Change in Student Status

During the course of research, circumstances may change (the student’s or their supervisor’s) and these will have implications for the progress and status of the student’s registration. As such, these must be registered with the Research Office and approved by the Academic Board for Concessions and Discipline. Details of how to do this are available from the Research Office.

Change of Mode

If the student wishes to change mode of study from full-time to part-time  (or vice versa), they must submit a request  (supported by their Head of Programme) to the Research Office who will submit it to the Academic Board for Concessions and Discipline. The same process is to be followed if the student is to change from ‘by project’ to ‘by thesis’ or vice versa. However, it is important to note that it is not possible to conduct a research degree by project in the School of Humanities (with the exception of Curating Contemporary Art).

Leave of Absence

It is also possible to have leave of absence for an extended period, or seek an extension to the registration period. Although the College is keen to encourage all research degree students to complete their research degrees within the appropriate time, the Academic Board of Concessions and Discipline, in response to requests submitted via the Research Office, will consider applications for extension of registration which are based on the following grounds:

• ill-health
• maternity leave
• child care responsibilities
• serious ill-health of a partner or a close relative
• the exceptional opportunity to undertake an external project related to the student’s academic work
• financial hardship
• specific extenuating circumstances as agreed with the student’s programme

The Head of Programme will decide upon the merits of the application and make a recommendation to the Academic Board for Concessions and Discipline.

Leave of Absence is restricted to a maximum of one year for a full-time student or five terms for a part-time student. Please note: if leave of absence is granted, the student will be required to be reexamined before their re-registration at the College (PG4b). If the reason for leave of absence was the ill-health of the student, return is subject to the agreement of the Occupational Health Department. A student on leave of absence does not have the status of a student at the College.