Late Stage Review

18 MONTHS AFTER REGISTRATION 

This report should contain about 8000 words (excluding Figures, Tables, legends and references). Additionally, no more than 20 pages for tables, illustrations, legends and references are required. The report should include a substantial literature review (updating the 9 month report and setting the research in context), should present all data that resulted from the work completed to-date and also give a detailed outline of planned future work for timely completion of the research.

The report will normally comprise:
• An Abstract
• An introduction to the literature relevant to your research
• A statement of aims and objectives
• Methods
• Results
• Discussion
• Bibliography
• AND a detailed, timetabled research plan

The focus of this assessment should be on whether or not the student has made sufficient progress and reached a sufficient level of knowledge to continue on with your PhD or be requested to exit with an MPhil at 24 months.

The Review Panel will interview for about 30-45 minutes and at the beginning of that interview students will be expected to give an oral summary of their work for about 15-20 minutes. In consultation with your PRP you should discuss whether this includes a PowerPoint presentation (or not). It is the supervisor’s responsibility to arrange the interview. Students should receive feedback from the PRP highlighting any areas of their work that need improving if they are to succeed in submitting a PhD thesis on time. When a student does not succeed in an 18 month examination, the normal consequence will be that the student completes a programme of work appropriate to the MPhil and submits a thesis for that degree at 24 months.

When a re-assessment is permitted, a programme of work must be agreed by the student, the supervisor, and the rest of the Panel. A second examination should then be held within 2 months. Whether this would be offered would be decided by the DPS in consultation with the PRP and supervisor(s).

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