Progression Criteria and Evidence

University Criteria

For progression into year 2 of a full-time PhD or MPhil programme (or equivalent stage of a part-time PhD or MPhil programme), a postgraduate researcher must demonstrate that they:

(a) can articulate the direction their research is taking and the research questions it addresses;

(b) have planned in a realistic fashion the second year (or equivalent) of their research, indicating any risks and how these will be mitigated;

(c) have sufficient acquaintance with the relevant field of knowledge to place their research into context;

(d) have sufficient proficiency in the relevant research methods, techniques and theoretical approaches to move their research to the next stage;

(e) have undertaken all required training (including successful completion of the Research Integrity Tutorial);

(f) have considered ethical issues (including data management and authorship) where applicable and have in place an appropriate data management plan.

Departmental Evidence

Each Philosophy Year 1 PGR will be required:

1. to make a 15-minute oral presentation at an annual PGR Progression Day. In the presentation, the PG researcher will describe the direction their research is taking and the research questions it addresses (see point “a” above). They should be prepared to take questions on any aspect of their presentation;

2. to provide a realistic written plan for the second year of their research, indicating any risks and how these will be mitigated (see point “b” above);

3. to provide an annotated bibliography of sources already read/consulted which places their research into context (see point “c” above);

4. to demonstrate in the presentation and subsequent progression panel meeting sufficient proficiency in philosophical research skills to move their research project to the next stage (see point “d” above);

5. to have undertaken all required training (e.g. Research Integrity Tutorial) (see point “e” above); and

6. to demonstrate that they have considered ethical issues, where applicable (see point “f” above).

University Criteria

For progression into year 3 of a full-time PhD programme (or equivalent stage of a part-time PhD programme), a postgraduate researcher must demonstrate that they:

(a) can articulate the direction their research is taking and the research questions it addresses and how this will lead to a substantial original contribution to knowledge or understanding;

(b) have planned in a realistic fashion the third year (or equivalent) of their research, based on the expectation that the project will be completed and the thesis submitted on time, indicating any risks and how these will be mitigated;

(c) have the ability to write up their research in an appropriate academic format for it to be critically assessed by peer reviewers and examiners;

(d) have begun to acquire the wider background knowledge of their research field required for the degree of PhD;

(e) can apply the relevant research methods, techniques and theoretical approaches required to make an original contribution to knowledge or understanding;

(f) have undertaken all required training;

(g) have considered ethical issues (including data management and authorship) where applicable and have in place an appropriate data management plan.

Departmental Evidence

Each Year 2 PGR will be required:

1. to submit a well-drafted chapter of their thesis, which makes substantive progress towards answering their research questions (see point “c” above);

2. to describe in detail in the progression panel meeting the research questions their project will answer and the significance of addressing these questions (see points “a”

and “e” above);

3. to provide a realistic written plan for the third and final year of their research, based on the expectation that the project will be completed and the thesis submitted on time, indicating any risks and how these will be mitigated (see point “b” above);

4. to provide a draft bibliography for the thesis which demonstrates that they have knowledge of the full range of research relevant to their project (see point “d” above);

5. to have undertaken all required training (see point “f” above); and

6. to demonstrate that they have considered ethical issues where applicable (see point “g” above).