Calendar 2018/19

Regulations Governing Academic Programmes

Please note - this regulation has replaced

2.3 Regulations Governing the Degree of Doctor of Clinical Psychology

2.4 Regulations Governing the Degree of Doctor of Educational Psychology

2.5 Regulations Governing the Degree of Doctor of Education (Pre April 2013)

2.5 Regulations Governing the Degree of Doctor of Education (Post April 2013)

2.11 Regulations Governing the Degrees of Doctor of Clinical Research and Doctor of Clinical Practice

 

2 Faculty of Graduate Research

2.3 Regulations Governing Professional Doctorate Degrees
1

The following programmes are currently subject to these Regulations:

Doctor of Clinical Psychology (DClinPsych); Doctor of Education (EdD); Doctor of Educational Psychology (DEdPsy); Doctor of Clinical Research (DClinRes); Doctor of Clinical Practice (DClinPrac).
2 Eligibility
2.1 The following may apply for registration for a professional doctorate programme:
a

Graduates of the University.
b

Graduates of other Universities and Institutions of Higher Education approved by the Senate.
c Other persons who can satisfy the provisions of Ordinance 13.2.
d applicants who satisfy any further programme specific entrance requirements shall be admitted to the relevant programme on the recommendation of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor & Executive Dean of College.
2.2 Applicants whose native language is not English must provide evidence of competence in English Language sufficient for research study.
3 Registration
3.1 Candidates will be registered as full-time, part-time or continuation students   as provided in the programme specification.
4 Conditions of Study
4.1 Candidates will satisfactorily complete all programme requirements as specified in the programme specification, completing a total of 540 credits.
4.2 Unless the programme specification stipulates otherwise the 'credit expiry period' for modules will be ten years.
4.3 If counting credit towards the programme would mean that more than the credit expiry period will elapse between the date of the award of the earliest credits and the date for the completion of the programme, the Dean/ Associate Dean of the Faculty, on the advice of the relevant College may:
a cancel credit for the module/s; or
b determine the conditions, if any, under which the student may retain credit.
4.4 In the case of candidates who are not studying full-time or are studying on an off-campus basis, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor & Executive Dean of College must be satisfied that regular contact between the candidate and the programme team (including the supervisory team) can be maintained.
5 Continued Registration
5.1 Each candidate is required to re-register at the beginning of each academic year within which credit for modules is being sought. Candidates will be registered as either full-time, part-time or as continuing registration students as specified in the programme specification and as recommended by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor & Executive Dean of College concerned.         
5.2 Students who do not re-register within 4 weeks of the designated registration period will be deemed to have withdrawn and will have their registration terminated. Subsequent requests for reinstatement will be considered under the terms of reinstatement of registration.
5.3 All candidates are required to submit a report on their progress at the end of each academic year; failure to submit will normally result in termination of registration.
5.4 A candidate who fails to make satisfactory progress may be required to withdraw.
5.5 Candidates are expected to have completed all requirements for the award of their degree within the specified time-period for the relevant programme:
 
  PT: Min PT: Max FT: Min FT: Max
EdD n/a 7 years n/a 4 years
DClinPsy/DEd Psy n/a n/a 3 years 3 years
DClinRes/DClin Prac 3 years 6 years n/a n/a
  In exceptional cases the Pro-Vice-Chancellor & Executive Dean of College may grant a stipulated period of extension. (however see points 4.2 and 4.3 above) See the Statement of Procedures: Periods of Registration and Changes to Registration Status for Graduate Research Students for more detailed information.
6 Assessment
6.1 In each case the programme specification will determine progression between specific stages of the programme, in particular, where it is a programme requirement that a number of modules be completed prior to registration on the thesis/dissertation module, this will be clearly specified in the programme specification. The progression and assessment of candidates shall be governed by the provisions set out in the University's approved Code of Good Practice - Professional Doctorate Postgraduate Research Programmes and supplemented where relevant by detailed programme specific requirements set out in the programme specification.
 6.2 Students may be able to exit the programme following the successful completion of some of the programme’s modules where an appropriate Master’s level programme is available, as specified in their Student Handbook.
 6.3

Each candidate will be required to submit a dissertation/thesis in the prescribed form which shall not exceed the following word limits excluding bibliography, appendices and abstract, and will normally be required to take a viva voce examination.
 
