Regulations

The regulations apply to the following LJMU research degrees:

• Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
• Doctor of Philosophy by Published Works (PhD)

The university’s Research Degrees Board on behalf of Academic Board manages Research Degrees. Research Degrees Board may delegate authority to relevant Faculty Research Degrees Committees as appropriate. 

These regulations form one element of the Research Degrees Framework of Liverpool John Moores University and should be read in conjunction with the relevant research degree policies:

• Policy for the Supervision of Research Degrees
• Policy for Reviewing the Progress of Postgraduate Research Students
• Policy for the Presentation of Research Theses
• Policy for the Examination of Research Degrees
• Policy for PGR Attendance, Engagement and Change of Circumstances

Please note
The Research Degrees Framework is updated annually so it is essential that research students and staff refer to the current edition.
Only the current edition has regulatory status and supersedes all previous editions.

Professional Doctorates are governed by the University’s Academic Framework for Postgraduate Taught Programmes.

Requirements for admission to a research degree at LJMU are set out within the university’s Admissions Policy.

For further information, please contact the Doctoral Academy - DoctoralAcademy@ljmu.ac.uk. 

There are three set enrolment points in the academic year which are normally in October, February and June. 

PGRs must be enrolled on the research degree throughout the candidature from initial enrolment through to completion. PGRs must re-enrol annually on the anniversary of their start date.

Initial enrolment and re-enrolment is subject to agreement and acceptance of the university Conditions of Offer and Enrolment. 

PGRs must undertake appropriate induction to their research degree. Faculties shall be responsible for providing a PGR Handbook, and an induction setting out local codes of conduct in laboratories/studios, Health and Safety etc.  

The normal periods of study starting from initial enrolment for the various research degrees are:

MPhil

Full time

Expected Programme Duration: 24 months
Thesis submission (earliest): 12 months
Thesis submission (latest): 20 months

Part time

Expected Programme Duration: 36 months
Thesis submission (earliest): 24 months
Thesis submission (latest): 32 months

PhD

Full time

Expected Programme Duration: 48 months
Thesis submission (earliest): 33 months
Thesis submission (latest): 44 months

Part time

Expected Programme Duration: 84 months
Thesis submission (earliest): 48 months
Thesis submission (latest): 80 months

PhD by Published Work

Part time

Expected Programme Duration: 16 months
Thesis submission (earliest): 3 months
Thesis submission (latest): 12 months

PGR candidates move to their completion year in the final 12 months, providing they have completed their primary area of research and have demonstrated the ability to complete within the required period.  During the completion year, the expectation is that PGRs will submit their thesis for examination, have their viva voce and fully complete the award.

PGRs who do not submit their final thesis for examination by the expected programme duration end date will need to request an extension to their registration period.  Extensions will be granted for a maximum of one year at the discretion of the Research Degrees Board.

Research supervisors shall be appropriately experienced and have completed appropriate Doctoral Academy training, according to the Policy for the Supervision of Research Degrees.

PGRs shall be allocated to a supervisory team, which shall be comprised of a minimum of two supervisors and a maximum of four supervisors.

Supervisory meetings shall take place regularly, with a minimum requirement of ten formally recorded meetings per academic year (five pro rata for part time PGRs).

PGRs registered for a research degree longer than 12 months shall be subject to the following formal progression monitoring points in line with the requirements detailed in the Policy for Reviewing the Progress of Postgraduate Research Students

Programme Approval

Following admission to the research degree, PGRs will undergo Programme Approval to confirm the supervisory team, project direction and intended mode of presentation. This should be completed at three months for full time PGRs and 6 months for part time PGRs.

Confirmation of Registration

PhD candidates are admitted to the research degree on a probationary basis and require a formal review to confirm their registration. This should be completed at 12 months for full time PGRs and 24 months for part time PGRs.

Review Panels shall include members of the supervisory team and an Independent Assessor appointed by the Faculty Research Degrees Committee.

The Review Panel may recommend to Research Degrees Board one of the following outcomes of Confirmation of Registration:

• PhD Registration Confirmed
• PhD Registration Deferred; further assessment required within three months from date of notification
• PhD Registration Not Confirmed; Transfer to award of MPhil
• Progress Unsatisfactory: Termination of Registration 

Where the Candidate has resubmitted for Confirmation of Registration, the Review Panel may recommend to Research Degrees Board the following outcomes:

• PhD Registration Confirmed
• PhD Registration Not Confirmed; Transfer to award of MPhil
• Progress Unsatisfactory: Termination of Registration

Annual Review

Prior to annual re-enrolment PGRs will undergo a formal review of their progress conducted by the supervisory team, to determine their eligibility to continue with their studies.

