During your first few weeks at Oxford Brookes Business School you will receive general guidance from the Head of Doctoral Programmes, Research Degrees in Student Central and the Research Administrator in the Research Office. Amongst other things, you will receive a digital copy of the PhD Programme Handbook. 

Enrolment is essential for your journey at Oxford Brookes University. It is a process that is overseen by Research Degrees in Student Central. You will receive email communications in  relation to this. For more information, please contact: researchenrolment@brookes.ac.uk 

After you have enrolled as a research student, you will then be required to ‘register’ with the university. Registration takes place approximately 6-9 months after enrolment.

In order to register you will have to complete the form RDC-R form, which requires a detailed research proposal, research timetable and details of appropriate training activities that you plan to take. This form also formally confirms your supervision team. 

University guidance notes on completing the RDC-R form can be found here: >>

Please note that the forms need to be e-signed appropriately, typed names in forms are not a valid form of signature. 

Please find the form for registration under the relevant heading here >>

For more information on this process and its requirements, please refer to the Programme Handbook. 

You will need to submit the final, fully signed electronic copy of the RDC-T form to the Head of Doctoral Programmes via the Research Administrator (bus-researchdegrees@brookes.ac.uk). The final copies of your RDC-T form must include the signatures of your supervisors.

Please note that the forms need to be e-signed appropriately, typed names in forms are not a valid form of signature.

Please find the form for transfer under the relevant heading here >>

For more information on this process and its requirements, please refer to the Programme Handbook.

Useful information, documents and links for research students: 

• Ethics review process

• Library services: Full details of all Library services for researchers can be found on their Research webpage. You can also download the comprehensive guide to Library services for researchers. 

• Data Management Plans

• Research degree regulations

Every year your progress is evaluated by your Director of Studies and Head of Doctoral Programmes, this is then reported to Research Degrees. This is done to ensure you are progressing as expected. 

Every year in June, you will receive an email explaining the process in detail, please follow the instructions and adhere to deadlines as this helps the Research Office, your Supervisory Team, the Head of Doctoral Programmes and Research Degrees in successfully completing this important aspect of administration. 

In short, you will be required to submit an End of Year Report; a Personal, Professional and Career Development Planner, and upload a piece of writing to Turnitin. 

Please find further information on this process in the Programme Handbook.

To download the Personal, Professional and Career Development Planner template, click here >>

It is possible to suspend or extend registration for up to one year at a time in cases of ill-health or for other reasons that prevent a student from studying as normal.

Applications for suspension or extension of registration will only be considered in circumstances related to illness / accident, exceptional personal circumstances, maternity leave, or where a new language has to be learnt. 

In all circumstances, the student needs to discuss the issue with their supervisors and/or the Head of Doctoral Programmes. All applications to suspend (RDC-Susp) or to extend your registration (RDC-Ext) must be seen, approved and signed by your supervisors and the Head of Doctoral Programmes, and then approved by the University RDC.

Please ensure that the reason for the suspension is clearly and fully explained on the relevant form. 

Please note that the forms need to be e-signed appropriately, typed names in forms are not a valid form of signature.

Please find the form for suspension or extension under the relevant heading here >>

Your thesis needs to be submitted before the registration period expires. You should have a conversation with your DoS and the Head of Doctoral Programmes before finally submitting. You should also carefully read section 19 in the (B6) Research Degrees Regulations on the format of the thesis submission. It is the responsibility of your supervisory team to then nominate internal and external examiners for RDC approval using an RDC-E and other relevant forms at least three months before the expected date of submission and to make you fully aware of the examination procedures.

Please find the form for examination arrangements under the relevant heading here >>