Postgraduate research policies and procedures
As a postgraduate researcher (PGR), you need to be aware of certain administrative guidelines, procedures and codes of practice during your time at Leeds.
If you require any of these documents in an alternative format, please email email the Doctoral College at doctoralcollege@leeds.ac.uk.
Postgraduate research handbook
- Doctoral College 2024 – 25 handbook annexes – all faculties and schools (PDF)
- Doctoral College 2024 – 25 hanbook annex – LUBS (PDF)
For copies of Doctoral College handbooks from previous years, email the Doctoral College at doctoralcollege@leeds.ac.uk.
We recommend that student regularly check the Postgraduate researcher section of this website for the most up to date information.
Code of Practice for Research Degree Candidatures
This Code sets out a framework of shared responsibilities between the University, supervisors and candidates with the aim of delivering successful research degree programmes and to inspire all our research students to develop their full potential. The Code also outlines the minimum standards students can expect in connection with the supervision of their research degree study.
Code of practice for research degree candidatures (PDF)
For those PGRs registered in the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures for a research project which is defined as practice-led, a supplementary protocol for practice-led research degree candidatures is provided which includes details of arrangements specific to practice-led research and assessment.
Protocol for practice-led research degree candidatures (from November 2023) (PDF)
The previous practice-led protocol is provided for reference:
Previous Arts, Humanities and Cultures practice-led protocol (to October 2023) (PDF)
For those PGRs registered at Leeds Trinity University or York St John University please contact the relevant institution regarding the implementation of the University’s Code of Practice and Practice-led Protocols.
Progress, assessment and monitoring
Thesis submission and examination
Guide for candidates referred for resubmission (PDF)
Guidelines on the use of solely or jointly-authored publications within a thesis submission (PDF)
Inclusion of supplementary material within a thesis submission for examination (DOC)
Reasonable adjustments and support for postgraduate researcher level assessment/examination
Diploma supplement and statement: guidance and information (PDF)
Postgraduate research proofreading policy and guidance (Word doc)
Protocol for the format and presentation of an alternative style of doctoral thesis including published material:
- for candidates registered in the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures (PDF)
- for candidates registered in the Faculty of Environment (PDF)
- for candidates registered in the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences (PDF)
- for candidates registered in the Faculty of Biological Sciences (PDF)
- for candidates registered in the Faculty of Medicine and Health
For supervisors, Directors of Postgraduate Research and assessors/examiners
For information for staff supporting PGRs (for example supervisors and Directors of Postgraduate Research Studies) please see the Doctoral College pages of the Staff Intranet.
Criteria for the appointment of examiners and independent chairs
Annual progress review (post-transfer) guidance (PDF)
Increasing bench fees after registration: guidance and form (DOC)
Research degree examiners additional information
Guide for external examiner briefings (DOC)
Formal regulations
Complaints, appeals and disciplinary matters
PGR academic misconduct procedures (for submissions made on or after 1 September 2024) (PDF). To request academic misconduct procedures from previous years, please email the Doctoral College at doctoralcollege@leeds.ac.uk.
For the following regulations and procedures relating to complaints, appeals and disciplinary matters please visit the Governance and Compliance website.
- General University Disciplinary regulation
- Student complaints procedure
- Academic appeals
- Cheating, plagiarism, fraudulent or fabricated coursework, and malpractice in university examinations and assessments
- Whistleblowing
- Student health and conduct
- Retention of and access to personal data
Engaging in good research practice
For a comprehensive list of policies relating to research practice please see the following websites:
- Safeguarding data
- Regulations for use of Library
- Policy on publications
- Protocol for investigating and resolving allegations of misconduct in academic research
- Research ethics and research integrity
- Research misconduct
- Information protection policy
Ordinance and regulations and programmes of study for research degrees
Ordinances
Ordinances define the qualifications the University awards and the associated regulations. They form part of the University Constitution. The full set of ordinances is held on the Governance and Compliance website. They include:
- Ordinance X (research degrees)
- Ordinance IX (first degrees and undergraduate awards)
- Ordinance XI (taught postgraduate awards)
- Ordinance XII (higher doctorates)
Ordinance X relates directly to postgraduate researchers and provides details of the general University regulations regarding entry requirements, assessment of progress, time limits for examination and the criteria that must be met before a research degree can be awarded.
