DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2025/2026

PROGRAMME AIMS:
A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) trains you as a researcher and allows you to develop advanced techniques and in-depth knowledge in a specialist area. You will develop an all-round knowledge of your discipline, and a broad range of transferable skills.

You will carry out independent research, resulting in an original contribution to knowledge in your chosen area. You will work under the guidance of your supervisors. To be awarded a PhD you will submit a thesis and successfully defend this thesis in an oral examination (assessed according to the University's regulations).

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE:
The prescribed period of study for a full-time PhD is 36 months, and the thesis is expected to be submitted towards the end of the third year. The University regulations do allow a further 12 months study time for completion of the thesis, but students are recommended to aim to complete within 3 years. Progress during the PhD is assessed by annual reviews in each subsequent year. These formally determine whether students progress into the next year of the PhD.


YEAR 1:

Students are required to:

- Attend an induction meeting with their supervisor(s) and complete the PhD induction form. The PhD induction form includes the Training Needs Analysis (TNA).
- Meet with supervisors regularly to develop the research proposal which will be the basis for the thesis. This typically includes a comprehensive literature review, identifying research aims and questions, and, where applicable, developing and/or carrying out a pilot study.
- Submit a monthly activity report to the PG office summarising their PhD related activities each month.
- Participate in relevant professional development seminars organised by LEL staff and students as specified in the LEL PhD Training programme, and after consulting with supervisors and/or as specified in the induction/TNA form.
- Complete the no-credit LEL Ethics Training module where relevant (unless they have already done so).
- Successfully complete the first-year review. In preparation for this, students must complete a self-assessment form, attach an updated induction and TNA form and provide or prepare supporting materials as directed by the supervisory team ahead of the first-year review panel meeting.


Students are encouraged to:

- Attend research seminar meetings/talks as organised by LEL (if applicable) and after consulting with supervisors.
- Attend LEL PhD+Alumni informal chats.
- Present in-progress PhD work at the LEL PhD Training conference and attend pre-conference workshop sessions.
- Complete relevant training courses from the PPLS Skills Centre, the Institute of Academic Development (IAD) and the national graduate schools (Scottish Graduate School of Arts & Humanities or Scottish Graduate School of Social Sciences). The following topics are particularly encouraged (these may also apply to Years 2 and 3):
-- Time management
-- Reference management
-- Writing (any aspect)
-- CVs and academic websites
-- Public engagement, KE and outreach
-- Programming and/or Statistics and Data analysis
-- Jobs (academic or non-academic)
-- Grants
- Take part in teaching training.

PROGRAMME AIMS AND STRUCTURE:
See Year 1 for details.

YEAR 2:

Students are required to:

- Continue following the research plan agreed at the first-year review panel. This includes regularly meeting with supervisors to advance thesis work and completing tasks and milestones set for this year.
- Submit a monthly activity report to the PG office summarising their PhD related activities each month.
- Participate in relevant professional development seminars organised by LEL staff and students as specified in the LEL PhD Training programme, and after consulting with supervisors and/or as specified in the TNA form.
- Successfully complete the second-year review. In preparation for this, students must complete a self-assessment form, attach an updated TNA form and provide or prepare supporting materials as directed by the supervisory team ahead of the second-year review panel meeting.


Students are encouraged to:

- Attend research seminar meetings/talks as organised by LEL (if applicable) and after consulting with supervisors.
- Attend LEL PhD+Alumni informal chats.
- Complete relevant PPLS Skill Centre/IAD/SGSAH/SGSSS training courses as listed above (beyond the professional seminars offered in LEL).
- Disseminate research at conferences, workshops and in appropriate journals and other outlets, as agreed with the supervisor(s).
- Take part in teaching training including tutoring opportunities within the school.
- Attend additional, LEL-external, research seminars and/or reading groups.
- Participate in the 3 Minute Thesis Competition.

PROGRAMME AIMS AND STRUCTURE:
See Year 1 for details.

YEAR 3:

Students are required to:

- Continue following the research plan agreed at the second-year review panel. This includes regularly meeting with supervisors to advance thesis work and completing tasks and milestones set for this year.
- Submit a monthly activity report to the PG office summarising their PhD related activities each month.
- Participate in relevant professional development seminars organised by LEL staff and students as specified in the LEL PhD Training programme, and after consulting with supervisors/as specified in the TNA form.
- Plan for submission of thesis for examination.
- Successfully complete the third-year review (unless the dissertation has already been submitted, in which case no annual review is needed). In preparation for this, students must complete a self-assessment form, attach an updated TNA form, and provide or prepare supporting materials as directed by the supervisory team ahead of the third-year review panel meeting.

In addition (and if applicable for year three), in preparation for thesis submission, students are required to:

- Prepare final version of thesis for examination.
- Complete Intention to Submit form (approximately two months prior to submission), if applicable.
- Prepare for viva examination, including possible pre-viva talk.


Students are encouraged to:

- Attend research seminar meetings/talks as organised by LEL (if applicable) and after consulting with supervisors.
- Attend LEL PhD+Alumni informal chats.
- Complete relevant PPLS Skill Centre/IAD/SGSAH/SGSSS training courses as listed above.
- Disseminate research at conferences, workshops and in appropriate journals and other outlets, as agreed with the supervisor(s).
- Take part in teaching training including tutoring opportunities within the school.
- Attend research seminars and/or reading groups.
- Participate in the 3 Minute Thesis Competition.

PROGRAMME AIMS AND STRUCTURE:
See Year 1 for details.

YEAR 4:

After three years of full-time enrolment (six years part-time), students are entitled to an additional period of registration. The thesis must be submitted by the end of this additional 12 months.

Students are required to:

- Complete write up and submit thesis for examination.
- Submit a monthly activity report to the PG office summarising their PhD related activities each month.
- Complete Intention to Submit form (approximately two months prior to submission).
- Prepare for viva examination, including possible pre-viva talk.

It is very important to complete your PhD thesis within the allotted time. Extensions will only be granted in exceptional circumstances.

In cases where students may apply for extension:
- complete the fourth-year review panel.
The outcome of review will include a firm timetable for completion.