Postgraduate handbookGraduate School of Arts and Humanities

Academic year 2012-13

Welcome to Bristol Welcome to Bristol, to the Faculty of Arts, and in particular, to our postgraduate community. You will find it diverse and energetic, with a powerful sense of subject identity promoted in a wide range of internationally renowned departments, but also bound together by a shared understanding of the use and value of education and research in the Arts and Humanities. At the heart of our community is the Graduate School, the hub of postgraduate study in the Faculty, but also, we hope, a ‘home-from-home’ for all our postgraduates, from the first classes at the beginning of the MA to the closing stages of the writing of a doctoral dissertation. Here you will find staff and students able and very willing to assist you as you begin to navigate Bristol and your programme. In time, we hope you will also discover the many academic events, services and sources of assistance we also provide. This handbook is intended as a map to guide you through the intersecting structures of Department, Faculty, Graduate School and University and to highlight the key requirements of your programme. Like the best maps, it is a summary of key information, and from here you may need to pass on to codes of practice, programme and unit information. If you are unable to find the information you need, please do not hesitate to contact the Graduate School. May I take this opportunity to wish you well in your studies. James Clark Graduate Dean

Please note: The information within this handbook has been checked, but there may be errors. University rules and guidance regarding a number of matters change from year to year, so please consult the Graduate School and University Web pages for the most current information.

Photograph courtesy of: Nick Smith Photography (Front cover)

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Contents Significant changes to the handbook for 2012-13 ---2 1. General information for postgraduate students 2 - 7 1.1 Institutional framework ................................................................................................... 2 1.2 Graduate School ............................................................................................................ 2 1.3 Points of contact ............................................................................................................ -2 1.4 Information Services and electronic communication ..................................................... -3 1.5 Change of personal details ............................................................................................ 3 1.6 University cards ............................................................................................................. -3 1.7 Tuition fees .................................................................................................................... -4 1.8 Student representation .................................................................................................. -4 1.9 Research events ........................................................................................................... -4 1.10 Ethics ........................................................................................................................... 4 1.11 University Library Services .......................................................................................... 5 1.12 Printing and photocopying ........................................................................................... 6 1.13 Postgraduate skills development programme ............................................................. -6 1.14 Financial support for research activities ...................................................................... 6 1.15 Who to contact in case of a problem or query ............................................................. 7 1.16 Further sources of useful information .......................................................................... 7 2. Academic information for all postgraduate students 8 - 10 2.1 Periods of study and word count for each degree ......................................................... 8 2.2 Extensions and suspensions ......................................................................................... 9 2.3 Plagiarism ..................................................................................................................... 10 3. Academic information for postgraduate taught students 11 - 18 3.1 University rules and regulations governing your programme of study .......................... 11 3.2 Principal academic contacts ......................................................................................... -11 3.3 Progress and attendance monitoring ............................................................................ 11 3.4 Programme structure .................................................................................................... 11 3.5 Assessment and marking criteria ................................................................................. ---12 3.6 Applying for a research degree .................................................................................... --18 4. Academic information for postgraduate research students 19 - 23 4.1 University rules and regulations governing your programme of study .......................... 19 4.2 Supervision, progress and attendance monitoring ....................................................... -19 4.3 Upgrade procedures ..................................................................................................... 20 4.4 The PhD - assessment ................................................................................................. -21 4.5 Teaching opportunities ................................................................................................. –22 4.6 Corrections to your thesis ............................................................................................. 23 5. Frequently asked questions 24 - 26 5.1 FAQs for postgraduate taught programmes (PGT) ...................................................... 24 5.2 FAQs for postgraduate research programmes (PGT) .................................................. 25

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Significant changes to the handbook for 2012-13 Section Description of change

1.3 Contact details updated

1.6 University card (UCard) section added

1.14 Changes to how to apply for Conference/Research Fund monies

1.15 New Graduate Education Director

1.16 Inclusions/exclusions to word limits added to table

2.2 Further explanation of extensions/suspensions

Important changes to process for requesting coursework extensions

3.5 12-13 Code of Practice assessment changes incorporated

Penalties for late submission of coursework updated

Faculty penalties for under/over length assessments added

4.3 MLitt to PhD upgrade deadline changed to 1 year

4.4 Subject-specific guidance on word limits added

4.6 New section - Corrections to your thesis

5.1 - 5.2 FAQs updated and extended.

