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 handbook annex – LUBS (PDF)
For copies of Doctoral College handbooks from previous years, email the Doctoral College at doctoralcollege@leeds.ac.uk.
We recommend that students 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.
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.
The previous practice-led protocol is provided for reference:
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
- Attendance monitoring policy
- Change of research degree arrangements
- Concurrent registrations
- PGR-supervisor agreement form (Word doc)
- Policy for the use of video streaming for the viva examination (PDF)
- Postgraduate research module enrolment policy
- Postgraduate researchers module enrolment form (Word doc)
- Progress support procedure (PSP) (PDF)
- Suspensions and extensions of study policy (PDF)
Thesis submission and examination
- Diploma supplement and statement: guidance and information (PDF)
- Guide for candidates referred for resubmission (PDF)
- Guide to the thesis examination process for postgraduate researchers (PDF)
- Guidelines on the use of solely or jointly-authored publications within a thesis submission
- Inclusion of supplementary material within a thesis submission for examination guidance
- Inclusion of supplementary material within a thesis submission for examination form (Word doc)
- Postgraduate research proofreading policy and guidance
- Reasonable adjustments and support for postgraduate researcher level assessment/examination
Alternative format protocols
Protocols for the format and presentation of an alternative style of doctoral thesis including published material.
- Alternative format protocol for candidates registered in the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures
- Alternative format protocol for candidates registered in the Faculty of Biological Sciences
- Alternative format protocol for candidates registered in the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences
- Alternative format protocol for candidates registered in the Faculty of Environment
- Alternative format protocol 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.
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.
- Procedures for investigating plagiarism in research degree work prior to and within the submission for a research degree
- Use of Turnitin for screening of postgraduate researcher assessed work
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
- Information protection policy
- Protocol for investigating and resolving allegations of misconduct in academic research
- Research ethics and research integrity
- Research misconduct
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
- Programme of study for the degree of Doctor of Clinical Education (DClinEdD)
- Programme of study for the degree of Doctor of Clinical Psychology (DClinPsychol)
- Programme of study for the degree of Doctor of Education (EdD)
- Programme of study for the degree of Doctor of Medicine (MD)
- Programme of study for the degree of Doctor of Paediatric Dentistry (DPaedDent)
- Programme of study for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Programme of study for the degree of Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
- Programme of study for the degree of Master by Research
Integrated degrees of PhD and Master
- Programme of study for integrated degrees of PhD and Master (MA, LLM or MSc)
- Programme of study for integrated degree of PhD and MSc (Artificial Intelligence for Medical Diagnosis and Care)
- Programme of study for integrated degree of PhD and MSc (Bioenergy)
- Programme of study for integrated degree of PhD and MSc (Complex Particulate Products and Processes) (PDF)
- Programme of study for integrated degree of PhD and MSc (Data Analytics and Society) (PDF)
- Programme of study for integrated degree of PhD and MSc (Fluid Dynamics) full-time
- Programme of study for integrated degree of PhD and MSc (Fluid Dynamics) part-time
- Programme of study for integrated degree of PhD and MSc (Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine - Innovation in Medical and Biological Engineering) (PDF)
4 Year PhDs
- Programme of study for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Aerosol Science (PDF)
- Programme of study for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Aerosol Science (part time) (PDF)
- Programme of study for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Anatomy (PDF)
- Programme of study for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Biological Sciences (PDF)
- Programme of study for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes
- Programme of study for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease
- Programme of study for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Cyber-Physical Systems for Medicines and Development Manufacturing
- Programme of study for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Integrated Tribology (PDF)
- Programme of study for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Materials
- Programme of study for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Medical Research
- Programme of study for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Medicine, Health and Human Disease
- Programme of study for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Molecules to Product
- Programme of study for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Nuclear Energy - GREEN (Growing skills for Reliable Economic Energy from Nuclear)
- Programme of study for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Nuclear Science and Engineering
- Programme of study for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Physics Studies
- Programme of study for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy CDT SENSE: Satellite Data in Environmental Science
- Programme of study for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Soft Matter for Formulation and Industrial Innovation (SOFI2) (PDF)
- Programme of study for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy TARGET CDT
- Programme of study for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy WISER (Water and Waste Infrastructure and Services Engineered for Resilience)
Dual Award PhDs
- Programme of study for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Dual Award (University of Leeds/University of Coimbra)
- Programme of study for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Dual Award (University of Leeds/University of Ljubljana)
- Programme of study for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Dual Award (University of Leeds/Lulea Technical University)
- Programme of study for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Dual Award (University of Leeds/Beijing Jiaotong University)
- Programme of study for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Dual Award (University of Leeds/Nanjing University)
- Programme of study for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Dual Award (University of Leeds/Petroleum University of China QingDao campus)
- Programme of study for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Dual Award (University of Leeds/Southwest Jiaotong University) – three years
- Programme of study for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Dual Award (University of Leeds/Southwest Jiaotong University) – four years
Doctoral Training Partnerships, Doctoral Landscape Awards and Doctoral Focal Awards
- Programme of study for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Bioscience and Biotechnology with placement
- Programme of study for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy with Research in Practice – White Rose ESRC Doctoral Training Partnership – 3.5 years
- Programme of study for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy with Research in Practice with Integrated Postgraduate Certificate – White Rose ESRC Doctoral Training Partnership – 3.75 years
- Programme of study for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy with Researcher Employability Project
- Programme of study for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy UNRISK (Understanding Uncertainty to Reduce Climate Risks)
- Programme of study for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy YES-DTN (Yorkshire Environmental Sciences – Doctoral Training Network)