| TERM |
DEFINITION |
| Faculty Programmes Committee (FPC) |
Within a Faculty, FPC is the committee charged with overseeing quality assurance, academic standards and the recommendation of awards for both postgraduate and undergraduate programmes (as delegated by Senate in the Statement of the Senate's Primary Responsibilities and delegated and related matter). Faculties have the option to have separate taught and research programmes committees which maintain the same responsibilities as FPC for the taught and research programmes respectively.
In Section V of the University Calendar, reference is made to 'Faculty Programmes Committee'. Where a Faculty has chosen to have a separate Faculty Research Programmes Committee, this will take responsibility for actions delegated to FPC. |
| Faculty Graduate School |
The structure within a Faculty with the responsibility for overseeing the support and training of PGR students. The Faculty Graduate School has responsibility for administration of all PGR student matters including enquiries from prospective students, applications and support for current students. The Faculty Graduate School has oversight of PGR training with the Faculty, ensuring that this is carried out to acceptable levels at a local level. |
| Director of the Faculty Graduate School |
Dean's nominee with overall responsibility for quality assurance in PGR matters.
Member of Faculty Programmes Committee (or chair of Faculty Research Programmes Committee). |
| Faculty Graduate School directorate |
Individuals within a Faculty that have been nominated by the Dean to have responsibility for the tasks/processes outlined within the Regulations and Code of Practice. Individuals within the Faculty Graduate School Directorate may include academic leads for graduate studies at academic unit level and/or directors of specific PGR programmes or Doctoral Training Centres.
Faculties should have structures in place to ensure that the Director of the Faculty Graduate School can effectively monitor the actions of the Faculty Graduate School directorate. Some responsibilities of the Faculty Graduate School directorate may be assumed by appropriate committees, but Faculties should have clear policies in place describing which activities are devolved to which committees and how oversight will be maintained at a Faculty level. |
| RDGC |
The Researcher Development and Graduate Centre. Responsible for coordinating training for PGR students across the University. The RDGC Advisory Group is the main body within the University for overseeing PGR activities and promoting best practice. |
| Supervisory Team |
The group responsible for supervising the student and their training and development during their research candidature. Each student will have a supervisory team consisting of at least two members of academic staff, with additional supervisors added as necessary. It is expected that all members of the team will have an active involvement in the supervision of a student.
Members of the supervisory team are listed below. |
| Members of the Supervisory Team |
Main Supervisor |
The main supervisor has responsibility for supervising the design of the study and for supervision of the student throughout the project. The main supervisor will be an academic member of University of Southampton staff. The main supervisor should be available to provide guidance and direction to a student on a regular basis. |
| |
Co-ordinating Supervisor |
The member of the supervisory team responsible for ensuring that the administrative processes are completed in a timely manner throughout a student's candidature. The coordinating supervisor must be a member of academic staff within the University of Southampton. The main supervisor will usually also act as the co-ordinating supervisor. |
| |
Second or Co-Supervisor |
Each student must have at least two members of the supervisory team from the University of Southampton. At least one of these (the main supervisor) must be an academic member of staff of the University.
The second or co-supervisor may be either a University academic or be affiliated to the University through working in organisations such as the NHS or NERC. Supervisors affiliated with the University should have a visitor contract or honorary contract, and should be approved by the Faculty Programmes Committee as having close links with the University and the student's programme of study.
Supervisors working for organisations with less strong links to the University should be considered as external supervisors. |
| |
External Supervisor |
Additional supervisors can be added to the supervisory team in order to provide specialist expertise or if a funding body/sponsor requires it. If these additional supervisors work for an organisation other than the University of Southampton and do not have a visitor or honorary contract with the University, they are external supervisors. |
| Independent Mentor |
A person outside of the supervisory team who provides support to a PGR student. This may include pastoral support, guidance on training and development or careers advice. Independent mentors may be appointed by the Faculty Graduate School Directorate or may be sought out by the student or supervisor. |
| Academic Mentor |
A person appointed to provide informal guidance during the preparation of the candidate's thesis or published works in circumstances where the student is not registered for a degree but submission is permitted. |
| Independent Assessor |
An academic member of University of Southampton staff who is appointed as an assessor for the MPhil to PhD transfer/upgrade process. In order to allow an objective assessment of the candidate, the independent assessor should have had no involvement with the project. In addition, the independent assessor should not have provided any significant pastoral support to the student prior to the transfer/upgrade process – as such those undertaking the role of independent mentor should not act as the independent assessor for a student. The independent assessor can go on to take the role of internal examiner at the final viva voce examination if they have no further contact with the student or their work following transfer/upgrade. |
| Independent Chair |
An individual who has had no involvement with either the student or the project who chairs the final viva voce examination. An Independent Chair may be appointed following a request from the student, main supervisor, internal or external examiner or the Faculty Graduate School. An Independent Chair has no role in the academic assessment of the candidate, but ensures that the viva is fair and follows University of Southampton practices. Each Faculty should have clear guidelines on when an independent chair should be appointed, who may act in the role, and the responsibilities of the Chair. |
