1.1 This Code of Practice sets out the responsibilities of research students enrolled at Oxford Brookes University, their supervisors and Faculties. The guidelines contained in the Code represents the University’s view of what constitutes good practice for postgraduate research.
This Code will be supplemented by separate Faculty guidelines covering specific Faculty practice. The Code of Practice is not intended to provide a comprehensive guide to the procedures involved in undertaking a research degree and must be read in association with the following University approved codes, regulations, policies and procedures:
- Research Degree sections of the Regulations for Study and the Policies and Procedures Handbook;
- Code of Practice for Research Student Training;
- Intellectual Property Policy;
- Ethical Standards for Research involving Human Participants Code of Practice;
- Personal, Professional and Career Development Planner;
- Central regulations, and the policies and procedures for the degree of PhD on the basis of Published Work;
- Central regulations, and the policies and procedures for MA by Research, MSc by Research, LLM by Research;
- Research component of the Professional Doctorate;
- Notes of guidance for internal examiners on Research Degree Examinations;
- University Research Studentship Scheme Handbooks;
- Academic Integrity Policy.
Copies of all documentation produced by the Research Degrees Committee or the University are available from the University Regulations website.
1.2 Throughout this Code, the following terminology is used:
- ‘Faculties’ are administrative and academic divisions within the institution.
- ‘Students’ refer to those people enrolled to study for a research degree.
- ‘Supervisors’ are those members of staff who guide the students’ research.
- The ‘Director of Studies’ is the senior member of the supervision team who has overall responsibility for the supervision of the student.
- ‘Postgraduate Research Tutors’ are members of staff who have responsibility for research student matters within a Faculty, on behalf of the PVC Dean of Faculty.
- The ‘Research Degrees Committee’ is the senior committee in the University with responsibility for research degree matters.
- ‘Research Degrees Team’ is the central administrative unit, located within Student Central, which supports the Research Degrees Committee and is responsible for research degree administration.
1.3 These guidelines are published annually by the University, and students and their supervisors should acquaint themselves with them.
1.4 As defined in the University’s Regulations for Study and the Policy and Procedures Handbook, an MPhil or PhD thesis should be a critical investigation and evaluation of an approved topic, including the demonstration of understanding of research methods appropriate to the chosen field. A PhD thesis, in addition to this, should result in an independent and original contribution to knowledge. The MPhil or PhD degree will be awarded following the presentation and defence of the thesis by oral examination to the satisfaction of the examiners.
1.5 The MA, MSc or LLM by Research shall be awarded to a candidate who, having critically investigated and evaluated an approved topic and demonstrated an understanding of research methods appropriate to the chosen field, has presented and defended a thesis by oral examination to the satisfaction of the examiners.
1.6 The research component of the Professional Doctorate shall be awarded to a candidate who has demonstrated the creation and interpretation of new knowledge through original research, or other scholarship, of a quality that satisfied peer review, extends the forefront of the discipline and merits publication. The thesis should meet the national qualification descriptors at D level as outlined by the QAA.
1.7 The University shall award the degree of PhD on the basis of Published Work to registered candidates whose submitted work forms a coherent programme of research, demonstrates the use of appropriate research methodology, and makes an original and sufficient contribution to the present state of knowledge in a particular field to the satisfaction of the examiners. The work submitted should reflect the same academic standards as those which operate for a traditional PhD based upon an approved programme of supervised research.
1.8 The University considers that full-time research students should be able to complete a satisfactory MPhil thesis within two years and PhD thesis within three years (and part-time students within three or four years for MPhil and five or six years for PhD) and recommends that they should initially plan their research accordingly. This Code of Practice establishes good practice to enable students at the University to complete their theses within the recommended times.
1.9 This document will be supplemented by Guidelines issued by individual Faculties within the University.
1.10 Guidance at Faculty or Department level, for example in Faculty Handbooks, will provide additional advice for students and staff. When appropriate, Faculties may consider consulting external agencies, e.g. funders, concerning codes of practice for research programmes.