General information for postgraduate students 1.1 Institutional framework You have joined the Faculty of Arts at the University of Bristol. The Faculty consists of three Schools. The School of Arts comprises four departments: Archaeology and Anthropology, Drama, Music and Philosophy. The School of Humanities comprises three departments: CART (Classics, Ancient History, Religion and Theology), English and Historical Studies (including History of Art). The School of Modern Languages is made up of five subject areas: French, German, Hispanic and Latin American Studies, Italian and Russian. As a postgraduate student, whether studying for a Masters or for a Research Degree, you are a member of one of these departments, and you will be taught and supervised by academics from your department. However, you are also part of the Graduate School of Arts and Humanities, which houses all postgraduate administrative support, as well as providing facilities tailored to the needs of postgraduate students.

1.2 Graduate School The Graduate School of Arts and Humanities is located at 7 Woodland Road, with additional facilities available at 43 Woodland Road. The main site at 7 Woodland Road is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to all postgraduate students within the Faculty. It is a combined study, social and administrative centre, and is designed to complement the facilities available within your home department. Staff in the building deal with all aspects of postgraduate administration and support including admissions, assessment, programme management, student progress, skills training and enquiries, as well as providing advice and guidance as you move through the different stages of postgraduate study. For further information, including contact details of administrative staff and details of how to get involved in organising social and research events, visit the Graduate School website: www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/gradschool

1.3 Points of contact The first point of contact for academic matters is your Programme Director (PGT students) or your Supervisor (PGR students), from your academic department. For administrative matters, you should speak to the relevant member of support staff in the Graduate School. For details of who to contact visit

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the Graduate School website or see below: www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/gradschool/contact-us.html Any queries about programme structure, assessment, progress or change of circumstances:

• School of Arts Archaeology and Anthropology, Drama, Music, Philosophy Alison Johnston, PG Student Administrator, ext: 18442, email: alison.johnston@bristol.ac.uk

• School of Humanities

Classics, English, History, History of Art, Theology Caroline Barnard, PG Student Administrator, ext: 18455, email: caroline.barnard@bristol.ac.uk

• School of Modern Languages French, German, HIPLA, Italian, Russian: Sarah Greenaway, Student Administration, Manager, ext: 18456, email: sarah.greenaway@bristol.ac.uk MA Translation: Kate Withers, PG Student Administrator, ext: 18375, email: kate.withers@bristol.ac.uk

Any queries about PG funding support, inter library loan vouchers, Council Tax forms, web updates, student representation, room booking, hospitality:

• All subjects: Tora Manchester, Executive Assistant, ext: 88897, email: tora.manchester@bristol.ac.uk

Any general queries about recruitment, admissions, registration and scholarships:

• All subjects: Rachel Phelon, Senior PG Admissions Administrator, ext: 18459, email: rachel.phelon@bristol.ac.uk

Specific queries about new applications should be directed to the relevant member of the Graduate School Admissions team (see website for up to date details).

Any queries related to the use of Blackboard and online submission of coursework should be directed to the relevant PG Student Administrator for your subject area (see above).

1.4 Information Services and electronic communication MyBristol, the University portal, www.bristol.ac.uk/mybristol enables you to access your email, Blackboard, personal information and library accounts with a single login. When you register online, you will receive your personal

username and password. Further information describing all the information services on offer to you is available on the Information Services website at: www.bristol.ac.uk/is Further information about Blackboard, the University of Bristol’s online learning environment, can be found on the Education Support Unit website at: www.bristol.ac.uk/esu/elearning/support/tools/ blackboard Extensive use is made of the internet within the University of Bristol – in providing information and for communication via email. You are responsible for checking your emails on a regular basis. Messages will be sent to your University of Bristol email account. If you decide to re-direct mail from your University email address, you are expected to do so to an account that will give a reasonable level of service. Instructions on re-direction of email are available on the web at: www.bristol.ac.uk/it-services/ applications/email/smart/vacation.html Please note: any appeal against an academic decision citing non-receipt of information distributed by electronic means is unlikely to succeed if you have elected to have your email redirected. Please remember that the University is both a professional and public environment and your use of email should take account of this context. Electronic correspondence should always employ the proper standards of courtesy.

