- Awards are for part-time or full-time study.
- Duration of awards will typically be for four years study.
- Awards may be used to support Home or Overseas applicants. The Fee and stipend award comprises:
- Tuition Fee Waiver of the Home fee rate
- Stipend (for living expenses) equivalent to the Research Council's UK minimum payment
- Training Support Fee (TSF) of £1,000 per year, in years two to four only - to fund miscellaneous costs such as travel to conferences and fieldwork expenses
- All students receiving awards are normally expected to commence study at the start of the academic year (that is, October). Awards cannot be deferred to the following academic year. That is, they have to be used for the years that they have been awarded.
- All students receiving awards are expected to follow Reg.16.5 (i) Attendance Requirements. Specifically, for Full-time PhD candidates “The programme of research shall be pursued in the University, except for any period which may, with the approval of the Board of Studies, be spent at any establishment or institution outside the University which has been approved by Senate for this purpose.”
- If a student suspends their study for a period of time (ref. Regulation 16.1 (d), including specific criteria for suspension) then the funding will be suspended for this period. If a student withdraws, the remaining value of the studentship must be refunded to the University.
- Continuation of the award for the duration of the programme is dependent on the student satisfactorily meeting any progression and reporting requirements, and satisfactorily meeting teaching requirements throughout the period of study, fulfilling all such requirements as may be in force within the Department (see postgraduate handbook).
- If a student completes their studies and submits a doctoral thesis before the end of the studentship, the date of submission normally becomes the funding end date.
- Graduate Research Scholars are expected to serve as Teaching Assistants. The responsibilities of Teaching Assistants include tasks such as teaching tutorials, marking, providing feedback, answering questions, facilitating seminars, demonstrating laboratory classes, and assisting with student research projects, trialling new experiments for courses, and so on. Unit conveners must retain responsibility for the provision of suitable teaching materials and guidance to Teaching Assistants.
- Teaching Assistants are required to:
- Undertake compulsory teaching training prior to the commencement of teaching activity. For details of courses available please refer to the Director of Studies for your Department and to the Doctoral Skills Programme. Graduate Research Scholars are encouraged to follow the UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF) and apply for an AdvanceHE Fellowship (FHEA).
- Contribute annually up to 400 workload hours, which will be made up of a combination of contact hours, contact preparation, marking of assignments and student support. To ensure fairness and transparency:
- the allocation will be based on the same Workload Allocation Management System that applies to all teaching in the Faulty of Science
- the allocation will be agreed by the appropriate Departmental Learning, Teaching and Quality Committee at the start of each academic year
- the Head of Department will have oversight of the allocation to ensure a balance is maintained between teaching and research commitments
- the Head of Department will assign the Graduate Research Scholar a “teaching mentor” who will be a different member of staff to those within the PhD supervisory team.
- Overseas students with a Student Visa must ensure that they are meeting the working conditions attached to their visa. More information can be found on the Working with your student or tier 4 visa page.
Owner: Doctoral Admissions
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Date of last review: 10 March 2023