Programme of study for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy 2024/25

Revised: February 2025

Introduction

Candidates may undertake study for the degree of PhD in any faculty of the University or accredited institution, or in association with another institution approved as a partner to offer Joint or Dual degrees with the University, under the supervision of a member of staff who satisfies the eligibility requirements specified by the relevant committee. Supervisors will be appointed at the commencement of the programme of study.

The requirements for the degree, including periods of study and examination requirements are set out in Ordinance X and its associated regulations. The normal standard period of study for a full-time PhD is three calendar years, unless otherwise prescribed in the relevant programme of study.

All candidates for the degree of PhD are expected to undertake appropriate generic training. Candidates in some faculties may be required to undertake some elements of advanced study and complete written examinations satisfactorily before proceeding to the submission of a thesis.

Part-time candidatures

There are two models for part-time study with different Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) attendance:

  • Study on 0.6 FTE basis with a standard period of study of five years, available for the degree of PhD in all faculties. This is the default mode for part-time variants of all doctoral programmes.
  • Study on 0.75 FTE basis with a standard period of study of four years, available for the degree of PhD in the Faculty of Medicine and Health.

Split-site candidatures

Three models of split-site PhD study are available:

Model A

Involving a strategic partnership with a commercial/industrial organisation or an international academic or research institution.

Subject to an agreement being reached between the University and the other organisation, applicants may be accepted for full-time PhD research degree study for a standard period of study of three years.

Applicants will normally be required to have obtained a relevant degree of at least equivalent to a UK upper second class honours degree as well as at least 6.5 on IELTS (with no component below 6.0) or an equivalent English language qualification.

Some schools may require higher levels of English language. There is normally a minimum requirement of 18 months full-time study in residence at the University of Leeds but overall the candidate is normally required to spend 50% of the candidature in each organisation.

Model B

Involving individual postgraduate researchers (PGRs) studying mainly on a part-time basis.

Subject to a statement of support from the applicant’s employer, which guarantees, with appropriate evidence, that relevant resources and facilities are in place for the research, applicants may be accepted for PhD research degree study.

Applicants will normally be expected to have obtained a relevant degree at least equivalent to a UK upper second-class honours and a Masters degree as well as at least 6.5 on IELTS (with no component below 6.0) or an equivalent English language qualification. Some schools may require higher levels of English language.

The period of study will extend over a standard period of five years and the method of study will be mainly part-time with normally full-time attendance in residence at the University of Leeds for a period of at least eight months over the course of the programme. The first two months should normally be undertaken at the commencement of the candidature in full -time attendance in residence at Leeds.

Model C

Involving individual PGRs studying on a full-time basis.

Subject to a statement of support from the applicant’s employer, or an agreement being reached between the University and the other organisation, which guarantees, with appropriate evidence, that relevant resources and facilities are in place for the research, applicants may be accepted for full -time PhD research degree study for a standard period of study of three years. 

Applicants will normally be required to have obtained a relevant degree of at least equivalent to a UK upper second class honours degree and a Masters degree, as well as at least 6.5 on IELTS (with no component below 6 .0) or an equivalent English language qualification. 

Some schools may require higher levels of English language. There is normally a minimum requirement of six months full-time study in residence at the University of Leeds.

Distance learning

Applicants may be accepted for full-time PhD study by Distance Learning for a standard period of three years, or part-time PhD study by Distance Learning for a standard period of five years, in either the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures, the Faculty of Environment, or the Faculty of Medicine and Health. 

Applicants will normally be required to have obtained a relevant degree at least equivalent to a UK upper second class honours degree. Some schools may have additional entry requirements which may include a Masters degree. 

Applicants for PhD study by Distance Learning in the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures will be required to have obtained at least 7.0 on IELTS (with no component below 6.5) or an equivalent English language qualification. 

Applicants for PhD study by Distance Learning in the Faculty of Environment or the Faculty of Medicine and Health will be required to have obtained at least 6.5 on IELTS (with no component below 6.0) or an equivalent English language qualification. 

For candidates in the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures there is normally a minimum requirement for annual residences of one week at Leeds throughout the standard period of study. 

There is no minimum requirement for residences at the University of Leeds for candidates in the Faculty of Environment or the Faculty of Medicine and Health.

Progress and monitoring

Candidates will in the first instance be accepted either as a provisional candidate for the degree of PhD or as a postgraduate research student.

