Introduction to the Degree of PhD (Integrated (1+3) Award)

The Doctor of Philosophy (Integrated) regulations provide candidates with the opportunity to undertake and complete a Master's degree and progress to a PhD, receiving two awards: an MSc and a PhD. The Programmes comprise two elements: an MSc in Social Research Methods (the Master's element) and a PhD across a range of subject areas (the doctoral element).

Overview of the Program

The Program at Swansea University is offered as part of the Doctoral Training Programme with collaborative partners across Wales, enabling students to study elements at multiple institutions. All students must complete the Master's element at their delivery institution before formally progressing to the doctoral element either at the same institution or another member of the partnership.

Entry Conditions

A candidate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (1+3) must hold an initial degree of a UK university or another university approved by Senate and will be required to complete the Master's element of the programme before formally progressing to the doctoral element of the programme. Candidates may be provisionally enrolled on the doctoral element following submission of the Directed Independent Learning, in line with the regulation on concurrent enrolment, to a maximum of three months.

Enrolment and Methods of Study

The University expects all candidates to enrol in order to be recognised as a student of the University. Candidates may study for the degree of PhD (1+3) by one of the following methods:

• As a full-time student, by pursuing teaching and research at the University;
• As a part-time student, by pursuing teaching at the University and research either at the University or externally;
• As a full-time student, by pursuing teaching/research at the University and/or teaching/research within an approved programme of research offered collaboratively by the University and another University/approved partner within the Doctoral Training Programme.

Candidature Period

A candidate must pursue and complete a programme of teaching at Master's Level (The Master's element) and supervised study, including research and generic skills' development as either a full-time or a part-time student. The Master's element shall be completed as prescribed by the relevant Faculty/School or Collaborative Partner.

Programme Structure

The degree of PhD (integrated 1+3 award) shall comprise a Postgraduate Taught Master's element (Year 1 full-time, Years 1 and 2 part-time) and a Postgraduate Research element (Years 2-4 full-time, Years 3-8 part-time), along with a final writing up period of 1 year maximum.

Progression through the Programme

All candidates will be enrolled on the Integrated PhD (1+3) programme. All candidates will commence with the Taught Master's element in Year 1. In order to formally progress to the doctoral element of the programme, candidates are required to complete and pass (either at the first or second attempt) all taught modules comprising the Master's element and submit the directed independent learning component.

Modules within a Programme

A module is a distinct educational component of a programme. Each programme shall consist of taught modules which may be single modules of not less than 5 Swansea University credit points and not normally more than 30 credit points. For Masters Programmes there shall also be additional 60-credits of directed independent learning/approved alternative.

Changing Modes of Study

Full-time and part-time postgraduate taught candidates may be permitted to change their mode of attendance prior to the start of their degree programme, provided that it does not contravene rules governing sponsor/studentships.

Personal Tutoring and Research Supervision

Candidates will be allocated a Research Supervisory Team at the point of enrolment. Candidates will also be allocated a Personal Tutor in accordance with Swansea University's Policy on Personal Tutoring, and a dissertation supervisor for the Master's element.

Monitoring of Progress and Attendance

During the Master's element, candidates shall be expected to attend all scheduled learning sessions associated with each module which they have elected to pursue. Attendance during the Master's element shall be monitored in accordance with the University's Engagement Monitoring Policy.

Submission of Assessment

All candidates are required to complete 180 credits, including 60 credits of independent learning, submitting all assessment within the timeframes included below. Where a candidate fails to submit assessments by the maximum submission date the University may require the candidature to be terminated.

Submission of Directed Independent Learning

Directed independent learning must be submitted in accordance with the University's requirements. Faculties/Schools may choose one of the following options:

• To accept an electronic copy of the work.
• To accept two soft bound copies and an electronic copy.

Resubmission

If the piece/pieces of directed independent learning is not accepted by the examiners by the set deadline the candidate may be allowed to resubmit it once only and, due to the nature of the integrated PhD, within the following time limits:

• Normally* 3 months (after the official University publication of results)

Doctoral Element: Submission of Thesis

All candidates are required to submit a thesis by the maximum submission date as set out in paragraph 1 of the University's Guide to Research Degree Candidature, current at the time of admission and as stated in the formal Offer Letter.

Doctoral Element: Assessment

Candidates for the degree of PhD (1+3) shall be assessed in the following ways:

• The Master's element shall comprise continuous assessment and/or examinations of an advanced character in fields of study prescribed by the appropriate Programme Director.
• The Doctoral element shall take the form of a thesis embodying the methods and results of the research project.

Oral Examination (viva voce)

The Examining Board shall be required to conduct an oral examination of candidates for research degrees in all cases. In the case of a student who is allowed to re-submit within 12 months, a second viva would normally be expected.

External Examiners and Examination Boards

All Examining Boards for candidates completing the Doctoral element shall consist of the following individuals:

• An independent Chair, who will be the Executive Dean or a member of staff with appropriate experience nominated by the Executive Dean.
• An external examiner or examiners appointed in accordance with the University's Guide to the Examination of Research Students.
• An internal examiner appointed in accordance with the University's Guide to the Examination of Research Students.

Retention and Disposal of Directed Independent Learning following Examination

One copy should be stored by the Faculty/School for not less than two years. Where a student has submitted two soft bound copies the other copy should be made available for collection by the candidate, unless the content is deemed to be relevant to Wales, in which case the copy should be deposited in the University Library.

Publication of Work

A candidate shall be at liberty to publish the whole or part of the work produced during their period of registration at the University, prior to its submission as a whole, or as part, provided that in the published work it is nowhere stated that it is in consideration for a higher degree.

Availability of Thesis

A thesis submitted for a higher degree of the University shall normally be openly available and subject to no security classification or restriction of access.

Bar on Access

Notwithstanding the provisions in the regulations relating to the availability of the thesis or directed independent learning, the University may be permitted, on a special recommendation approved by the candidate's Executive Dean or nominee, to place a bar on access to a candidate's work for a period of up to five years.

Exit Qualifications

A candidate who is enrolled on a PhD (1+3) but is subsequently unable or is not permitted to progress to completion (either during the Master's or Doctoral element) may, depending on the level of study achieved, qualify for one of the following awards of the University:

• Postgraduate Certificate
• Postgraduate Diploma
• Postgraduate Master's Degree

Admission to Degrees

Candidates who have qualified for their awards shall be admitted to their degrees in absentia , by decree of the Vice-Chancellor of Swansea University.

Aegrotat and Posthumous Awards

For Aegrotat guidance regulations refer to the Aegrotat Degree Regulations. For Posthumous guidance regulations refer to the Posthumous Degree Regulations.

Academic Appeals

Candidates who are not recommended by the Examining Board for the award of the degree in respect of which they submitted their thesis may appeal against the decision reached and request an academic appeal.

Academic Misconduct

Allegations of academic misconduct shall be considered in accordance with the Swansea University Academic Misconduct procedures and regulations.

Fitness to Practise

Allegations of fitness to practise shall be considered in accordance with the Swansea University Fitness to Practise regulations.

Complaints

Students who feel dissatisfied with the teaching and learning, facilities or services provided by the University, or with the way the University, its students or its staff have acted or omitted to act, should follow the procedures set out in the Swansea University Complaints Procedure.

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