Confirmation on Ph.D register
A stringent process of academic assessment for all Ph.D. students to confirm their continuation on the Ph.D. register shall normally be arranged within the first eighteen months of registration extended by a further year for Ph.D. students on the part-time register from year 1. The process is to be approached positively and constructively by all parties as an essential part in the student’s learning experience.
The Ph.D. confirmation process requires the student to prepare a Ph.D. confirmation report; the confirmation report should be written according to the guidelines issued by the appropriate Director of Teaching and Learning (Postgraduate). The student must ensure that a draft of the confirmation report is made available to the Supervisor with sufficient time for the Supervisor to read it and provide comments.
The student shall be invited to attend a Ph.D. confirmation interview. The Ph.D. confirmation panel for each student is appointed by the Director of Teaching and Learning (Postgraduate) and shall consist of at least two members as follows: the Director of Teaching and Learning (Postgraduate) or his or her nominee, and a second member who should have acknowledged expertise in the subject area of the student’s research (or in a cognate field). Members of the Ph.D. confirmation panel may be drawn only from academic staff eligible to supervise (see Section 2, Paragraph 2.9 of the Calendar Part 2). Although the Director of Teaching and Learning (Postgraduate) makes the final decision about membership of the Ph.D. confirmation panel, he or she will consult with the Supervisor before deciding and will endeavour to take into account the student’s opinion. The Supervisor shall not be a member of the Ph.D. confirmation panel, but it is expected that the Supervisor (and Co-Supervisors) should be present at the interview. When necessary, an external discipline expert may be appointed. The Supervisor’s attendance at the interview ensures that he or she is aware of the panel’s critique of the student’s work.
Written feedback shall be given to the student as soon as possible after the Ph.D. confirmation interview. The recommendation of the panel shall be one of the following: (a) continuation on the Ph.D. register, (b) continuation on the Ph.D. register after some minor changes have been made to the Ph.D. confirmation report, (c) continuation on the Ph.D. not recommended at this time: a new report to be written and confirmation interview to be held again as soon as possible thereafter, (d) a recommendation to change to the general Masters register to submit a Masters thesis, or (e) not to continue as a postgraduate research student.
A student may appeal the result of a Ph.D. confirmation interview see section 2.14 in the Calendar Part III for further details.
You will find the required form here