The regulations in this section cover the responsibilities of postgraduate research (PGR) students while they are studying.
7.1. PGR students must be made aware of their responsibilities through a combination of communications from the University, discussions with supervisors, and information provided by the school and faculty.
7.2. If a PGR student is funded and/or is studying on a student visa, they must make sure that they comply with the terms and conditions, or other requirements, related to their funding and/or visa.
7.3. An international PGR student who has questions on student visas or immigration matters must contact Student Visas for advice.
7.4. A PGR student is responsible for developing an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of their supervisory team and of the wider support framework provided by the University.
7.5. PGR students can find information in the current student webpages and from the Bristol Doctoral College. The Academic Advice service is also available to students.
7.6. A PGR student must comply with the relevant University regulations, policies and procedures that apply to them. This includes the following:
7.6.1. The regulations and code of practice for research degree programmes.
7.6.2. The rules and regulations for students.
7.6.3. Academic integrity and research degrees.
7.6.4. Norms of good research practice relevant to the research area and the research governance and integrity policy.
7.6.5. The regulations on research misconduct.
7.6.6. The regulations on research practice.
7.6.7. Relevant legal and ethical requirements, including in relation to ethical reviews.
7.6.8. The intellectual property policy for students.
7.7. A PGR student must ensure that they have the necessary financial support in place to enable them to complete their degree.
7.8. A PGR student is responsible for keeping their personal and contact details up to date in their student record.
7.9. A PGR student must register with the University at the beginning of their studies and at the start of each academic year.
7.10. A PGR student is responsible for paying any relevant fees and other costs related to their study, such as bench fees.
7.11. PGR students must conduct themselves in a professional manner, which includes the following requirements:
7.11.1. Treating all staff and students at the University with due respect and consideration.
7.11.2. Maintaining effective working relationships with their supervisors and with other staff and students.
7.11.3. Keeping in regular contact with their supervisors including when the student is away from the University or is addressing any corrections or a resubmission required by their examiners. The frequency of contact beyond formal supervisory meetings will vary depending on disciplines and on the student’s progress.
7.11.4. Making timely submissions of written work.
7.11.5. Keeping records of their research, their personal development, and of their formal supervisory meetings.
7.11.6. Making appropriate acknowledgment of the contribution of supervisors and others in any publications arising from their research work.
7.12. A PGR student must ensure that they attend the University in person as reasonably required by their supervisors and in line with any programme, partnership, funding, or visa requirements.
7.13. Attendance for part-time PGR students must take their circumstances into account. Part-time students studying on a student visa must however meet any attendance expectations required by their visa.
7.14. In-person attendance for PGR students must not be so low that the student is studying under a de facto distance learning arrangement, as this would disregard the safeguards required in the policy for research degrees by distance learning. In-person attendance must therefore be set at an appropriate level.
7.15. As part of the attendance requirement, PGR students must participate in monthly formal supervisory meetings, which are normally held in person. The supervisory support and engagement section provides more information on these formal meetings.
7.16. For PGR students studying on a student visa, formal supervisory meetings must be held in person, but an individual meeting can be held online instead if there is a good reason. If a meeting is held online, the student must ensure that the next monthly meeting is held in person. If the student’s main supervisor is away from the University for that next monthly meeting, the student must:
7.16.1. meet in person with a co-supervisor, or
7.16.2. go to the school office to have their in-person attendance formally recorded if they they can only meet online with a supervisor.
7.17. The in-person supervisory meeting requirement for PGR students studying on a student visa must continue during the period between the student’s submission for examination and the oral examination.
7.18. PGR students are exempt from the in-person attendance requirement in the following circumstances:
7.18.1. They are on annual leave, short-term exceptional leave, sick leave, or on suspension.
7.18.2. They are undertaking fieldwork, placements, or research at an external facility with the agreement of their main supervisor.
7.18.3. They are classified as a distance learning student and are governed by the policy for research degrees by distance learning.
7.18.4. They are studying for a joint or dual degree, or a part of a split-site arrangement. For this type of degree, a student is normally required to attend the University for at least 30% of their programme. If the student is part of a partnership or a doctoral training entity, they can spend more time away from the University if this is part of the partnership agreement.
7.18.5. They are preparing their dissertation for submission following the completion of their research phase. Students who are studying on a student visa must refer to 7.20
7.19. If a PGR student has individual exceptional circumstances not covered in the exemption list, the Faculty PGR Director can approve non-attendance if this is supported by the main supervisor and is in line with any programme, partnership, funding, or visa requirements.
7.20. A PGR student studying on a student visa must seek advice from Student Visas if they are in a situation covered by the exemption list, as visa rules must still be met. Some of the exemptions (such as being away from the University to undertake research or to prepare their dissertation for submission) might require a change of study location form and some exemptions might not be permissible.
7.21. The main supervisor and/or the School PGR Director must investigate if a PGR student does not comply with the in-person attendance requirement, including for formal supervisory meetings, and must take action to address the situation.
7.22. PGR students studying on a student visa cannot be absent from any required in-person contact points (usually their formal supervisory meetings) for 60 days or more. The University must inform UKVI and withdraw sponsorship of the student’s visa if the student does not meet this requirement for in-person contact points. If an absence is required as part of a student’s research project, the student must seek advice from Student Visas to determine whether the University’s sponsorship can continue during the absence.
7.23. A full-time PGR student must work on their research project and on any other activities related to their studentship for an average of at least 35 hours per week. The average weekly study hours for a part-time student's study will be on a pro-rata basis.
7.24. A PGR student is responsible for managing their time. A student’s workload will vary at different points in their research project and a student can seek advice from their supervisors on how best to keep on track.
7.25. PGR students are permitted to undertake paid work during their studies. The University recognises that many students rely on paid employment to help fund their studies and/or to gain work experience.
7.26. A PGR student undertaking paid work must ensure that this work does not impact on the progress of their studies. A sensible balance between work and study is essential.
7.27. A PGR student is responsible for complying with any restrictions on paid work placed on them by any funder or visa rules that are relevant to them.
7.28. A PGR student is responsible for their personal and professional development. A student might require more guidance and support at the start of their studies but with an expectation that they will progressively take ownership of their own development.
7.29. The personal and professional development policy for PGR students provides more information.
7.30. A PGR student is responsible for their research and for completing their degree. This includes meeting the following requirements:
7.30.1. Agreeing on an intended submission date with their supervisors.
7.30.2. Preparing and submitting their dissertation for examination by their final submission deadline.
7.30.3. Addressing any corrections or a resubmission required by their examiners.