Please email the Doctoral College at doctoralcollege@leeds.ac.uk for ordinances for previous academic years.
Programmes of study for research degree awards
Doctoral Degrees
- Doctor of Clinical Education (DClinEdD)
- Doctor of Clinical Psychology (DClinPsychol) (PDF)
- Doctor of Education (EdD)
- Doctor of Medicine (MD)
- Doctor of Paediatric Dentistry (DPaedDent)
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
- Master by Research
Integrated degrees of PhD and Master
- Integrated degrees of PhD and Master (MA, LLM or MSc)
- Integrated degree of PhD and MSc (Artificial Intelligence for Medical Diagnosis and Care)
- Integrated degree of PhD and MSc (Bioenergy)
- Integrated degree of PhD and MSc (Complex Particulate Products and Processes) (PDF)
- Integrated degree of PhD and MSc (Data Analytics and Society) (PDF)
- Integrated degree of PhD and MSc (Fluid Dynamics) full-time
- Integrated degree of PhD and MSc (Fluid Dynamics) part-time
- Integrated degree of PhD and MSc (Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine - Innovation in Medical and Biological Engineering) (PDF)
4 Year PhDs
- Doctor of Philosophy Aerosol Science (PDF)
- Doctor of Philosophy Aerosol Science (part time) (PDF)
- Doctor of Philosophy Anatomy (PDF)
- Doctor of Philosophy Biological Sciences (PDF)
- Doctor of Philosophy Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes
- Doctor of Philosophy Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease
- Doctor of Philosophy Cyber-Physical Systems for Medicines and Development Manufacturing
- Doctor of Philosophy Integrated Tribology (PDF)
- Doctor of Philosophy Materials (PDF)
- Doctor of Philosophy Medical Research (PDF)
- Doctor of Philosophy Medicine, Health and Human Disease
- Doctor of Philosophy Molecules to Product (PDF)
- Doctor of Philosophy Nuclear Energy - GREEN (Growing skills for Reliable Economic Energy from Nuclear) (PDF)
- Doctor of Philosophy Nuclear Science and Engineering (PDF)
- Doctor of Philosophy Physics Studies
- Doctor of Philosophy CDT SENSE: Satellite Data in Environmental Science (PDF)
- Doctor of Philosophy Soft Matter for Formulation and Industrial Innovation (SOFI2) (PDF)
- Doctor of Philosophy TARGET CDT (PDF)
- Doctor of Philosophy WISER (Water and Waste Infrastructure and Services Engineered for Resilience) (PDF)
Dual Award PhDs
- Leeds University – University of Coimbra (2020-2023 only: this programme is no longer recruiting) (PDF)
- Leeds University – University of Ljubljana (2020-2023 only: this programme is no longer recruiting) (PDF)
- Leeds University – Lulea Technical University (2020-2024 only: this programme is no longer recruiting) (PDF)
- Doctor of Philosophy Dual Award (University of Leeds/Beijing Jiaotong University)
- Doctor of Philosophy Dual Award (University of Leeds/Nanjing University)
- Doctor of Philosophy Dual Award (University of Leeds/Petroleum University of China QingDao campus)
- Doctor of Philosophy Dual Award (University of Leeds/Southwest Jiaotong University) – three years
- Doctor of Philosophy Dual Award (University of Leeds/Southwest Jiaotong University) – four years
Doctoral Training Partnerships, Doctoral Landscape Awards and Doctoral Focal Awards
- Doctor of Philosophy Bioscience and Biotechnology with placement
- Doctor of Philosophy with Research in Practice – White Rose ESRC Doctoral Training Partnership – 3.5 years
- Doctor of Philosophy with Research in Practice with Integrated Postgraduate Certificate – White Rose ESRC Doctoral Training Partnership – 3.75 years
- Doctor of Philosophy with Researcher Employability Project
- Doctor of Philosophy UNRISK (Understanding Uncertainty to Reduce Climate Risks)
- Doctor of Philosophy YES-DTN (Yorkshire Environmental Sciences – Doctoral Training Network)