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Students Landing PageSETU Waterford offers a broad range of academic programmes from levels 6 to 10 on the national framework of qualifications across Business, Education, Engineering, Health Sciences, Humanities, Science and Computing.
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Events Landing PageThe formal framework for the Research Degree Programme to be pursued by all SETU Waterford research postgraduate students is set out in the SETU Waterford Research Postgraduate Degree Regulations.
This document outlines of the main stages and milestones in a research degree programme - including useful contact names and links to forms that research students are required to fill in as part of their programme.
SETU Waterford Postgraduate Research Degrees: Regulations and Procedures (RRD)
The Application & Selection Section of the Future Postgraduate page describes the process of making an initial postgraduate application to SETU Waterford.
Following the application, if an offer is made by SETU Waterford, registration involves (i) acceptance of the offer by following the registration procedure set out in the offer letter, (ii) payment of the first instalment of the programme fee through the Research Postgraduate Admissions Office, if relevant, and (iii) attendance at SETU Waterford to obtain a SETU Waterford student card.
Initial registration and commencement may be at any time during the year. All students must renew their registration annually either in January or September, depending on the initial registration date of the student. Permission to renew a registration is granted only on the basis that the research project has progressed satisfactorily during the previous academic year of registration, as determined through the Institute’s monitoring and annual report and assessment procedures.
Failure to re-register within the prescribed annual re-registration period will lead to withdrawal of supervision and other services. A postgraduate may be reinstated if their supervisor provides a satisfactory progress report and the relevant registration fees are paid.
If you have any queries regarding your Research Postgraduate Admission / Registration in SETU Waterford, please contact:
Ruth Hennebry
SETU Waterford Research Postgraduate Admissions
Office of the Registrar
E: [email protected]
T: +353-(0)51-302882
Following registration, the candidate arranges to meet their supervisor and beings to prepare to apply to enrol as a postgraduate student by completing, with the advice of their supervisor.
While research at levels 9 and 10 is a personal and essentially self-directed intellectual journey, the student - supervisor relationship is a critical for the student researcher in making that journey.
The Supervisor is an expert in the relevant field within which the research will take place. From September 2018, all new postgraduate projects will have a supervisory team consisting of at least two supervisors.
The role of the supervisor includes:
· agreeing the programme of research to be completed by the student and proposing this programme to the Head of Department and Academic Council.
· advising the student on the postgraduate regulations and the administrative structures, processes and requirements.
· advising the student on the standard of work required for the award and training opportunities available.
· meet regularly with the student and advise them as to their progress.
· advise the student on publication of their work in journals or presentation of their work at conferences.
· assist the student in the preparation and submission of the final thesis and in preparing for the viva voce examination.
Yearly Monitoring
The supervisor and the candidate are required to complete regular reports on the progress made in the research project using:
Form PG_M1: Form PG_M1 Research Postgraduate Annual Report
Form PG_M2: Form PG_M2 Research Postgraduate Student Supervisory Team Progress Appraisal
The Yearly Progress Monitoring Process is carried out by members of the Research Programme Board, with support from the Graduate Studies Office. Details of the process is detailed in the Postgraduate Research Degree: Regulations and Procedures.
Some funding sources may have additional reporting requirements for students to continue to be in receipt of this funding.
Form PG_C – Research Postgraduate PhD Confirmation Form
Candidates registered on a PhD programme, wishing to confirm their PhD candidature, make a formal application to Academica Council using the Research Postgraduate PhD Confirmation Form (PG_C). Normally, applications should not be made earlier than 1 year after initial registration and not later than 1 year before the expected date of completion of the proposed pectoral programme.
Candidates wishing to transfer from the Masters register to the Doctoral register shall make formal application to Academic Council/QQI using the Form PG_C – Research Postgraduate PhD Confirmation Form. Normally, such application should not be made earlier than one year after admission to the Masters programme and not later than one year before the expected date of completion of the proposed doctoral programme. The PhD candidate will normally be regarded as a continuation of the same programme of study and the PhD commencement date will be backdated to the commencement date of the Masters degree. International Masters candidates should check that their visa and sponsored funding arrangements do not impose any restrictions to undertaking a PhD.
The candidate should inform their Research Programme Board of their intention to enter the transfer process at least eight weeks before the intended submission date.
The next step is for the Head of Department and/or the Supervisor to recommend an external expert as an external reviewer. The responsible Academic Department should send nominations on the External Reviewer Nomination Form accompanied by a CV to the Registrar at least seven weeks before the candidate plans to submit the transfer report.
The form and method of assessment of the research candidate’s work will be proposed to Academic Council by the supervisor at the time of the student’s academic enrolment.
The normal range of assessment methods include:
Research Masters degrees are assessed using the following criteria:
Doctoral degrees are assessed using the following criteria:
• articles in appropriate refereed journals.
• a book or other scholarly publication.
• a research/creative or self-expressive work monograph which meets the standard of refereed academic publications.
In both cases the work is required to meet the national standards published by QQI.
Candidates must provide a minimum notice of two months of the intention to submit the thesis for examination to the supervisor(s) and other relevant personnel. The external examiner(s) and internal examiner will be appointed prior to submission of the thesis.
The responsible academic department should send nominations to the Academic Awards Section, Office of the Registrar at the time of a candidate’s intention to submit the thesis for examination. The Head of Department and the supervisor should recommend external examiners to Academic Council using the appropriate form (PGTA1) to which a full CV has been appended.
Click here to download the PGTA1 Form
The Viva Voce is an oral examination of the candidate where the expert examiners assess whether the student has mastery of the topic appropriate to doctoral level. The Supervisor(s) will typically be also present but will not normally take part in the viva discussion unless requested to do so by the Examiners or chairperson.
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