 The supervisory team may recommend to the Faculty Research Degrees Committee the following outcomes of Annual Progress Review:

• Annual Review Satisfactory; Continue PGR studies
• Annual Review Not Yet Satisfactory; Further work required for review within one month from date of notification
• Annual Review Not Satisfactory; begin unsatisfactory academic progress procedure

Where the Candidate has resubmitted for Annual Project Review, the supervisory team may recommend to the Faculty Research Degrees Committee the following outcomes:

• Annual Review Satisfactory; Continue PGR studies
• Annual Review Not Satisfactory; begin unsatisfactory academic progress procedure

Submission Planning

The supervisory team shall review the candidate’s work prior to submission, providing their view of its readiness for examination.

The decision to submit the thesis shall rest with the candidate and initiates the preparations for examination arrangements.

Policy for the Presentation of Research Theses defines the modes of presentation and word limits permitted.

The thesis must be presented in English; exceptions must be approved by the Research Degrees Board.

The thesis must be the result of the candidate’s own work, which has been completed and written whilst registered as PGR at the University.  This requirement does not preclude a PGR obtaining limited assistance with proof reading. When such help is obtained, it should be with the prior approval, and to the satisfaction of the Lead Supervisor.

PGRs must submit a copy of the final approved thesis to the University’s E-theses repository.

A viva voce examination shall take the form of an oral assessment, which relates to the submitted thesis and the candidate's general area of research. 

Research degrees will be awarded to PGRs who have demonstrated that they satisfy the relevant qualification descriptors aligned to Section 4 of the QAA Qualification Descriptors.

The examiners may recommend to the Research Degrees Board the following outcomes of examination:

• Award of degree for which the PGR is registered, OR
• Award of the degree subject to amendments to be completed within three months from date of notification, OR

Where the candidate has not met the requirements to award the degree they are registered for, the following outcomes of examination are:

• Re-examination: The candidate has not yet satisfied the academic requirements for the award. They are entitled to revise and resubmit the thesis and [if necessary] undertake further research. Re-examination shall be with or without an oral examination within a period of up to 12 months from the date of notification.
• (in the case of PhD Candidates) Award of the degree of MPhil subject to amendments to be completed to the satisfaction of the examiners.
• No degree awarded and no further examination opportunity be granted.

When a thesis has been re-submitted and a second viva voce examination has occurred (where requested by the examiners), the examiners may recommend to the Research Degrees Board the following outcomes of examination:

• Award of degree for which the PGR is registered, OR
• Award of the degree subject to amendments to be completed within three months from date of notification 

Where the candidate has not met the requirements to award the degree they are registered for, the following outcomes of examination are:

• (in the case of PhD candidates) Award of the degree of MPhil subject to amendments to be completed to the satisfaction of the examiners
• No degree awarded and no further examination opportunity be granted.

The Research Degrees Board shall endorse the recommendation(s) of the examiners. The power to confer the degree shall rest with the Academic Board of the University. 

Withdrawal from a programme of study refers to either:

• The voluntary act of a PGR discontinuing their enrolment before completion of the research degree. This decision is typically made by the PGR and can be due to various reasons such as personal, academic, or professional factors. PGRs considering withdrawal from their studies should seek academic advice and student guidance as soon as possible from both their supervisors and Student Advice and Wellbeing before making the decision to withdraw. If following advice, a PGR wishes to proceed with withdrawal, they should confirm their decision with reasons by emailing DoctoralAcademy@ljmu.ac.uk and should return their University ID card.

or

• Action taken by the university to end a PGRs enrolment on their programme of study due to violation of university policies including but not limited to
• nonpayment of fees
• external noncompliance issues such as with UKVI regulations. International students studying on a Tier 4 visa should note that their LJMU sponsorship will be cancelled, and their withdrawal will be reported to the UKVI.
• failure to arrive to study.
• provision of false information at the time of application or any point thereafter.
• expulsion as the outcome of a student disciplinary process, a criminal convictions panel or for academic misconduct.
• an outcome of the fitness to study process.

Termination of registration refers to action taken by the university following consideration by the university Research Degrees Board to end a PGRs enrolment on their programme of study before completion of the research degree. Reasons for terminating a registration include but are not limited to the following reasons:

• Failure to meet academic standards and/or failure to progress.
• Failure to engage with the supervisors or the programme of study in line with the research degrees framework expectations. i.e., persistent or ongoing unauthorised absence where the PGR has not contacted their supervisory team or appropriate administrator regarding their absence.
• Failure to re-enrol on the anniversary of the start date as required by the university.
• Failure to return to study after an authorised leave of absence.
• Recommendation of the Unsatisfactory Academic Progress Review panel.
• Recommendation following Confirmation of Registration.
• Recommendation following final examination of MPhil or PhD.
• Recommendation following re-examination of MPhil or PhD.

