Research Student Support Structure

Students should be discussing their research plan and progress, level of impact of Covid-19 and proposed mitigations with their supervisory team on an ongoing basis, and recorded in the Research Student Lifecycle. Extension requests should be discussed with your supervisor where possible, who can provide advice on adapting your research, and help you explore options to manage your research and your personal circumstances (e.g. taking a temporary Leave of Absence, or if funding and visa conditions allow you to switch to part-time study), or connect you with support and advice relating to wellbeing, disability support, research skills, financial challenges and advice about funding terms and conditions. This is also a space to discuss any health or safety concerns relating to the way your research is undertaken. This includes recording any additional impacts, such as inability to access Citrix for an extended period of time.

APR meetings are also an excellent opportunity to reflect on the level of impact of Covid-19 on students’ progress,and the appropriate proposed mitigations and updates to their research plan.  APR panels are aware that this has been a challenging year for PGR students and will take this into account when assessing progress to ensure that this continues to be a supportive process for students.

The University has put in place support for all students registered at some point in the 2019-20 academic year up to 23 March 2020 (excluding new students starting a research degree programme after 23 March 2020), on any registration status, to allow additional time without fees (a fee free period (FFP)).  This is tiered support depending on how much additional time is needed and can only be requested when students are approaching the end of your ‘normal’ period of studies.  Currently this is open to students who are due to complete their ‘normal’ period of studies or funded period on or before 31 March 2023.

Students applying for funded extensions (stipend only) through the Stage 6 application process will have their time extension considered as part of this process. 

Students who are not applying for a funded extension may request a FFP as follows: 

FFP1: up to a 3 month time extension (or 6 months for part-time students) with no additional fees. Students do not need to make a case for the FFP1, but need to make their School Postgraduate Research Committee (via their School Office) aware that they need it, and the School will request it is added to their student record. If you are applying for a funding extension, your School will be made aware of the need for a time extension/ fee free period by the Postgraduate Awards team.

FFP2: up to a further 3 month time extension (or 6 months for part-time students) with no additional fees. To request FFP2, students must outline a case for impact due to Covid-19.  The relevant form to complete can be obtained by contacting the School Office. If you are completing an application for a funding extension, this information will be shared with your School to endorse your request for additional time, and will be used by the Quality Assurance and Regulations team to consider your concession to maximum study time. If your request is endorsed by theSchool Postgraduate Research Committee (SPRC), it is then considered by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for approval. 

Further information relating to Fee Free Periods (FFPs) – Criteria here: FFP Criteria document

See our Overview of Time and Funding Extensions for Research Students below for an overview of the process for students at different stages of research degree.

The University regulations establish a maximum cumulative period of temporary withdrawals (Leaves of Absence) of 2 years. Leaves of Absence (LOA) taken due to Covid-19 impact between March and November 2020 will not contribute to this maximum. If a student takes a LOA after November 2020 due to ongoing Covid-19 impact, and then reaches the 2 year LOA maximum, unless there are specific circumstances relating to the research project, it is likely that a concession will be approved, following the normal process for extensions to LOA period.

An overview of the funding extension processes that have been undertaken to date is below.

Please see the section above to determine how you request an extension in your research time without fees. You can request an extension in time separate to a request for a stipend extension, though it should be within 6 months of the end of your normal period of studies / funded period.

If you started your research degree after 23 March 2020, you may be wondering what support will be available to you at the end of your funding period, or normal period of PhD study if self-funded. To help us provide support that may be needed in the future, it is important that you document in Annual Progress Review and supervisory meetings any impact and how you have adapted your research to address challenges. The University has not agreed further funding at this point. Discussions will be held at the start of the 2022-23 academic year. It is expected that an update on future research support will be made in October 2022.