This policy sets out how the Research Degrees Examination Board can award a research degree when the student has not completed the standard examination process because of their death, illness, or other substantial cause.
1. The Research Degrees Examination Board can award a research degree outside of the standard examination process where the following conditions are met:
a. The PGR student is prevented in the event of their death, severe illness, or other debilitating condition from completing their dissertation and/or examination.
b. The research degree award cannot be made under the University’s normal assessment regulations.
c. There is no prospect in the foreseeable future of the PGR student being able to fulfil the requirements of the award.
d. There is sufficient evidence of the PGR student’s ability at the appropriate level for the award.
2. Where the student is on a programme of study that includes a professional component, an alternative research degree award might be appropriate.
3. Aegrotat awards can be considered for PGR students who are unable to complete their programme of study and who have produced insufficient material for assessment because of their death, severe illness, or other debilitating condition. These students do not qualify for a standard award, but an aegrotat award can be granted if in the judgement of the Research Degrees Examination Board the candidate would have gained an award if circumstances had permitted.
4. The Research Degrees Examination Board can award an aegrotat research degree (at either doctoral or research master’s level) if the following conditions are met:
a. The PGR student has been prevented in the event of their death, severe illness, or other debilitating condition from completing their programme of study and from producing sufficient material for assessment.
b. The PGR student is unable to complete an examination at a later date, including if this is deemed to be undesirable or impracticable by the Research Degrees Examination Board.
c. The PGR student has demonstrated that they are worthy of an aegrotat award as confirmed through a supporting statement from their supervisors or from the School PGR Director.
d. The PGR student (or in the case of posthumous awards, their next of kin) agrees to an aegrotat award.
5. Standard research degree awards can be considered for PGR students who are unable to complete their programme of study in the event of their death, severe illness, or other debilitating condition but who have produced sufficient material for an assessment. These students will qualify for an appropriate standard research degree award if the Research Degrees Examination Board approves a recommendation from an external examiner based on the available research work completed by the student.
6. The Faculty PGR Director must submit a request to the Research Degrees Examination Board for a standard research degree award in these circumstances. The request must include the following:
a. Confirmation that the PGR student (or in the case of posthumous awards, their next of kin) agree to the request.
b. A statement from the supervisors indicating that they are satisfied there is sufficient available work for an academic judgement to be made.
c. Copies of the student’s available research work provided by the supervisors. The available work could, for example, include chapters, published work, work prepared for publication, presentations to conferences, and progress reports.
7. If the Research Degrees Examination Board agrees to the request, the Board will appoint an appropriate external examiner to assess the PGR student’s available research work and to make a recommendation on the award. There will not be an oral examination.
8. The Research Degrees Examination Board can approve a standard research degree award (at either doctoral or research master’s level as deemed appropriate), notwithstanding that the research degree has not been completed, on the recommendation of an external examiner that the following requirements have been met:
a. Enough of the research project has been completed to allow a proper assessment of the scope of the dissertation.
b. The PGR student’s completed research work is at the standard normally required for the award of the degree in question and demonstrates their grasp of the subject.
c. The PGR student’s available written material demonstrates their ability to write a dissertation at the required level.
9. The requirement to deposit the final version of the dissertation with the Library is waived in these cases.
10. Where a PGR student submitted their dissertation before they became unable to continue because of their death, sever illness, or other debilitating condition, the examination process will proceed if the student (or in the case of posthumous awards, their next of kin) agrees.
11. Examiners must provide a joint statement on whether in their judgement the PGR student would have reached the standard for the award, even if revisions would have been required.
12. Depending on the stage reached, the process will be as follows:
a. If the oral examination has not been held, the examiners must submit preliminary and joint reports based on the content of the dissertation only alongside their joint statement.
b. If the oral examination has been held, the examiners must submit their preliminary and joint reports covering the dissertation and the oral examination alongside their joint statement.
c. If the PGR student has already had an outcome confirmed by the Research Degrees Examination Board and is required to correct errors of substance or resubmit but has not been able to submit their revised dissertation, the examiners must provide a joint statement based on the original examination. If the revised dissertation has been submitted, the examiners must provide a statement in response to the dissertation.
13. The Research Degrees Examination Board must decide on an appropriate outcome in light of the examiners’ reports and statement, on the understanding that the PGR student will not be able to make any corrections or resubmit. If an award is confirmed, the requirement to deposit the final version of the dissertation with the Library can be waived in these cases.
14. If the PGR student has been awarded, but there are outstanding minor errors or the final copy of their dissertation has not been deposited with the Library, the Research Degrees Examination Board can decide to waive these requirements to release the certificate.