1.5 Change of personal details You should ensure that any change of personal details such as your name or address is notified to the University immediately. You may do this via the web at: www.bristol.ac.uk/studentinfo

1.6 University cards Card Services is responsible for the production of the University Card (UCard) for staff, students and official visitors to the University. The Card Services unit (www.bristol.ac.uk/cardservices/contact) is managed by Security Services, on behalf of the University. It is located at Royal Fort Lodge in Tyndall Avenue (opposite Senate House) open Mon-Fri 8am - 4pm. www.bristol.ac.uk/cardservices/contact Students wishing to extend the life of their UCard should contact the relevant PG Student Administrator for their subject (see 1.3 above). Those wishing to ensure 24 hour access to Graduate School study facilities should contact Tora Manchester in the Reception Office at 7 Woodland Road.

Further details about the University UCard can be found by clicking on the link below: www.bristol.ac.uk/cardservices/using-your-ucard

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1.7 Tuition fees Details of tuition fees for 2012-13 can be found at: www.bristol.ac.uk/academicregistry/fees/fees12.html If you are in debt to the University in respect of tuition or other fees or fines you will not be permitted to register or be admitted to any programme of study at the start of any academic year, unless specific arrangements have been agreed with the University for the settlement of the debt. Tuition fees left unpaid at the completion of your studies may result in you being barred from graduation. If you find yourself getting into financial difficulties and unable to pay your fees you should contact the Student Finance Office as soon as possible.

1.8 Student representation Each department normally elects representatives for their PGT and their PGR students. Elections take place in the Autumn Term. These representatives are members of the department’s staff/student committee, which meets regularly in term-time. Each School is represented by one PGT and one PGR representative on the Graduate School Planning and Resources Committee (GSPRC). For further information on how to get involved, please ask your Programme Director or Supervisor. The social activities of the Graduate School are managed by a Student Social Committee. The members of this committee have the following responsibilities:

• To act as liaison between students and the Graduate School for any issues related to the use of the Graduate School building and facilities.

• To organise and co-ordinate student social events within the Graduate School.

• To agree, implement and monitor systems and processes for funding and purchasing kitchen supplies.

A representative from this committee sits on the Graduate School Planning and Resource Committee (GSPRC). For a list of student academic and social representatives please see: www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/gradschool/current/reps

1.9 Research events Attending research events is an important and enriching part of academic life and academic learning. As a postgraduate student, you are expected to attend your Department’s seminars, so that you can learn from cutting-edge research, meet scholars from Bristol and elsewhere, and join with other postgraduate students in discussions. For most MA programmes, attendance at seminars is a

mandatory part of your course. You are also strongly urged to participate in other research events organised by the department (lectures and conferences), and in the research activities organised by the Faculty. The Graduate School will regularly publicise forthcoming events and is also the venue for subject-specific and general arts and humanities events throughout the year. You will find information about research events on your departmental web pages, and on the screen in the lobby of the Graduate School. Events are also posted on: www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/research Postgraduate students are encouraged to set up and attend reading groups. For details of these, please see: www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/gradschool/reading-groups There is some funding available for the setting up and running of Reading Groups. Please contact Tora Manchester for further details.

Events are also organised by the Bristol Institute for Research in the Humanities and Arts (BIRTHA) which exists to fund and facilitate research initiatives across the Faculty of Arts. This is accomplished largely through BIRTHA’s flexible funding schemes. These schemes support both staff and postgraduates to undertake research endeavours through, for example, the running of conferences or the organization of interdisciplinary projects and events. In addition to these funding schemes, BIRTHA organizes academic talks for the Faculty of Arts as well as the wider university community. These include the BIRTHA Lecture, which features scholars of international renown, and the BIRTHA Debate, where staff and students come together to discuss questions of academic relevance. Further details of BIRTHA funding schemes and events can be found here: www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/birtha

