Scholarships for Postgraduate Research Programmes - Terms and Conditions
1 Higher Degree and General Regulations
1.1 A University scholarship holder will be registered at the University as a full-time or part-time postgraduate student for a Higher Degree by research and thesis under the relevant University degree regulations and the General Regulations of the University. In addition, all scholarship holders will be subject to the following terms and conditions.
2 Agreement
2.1 All scholars will be required to sign a copy of the formal offer letter of the scholarship agreeing to the terms and conditions set out in this paper and any supplementary conditions set out in the letter of offer. All pages of the signed copy of the offer letter to be returned to the Scholarships Unit at the University of Kent. Scholars are advised to keep a copy of these Terms and Conditions for their records.
2.2 The letter of offer will specify the start date of the scholarship, the amount of the scholarship and the method and frequency of payment.
3 Length of Scholarship
3.1 A scholarship will normally be tenable for one year in the first instance, renewable annually for a maximum of three years (36 months) for full-time scholars or five years (60 months) for part-time scholars, subject to satisfactory progress and continued registration as a student of the University.
3.2 A scholar who has completed part of the period of registration for a degree will only be offered a scholarship for the remaining period required for the completion of their registration.
3.3 A scholar who secures alternative or additional sources of funding should inform the University (by contacting the Scholarship Unit). Depending on the circumstances, the scholarship may be withdrawn or reduced pro-rata.
4 Mode of Study
4.1 Scholarships may be offered for full-time and part-time study. The mode of study will be agreed in advance of registration and award of the scholarship. This is accepted and agreed with these terms and conditions. The transfer of mode of study may affect the scholar’s funding; a part-time scholar will not receive full-time funding.
5 Intermission
5.1 Intermission from registration will only be granted in cases of grave and exceptional misfortune. During the period of intermission, scholarship payments will be suspended.
5.2 Periods of intermission will not normally be granted for periods longer than 6 months. Applications for intermission should be made in advance and require the support of the supervisor and approval from the Director of Graduate Studies/Research of the relevant School.
6 Illness
6.1 Periods of illness for a continuous period of 2 weeks or more require medical certification and should be reported to the supervisor and the Director of Graduate Studies/Research of the relevant School. During periods of certified illness, scholars may be paid at the full rate of their maintenance grant for the first 8 weeks within any 12 month period. After 8 weeks the scholarship will be suspended until the scholar resumes full-time study.
6.2 Should a period of illness exceed 4 weeks, scholars are advised to request a period of intermission.
7 Maternity Leave
7.1 Full-time scholars who become pregnant during the period of registration will be entitled to three months maternity leave during which the scholarship payments will continue. The total period of the scholarship may thus be extended to a maximum of 39 months (the financial support available will not extend beyond the usual thirty six months plus the period of up to three months maternity leave).
7.2 Full-time scholars may also apply for a further period of up to nine months of unfunded intermission as a result of the pregnancy, providing a maximum period of twelve months (funded and unfunded) maternity leave.
8 Teaching/Demonstrating
8.1 For certain scholars teaching and demonstrating may constitute an integral part of the development of their academic skills and will form a subsidiary part of their studies. Where this is the case, then:
8.1.1 The number of hours that a scholar may participate in teaching or demonstrating (to include contact hours, preparation and marking) shall be reasonable in the context of their academic load and not exceed the equivalent of 6 hours a week across an academic year.
8.1.2 Scholars will be responsible to the Head of School for their teaching or demonstrating duties. These should be specified in writing at the time the scholarship is offered.
8.1.3 Scholars will be required to conform to the University’s Quality Assurance and Health and Safety procedures.
8.1.4 Scholars will be required to participate in relevant modules of the University’s Postgraduate Certificate for Higher Education (PGCHE) and/or Associate Teacher Accreditation Programme (ATAP), or another training the University decides is appropriate to the teaching or demonstrating required.
8.1.5 If a scholar is deemed not to be teaching or demonstrating to a satisfactory standard, then the Head of School, in conjunction with the scholar’s supervisor may redirect the scholar’s work placement to include other duties commensurate with their academic studies. This may include marking or other teaching or research duties.
9 Holidays
9.1 Scholars are entitled to a maximum of eight weeks holiday (including public holidays and the University closure at Christmas) per annum and pro-rata.
9.2 Holidays should be agreed in advance with the supervisor and, in cases where the scholar is engaged in teaching or demonstrating, with the approval of the Head of School.
10 Monitoring
10.1 Continuation of a scholarship is subject to satisfactory progress in research training and in the preparation of the thesis.
10.2 Scholars and their supervisors are required to complete biannual progress report forms. At the end of each year of the scholarship, a supervisor must recommend whether or not the scholar should be permitted to continue with the scholarship scheme. This recommendation will be considered by the School’s Director of Graduate Studies/Research. Should the progress report be satisfactory then the scholarship will be renewed for a further 12 months, or until the end of the period of registration, whichever date is sooner. If the report is unsatisfactory, the programme convenor, in conjunction with the Director of Graduate Studies or the Head of the School should recognise either:
10.2.1 that the scholarship be renewed for a further limited period (e.g. three months) after which the scholar’s progress will be reviewed again to determine whether or not the scholarship may be renewed for the remainder of the academic year, or
10.2.2 that the scholar’s scholarship be terminated.
10.3 Some scholars may be required to apply to transfer from the MPhil to the PhD during their registration. Full time scholars who are not permitted to transfer from MPhil to PhD, but are allowed to submit a thesis for the award of MPhil, will have their scholarship limited to a maximum of 24 months; part time scholars who are not permitted to transfer but are allowed to submit for the award of MPhil, will have their scholarship limited to a maximum of 36 months.
11 Submission of Thesis
11.1 All scholars are expected to submit their thesis no later than 12 months after the completion of the period of registration. Extensions to this period will only be given in grave and exceptional circumstances and in accordance with faculty guidelines.
12 Termination of Scholarship
12.1 The University will terminate a scholarship when progress or performance is deemed to be unsatisfactory. Scholars should therefore inform their supervisors and the Director of Graduate Studies/Research of any problems or difficulties at the earliest opportunity. Similarly, supervisors should assist in identifying problems so that a scholar’s progress is not impeded.
12.2 If a scholarship is terminated prematurely for any reason, a scholar must repay to the University any monies including maintenance, travel, subsistence, fees overpaid from the date of the termination of the scholarship.
12.3 If a scholar is permitted to reduce the period of registration and the scholar’s period of registration finishes before the scholarship is due to finish, the scholarship will be terminated on the date of the completion of registration.
12.4 If a scholar submits a thesis before the end of the scholarship, the scholarship will be terminated on the date of submission.
12.5 If a scholar takes up full-time employment whilst in receipt of a scholarship, the scholarship will be terminated as of the first day of employment.
Approved on behalf of the Board of Research by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and will apply from 16 February 2009.