After the initial period of provisional registration, candidates are subject to the process whereby they are formally assessed and, if successful in the assessment, are transferred to the specific degree category of PhD or MPhil. For those programmes which have a standard period of study of four years full-time and the assessment for transfer to a specific degree category of either PhD or MPhil normally takes place towards the end of the second year.

Full-time candidates must undergo assessment by no later than 12 months of study, part-time 0.6 FTE candidates must undergo assessment by no later than 24 months of study, and part-time 0.75 FTE candidates must undergo assessment by no later than 18 months of study, unless otherwise stated in the prescribed programme of study.

To allow flexibility to explore the most appropriate format, as needed for academic or other reasons, there are three possible models for a research degree transfer:

  • Fully in person (all parties together on campus for a face-to-face viva).
  • Fully remote (all parties complete the viva via Microsoft Teams or Zoom).
  • Hybrid (some parties are in person whilst others are online).

The decision to transfer will be based on the submission of appropriate material for assessment and all postgraduate researchers (PGRs) must undergo an oral examination by an assessment panel which must include at least two independent individuals who have not been involved in the supervisory support of the candidate. The PGR will be interviewed by the assessment panel in the form of a viva voce examination.

A case for an extension to the period of provisional registration would have to be made on academic grounds to the relevant committee. In such cases, any period of extension will be no more than six months.

The arrangements for formal reports on progress by the supervisor(s) are described in the University Code of Practice for Research Degree Candidatures (PDF).

In exceptional circumstances, candidates for the degree of PhD may request to be considered for transfer to registration for the degree of MPhil, subject to approval by the parent school and the relevant committee.

In exceptional circumstances, candidates may request to be considered for transfer to registration for the degree of Masters by Research, subject to approval by the parent school and the relevant committee.

Examination and assessment

Candidates must present a thesis (100,000 words maximum) on the subject of their research (except where an alternative method of submission is stipulated in the Regulations for Ordinance X) and satisfy the examiners as specified in Ordinance X and its associated regulations. 

In schools where an alternative form of submission is permitted, specific regulations for presentation of the work are published. Read the protocol for practice-led research candidatures

Except with the special permission of the relevant committee, every candidate is required to submit their thesis for examination for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy by no later than:

  • the end of the fourth year after their entry upon the approved course of full-time study and research which includes Models A and C of the split-site arrangements
  • the end of the fifth year after their entry upon an approved course of full -time study and research where the standard period of study is four years
  • the end of the seventh year after their entry upon the approved course of part -time study and research including Model B of the split-site arrangements where the standard period of study is five years
  • the end of the fifth year after their entry upon the approved course of part -time study and research where the standard period of study is four years
  • the deadline specified in the relevant Programme of Study for other part-time programmes where the standard period of study is longer than five years. Normally, part-time variants of full-time programmes where the full-time standard period of study is four years.

As permitted in Ordinance X (Article 8), when the progress and quality of the candidate’s research justify it, the relevant committee is empowered to reduce the required minimum period of study provided that no candidate shall submit for examination of the thesis before the completion of:

  • a total of two calendar years of full-time study where the standard period of full-time study is three years
  • a total of three calendar years of full-time study where the standard period of full-time study is four years unless otherwise specified in the relevant programme of study
  • a total of thirty calendar months of part-time study where the standard period of part-time study is four years
  • a total of three calendar years of part-time study where the standard period of part-time study is five years
  • a total of three calendar years for candidates studying under Models A, B and C of the split-site arrangements
  • the period specified in the relevant programme of study for other part-time programmes where the standard period of study is longer than five years. Normally, part-time variants of full-time programmes where the full-time standard period of study is four years.

Following the oral examination, the examiners will be asked to make one of the following recommendations:

