Framework Regulations for Joint Doctoral Degrees

Doctoral degrees are awarded to students who have demonstrated: 

• The creation and interpretation of new knowledge, through original research or other advanced scholarship, of a quality to satisfy peer review, extend the forefront of the discipline, and merit publication;
• A systematic acquisition and understanding of a substantial body of knowledge which is at the forefront of an academic discipline or area of professional practice;
• The general ability to conceptualise, design and implement a project for the generation of new knowledge, applications or understanding at the forefront of the discipline, and to adjust the project design in the light of unforeseen problems;
• A detailed understanding of applicable techniques for research and advanced academic enquiry.

Typically, holders of the qualification will be able to:

• Make informed judgements on complex issues in specialist fields, often in the absence of complete data, and be able to communicate their ideas and conclusions clearly and effectively to specialist and non-specialist audiences;
• Continue to undertake pure and/or applied research and development at an advanced level, contributing substantially to the development of new techniques, ideas or approaches.

And holders will have:

• The qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment requiring the exercise of personal responsibility and largely autonomous initiative in complex and unpredictable situations, in professional or equivalent environments.

A candidate for a joint doctoral degree must satisfy the entry conditions of all other partner institutions/approved partners concerned.

At Swansea University:

A candidate for a joint doctoral degree must hold an initial degree of a UK university or another university approved by Senate and normally hold, or be studying for, a Master’s degree of a UK university or another university approved by Senate.

All candidates whose native language is not English must provide evidence of competence in English Language sufficient for research study, and after admission to the University may be required to take additional instruction in English Language.

The decision as to whether an applicant should be admitted to a proposed programme of research shall rest with the relevant Executive Dean or nominee.

A contract between partner institutions/approved partners for an individual candidate cannot be signed until the joint doctoral candidate has been admitted into the doctoral programme of all partner institutions/approved partners.

At Swansea University:

A candidate for a joint doctoral degree shall be admitted under Method D, as a full-time student, by pursuing research within an approved programme of research offered jointly/collaboratively by the University and another University/approved partner.

All joint doctoral candidates must enrol at each partner institution and pay the appropriate fees prescribed by each of the partner institutions. 

As enrolled students, candidates must comply with each partner University’s/approved partner’s academic and general regulations.

Candidates may not concurrently be enrolled on another programme leading to the award of a qualification in any partner institution or any other university/institution without the express permission of the Chair of the Regulations, Quality and Standards Committee.

A joint doctoral candidate must pursue a programme of supervised study, including research and generic skills' development as a full-time student. The minimum period of supervised study from the date of enrolment is three academic years.

A joint doctoral candidate conducts rotating or subsequent research periods at all partner institutions.

At Swansea University:

A joint doctoral candidate enrolling as a student under method D would normally undertake a minimum period or periods of study at Swansea University equivalent to one academic year over the full period of study.

Submission Date

All joint doctoral candidates are required to submit a thesis by the maximum submission date as stated in the formal Offer Letter.

Supervision

All joint doctoral candidates shall have a supervisory team consisting of at least one named supervisor from each partner institution.

At Swansea University:

The Swansea University supervisory team shall consist of at least two internal supervisors who are eligible for appointment as set out in the Swansea University Postgraduate Research Supervision. One supervisor will be designated as the first/primary supervisor.

The full supervisory team shall hold regular meetings throughout the candidature period, either face-to-face or by electronic means, to discuss the candidate’s progress.

At Swansea University:

The Faculty/School is required to confirm the candidature of each candidate within three months of the initial enrolment of the candidate as set out in the University’s Guide to Progress Monitoring of Research Students.

A candidate’s progress in minimum candidature shall be monitored on a regular basis by the Progression and Awards Board in order to decide whether or not the candidate be permitted to progress. Progress will be monitored at specific stages as detailed in the Swansea University Guide to Progress Monitoring of Research Students.

If a candidate’s progress is deemed to be unsatisfactory, the candidate may be required to transfer on to another programme, or required to withdraw from the programme. 

