The induction meeting will serve as an opportunity to agree progression criteria and training activities. The meeting will involve the student and Main Supervisor.

The Induction Review will focus on the following:

1. Consideration of the student's research topic as set out in their initial application;
2. Drafting of a work plan and targets to meet ahead of the probation review;
3. Identification of key publications and /or sources relevant to the research topic;
4. Identification of skills training opportunities;
5. Discussion of any initial concerns;
6. Discussion of any work the student is undertaking in addition to their research which may impact on progress;
7. Identification and discussion of potential resources and facilities available to the student both internally and externally during their research;
8. Discussion and identification of the ways in which the supervisory team-student relationship work;

Prior to the meeting the Induction Review Form must be completed. Bring the completed form to the review meeting. Once completed and agreed this will be reviewed and approved by the Director of Graduate Studies.

The Probation Review will involve the Student, Main Supervisor and Supervisory Chair. The main function of the Probation Review is to ensure the student has embarked on the main body of their research and to address any issues of concern.

The Probation Review will focus on the following:

1. Formal review of targets and work plan set at the induction review;
2. Identification of key publications and/or resources relevant to the research topic;
3. Skills training:
4. Record of skills training undertaken since the induction review;
5. Review of the researcher's completed skills audit and identification of future skills training opportunities;
6. Identification of any areas of concern;
7. Identify targets and work plan for consideration at the end of the review year;
8. Ethical consideration of the project;
9. Review and discussion of the efficacy of the current working relationship between supervisory team and the student;

Prior to the meeting the Probation Review Form must be completed. Bring the completed form to the review meeting. Once completed and agreed this will be reviewed and approved by the Director of Graduate Studies.

The End of Year Review will involve the student, Main Supervisor, Supervisory Chair and the Director of Graduate Studies. The main function of the End of Year Review is to ensure that the quality of research undertaken to date is of sufficient quality for the research degree for which the student is registered and that the plan for completion of the research project is on target.

The End of Year Review will focus on the following:

1. Consideration of a portfolio of work (prepared by the student) which should include:
2. Summary of work carried out to date
3. Planned schedule of future work
4. A sample of written work
5. Completed review forms
6. Record of supervisory meetings
7. Completed skills audit (PhD students only)
8. Annual report completed by the student
9. Formal review of targets and work plan set at the previous review;
10. Setting a future work plan and targets;
11. Review of work being undertaken in addition to the research degree to ensure that this is not adversely affecting the progression of the research;
12. Review of publishing opportunities;
13. Review and discussion of the efficacy of the current working relationship between supervisory team and the student;

The panel will recommend one of the following:

1. That the researcher is making exemplary progress for the award for which (s)he is registered and should proceed with his/her registration;
2. That the researcher is making satisfactory progress for the award for which (s)he is registered and should proceed with his/her registration;
3. That there are concerns about the researcher's progress but (s)he may proceed with his/her registration subject to review during the next academic year (the panel should set a date for a mid-year review. The date of the mid-year review should be set at the panel's discretion but this should normally take place within six months of the end of year review).

If the panel determines that the student has not made adequate progress and/or has not produced work of a sufficient quality to enable him/her to complete their current research degree, it may make one of the following recommendations:

1. That the researcher transfer his/her registration to the award of MPhil and submit a thesis for the degree of MPhil (this is applicable for PhD students);
2. That the researcher transfer his/her registration to the award of MA/MSc/LLM and submit a thesis for the degree of MA/MSc/LLM (this is applicable for PhD and MPhil students);
3. That the researcher should withdraw from the University.

Prior to the meeting the End of Year Review Form must be completed, along with the Student Annual Report. Bring the completed form to the review meeting. Once completed and agreed this will be reviewed and approved by the Director of Graduate Studies.

The Mid-year review will involve the student, Main Supervisor, Supervisory Chair and Director of Graduate Studies.

The Mid-year Review will focus on the following:

1. Formal review of targets and work plan set at the end of year review;
2. Skills training undertaken since the end of year review;
3. Identification of any further areas of concern;
4. Identification of targets and work plan for review at the end of the current year. Review and discussion of the efficacy of the current working relationship between supervisory team and the student;

Prior to the meeting the Mid-year Review Form must be completed. Bring the completed form to the review meeting. This will then need to be agreed by the student and panel, the mid-year review form should be reviewed and approved by the Director of Graduate Studies.

A submission review meeting should take place approximately three months prior to the end of registration. The review will be undertaken by the Main supervisor, another member of the supervisory teams and the Director of Graduate Studies who will normally act as a chair.
The principal function of the Submission Review Meeting is to ensure that the student is in a position to complete and submit their research in the allotted time.

The panel will make one of the following recommendations:

1. That the candidate has made good progress and will be in a position to submit at the end of the minimum period of registration (e.g. three years for full-time PhD students and five years for part-time PhD students);
2. That the researcher has made sufficient progress to proceed to a continuation category of registration. This recommendation should only be made when a researcher: (i) is only making use of the University's general facilities, (ii) will no longer be using laboratories or other specialist facilities and (iii) will only be receiving advice related to the finalisation of his/her research and thesis. The candidate will qualify for a lower rate of fee (25% of the part-time rate). Continuation year fees should be charged in two instalments (i.e. first six months and second six months).

If the panel determines that the student has not made adequate progress and/or has not produced work of a sufficient quality to enable him/her to complete his/her research degree, it may make one of the following recommendations to the Faculty:

3. That the candidate has made insufficient progress to proceed to the continuation year and should have his/her period of supervised research and training extended for a set period(during which time (s)he should be charged full fees);

Note: in the case of recommendation 3 being selected, the candidate will undergo a second submission review after the end of the extended period of supervised research and training.

4. That the candidate transfer his/her registration to the award of MPhil and submit a thesis for the degree of MPhil;
5. That the candidate transfer his/her registration to the award of MA/MSc/LLM and submit a thesis for the degree of MA/MSc/LLM;
6. That the candidate should withdraw from the University.

The researcher will have the opportunity to appeal against decisions 4-6 above under the Standing Orders Governing Research Appeals.

Recommendations 3-6 require the approval of the Faculty Director of Graduate Studies. Once the recommendations have been approved by the School or Faculty Director of Graduate Studies (as appropriate), the Faculties Support Office should be informed. The Faculties Support Office will be responsible for: (i) checking that the status of full-time PhD students (entering the 4th year of registration) and part-time PhD students (entering their 6th year) are correct and (ii) changing the category of the researchers on the student records system when they are approved to transfer to the continuation category of registration (recommendation 2).

Continuation Year Review 1 for PhD Students
If the researcher has not submitted his/her thesis by 5th month of continuation there should be a formal review with the supervisor and Director of Graduate Studies to consider the researcher's progress towards submission. If the researcher proceeds to a 7th month of continuation, (s)he will be liable for a fee for the second half of the continuation year.

Continuation Year Review 1 form for PhD Students

Continuation Year Review 2 for PhD Students
If the researcher has not submitted his/her thesis by 10th month of continuation there should be a formal review with the supervisor and Director of Graduate Studies to consider the researcher's progress towards submission. The review should be used to determine if the researcher will be in a position to submit his/her thesis by the end of the continuation year. In extraordinary circumstances the panel may recommend to the Faculty that the researcher proceed to a final writing-up period for a set period. This period should not extend beyond 12 months. The Faculty will report statistics which relate to these students to the Graduate School Board as part of the annual monitoring process (Annex E of the Code of Practice for the Quality Assurance for Research Programmes of Study)

Continuation Year Review 2 form for PhD Students