The Faculty is home to a wide variety of Institutes and Centres devoted to specific research themes, including: Bristol Poetry Institute, the Institute of Greece, Rome and the Classical Tradition, the Centre for East Asian Studies, the Centre for the History of Music in Britain, the Empire and the Commonwealth, and the Centre for Medieval Studies, These organise programmes of seminars, guest lectures, and workshops and postgraduate students are strongly encouraged to participate. For further details go to: www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/research

1.10 Ethics It is the responsibility of students to undertake their research in an ethical manner. This needs to be embedded, from the planning stage through any fieldwork and library work to the writing up and publication. Key issues relating to ethics in research within the arts and humanities include:

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• always working with permission • respecting copyright • fair representation • data protection • working within the law • respecting places, people, traditions,

customs, and objects, including human remains

Special procedures are in place if your research involves working outside these areas, or if you intend to:

• work with living human informants (such as in anthropology or collecting oral historical information)

• use personal data collected from living people (such as questionnaires)

• work with human tissue (material less than 100 years old)

In these cases, the Faculty Ethics Committee will need to consider a proposal that sets out the purpose of the research, why this information needs to be collected, and what safeguards are in place to ensure confidentiality. This does not mean that such research is not possible, but that we wish to ensure that it is conducted in an ethical manner to protect you and the University. You will need to consult your Programme Director/Supervisor, and if you wish, the Faculty Ethics Officer (Professor Mark Horton, mark.horton@bristol.ac.uk). A simple form is available at: www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/research/intranet/information/research-ethics.html Training on research ethics will be provided during the academic session.

1.11 University Library Service The University Library has 10 branches, all of which you are entitled to use. You must bring your University UCard with you to enter the branches and to make use of their services. Contact details, locations and opening hours for all branches can be found at: www.bristol.ac.uk/library/using/branches The majority of the resources you will need to use are located at the Arts and Social Sciences Library in Tyndall Avenue (ASSL): www.bristol.ac.uk/library/using/branches/assl. The ASSL provides a range of study areas to support different preferences, such as silent study rooms, computer rooms, multimedia viewing facilities, social learning areas and group study rooms. Modern History and Social Science collections are held on the first floor of the ASSL; Arts subjects on the second floor. Detailed information about the location of resources can be found on the library’s

subject pages (see Library Collections and Electronic Resources below). Library collections and electronic resources Books To locate printed and e-books on reading lists and to find books on your subject, please use the library's online catalogue, at www.lib.bris.ac.uk. You can also use the 'Books, etc.' tab on the Quick search area of the library homepage. High demand books and journal articles are located in the Short Loan Collection on the ground floor of the ASSL. For more information about this, see: www.bristol.ac.uk/is/locations/branches/assl/ collections/slc.html Many rare and valuable items are kept in our Special Collections Department. For further details see: www.bristol.ac.uk/library/resources/specialcollections Journals To find the location of printed journals, please use the online catalogue or the "Journals" tab on the Quick search section of the library homepage and select the print journals search box. To access online journals, use either the library's eJournals catalogue at www.bristol.ac.uk/library/resources/eresources/ ejournals, or select the 'Find eJournal by title' box under the Journals tab in the Quick search area of the library homepage. Video tutorials about using the online catalogue are available: www.bristol.ac.uk/studentskills/content/ilitskills/ tutorials/librarycatalogue Databases If you are doing in-depth research into a topic, you need to search online databases. You can access these from the Quick Search area on the Library homepage, by selecting the "Articles & Databases" tab. Please refer to the 'Subject resources' area of the relevant subject page to find out more information about databases for your subject: www.bristol.ac.uk/library/support/subjects A video tutorial about using databases is available: www.bristol.ac.uk/studentskills/content/ilitskills/ tutorials/metalib/searchingforjournalarticles.html Accessing electronic resources off campus To use electronic resources away from University premises you will need to connect to the Student Remote Desktop. See www.bristol.ac.uk/it-services/ advice/homeusers/remote/studentdesktop for details. Subject librarians Subject Librarians offer support and guidance on finding the information you need for your coursework and research. They provide online support via the

