Progress will be formally reviewed at around nine months after first registration (June for students who started September/October). If students have not made adequate progress, it may be recommended to transfer the student to a lower degree (MPhil or MSc) or even to discontinue studies. The major objectives of the review are to confirm that students:
- have a thorough background knowledge of their project;
- can appraise key issues critically;
- can describe work already underway and illustrate its significance; and
- have a plan of future work with appropriate milestones.
The nine-month assessment is one of the agreed progression criteria for maintaining standards in the Graduate School and beyond. It is essential for all first year students to undertake this before they enter their second year.
For students away from university on fieldwork, or otherwise temporarily unavailable, the examination may be arranged for a date as close as possible to nine months (either before or afterwards) and in all cases well before the entry date into second year. If this option is required, all parties (student, supervisor, assessor, adviser) should make the necessary arrangements and keep their local postgraduate coordinator and Graduate School secretary informed.
Guidance for students on how to cope with the nine-month assessment is available as part of the research student training programme.
This rigorous review will consist of three elements: a written report, a ten minute presentation and an oral examination by the adviser and an examiner who is another member of the academic staff (not the supervisor). The students are asked to bring their PDP (to demonstrate training undertaken), and their research notebook, to the oral examination.