1. The degrees of Doctor of Education [EdD], Master of Philosophy (Research Methodology) [MPhil (Res Meth)], Doctor of Clinical Psychology [DClinPsych], Doctor of Educational Psychology [DEdPsych], Doctor of Clinical Practice [DClinP], Engineering Doctorate [EngD] and Doctor of Social Work [DSW] may be awarded by the Senate to postgraduate students who have successfully pursued a programme of study to the satisfaction of the relevant Faculty Programme Committee and as prescribed in the relevant specific programme regulations (Academic Regulations, Sections VI to XIII of the University Calendar).
   
   
2. For the purposes of these regulations the University shall be deemed to include any institutions where the Faculty Programme Committee can arrange proper supervision of clinical practice and research.
   

3. The requirement for entry to each programme shall normally be, as specified in Academic Regulations, a good degree from an approved University in a relevant discipline or whatever award/range of experience, including industrial experience, which might be deemed equivalent by the Faculty Programme Committee using agreed University AP[E/C]L guidelines where appropriate for the particular programme. Applications from candidates with non-standard qualifications must be approved by the appropriate Faculty Programme Committee on a case by case basis.
   

4. Each programme shall contain some combination of taught compulsory and/or elective units/modules, individual and/or group projects and a written thesis as specified in Academic Regulations; and shall be pursued in the University except where Academic Regulations provide for research to be carried out with proper supervision in an appropriate setting elsewhere.

5. The scheme of study for each programme shall be undertaken over a period of not less than three years of full-time study, except in the case of the Engineering Doctorate where the minimum period of study is four years. The maximum period permitted for part-time study is seven years unless an extension for extenuating circumstances has been approved by the Faculty Programme Committee. A candidate who fails to complete coursework or examination requirements, the dissertation for a programme or any other programme requirements by the date specified by the Faculty Programme Committee, or within the maximum period allowed for that programme, will, subject to appeal, be deemed by the relevant Faculty Programme Committee to have failed the programme.
   

6. The Faculty Programme Committee may allow transfer to nominal registration for both full and part-time candidates for a period not exceeding 12 months in the first instance. Where this is permitted for the programme, the supervisor(s) must confirm that the minimum period of candidature has been completed, all taught modules have been successfully completed, any other progression criteria have been satisfied, research is substantially complete as determined by the Faculty Programme Committee and the thesis is being written up. If a candidate is on nominal registration for longer than six months a fee becomes payable (see Section IV of the University Calendar). In cases of illness, family crisis or exceptional or unforeseeable circumstances beyond the candidate's control, the Faculty Programme Committee may permit a candidate to suspend when in nominal registration.

7. Candidates will normally be assigned appropriate tutor(s), as relevant to the particular programme, during the coursework phase of the programme. In the case of the Engineering Doctorate, the tutor will normally be part of the research supervisory team as detailed in paragraph 8.
   
   
8. Every candidate shall be allocated to a research supervisory team by the Faculty Programme Committee, on the recommendation of the Associate Dean with Faculty responsibility for graduate student matters or his/her nominee(s). The supervisory team shall consist of at least two members, one of whom will be the 'main supervisor'. The main supervisor will have main responsibility for the supervision of the design and progress of the candidate's research project and for providing academic advice to the candidate. The supervisory team may contain additional supervisors and/or advisors and shall report on the candidate's work and progress when requested to do so by the Faculty Programme Committee. In the case of the Engineering Doctorate, the supervisory team will include an industrial supervisor nominated by the sponsoring company. The Code of Practice for Research Candidature and Supervision sets out the responsibilities of the supervisory team.
   
   
9. A Faculty Programme Committee, or Examination Board on behalf of the Faculty Programme Committee, may at any time review the progress of an individual candidate. If this is unsatisfactory and, after due warning, there is insufficient improvement, the Faculty Programme Committee may recommend termination of candidature to Senate. The candidate may appeal against the decision by using the procedure set out in the University's General Regulations (Section IV: Regulations Governing Academic Appeals by Students).
   

10. The regulations for each programme shall prescribe as appropriate the number and/or subjects of taught modules to be taken and the range and length of coursework assignments and/or project work to be completed and shall provide for their examination.
    
    
11. As determined by the regulations for each programme, the results of taught modules and/or coursework may contribute towards the final programme award, or may qualify the candidate for an intermediate exit award.
    

12. A candidate who is about to submit a thesis shall give at least two months' prior notice in writing to the Faculty Student Office, or a particular member of staff as specified by the Faculty, which shall include the full title of the thesis.
    