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Subject web pages: www.bristol.ac.uk/library/support/subjects as well as opportunities to attend training sessions. Please contact your subject librarian who will be happy to answer your subject-related enquiries. Part time and distance students The Additional Library Support Service (AddLibS) is available to students who find it difficult to get to the library. This service includes postal loans, photocopying services, and other support. More information is available at: www.bristol.ac.uk/library/using/addlibs Disabled students The library offers a range of services to support the needs of disabled students. See www.bristol.ac.uk/library/using/disabledusers for details. International students Extra support is available for students from overseas. Please see: www.bristol.ac.uk/library/using/international Help and contacts For subject-specific help, please contact your subject librarian: www.bristol.ac.uk/library/support/subjects For general enquiries about the library or for questions relating to your library account, please email library-enquiries@bristol.ac.uk or telephone (0117) 928 8000 (internal 88000). You can also ask at the ASSL issue desk or talk to any member of library staff. Inter-library loans The Arts and Social Sciences Library has an Inter-Library Loan service to provide copies of books and articles that are not available in the University’s own collections. After ordering, it usually takes a week or so for an item to arrive. There is a charge for this service, so before collecting the item you should get a voucher from the Graduate School to settle the library’s charge. PGR and PGT students will be allocated a set number of vouchers for the year. Details of allocations will be announced during October. Bristol central library Students may also wish to make use of the nearby Bristol Central Library which also has a reasonably priced and quick interlibrary loan facility for research publications. For further details see: www.bristol.gov.uk/page/libraries

1.12 Printing and photocopying Printing and photocopying facilities using Printer Accounting Server (PAS) are available at the Graduate School and throughout the Faculty and the University. PAS takes credits from a

printer/photocopier account associated with your UoB account. The Graduate School provides free printing credit to the value of £5 per year to all fee paying postgraduate students within the Faculty. Your card will be issued at registration and will be credited with £5 at the beginning of the year. There are various ways of buying further credit. For further information, see: www.bristol.ac.uk/is/computing/applications/printing

1.13 Postgraduate skills development programme At Bristol we recognise that in order for you to get the most out of your postgraduate experience, you need support to develop your talents and skills not only to enable you to complete your postgraduate work, but also to prepare you for future careers within academia and beyond in the global employment market. To support you in this we have prepared a programme of training opportunities to help you extend and enhance your research and professional skills. Classes and workshops on a variety of topics will run in the first and second teaching blocks. To attend you will need to book a place. Further details can be found in the Skills Booklet you will be given at Registration and also online at: www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/gradschool/careers/ skills-training.html

1.14 Financial support for research activities Postgraduate students who require financial support for either a conference they wish to attend or for a research trip are eligible to apply for funding from the Graduate School Conference/Research Fund. Students can apply for funding to help cover such costs as transport, accommodation and registration fees. To apply for support from this fund an application form needs to be completed (available online) and submitted to Tora Manchester in the Reception Office in 7 Woodland Rd. On the 20th of every month applications will be passed on to the Head of the Graduate School to be assessed and you will be notified via email by the end of the month whether or not your application has been successful. The maximum per year that a student can be granted is £200 and it is at the discretion of the Head of Graduate School how much of this sum is allocated to each application. For further information and guidelines on applying for the Graduate School Conference/Research Fund visit the following Graduate School webpage: www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/gradschool/current Students who have secured an AHRC studentship are entitled to apply for an additional Research

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Training Support Grant valued at up to £200 per annum. See here for further details: www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/gradschool/current Graduate students may apply to the Alumni Foundation for funding to support conference attendance. For more information: www.bristol.ac.uk/alumni/current-students/foundation Departments may also have access to sources of funding for research activity.