  • a) Pass.
  • b) Pass (subject to the correction of ‘editorial and presentational corrections’): these corrections must be made within four weeks from the date of the oral examination. The internal examiner is responsible for ensuring that ‘editorial and presentational corrections’ are corrected by the candidate. The degree will not be awarded until confirmation that the corrections have been completed is received
  • c) Pass (subject to the correction of ‘minor deficiencies’): these corrections must be made within twelve weeks respectively from the date of the oral examination. The internal examiner is responsible for ensuring that minor deficiencies are corrected by the candidate. The degree will not be awarded until confirmation that the corrections have been completed is received.
  • d) Referral (the ‘Referral recommendations’ section that follows explains this in more detail).
  • e) Recommend award of MPhil: for those candidates who fail to achieve the standard for the award of a PhD but who nevertheless satisfy the criteria for the award of the degree of MPhil. In these circumstances, the degree of MPhil may not be awarded with distinction.
  • f) Recommend award of MPhil (subject to the correction of ‘editorial and presentational corrections’): These corrections must be made within four from the date of the oral examination. The internal examiner is responsible for ensuring that ‘editorial and presentational corrections’ are corrected by the candidate. The degree will not be awarded until confirmation that the corrections have been completed is received. In these circumstances, the degree of MPhil may not be awarded with distinction.
  • g) Recommend award of MPhil (subject to the correction of ‘minor deficiencies’): These corrections must be made within twelve weeks from the date of the oral examination. The internal examiner is responsible for ensuring that ‘minor deficiencies’ are corrected by the candidate. The degree will not be awarded until confirmation that the corrections have been completed is received. In these circumstances, the degree of MPhil may not be awarded with distinction.
  • h) Referral for MPhil (the ‘Referral recommendations’ section that follows explains this in more detail).
  • i) Fail: the candidate has no further opportunity for submission.

Referral recommendations

If the thesis is not considered to be of sufficiently high standard to recommend the award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy but there is evidence of the potential of a successful PhD or MPhil submission, then on the recommendation of the examiners either:

  • a) The candidate will be granted permission to resubmit the work in a revised form for the degree of PhD within a period of eighteen months, on one occasion only and on payment of an additional fee.
  • b) The candidate will be granted permission to resubmit the work in a revised form for the degree of MPhil within a period of twelve months, on one occasion only and on payment of an additional fee.

Any candidate whose thesis has been referred for the degree of PhD may, subject to approval by the Head of their School, exercise the option of resubmitting a revised thesis for consideration for the award of the degree of Master of Philosophy.

The recommendation of the examiners is subject to confirmation by the Graduate Board’s Examinations Group which will consider the examiners’ report. In the case of joint awards with another institution, the recommendation of the examiners is also subject to confirmation by the other institution.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the research programme PGRs should have shown evidence of being able:

  • to discover, interpret and communicate new knowledge through original research and/or scholarship of publishable quality which satisfies peer review
  • to present and defend original research outcomes which extend the forefront of a discipline or relevant area of professional/clinical practice
  • to demonstrate systematic and extensive knowledge of the subject area and expertise in generic and subject/professional skills
  • to take a proactive and self-reflective role in working and to develop professional relationships with others where appropriate
  • to independently and proactively formulate ideas and hypotheses and to design, develop, implement and execute plans by which to evaluate these
  • to critically and creatively evaluate current issues, research and advanced scholarship in the discipline
  • to demonstrate systematic knowledge of and be able to critically assess, analyse and engage with the ethical and legal context of their research and any ethical and legal implications of their research.

Transferable (key) skills

PGRs will have had the opportunity to acquire the following abilities through the research training and research specified for the programme:

  • the skills necessary for a career as a researcher and/or for employment in a senior and leading capacity in a relevant area of professional/clinical practice or industry
  • evaluating their own achievement and that of others
  • self-direction and effective decision making in complex and unpredictable situations
  • independent learning and the ability to work in a way which ensures continuing professional development.

Learning context

This will include the critical analysis of, and decision making in, complex and unpredictable professional and/or clinical situations. 

The structure of the programme will provide research and/or professional training, breadth and depth of study and opportunities for drawing upon appropriate resources and techniques. 

Opportunities will be provided for PGRs to:

  • develop to a high level interests and informed opinions
  • develop to a high level their design and management of their learning activities
  • develop to a high level their communication of their conclusions
  • make an original contribution to the field.

PGRs will be expected to engage in the exercise of autonomous initiative in their study and work in professional environments.

Assessment

Achievement will be assessed by the examination of the candidate’s thesis (or alternative form of thesis) and performance under oral examination. Assessment will involve the achievement of the candidate in:

  • evidencing an ability to conduct original and independent broad and in-depth enquiry within the discipline or within different aspects of the area of professional/clinical practice normally leading to published work
  • drawing on and/or developing a range of research techniques and methodologies appropriate to enquiries into the discipline/area of professional practice
  • demonstrating independent critical ability in the application of breadth and depth of knowledge to complex issues within the discipline or specialist area of professional/clinical practice
  • drawing on a range of perspectives on the area of study
  • evaluating and criticising received opinion
  • making reasoned and well-informed judgements on complex issues within the specialism whilst understanding the limitations on judgements made in the absence of complete data
  • the written style and overall presentation of the thesis.
Studies