Assessment of Degree

All candidates for the joint doctoral degree shall be examined in two parts: 

• The first part shall take the form of a thesis embodying the methods and results of the research project.
• The second part shall take the form of an oral examination (viva voce).

The examination process will be held at one of the partner institutions, but the process shall be recognised by all partner institutions.

Language of Thesis and Oral Examination

The thesis is normally written in a national language of one of the partner institutions. The oral examination is normally conducted in a national language of one of the partner institutions.

At Swansea University:

Any candidate who is following a programme of research at the University may choose to submit a thesis or other work in either English or Welsh.

In cases where it may be considered appropriate for a thesis to be submitted in a language other than English/Welsh for academic reasons or where submission of the thesis in another language is a requirement of the specific programme, permission may be given by the Student Cases Board where a reasoned case has been submitted for approval. The Student Cases Board shall not however give approval to requests based upon the candidate’s lack of ability to produce work for submission in either English or Welsh.

Candidates shall notify of their intention to submit a thesis for examination, at least three months prior to the expected date of submission.

On completion of the minimum candidature period, a candidate shall submit an electronic copy of a thesis for examination in accordance with the University’s Guide to the Submission and Presentation of a Thesis for Research Students. Should an examiner request a paper copy of the thesis, this will be provided by the candidate via the Postgraduate Research support team.

All candidates must submit an updated electronic copy of the thesis after examination, if any corrections or amendments have been made.

Availability of Thesis

A thesis submitted for a joint doctoral degree shall normally be openly available and not subject to any security classification or restriction of access.

However, on a special recommendation approved by all partner institutions, a bar may be placed on photocopying and/or access to a candidate’s work for a period of up to five years.

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

• An independent Chair, who will be required to chair the oral examination and any meeting of the examiners.
• An external examiner or examiners appointed with the agreement of all partner institutions.
• An internal examiner or examiners from each partner institution.

At Swansea University:

The Swansea University internal examiner shall be appointed in accordance with the University’s Guide to the Examination of Research Students.

The candidate’s supervisors or any member of staff involved in the supervision of the candidate, shall not be permitted to be part of the Examining Board, but may be invited by the Chair of the Examining Board, with the express prior written permission of the candidate, to attend the oral examination in an advisory role and may speak only when invited to do so by the Chair.

The Examining Board shall be required to conduct an oral examination of candidates for research degrees in all cases.

At Swansea University:

All oral examinations would normally take place at Swansea University within six months of the date of submission of the thesis. Any exceptions would either have to be agreed as an exception or agreed to reflect the nature of the degree e.g. those students studying under Method ‘D’ (collaborative).

The oral examination shall be conducted in accordance with the Swansea University Guide to the Examination of Research Students. The recommendation of the Examining Board shall be presented to the Progression and Awards Board for confirmation.

For Aegrotat guidance regulations refer to the Aegrotat Degree Regulations.  

For Posthumous guidance regulations refer to the Posthumous Degree Regulations. 

All academic appeals or complaints made while the candidate is at a partner institution shall be conducted in accordance with the relevant regulations at that partner institution.

Academic Misconduct

Allegations of Academic Misconduct while the candidate is at a partner institution shall be considered in accordance with the relevant regulations at that partner institution.

Fitness to Practise

Allegations of fitness to practise while the candidate is at a partner institution shall be considered in accordance with the relevant regulations at that partner institution.

International students who need a visa to study in the University should be aware that their continued study at the University is dependent upon them meeting the conditions of their visa and the time-limits set by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). For more information please refer to https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/student-visas.

Decisions taken by the University with regard to a candidate’s enrolment status, academic performance, progression and award shall be made in accordance with the University’s academic and financial regulations and shall not be informed by visa restrictions and time-limits set by the UKVI. However, continued study is conditional upon meeting the University’s requirements and holding a valid visa.

Students who have any concerns or queries regarding their visa should contact International@CampusLife.