Award of your research degree and graduation

There are several conditions that must be met before you are awarded your research degree and can attend a graduation ceremony.

Research degree award

Your research degree award can only be confirmed once all the following conditions have been met:  

  • Your examiners’ report has been approved by the Progression and Examinations Group at one of its meetings.
  • Doctoral College Operations (DCO) has received confirmation that the internal examiner is satisfied with any corrections.
  • You have deposited the full text version of your eThesis in White Rose eThesis Online.
  • All tuition fees to the University have been paid.
  • If applicable, all assessed or taught modules have been completed successfully.

In accordance with the decision of the Graduate Board no exceptions will be permitted and the staff in DCO have no discretion in these matters.  

After the Progression and Examinations Group meeting you can track progress towards award in GRAD via the ‘award checklist’. Once your name has appeared on a pass list you will receive an email to your University account confirming the award of your degree. Please allow five working days from the date of the meeting for this to happen (occasionally there may be queries that need to be resolved before award, which may extend this timeframe).

You can find out more about pass lists on the Examination process overview page of the For Students website

Graduation

Subject to checks by the Graduation Team, you will be eligible to attend graduation ceremonies if you have completed your viva and been recommended for the award of your research degree, and your examiners’ report has been approved by the Progression and Examinations group. You do not need to have completed your corrections or deposited your eThesis. You should, however, still ensure that you meet your four or 12 week deadline for corrections, and that you deposit your eThesis within one month of your corrections being approved.

Further information about the arrangements for graduation and certificates can be found on the Graduation page on the For Students website.

Graduation-related deadlines for postgraduate researchers (PGRs) – December 2023

Event Date
Deadline for registering your graduation choice Please see the Graduation page on the For Students website.
Deadline for receipt of completed Examiners’ Reports (prepared by the examiners after the viva) in DCO 14 June 2024
Last Graduate Board Progression and Examinations Group meeting before the ceremonies  25 June 2024

Certificate

Your degree certificate won’t be handed to you at graduation. Instead, this will be posted and emailed to you.  Please see further information on the Graduation certificate update page of the For Students website.

Award statement for research degrees 

After your name has appeared on a pass list, if you require evidence of your research degree award before you receive your official certificate, you may wish to request a statement. The statement will confirm: your period of study, school of registration, thesis title, submission date for examination, viva date and date of award. Statements can take up to four weeks to process (please note that if you apply for a statement before your name has appeared on a pass list, the four week period will begin from the date of the pass list). Statements for research degrees are free of charge for the first three months after your name has appeared on a pass list. Requests for research degree statements can be made to the thesis examination team if evidence of your research degree is essential at that time eg for job applications. After three months, statements should be ordered through the online store on the University website and there is a small charge.

Graduate visa

PGRs holding a current Student Visa may be able to apply for the Graduate Visa once they have appeared on the pass list. Further information is available on the Working in the UK after study page of the For Students website.