members of the department I look forward to your full participation in the research culture of our department. Janet Eldred, Research Student Administrator From time to time, you will have questions and concerns about how things work in the Department. Everyone on staff will happily point you in the right direction, so don’t be shy about approaching anyone. I’m here to help with your various department-related admin tasks. I look forward to getting to know you and helping you settle into your time with us. My usual office hours are Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 9.00am – 4.30pm. Do come say hello whenever you are in the Department! Jamie Cawthra, PG Student Life Coordinator If you have any questions, comments or suggestions about life as a postgraduate, do get in touch with me. Here's the email address to use: [email protected]. 1 Contents Page Introduction……………………………………………..…………….……………………………4 The purpose of this handbook The Graduate Research School University Policy on Research Degrees Your department……………………………………………………………..……………………5 Introduction to the department Departmental office Staff contacts Communicating with the department Departmental facilities Health, safety and security Governance and committees Student representation Student evaluation and feedback Accessibility and disability support Equality and diversity Your research degree………………………………………….…………………………………15 Departmental programmes Programme aims Your responsibilities Research integrity Research Integrity Tutorial Ethics Academic misconduct Academic progression……………………………………………………………………………18 Your supervisor Thesis Advisory Panel Schedule of TAP meetings Formal reviews of progress for PhD and MPhil students Key milestones for your research degree……………………….……………………………25 Programme structure First year (and part-time equivalent) PhD and MPhil milestones Second year (and part-time equivalent) PhD and MPhil milestones Researcher training and development…………………..….……….………..………………28 Becoming an Effective Researcher Tutorial Other departmental training Research Excellence Training Team (RETT) Library Research Support Team Research Computing Departmental conferences/seminars/fora/publications Publication of research Financial support for research 2 Your thesis………………………………………….……………………………………………32 Thesis content and style Thesis submission Continuation period Thesis examination Change of plan? …………………………………………………………….……………………34 Leave of absence Full-time/part-time Change programmes Extension Withdrawal Professional development and employability………………………….……………………37 Teaching/demonstrating opportunities Public engagement Careers/employability A reminder to full-time students about part-time working Appeals and complaints…………………………………………………………………………40 Appeals Complaints Disclaimer……………………………………………………………………….…………………41 Glossary……………………………………………………………………………………………42 3 Introduction The purpose of this handbook This handbook provides a comprehensive introduction to the Department of Philosophy and information on all aspects of your studies and research. It is a reference guide to help you and should be kept alongside the Graduate Research School handbook, which provides information on central services and support, including accommodation, finance, living in York and further information on Careers, the Library, and other University services. The Graduate Research School handbook can be downloaded at: http://www.york.ac.uk/research/graduate-school/ Our department webpages have information for current students http://www.york.ac.uk/philosophy/current/, as well as information about the research undertaken by our academic staff and current and past postgraduates http://www.york.ac.uk/philosophy/research/. Additionally, you will find our department’s news and activities (including social events) on these sites: Department Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhilosophyYorkUK Social Facebook (Postgraduate Philosophy at the University of York): https://www.facebook.com/groups/PGphilosophyUoY/ Twitter: @UoYPhilosophy The York Graduate Research School (YGRS) The York Graduate Research School exists to ensure research students receive the highest quality supervision and training, and are treated consistently and fairly. The School coordinates resources from across the University to help research students achieve successful outcomes. The York Graduate Research School Board has oversight of all matters relating to research students and leads the strategic development of this vitally important section of the University community. The YGRS webpages (as above) are the main source of information for research students and research supervisors. The YGRS newsletter provides additional updates. All registered research students should automatically receive this. University Policy on Research Degrees The Policy on Research Degrees sets out University policy on research degree programmes for research students, supervisors of research students, members of Thesis Advisory Panels and Progression Panels, examiners of research degrees, and other University staff with responsibility for research students. This document provides vital information for all those concerned with research and it is recommended that all are familiar with it. To read the University Policy on Research Degrees in full, visit: https://www.york.ac.uk/research/graduate-school/support/policies-documents/research-degree- policy. 4 Your department Introduction to the department The Department of Philosophy has more than 20 members of academic staff, offering a wide range of areas of research interest, including the history of philosophy (ancient, early modern, late modern and early twentieth century), metaphysics, epistemology, philosophy of mind, philosophy of language, philosophy of logic, philosophy of religion, ethics, applied ethics, aesthetics, and continental philosophy. The library provision is strong in all these areas. The Department has links with a number of other Departments in the university, in particular with the Politics Department, the English Department, and the Department of Health Sciences. It is one of the constituent Departments of the Humanities Research Centre. Being a research student is not just about completing your thesis (or equivalent) and obtaining a research degree. Research students are part of a research community, which is itself part of the wider University community. There is a Facebook group called ‘Postgraduate Philosophy at the University of York’. Here you'll find documents detailing all the research activities (reading groups, WiPs, etc.) that are going on, as well as resources designed to give you information about who in the department does what and is interested in what. These details are updated frequently. We hope that you will flourish as part of this community, and make the most of your time at York. May your time with us be rewarding and fun! 5 You are now a member of the Department of Philosophy. The department is made up of academic staff involved in teaching and research, support staff and students. Academic staff - may have the title Professor, Reader or Lecturer. They are leaders in their fields and engaged in teaching and research. Most will supervise research students and some also hold certain key administrative roles within the Department. Research staff - members of staff employed to conduct research projects within their field of expertise. They may not be involved in teaching or supervision, instead concentrating on their research projects. Support staff – making the department run smoothly. They communicate important information, provide technical assistance and help signpost you to other services and support you might need within the University. Students – undergraduates, taught postgraduates and research postgraduates. More than 750 students representing more than 15 countries study with us on a full-time or part-time basis. Many of these students are taking combined degrees with the departments of English, History, Language and Linguistics, Mathematics, Physics, or Sociology. The department also contributes to the teaching of students in the Schools of Politics, Economics and Philosophy (PEP), Natural Sciences, and Social and Political Science (SPS). The Department of Philosophy aims to bring together stimulating teaching and original research in an informal, friendly setting. We have a large, varied, and lively graduate community who play an active part in the University's Humanities Research Centre and regularly run conferences and workshops. The Department's research strengths are grouped into three Sections: History of Philosophy, Theoretical Philosophy and Practical Philosophy. Within the Sections are Clusters such as Philosophy of Art and Literature, Mind and Reason, and Metaphysics, and we collaborate with many other disciplines across the University for both teaching and research activities. We also collaborate with other Yorkshire universities through the White Rose Centre for the History of Philosophy, the White Rose Aesthetics Forum, and the White Rose Philosophy Postgraduate Forum. The Department appoints Postgraduates Who Teach (PGWTs) primarily