Annual checklist
Annual checklist
Registration at the start of each new academic year.
Annual Monitoring Review.
Information Governance and Security Training.
Update your Training Needs Analysis.
Update your Supervision Agreement.
Annual leave – you get up to eight weeks per year inclusive of public holidays and University closure days, please use it!
Remind yourself of your funding end date, if applicable.
For students in receipt of funding via the University of Exeter, check your MyExeter schedule of stipend payments.
Check the tuition fees that are scheduled.
Consider any changes that might be needed to your mode of attendance as we offer the following FTE: 0.5, 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0.
You may need to take a formal break from studying so you may wish to consider interrupting.
Month 1
Month 1
Registration onto programme.
Look through the “when you arrive” checklist.
Complete mandatory training.
First supervision meeting:
Complete the Training Needs Analysis and Supervision Agreement and upload both to MyPGR.
Attend the Doctoral College, Faculty, and/or departmental induction.
Consider if you may need to create or update an Individual Learning Plan (ILP).
Find out if you’re eligible for Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA).
Month 2 onwards
Month 2 onwards
Consider if you need to complete an ethics application:
- Ethics approval should always be carried out prior to starting research so it’s important to think of this early.
- Postgraduate Researchers should use Worktribe Ethics for new applications.
- Each department has its own ethical review process: Research Ethics Committees.
Working on upgrade submission – please refer to your Faculty handbook for specific requirements.
Month 8/9
Month 8/9
Submission of upgrade documents to MyPGR – your exact submission deadline can be found in your contact diary on MyPGR.
Month eight for HASS, month nine for HLS and ESE.
If external circumstances have delayed your progress, you may wish to consider a deferral of upgrade.
Months 9-12
Months 9-12
Upgrade Viva to take place within four weeks of submission.
Completion of any amendments (two months for minor, three months for resubmission).
Formal Upgrade outcome and, if successful, transfer to PhD, with formal programme end date change to four years fte from the start of your PhD.
Year 2
Year 2
May have department specific deadlines to meet this year – please refer to your relevant handbook.
Many students spend this part of their research collecting data, completing field or lab work, interviewing participants etc. This will be unique to your project.
Consider any ongoing training or development needs, relative to where you are in your project:
essentials, data, sharing your research, writing, training in your faculty, or other training and development opportunities.
Year 3
Year 3
Check your funding end date, if applicable, particularly if you have had any changes to your fte or interruptions.
Refresh your mandatory training for:
- Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity
- Health and Safety
- Research Integrity
In advance of the final submission of your thesis, consider if you may need to create or update an Individual Learning Plan (ILP).
Year 4
Year 4
Consider a move to continuation status if you meet the criteria. Transfer is not automatic and you should apply through MyPGR when you are ready.
Time to apply for an extension if needed.
(If applicable): Review your ILP ahead of thesis submission to ensure that reasonable adjustments for the viva and examination are up to date.
Check your funding end date, if applicable, particularly if you have had any changes to your fte or interruptions.
Check your tuition fees are up to date as you will be unable to graduate if you hold a debt (even if you are sponsored).
Submission of thesis for examination:
- Complete the submission form
- Email this to pgadmin@exeter.ac.uk
- Upload your thesis to the secure submission folder they create for you
Viva to take place within three months after thesis submission.
Completion of amendments:
- Minor within three months
- Major within six months
- Resubmission within 18 months (after resubmission of a thesis the examination process starts again with the same timelines)
Submission of approved thesis to ORE and Official Award Notification received.
Register for the graduation ceremony. An invitation will be sent to students who have submitted their thesis.
After Award – Congratulations!
After Award – Congratulations!