Postgraduate Research Students

Students carrying out postgraduate research are largely self-directed. New PRS students are likely to be supervised more closely, with supervisors perhaps requiring submissions of work quite regularly, but gradually students are increasingly left to their own devices.

The administration of PRS students can be quite complicated. The forms are available at www.admin.ox.ac.uk/gso/forms and it is essential that you keep up-to-date with the rules and regulations - if you are in doubt you should contact the Graduate Studies Office (01865 270 045 or graduate.studies@admin.ox.ac.uk) or your college Academic Officer, Senior Tutor or Director of Graduate Studies. Your college should help with administration, but the responsibility is ultimately yours.

Some of the main forms are outlined below:

Transfer of status: PRS students are initially admitted for six terms. By the end of this period you are required to satisfy your department that you have a project warranting D.Phil. status and that you are capable of carrying out research. Form: GSO.2 – Application to transfer status (and perhaps a subject-specific form).

Confirmation of status: In order to verify that you are on schedule to complete your research, you must confirm your D.Phil. status within nine terms of admission as a PRS. Again, the department will assess your work. Forms: GSO.14 – Application to confirm D.Phil. status and GSO.14A – Supplementary information (and perhaps a subject-specific form).

Suspension of status: If you need to pause your research for personal reasons (such as financial difficulties or illness) you can apply to suspend your status for up to a maximum of six terms. Do be aware that this is a serious decision and applications should not be taken lightly. Suspensions may impact upon your funding and if you are in receipt of research council funding you will also need to seek the permission of the appropriate body as well. You will need to consult your supervisor. Form: GSO.17 – Suspension of status.

Extension of status: During your D.Phil. you may request extra time because your research is taking longer than expected. In this situation you may apply for up to nine terms beyond the twelve originally set. Students funded by the British Research Councils will have to justify this request in writing, since the average completion time in each department is monitored closely. Form: GSO.15 – Extension of time.

Appointment of examiners: Students help their supervisors choose the examiners (normally one internal and one external with a reserve for each). You are strongly advised to apply for the appointment of examiners at least four weeks before you submit your thesis. Two copies of your thesis must be submitted to the Examination Schools, High Street, Oxford OX1 4BG and you should never send a copy of your thesis directly to your examiners.  Form: GSO.3 – Application for the appointment of examiners.

Early examination: It is possible to request that the oral examination be held no later than on a chosen date, provided that this is not within one calendar month after the date on which the thesis was received at the Examination Schools or after the date on which the examiners have agreed to act - whichever is the later. You will have to satisfy the faculty that there are special circumstances justifying your request. The request should be made at the same time as you appoint your examiners. Form: GSO.16 – Application for early examinations.