1.15 Who to contact in case of a problem or query If you have a problem or query regarding any aspect of your programme of study, PGT students should contact their Programme Director in the first instance, whilst PGR students should contact their Supervisor or Head of Subject. If the Head of Subject is not available, you should contact the relevant Education Management role holder within your school. Any student may also contact a member of the Graduate School administrative staff. Remember it is usually easier to deal with a problem in the early stages than to wait until there are serious difficulties, so please do not hesitate to discuss your concerns. If the problem or query remains unresolved, or has not been answered to your satisfaction, or if you wish to appeal against a disciplinary decision, then you should contact the Graduate Education Director, Peter Metelerkamp, by email: peter.metelerkamp@bristol.ac.uk During term time Mr Metelerkamp will be available to postgraduates by appointment for one hour a week (day and time to be confirmed). To make an appointment contact Tora Manchester in the Graduate School Reception Office (tora.manchester@bristol.ac.uk). In the rare case of a serious dispute, the University has a formal Student Grievance Procedure: www.bristol.ac.uk/secretary/studentrulesregs/ complaints.html The Student Complaints Officer can be contacted as follows: 0117 928 8904 (internal 88904) or email: studentcomplaints@bristol.ac.uk For appeals, the procedure is set out in the Examinations regulations: www.bristol.ac.uk/secretary/studentrulesregs/ examregs.html

1.16 Further sources of useful information The University website: www.bristol.ac.uk/postgraduates provides a wealth of advice and guidance for postgraduate students such as health and welfare, library resources, sports and

other activities and societies, skills training and careers, funding information and accommodation advice. The University’s Student Services site: www.bristol/studentservices provides useful links and answers to frequently asked questions on all aspects of University life study, personal and practical problems and much more. The University’s Student Finance site: www.bristol.ac.uk/studentfunding provides information on funding and finance. The Graduate School’s Postgraduate Skills Development Programme handbook: www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/gradschool/careers/ skills-training.html contains comprehensive information on the Graduate School’s skills training programme for 2012-13. The University’s Centre for English Language and Foundation Studies: www.bristol.ac.uk/english-language gives details of all the courses and resources they offer, to support the study of English as a Foreign Language. The teaching of other Applied Foreign Languages is offered through the School of Modern Languages: www.bristol.ac.uk/sml The University’s Student Handbook contains essential general information for both undergraduate and postgraduate students. Details of the University’s Rules and Regulations applying to all students can be found at: www.bristol.ac.uk/secretary/studentrulesregs

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Academic information for all postgraduate students 2.1 Periods of study and word count for each degree Full details about the period of study for each degree programme are specified in the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught and Research Degree Programmes, and form part of the admissions requirements for each. You are expected to complete your degree within the maximum period of study unless you have been granted an extension or suspension. If you exceed the maximum period of study without a formal extension or suspension you are liable to be deemed out of time for submission. Therefore it is your responsibility to ensure that you meet the requirements of your programme and to keep the Graduate School informed about any circumstances which may affect your ability to meet those requirements.

Title of award Mode of study Minimum period of study

Maximum period of study (submissions expected within)

Submission date

Maximum word count

MA FT

PT

12 months

24 months

12 months

24 months

Sept 16

Sept 16

15,000 excluding notes, bibliography and appendices

MPhil FT

PT

12 months

24 months

12 months

24 months

n/a

n/a

25,000* including notes, bibliography and appendices

MLitt FT

PT

24 months

48 months

36 months

60 months

n/a

n/a

60,000 including notes, bibliography and appendices

PhD FT

PT

36 months

72 months

48 months

84 months

n/a

n/a

80,000

* The Faculty of Arts MPhil carries a word limit of 25,000 as a one-year programme but the University regulations set a maximum of 30,000 words for the MPhil, which in some Faculties is a two-year programme.