    
13. With the exception of restrictions on access as defined in the following paragraph, research work submitted as a thesis for a higher degree shall be openly available and subject neither to security classification nor to restriction on access. Candidates may publish the whole or part of their work prior to its submission as a thesis provided that, in the published work, it is nowhere stated that it is in consideration for a higher degree.
    
    
14. In exceptional circumstances access to a thesis may be restricted by the relevant Faculty Programme Committee on behalf of the Senate where such restriction is regarded as desirable on commercial grounds or pending patent applications, or as necessary to maintain confidentiality. The period of restriction shall be determined by the relevant Faculty Programme Committee but shall normally not exceed three years from the date of the examination. After three years the period of restriction may be subject to review in some circumstances. Each instance of Faculty Programme Committee approval of restriction of access to a thesis should be reported to Senate and notification should also be sent to the Library.
    
    
15. On submission of a thesis a candidate shall be required to sign three documents:
    
    
    1. a form of consent that the thesis, if successful, may be made available for inter-library loan or photocopying from a date stipulated (subject to the law of copyright)
       
       
    2. a form of consent that the thesis, if successful, will be made available electronically through the University of Southampton Research Repository from a date stipulated (subject to the law of copyright)
       
       
    3. a declaration stating: that the thesis is the result of work done wholly or mainly while the student was in registered candidature; that where the thesis is based on work done by the candidate jointly with others, a substantial part is the original work of the candidate; the extent to which the thesis incorporates material already submitted for another degree.
       
       
16. A thesis may not exceed the length stipulated by Academic Regulations for the programme unless prior permission to exceed this length has been given by the Faculty Programme Committee on the recommendation of the supervisor. Resubmission arrangements are specified in Academic Regulations.
    
    
17. Examiners will be appointed as appropriate in accordance with Academic Regulations. In programmes where prescribed examiners are appointed specifically to examine each candidate's thesis and other research material indicated in the regulations, normally one internal and one external examiner shall act. In exceptional cases, one additional external examiner may be appointed. Members of the supervisory team, and other researchers who have had substantial involvement in the student's work such that there would be a conflict of interest or a potential lack of objectivity may not be appointed as internal examiners.
    
    
18. Candidates for the award of degree of Research with a Major Taught Component will normally be required to attend an oral examination. In conducting the oral examination arrangements will be made, where necessary, to accommodate the requirements of students with special communication needs.
    
    
19. Examiners for each thesis will recommend one of the following courses of action.
    
    
    1. That the degree for which the candidate has submitted a thesis be awarded.
       
       
    2. That the degree for which the candidate has submitted a thesis be awarded subject if necessary to minor amendments to the thesis being made by a date specified; (minor amendments include: minor errors/omissions of substance, typographical errors, occasional stylistic or grammatical flaws, corrections to references, addition/modification to one or two figures and minor changes to layout, and require no new research. These changes need only be certified by the internal examiner.) The date specified for the submission of such minor amendments should normally be no later than a month after the formal notification to the candidate.
       
       
    3. That the degree for which the candidate has submitted a thesis be awarded subject to the correction of modest errors/omissions of substance being made by a date specified (the procedure for certification of the amendments should be clearly specified in the report). Such amendments may require limited further analysis but will not affect the originality of the central thesis. They will be of a scale to require certification by both the internal and external examiners, though normally not so extensive that an oral is required. The date specified for the submission of such intermediate amendments should normally be no later than six months after the formal notification to the candidate.
       
       
    4. That the candidate be required to attend for a further oral examination.
       
       
    5. That the candidate be permitted to submit by a date specified a revised thesis for the same degree for re-examination on one subsequent occasion. The date specified for submission of the revised thesis should normally be no later than twelve months after the formal notification to the candidate. The Fees Office should be informed when a candidate has been asked to submit a revised thesis.
       
       
    6. That, in the case of a candidate who has failed to satisfy the examiners, permission be given to the candidate to apply within a specified time for the award of a diploma or master's degree as appropriate. This may be allowed without re-examination subject to any minor amendment of the thesis which may be required by the examiners, or may be subject to re-examination of a revised thesis.
       
       
    7. That the degree be not awarded and that resubmission of the thesis be not permitted.
       
       
20. A candidate who fails to submit corrected or revised coursework or thesis by the date set by the examiners shall normally be regarded as having failed the examination and the recommendations of the examiners shall lapse.
    
    
21. Where the examiners recommend that the degree be not awarded and that submission of a revised thesis be not permitted, the candidate may ask for the case to be reviewed in accordance with the procedures laid down by the Senate. A copy of the procedures may be obtained from the Faculty Student Office.
    

Submitted by Corporate Services
Last reviewed: 31-Aug-2012
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