EdD, DClin Res, DClin Prac 50,000
DEd Psy 40,000
DClin Psy 14,000 
  For more detail see the Presentation of Theses/Dissertations for Degrees in the Faculty of Graduate Research: Statement of Procedures.
6.4 Candidates must submit to the Postgraduate Administration Office two copies (which shall include a summary of approximately 300 words) in the format prescribed by the Presentation of Theses/Dissertations for Degrees in the Faculty of Graduate Research: Statement of Procedures, or three copies for staff candidates.
6.5 In assessing the thesis, please see:
6.5.1 for students who commenced their studies prior to the 2016-17 academic year
6.5.2 for students who commended their studies, or re-registered following a period of interruption, from the 2016-17 academic year1
  6.5.1 For students who commenced their studies prior to the 2016-17 academic year: In assessing the thesis the examiners will require:
  (a) evidence that it forms a distinct contribution to the knowledge of the subject
  (b) evidence of originality
  (c) evidence of the candidate’s ability to relate the subject matter of the thesis to the existing body of knowledge within the field, and
  (d) a satisfactory level of literary presentation.
  6.5.2 For students who commenced their studies, or re-registered following a period of interruption, from the 2016-17 academic year: In assessing the thesis the examiners will require evidence of:
  (a) the creation and interpretation of new knowledge, through original research or other advanced scholarship, of a quality to satisfy peer review, extend the forefront of the discipline, and merit publication;
  (b) a systematic acquisition and understanding of a substantial body of knowledge which is at the forefront of an academic discipline or area of professional practice;
  (c) the general ability to conceptualise, design and implement a project for the generation of new knowledge, applications or understanding at the forefront of the discipline, and to adjust the project design in the light of unforeseen problems;
  (d) a detailed understanding of applicable techniques and advanced academic enquiry;
  (e) a satisfactory level of literary presentation.
6.6 When the examiners consider that a thesis does not reach the standard required for the degree of EdD/DEd Psy/DClin Res/DClin Prac/ DClin Psy it shall be within their discretion to make one of the following recommendations:
  (a) that the degree be awarded subject to the candidate making minor amendments to the thesis to the satisfaction of one or more of the examiners as may be agreed between them.
  (b) that the degree be awarded subject to the candidate making major amendments to the thesis to the satisfaction of the examiners as may be agreed between them.
 

(c) that no degree be awarded but that the candidate be permitted to submit a revised thesis.
6.7 When making recommendations (a), (b) or (c), the examiners are required, when making their final report to the Dean/ Associate Dean of the Faculty, also to indicate for the information of the candidate the reasons for their decision, and where amendments are required (whether minor, major or revisions prior to re-submission) to indicate those aspects or parts of the thesis/dissertation which they regard as inadequate and the nature and extent of the re-writing required
6.8 A thesis may be re-submitted on one occasion within such a period of further study as the examiners recommend and the Dean/ Associate Dean of the Faculty approves. A candidate preparing for resubmission will be required to maintain registration as a continuing registration student.
6.9 On examination of a re-submitted thesis, if the examiners again consider that a thesis does not reach the standard required for the degree of EdD/DEd Psy/DClin Res/DClin Prac/ DClin Psy it shall be within their discretion to make one of the following recommendations:
  (a) that the degree be awarded subject to the candidate making minor amendments to the thesis to the satisfaction of one or more of the examiners as may be agreed between them.
  (b) the degree be awarded subject to the candidate making major amendments to the thesis to the satisfaction of the examiners.The following options apply to the EdD/DEd Psy/DClin Res/DClin Prac programmes only:
  (c) that the degree of Master of Philosophy be awarded.
  (d) that the degree of Master of Philosophy be awarded subject to the candidate making minor amendments to the thesis to the satisfaction of one or more of the examiners as may be agreed between them.
  (e) that, where an appropriate award be available, another Master’s degree be awarded.

The following option applies to all programme:
 

(f) that no degree be awarded.
   
   
 

1The assessment outcomes for awards within the Faculty of Graduate Research, as outlined in these Regulations, have been bought into line with the language used in the 'Credit and Qualifications Framework', a direct adoption of the language contained in the national ‘Frameworks for Higher Education Qualifications of UK Degree-Awarding Bodies’. The outcomes for students who commenced their studies prior to the 2016-17 academic year, also aligned with the national frameworks, but did so without direct adoption of the Framework language.