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Paul Wood Graduate Dean, Faculty of Medical & Veterinary Sciences University of Bristol

University of Bristol Research Staff Annual Conference Policies and practicalities of obtaining a PhD as a member of staff. Paul Wood Graduate Dean, Faculty of Medical & Veterinary Sciences University of Bristol. Synopsis. Full-time or part-time? PhD by published work

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Paul Wood Graduate Dean, Faculty of Medical & Veterinary Sciences University of Bristol

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  1. University of BristolResearch Staff Annual ConferencePolicies and practicalities of obtaining a PhD as a member of staff Paul Wood Graduate Dean, Faculty of Medical & Veterinary Sciences University of Bristol

  2. Synopsis • Full-time or part-time? • PhD by published work • Should UoB encourage staff registration? • Criteria for a PhD Acknowledgements: • Tony England – for providing data • Alison Leggett, Tom Loeffler – assistance in analysis

  3. Full-time or Part-time?(A topic for further research )

  4. Duration of study for a PhD(Maximum for PT student = 8 years: PhD regs.)

  5. Part-time self-funded PhD students: Should block payment of remaining fees be permitted? A case history - • Student registers as 50% FT, implying fees payment for 6 years. • 3 years later, supervisor asks for meeting with Graduate Dean. • The research has gone unexpectedly well and the thesis is complete. • Contract for UoB employment (if a member of staff) has come to an end. • Has accepted a postdoc position elsewhere, but stipend can’t be paid until thesis is submitted.

  6. PhD by published work:Candidature and fees • Candidate must be a UoB graduate …, or be a graduate of another university of not less than six years’ standing, who is a member of the academic or academic-related staff … and has spent at least three years in the University. • Registration fee: £500 (staff); £1000 (non-staff) • (since external candidates need more help) • Submission fee: £500

  7. PhD by published work –What is required? • The published work must represent a contribution to knowledge and must show evidence of originality and clarity of thought … • The submission also includes: • A commentary linking the published work, outlining the coherence in terms of the subject matter being submitted • A signed statement advising how far the work submitted is based on the candidate’s own independent study …. • A C.V.

  8. PhD by published work with multi-author publications: Case history • Applicant: UoB BSc in Biochemistry, 1974 • 18 publications, but only two as first-author • Typical authorship: • JN Arnold, CM Radcliffe, MR Wormald, L Royle, DJ Harvey, M Crispin, RA Dwek, PM Rudd & RB Sim • My HoD gave consent to go ahead…

  9. Case history for multi-author publications, continued: Layout of the submission • The author’s declaration was followed by a signed declaration from the head of her research group. • Ch 1. Introduction (1-17) • Ch 2. Method optimisation and development (18-45) • Ch 3. Aims and contributions (46-66) • Ch 4. Conclusions and future aspects of glycosylation analysis (67-75) • Published work (7 Publications) • Outcome: Pass (no corrections)

  10. Should the University encourage staff registration for a PhD?

  11. Should the University encourage staff registration for a PhD? UoB Research Strategy (2003-08): Each Department and Faculty will maintain balanced and sustainable portfolios of activities to support their fundamental research… . In addition to grant-funded research and teaching, activities that will contribute to the portfolio are likely to include: business/industrial funded research, intellectual property expansion, and teaching postgraduates/overseas students. • This is the only mention of postgraduates in the Research Strategy. • Lobby Research Directors for positive mention of research postgrads in the next Research Strategy!

  12. External link between research postgrad numbers and research funding • In March 2006 the Government announced its intention to replace the RAE after 2008 with an assessment system based on metrics. HEFCE undertook a consultation on the logistics. • For all subjects the new process will use a set of indicators based on research income, postgraduate numbers, and a quality indicator. (HEFCE News 6/12/06)

  13. Criteria for award of research degrees[Regulations and Code of Practice for Research Degree Programmes, 2007/2008] • The dissertation should: • embody the results of research … which may reasonably be expected of a capable and diligent student in the period of study set in the Regulations for the degree. Doctoral degrees 4. The dissertation should … represent a significant and original contribution to knowledge, worthy of publication or dissemination in whole or in part in a form appropriate to the discipline. 6. … the work submitted and the oral examination together must demonstrate … that the candidate has the capacity to pursue independently original research based on a good understanding of the relevant techniques and concepts.

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