Prior to withdrawal or a termination of registration and where appropriate the university will take reasonable steps to contact the PGR to confirm their intentions. Should the PGR fail to respond to such contact or fail to provide a satisfactory response, the university will proceed with the withdraw/termination of registration and the PGR will cease to be a student of the University. Once a PGR has been withdrawn or had their registration terminated, they do not normally have access to university systems and are not permitted to continue with the research.

If the student withdrawal date is disputed, then the last recorded date on which university resources or facilities were used will be taken as the date of withdrawal.

The university student withdrawal policy outlines charges associated with withdrawal/termination of registration.

Appeal forms and further guidance on the Appeals procedure can be found on the Student Appeals page.

Students may appeal the decision of the Research Degrees Board regarding:

1. PhD Confirmation of Registration assessments or reassessments.
2. Final examination for the award of MPhil or PhD.
3. Final re-examination for the award of MPhil or PhD.
4. Recommendation for termination of a student’s research degree registration.

Students may also appeal the decision of an Academic Misconduct Panel.

Grounds for Appeal

Students may appeal the decision of the Research Degrees Board or an Academic Misconduct Panel where it can be demonstrated that:

• there has been a material administrative error
• any assessment, in whatever format, was not conducted in accordance with current regulations
• some other material irregularity has occurred

Disagreement with the academic judgement of an assessor, examiner or group of examiners cannot in itself constitute grounds for an Academic Appeal. Students must be aware that appeals will only be accepted under the circumstances outlined above.  Appeals that do not meet the criteria will be deemed ineligible.

Submission deadlines

There are strict deadlines for the submission of an Academic Appeal or Academic Misconduct Appeal. Students must lodge the appeal with the Student Governance office, using the current online form, within 10 working days of the notification of the Research Degrees Board or Academic Misconduct Panel. Student seeking a Stage 2 Final Internal Review must be submitted within 10 working days of the notification of the outcome of the Stage 1 appeal. The University reserves the right to reject appeals if they are submitted outside the specified deadline.

Process summary

The University operates a two-stage appeal procedure.  Students will be formally notified of the outcome of each stage of the appeal process, the reason for the decision and any action to be taken, as appropriate.  Where an appeal is upheld, the nominated respondent will recommend appropriate action to the Research Degrees Board depending on the nature of the appeal, such as that:

• the original decision be reconsidered
• the candidate be permitted to undertake a further oral assessment event
• new confirmation assessors be appointed
• new examiners be appointed
• a new Academic Misconduct Panel be convened

Please note:
Any recommendations made must be formally approved by the University Research Degrees Board and will normally be implemented within 90 calendar days.

Where the appeal is not upheld, students will be advised of the procedure to progress to the next stage.

Stage 1

Consideration of Appeal by a nominated respondent. A nominated respondent is responsible for ensuring that consideration of Stage 1 Academic Appeals is conducted fairly and within the appropriate timescales, normally within 15 working days of the receipt of the Appeal. The nominated respondent should not be substantially associated with the student and should not be a member of the Review Panel, Research Degrees Board or Academic Misconduct Panel in which the original decision was made.

The response to the Stage 1 Appeal must include an explanation in support of the decision.

The nominated respondent will respond to the appeal with the outcome reported to the Student Governance Office within the timescale outlined in the Submission deadlines above.

Final Internal Review Stage

Where an appeal about either a Research Degrees Board or Academic Misconduct Panel decision is not upheld at Stage 1 and the student believes that the appeals procedures have not been conducted properly then they have the right to proceed to Stage 2 of the procedure.  Stage 2 is not a re-opening of the appeal and the student must provide evidence of procedural irregularity and/or a supporting statement detailing why they believe the decision is incorrect.

A Completion of Procedures letter will be issued to the student when all internal procedures are exhausted.  All internal procedures will normally be completed within 60 calendar days of the start of the formal stage (stage 1 appeal).

Students who are dissatisfied with the final outcome of their appeal and believe that the university has failed to follow this procedure correctly, may take their case to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education. Further information can be found on the Office of the Independent Adjudicator website.

Appeals against Expulsion

Where a student has been notified of the decision to expel them from the University, the student has a right of appeal to the Board of Governors.  The request for such an appeal must be made in writing, giving full supporting evidence, to the Student Governance office within 10 working days of receipt of the decision and giving grounds for appeal – see the Student Appeals page.

The university has a Student Complaints Procedure which applies to all students at Liverpool John Moores University. Details of the procedure are available on the Students Complaints page.