The regulations in this section cover minimum requirements and decisions for admissions, the rules for registration, and what must be covered in induction.
3.1. For admission to a PGR degree programme, an applicant must as a minimum meet at least one of the following criteria:
3.1.1. Have a first degree, normally an upper second class (2.1) or above honour’s degree from a UK university or an overseas equivalent.
3.1.2. Have a relevant master’s degree.
3.1.3. Have evidence of prior learning or achievement that demonstrates the individual’s potential to succeed in completing the PGR degree programme.
3.2. The postgraduate prospectus sets out programme specific PGR admission requirements, including English language entry requirements for applicants whose first language is not English.
3.3. Doctoral training entities can have additional admission criteria.
3.4. Applicants who wish to study by distance learning must follow the admission considerations in the policy for research degrees by distance learning.
3.5. Admission decisions for a PGR programme must be made by two or more members of academic staff.
3.6. When making admission decisions, selectors must take account of the University’s statutory responsibilities for equal opportunities and of any related policies. Admission decisions must be based on fair and justifiable criteria.
3.7. Selectors must keep a record of their admission decisions.
3.8. Where interviews are used as part of admission decisions, the applicant’s expected supervisors (if known) should normally be part of the interview panel. For some applicants, includling those linked to a doctoral training entity with a taught component, it will always be possible to identify expected supervisors at this stage.
3.9. Where admission decisions need to accommodate multiple institutions as part of a doctoral training entity, the core principles of the University’s admissions policy must be upheld.
3.10. PGR students must register with the University when they begin their studies and at the start of each academic year.
3.11. A PGR student registered at the University is subject to all relevant regulations and policies. Unless specified in a partnership agreement, this remains the case when a student spends part of their period of study at another organisation.
3.12. A student registered for a PGR degree that is linked to a partnership with another organisation can be subject to specific requirements, which will be set out in the partnership agreement.
3.13. A student registered on a collaborative doctoral programme that contains an integrated taught component can be subject to the regulations of the partner organisation for all or part of the taught component, as specified in the partnership agreement.
3.14. Doctoral students registered on a joint or dual award can be subject to regulations and policies at both partners as specified in the partnership agreement. This can include a combination of requirements on, for example, examination so that both the University’s regulations and the requirements of the partner organisation are met.
3.15. A PGR student who is registered for a programme of full-time study that leads to an award from the University of Bristol cannot be concurrently registered for full- or part-time study on another programme that leads to an award from the University or from another institution unless there is a permitted exception.
3.16. The only exceptions for full-time PGR students to be concurrently registered on another programme are as follows:
3.16.1. If this is a requirement of the student’s programme. For example, if this is required for a professional programme or for a joint or dual doctoral award.
3.16.2. If the student is registered for a taught or research master’s degree, they can also be registered for a doctorate at the University of Bristol with the following conditions:
3.16.2.1. They have submitted their master’s dissertation and the offer of a doctoral place is not conditional on the result.
3.16.2.2. If the student is required to correct errors of substance (or similar if at another institution) or to resubmit their master’s dissertation, they must suspend from the doctorate while making the revisions or withdraw from the master’s programme.
3.17. A student registered on a research master’s programme may have the opportunity to transfer to a doctoral degree if the student is making satisfactory progress and if this is in line with faculty rules. Such a transfer normally happens after one year of full-time study (or part-time equivalent) at research master’s level.
3.18. A student registered on a doctoral programme may have the opportunity to transfer to a research master’s programme or to another doctoral programme if this is in line with faculty rules.
3.19. To be eligible for a doctoral award, a student who transfers from another institution must complete at least one year of full-time doctoral study (or part-time equivalent) at the University before they reach the end of the minimum period of study. A student cannot transfer in just for the final year of study.
3.20. A school can accept a doctoral student from another institution who is part way through their studies if the school is satisfied that the student has worked at an equivalent level to a Bristol doctoral student at a comparable stage.
3.21. There are minimum requirements for the induction of new PGR students. Faculties and school must determine what induction activities and information will be covered at their respective levels.
3.22. As part of induction, PGR students must have access to information on what they need to begin their programme of study.
3.23. PGR students must have access to information about the environment in which they will be studying. This includes the names and contact details of staff involved in supporting them.
3.24. Induction activities must take account of the needs of different groups of PGR students, including part-time, distance learning, and international students.
3.25. PGR students must have access to information in the following areas:
3.25.1. On the regulations and policies that apply to them, including in relation to supervision, progress monitoring and examination.
3.25.2. On their specific supervisory arrangements, including on the importance of their relationship with their supervisors.
3.25.3. On how to access the learning infrastructure, including arrangements for remote access, available equipment, library and computing facilities, and study and social spaces.
3.25.4. On the University’s expectations and the student’s responsibilities.
3.25.5. On the day-to-day support and communication for students, including on pastoral care and wellbeing.
3.25.6. On the opportunities for developing research and other skills.
3.25.7. On school and faculty arrangements for evaluating student feedback and for addressing problems raised by students.
3.25.8. On provision for meeting students’ personal, social, wellbeing and recreational needs, including information on facilities, opportunities, and sources of support within the University.