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2.2 Extensions and suspensions It is expected that you will complete your programme of study within the maximum period of study (see 2.1). The period of study is calculated from the date at which you are first registered for the degree. The University recognises that circumstances may arise which require you to interrupt or extend the period of study. Where circumstances prevent you from engaging in a regular pattern of academic work you should request a Suspension of Studies. A Suspension of Studies for a period of up to 12 months may be requested from the Graduate Education Director. The request must be submitted in writing using the form (www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/gradschool/current/ academic/general-guidance/forms.html) which requires the endorsement of your Programme Director or Supervisor; the request is subject to the approval of the Graduate Education Director. A request for a period of more than 12 months, or a second or subsequent request which cumulatively exceeds this maximum is subject to the approval of the Pro-Vice Chancellor for Education. A suspension of study will interrupt a student’s progress on his/her programme and will only be granted where there are good grounds and supporting documentation (e.g. a medical note from a GP). Good grounds for a suspension of study may include the following: serious and persistent health problems, significant long-term disability, significant bereavement or additional sole caring responsibilities, serious financial problems or new employment which brings more senior managerial responsibilities, military service. Where you are engaged in a continuous pattern of academic work but circumstances have hampered your progress, you should submit a request for an Extension to the maximum period of study. Taught postgraduates normally will be eligible for a maximum extension of one month to the dissertation submission deadline. An extension implies that a student is in a position to work continuously. If a student is unable to complete their dissertation after an additional month’s extension (25% of the prescribed study period for the dissertation), working continuously, then further time in continuous study is unlikely to be the right solution. Circumstances requiring greater flexibility should be addressed by means of a request for a Suspension of Studies. There is no automatic entitlement either to a suspension or an extension and requests will only be considered if submitted on the correct form, appropriately authorised and well supported with information and, where relevant (e.g. in the case of medical circumstances) documentation. If you are unsure of your position, in the first instance refer to your Programme Director or Supervisor; you may also wish to consult the Head of your Department.

You may also make an appointment to see the Graduate Education Director. All such requests will be treated in the strictest confidence. You are advised to submit requests for extensions or suspensions of study at least one month before your expected submission date. Last-minute or late requests may not be considered. To download the correct forms: www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/gradschool/current/academic/ general-guidance/forms.html Further information can be found in the Codes of Practice:

• For PGT students: www.bristol.ac.uk/esu/ assessment/codeonline.html

• For PGR students: www.bristol.ac.uk/esu/pg MA coursework extensions Any request for an extension to coursework must be submitted to the relevant PG Student Administrator for your subject (see 1.3 above), using the MA Coursework Extension form, which can be accessed via the link below. www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/gradschool/current/academic/ general-guidance/forms.html The extension will need to be authorised by the Graduate School’s Student Administration Manager, Sarah Greenaway. Extensions will only be granted where there are genuine reasons for non-submission by the due deadline, e.g. illness or personal extenuating circumstances. Please note employment commitments will not normally be accepted as an extenuating circumstance in support of an extension request. Extensions granted on the basis of illness for up to and including five term-time days (excluding Saturday and Sunday) must be supported by a Student Self-Certification Form. Extensions will not be granted for the late submission of work on the basis of computer or printer failure. You are expected to manage your time to take account of the possibility of technical failure. Extensions are also not granted for transport problems, (except where the student has been personally involved in an accident). For illness lasting over five term-time days (excluding Saturdays and Sundays) you must complete the Student Self-Certification Form and take this, with the University’s Medical Certificate Form, to your doctor. You should show the Student Self-Certification Form to the doctor and ask her/him to complete the University’s Medical Certificate Form.

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Both forms can be downloaded using the link below: www.bristol.ac.uk/esu/assessment/annex/201011/ 9studentillness.html You should inform the Graduate School’s Student Administration Manager of the need for an extension before the submission deadline. Please note: submission deadlines are set well in advance and already allow for the possibility of illness; you will not, therefore, necessarily be granted an extension for a minor illness of short duration falling into the category of self-certification. Extenuating circumstances It is important that you inform the relevant member of the Graduate School administrative team (see 1.3) of any medical or other extenuating circumstances that may have affected your performance in assessment. If a student wishes examiners to take such matters into account then evidence must be supplied prior to the relevant meeting of the Faculty of Arts Postgraduate Special Circumstances Committee. This committee presents recommendations to the Summer Progress Boards and the Final Exam Boards in the Winter to inform assessment of final award classifications. Specific dates for the Special Circumstances Committee meetings and the deadlines for providing evidence of special circumstances will be communicated to all students in October 2012.

