Important information - York St John University PGR Blog

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Reviews and Transfers

Review Process and Documentation

Review meetings are chaired by an independent assessor who will be an academic member of staff, from a cognate discipline but outside the supervisory team.

The PGR, main supervisor (and co-supervisors if available) will be present at the meeting.

The PGR (postgraduate researcher) will (in total) need to provide the following documents to the Chair by 2 weeks in advance of the review:    

Submitted online via eVision:   

Progress Report (submitted online via eVision); this must also include a reflection on progress to date (which might include completed chapters / laboratory work and conference attendance).

Sent to supervisory team and chair via email:   

A piece of sole-authored written work that presents an opportunity to assess academic progress without detracting from completion of the research and thesis writing. The word limit and content of the written work is to be agreed between the supervisor and the PGR in accordance with any School requirements and should be appropriate to the point the PGR has reached in their candidature;   
A plan for completion of the research and the thesis within the remaining period of study (eg Gantt chart);   
Completed/updated ‘Training and Development Needs Analysis’ (or approved equivalent, i.e. Vitae Researcher Development Framework planner or professional body portfolio) and ‘Training Plan’. (Attached to this invite)

Supervision reports covering the previous 12 month period. (Please download these from eVision and send directly to chair)

The eVision Review process works in a chain:

The student goes to the Postgraduate Research Tab, clicks 'Manage events' under Research Student Actions, and elects ‘Progress Review’ from the drop down, and completes the form. Once it’s completed it auto generates and goes to the supervisor.

Documents needed for the review:

RO03 Training and Development Needs Analysis Training Plan

Training Plan

Transfer assessments

All doctoral PGRs are initially registered as provisional doctoral PGRs and are subject to a formal transfer assessment within a specified timescale. If successful in this assessment PGRs are transferred to full doctoral registration.

PGRs will need to prepare the following documentation, with relevant input from the main supervisor, for the transfer assessment:

Submitted online via eVision:   

Progress Report, covering work carried out to date, a description of the key research question and how this has been refined, and a proposal of how the research and thesis will be completed (report submitted online via eVision);

Sent to supervisory team and chair via email:

A sample of sole-authored written work relating to the topic of at least 10,000 words. This may be a draft chapter from the thesis, a critical review of the literature/evidence base, a critical discussion of methodology or another piece of work agreed by the supervisor and SPGRL (work that has been co-authored is not permissible for transfer assessment purposes);
If the PGR is pursuing a practice-led research project then the submission must include evidence of creative practice which, depending upon the nature of the practice, might be a creative writing component, the staging of an exhibition of visual work, a live performance, or the documentation of creative practice/performance in a retainable form. The practice element of a transfer submission may relate to collaborative practice. This should be accompanied by a sole-authored written piece of at least 5,000 words that critically reviews, analyses and/or contextualises the practice (written work that has been co-authored is not permissible for transfer assessment purposes);

A planned schedule for completion of the thesis (for example using a Gantt chart) within the standard period of study (three years full-time or six years part-time);
A draft plan of chapter headings for the final thesis;
Training Plan and record of training undertaken;
Report on the PGR’s progress from the supervisory team;
Supervision reports covering the previous 12 month period.

Full-time PhD PGRs are required to complete the whole transfer process, including the transfer review and any potential revisions to the transfer progress report, within 12 months of their start date (24 months for part time PGRs).

If a transfer decision is deferred, a final decision must be made with 18 months of the start date (30 months for part time PGRs).

A PGR can make a request to postpone the date for transfer.

You can apply for a postponement of transfer here: Request to postpone the date for PhD transfer

More information on the Transfer Process can be found under Section 9 of the Code of Practice for Research Degrees.

If you’re struggling with e:Vision, you can find the User Guide here: Transfer Review User Guide PGR

Key Resources

Training and Development

Funding

The Brilliant Club