Documents

The procedure is for those that wish to raise a complaint about the application process and should be raised during the application cycle in which the concerns are being raised. Applicants may submit a complaint where:

a) An offer of admission is believed to be incompatible with the typical, or range of typical offers made by the admitting department within that admissions cycle.

b) They believe there was some procedural irregularity or administrative error in the way in which an application was processed by the College.

c) There is evidence of bias or prejudice

Full details of the procedure are provided in the document below. All queries about this procedure should be directed to the Head of Admissions.

 

Policy and procedures

Partner Research Institution (PRI) scheme

The Partner Research Institution (PRI) scheme permits a student registered for a research degree programme at Imperial to undertake periods of research at a partner and be supported by a local supervisor in addition to the Imperial supervisor(s).

Setting up a PRI may be appropriate when the location/partner offers particular research opportunities that are not available elsewhere and are the only place that the research can be carried out.

A minimum period of attendance at Imperial is required and students may only be registered for the Imperial PhD programme - concurrent registration for a PhD programme at another institution is not permitted. 

Further information is available from the documents below. 

Split PhD scheme

The Split PhD scheme permits a student registered for a research degree programme at Imperial to undertake specific periods of their research training at an overseas institution where the College already has established links and connections and/or in cases where the research problem requires local fieldwork (e.g. in geology or biology). A local supervisor will be appointed in addition to the Imperial supervisor(s).

A minimum attendance period at Imperial is required and students may only be registered for the Imperial PhD programme - concurrent registration for a PhD programme at another institution is not permitted. 

More detailed information is available in the procedure below.

Imperial Recognised Location (IRL)

This procedure recognises/approves locations which have an Imperial staff and student presence but which are not official campuses of the College. In such cases, these locations offer particular research opportunities that are not available elsewhere and are the only place(s) that the research can be done. Recording these locations as Imperial Recognised Locations (IRL) allows the students to spend all their time studying for their research degree at the IRL where their supervisor is based.

Current approved IRLs are:

  • European Council for Nuclear Research (CERN), Geneva
  • Francis Crick Institute, London
  • Diamond Light Source and Harwell Science Campus, Oxfordshire

 Students will be registered for an Imperial award and follow the same academic regulations and policies as students on an Imperial campus. 

Further information can be found in the guidance below.

Imperial recognised locations [pdf]

Policy and procedures

For additional information about registration please visit the Changes to Registration Status page.

Student-led Changes to Registration Status Procedure

From academic year 2024/25 Interruptions of Studies and other student-led changes to registration status are dealt with under the Student-led Changes to Registration Status Procedure [pdf].

Unsatisfactory Engagement Policy and Procedure [pdf]

This policy and procedure describes the process that will be followed by the university when a student, taught or research, is not engaging as would be expected.

Where a student is to be considered under the policy they will be notified in writing of the concerns of their programme/supervisory team and given a period in which to meet an action plan designed to support their continued study. If a student cannot demonstrate the necessary engagement with their studies in this period, they will be required to withdraw.

This policy includes the relevant appeal process, should a student required to withdraw consider that:

  • the process has not been followed correctly (procedural irregularity)
  • the decision is not fair in the light of the information available (procedural unfairness)
  • new information about the student's circumstances can be demonstrated (mitigating circumstances)

Any student that is being considered under this procedure including the appeal stage should ensure that they have read the policy and procedure and sought guidance and support, such as from the department/faculty senior tutor or from the Imperial College Union Advice Centre.