RESEARCH DEGREES HANDBOOK 2019-20 The Graduate School |Manchester Metropolitan University Page 0 of 58 [email protected] Research Degrees Handbook 2019-20 Contents Major changes for 2019-20 ..................................................................................................................... 6 Thesis format for examination ............................................................................................................ 6 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 7 Research student journey ....................................................................................................................... 7 Annual and on-going milestones and activities ...................................................................................... 7 Starting the degree: Key milestones and activities for the first 12 months (full-time) or 24 months (part-time) ........................................................................................................................................... 8 Within the first month (full-time) or two months (part-time) ........................................................ 8 By the end of the second month (full-time) or fourth month (part-time) ..................................... 9 At three months (full-time) or six months (part-time) ................................................................... 9 By the end of 12 months (full-time) or 24 months (part-time) ...................................................... 9 At 12 months (full-time) or 24 months (part-time) ............................................................................ 9 Examination: Key milestones and activities ........................................................................................ 9 Three months before the thesis submission deadline .................................................................... 9 By the thesis submission deadline .................................................................................................. 9 After thesis submission ................................................................................................................... 9 Monitoring of milestones on SkillsForge .......................................................................................... 10 Enrolment and getting started .............................................................................................................. 10 Enrolment ......................................................................................................................................... 10 Re-enrolment ................................................................................................................................ 10 Getting started .................................................................................................................................. 11 Key contacts and groups ....................................................................................................................... 12 Supervisory team .............................................................................................................................. 12 Director of Studies (DoS) ................................................................................................................... 12 Faculty Research Degrees Teams ...................................................................................................... 12 Faculty Research Degrees Co-ordinator (FRDCo) ............................................................................. 13 Head of Faculty Research Degrees (HFRD) ....................................................................................... 13 The Graduate School |Manchester Metropolitan University Page 1 of 58 [email protected] Scrutineers ........................................................................................................................................ 14 Independent Reviewer ...................................................................................................................... 14 Faculty Research Degrees Committee (FRDC) .................................................................................. 14 University Research Degrees Committee (RDC) ............................................................................... 15 The Graduate School ......................................................................................................................... 15 Responsibilities ..................................................................................................................................... 15 Expectations ...................................................................................................................................... 16 Agreement on responsibilities ...................................................................................................... 16 Responsibilities of the Director of Studies ........................................................................................ 16 Responsibilities of the supervisory team (including the DoS) .......................................................... 16 Responsibilities of the student ......................................................................................................... 17 Responsibilities of the Independent Reviewer ................................................................................. 18 Research ethics ..................................................................................................................................... 18 Support and information .................................................................................................................. 19 Application for registration (RD1) ......................................................................................................... 19 Transferring from another institution .............................................................................................. 20 Periods of registration ...................................................................................................................... 20 The application for registration (RD1) form...................................................................................... 21 Student details .............................................................................................................................. 21 The research project ..................................................................................................................... 21 The research proposal ...................................................................................................................... 22 Word limit ..................................................................................................................................... 22 Audience ....................................................................................................................................... 22 Contents of the research proposal ............................................................................................... 22 Ethics ............................................................................................................................................. 23 Completion of induction ............................................................................................................... 23 Training and development ............................................................................................................ 23 Support from collaborating establishment ................................................................................... 24 Backdating registration ................................................................................................................. 24 Additional support ........................................................................................................................ 24 Declaration .................................................................................................................................... 24 Review and scrutiny .......................................................................................................................... 24 Director of Studies review ............................................................................................................ 24 Approval by Head of Department (HoD) ...................................................................................... 24 The Graduate School |Manchester Metropolitan University Page 2 of 58 [email protected] Scrutiny of Application for Registration (RD1) form, proposal and associated documentation .. 24 Consideration by the Faculty Research Degrees Committee (FRDC) ............................................ 25 Consideration by the Research Degrees Committee (RDC) .......................................................... 25 Changes in approved arrangements ..................................................................................................... 25 Processes for making changes .......................................................................................................... 25 Suspending and extending ................................................................................................................ 26 Changes in approved programme of study