Summary of changes

This section summarises the significant changes made to the Code of Practice for 2026/27.

  1. Part-time considerations (4.11). Revised regulation extends the authority of the Faculty Academic Director (PGR) or delegate to approve part-time study at lower than 50% for specific PGR programmes or cohorts.
  1. Evidence for medical leave (4.45 and 4.46). New regulation provides the Faculty Academic Director (PGR) or delegate with discretion on whether a PGR student needs to provide evidence for a suspension linked to medical leave and for when they return to study.
  1. Placements (policy on PGR placements). Significant revisions to the policy include a clearer definition of placements and more information on insurance and legal matters.
  1. Personal and professional development (policy on PGR personal and professional development). The updated policy includes an acknowledgment of the role of supervisors in promoting training opportunities and of the value of the PGR student-supervisor agreement in this area.
  1. Monthly supervisor meetings (7.13, 7.15, and 11.9). New text clarifies the regulation that monthly supervisor meetings are a requirement for full- and part-time PGR students.
  1. Supervisor responsibilities (10.3, 11.4, 11.7, 11.11 to 11.14, and 12.12). Additions to regulation acknowledge the role of the PGR student-supervisor agreement and how the principles of supervision underpin the supervisory relationship. Plus, the supervisor responsibilities in annual progress monitoring have been formalised.
  1. Supervisor training and development (10.17 and 10.18). There is a new requirement for all staff who supervise PGR students to complete relevant training in Develop and to engage in continual professional development. Plus, there is a requirement for external supervisors to engage with development and training activities.
  1. Registration review panels (15.3, 15.20 to 15.24, and 15.28 to 15.32). Regulations have changed so that a recommendation from a panel for a PGR student who is in their final year of study is advisory to the student, rather than a decision for the Dean. In addition, a new allowance has been given to the panel to recommend extensions.
  1. Award criteria for research degrees (16.1 to 16.8). Previously, there were general criteria for all degrees and additional criteria for different degree levels. A reorganisation provides a clearer separation between doctoral and research master’s degrees. 
  1. Preliminary pages in dissertations (17.31, 18.19 and 19.16). Following the introduction of the mandatory statement on the inclusion of published and collaborative work in 2025/26, further reinforcing text has been added to regulation on the inclusion of this statement in dissertations. PGR students must send in a new version of their dissertation if any of the required preliminary pages, including the statement, are not present.
  1. Author’s declaration and the use of artificial intelligence (18.31 to 18.33). New requirement for PGR students to confirm that their work complies with the University’s guidance on the use of artificial intelligence tools in thesis writing.
  1. Third-party copyright and privacy (18.37, and 25.4 to 25.6). Revised regulation prompts PGR students to consider copyright clearance when they use third-party materials in their dissertation. In addition, expanded regulation explains how materials that breach a third party’s copyright or the privacy of individuals must be managed when depositing the dissertation with the Library.
  1. Deferrals and public access to dissertations (25.15 to 25.24). Changed regulation permits PGR students to defer (embargo) the public release of their dissertation in Pure for up to one year without requiring approval. Longer deferrals, redactions and holding dissertations on a secure University server still require approval.