2.3 Plagiarism Plagiarism is the unacknowledged inclusion in any assignment submitted for assessment of material – whether it is a quotation, an idea or concept, a line of argument, or data - derived from another source, published or unpublished. This constitutes plagiarism whether it is intentional or unintentional. By ‘source’ you should understand not only academic and non--academic printed books and journals but also unprinted papers and essays (including the essays, projects and dissertations of other students) and any material accessed from the internet whether or not on open access sites, including general encyclopaedic directories (e.g. Wikipedia); it also extends to essays or research materials commissioned or purchased from a third party. If you are unsure that you have understood the definition of plagiarism in these terms, or require guidance on strategies to ensure you avoid it in the preparation of your assignments, you should consult your Programme Director or supervisor immediately. The University takes plagiarism very seriously and penalties can be severe. For details of the University’s rules on plagiarism see the University’s exam regulations: www.bristol.ac.uk/secretary/studentrulesregs/ examregs.html

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Academic information for postgraduate taught students The following information is common to all MA programmes of study in the Faculty of Arts. For specific information on the structure and content of your course, please consult your course page on Blackboard.

3.1 University rules and regulations governing your programme of study Taught Masters Programmes are governed by the University’s Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes. You can find it online at: www.bristol.ac.uk/esu/assessment/codeonline.html It is your responsibility to ensure you are familiar with the requirements of your programme. Therefore you are strongly urged to read the Code at the beginning of your studies and to refer to it thereafter at each approaching stage of your progress.

3.2 Principal academic contacts Your MA Programme Director is your first point of contact for academic matters. For some MA programmes, your Programme Director is also your Personal Tutor - if this is not the case, you will be assigned a Personal Tutor. Your Personal Tutor is available to do his/her best to help you with any problem, academic or personal, which you wish to discuss. Above all, if anything interferes with your work, tell your Personal Tutor as soon as possible. All tutors publish consultation hours, when they are available to see any student without a prior appointment. Each unit is managed by a member of academic staff - they will be your first point of contact for matters pertaining to that particular unit. Once you have agreed a subject for your dissertation, you will be assigned an adviser (or advisers). You will discuss supervision arrangements with them, mapping out a sequence of meetings to support your research and writing, much of which will be completed between the end of May and early September. If you are going to be away from the University for all or part of this period, it is essential that you inform your supervisor and agree when, and by what means, you are to communicate about the progress of your research. It is likely that most of the supervision will take place before the end of the academic year.

3.3 Progress and attendance monitoring Student progress is monitored through the taught element of the MA by satisfactory completion of coursework. Student progress is further assessed by the Faculty Graduate Progress Board which meets in June and makes recommendations about student progress to the Faculty Graduate Exam Board which meets in the Winter. Students who have completed the taught element of the programme satisfactorily will be permitted to progress to the dissertation. Students who have not may be required to leave the programme, or may be awarded a Certificate or Diploma depending on the number of credit points achieved. The University is required to report to the UK Border Agency on visa-holding students who fail to make satisfactory progress and/or do not regularly attend classes or submit coursework. Therefore visa-holding students will be subject to a formal system of attendance monitoring, details of which will be published on the Graduate School website: www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/gradschool/current/academic/ general-guidance/forms.html

3.4 Programme structure MA programmes normally consist of a taught component (120 credit points) and a dissertation or practice based equivalent (60 credit points). Taught component The taught component comprises core (or mandatory) units, and optional units. The taught component comprises core (or mandatory) units, and optional units. Most units are worth 20 credit points, with some being worth 40 credit points. These may be taught through the medium of seminars, practical instruction (in the case of practice-based units), or may take the form of participation in a conference, or industrial placements. On some MA courses, you may also choose to enrol in a Supervised Independent Study Unit where, in consultation with a specialist supervisor, you may choose to substitute for one 20-credit unit a 5,000 word-project on a relevant subject. All units are assessed over Teaching Block 1 (Autumn) and Teaching Block 2 (Spring). You will already have received a list of all the mandatory and optional units available to you, and made many of your unit choices prior to arriving at Bristol. For further information on units and timetabling, please see your course pages on Blackboard. Part-time students will normally take 60 credit points of taught units in the first year and another 60 in the

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second year. The dissertation (normally worth 60 credit points) is due for submission at the end of the second year, although in practice many part-time students prefer to begin to plan their research in the course of the first year. Further details relating to your specific MA programme can be found here: www.bristol.ac.uk/esu/unitprogcat/Welcome.jsa Dissertation or practice-based equivalent All MA programmes culminate in a written dissertation, or practice-based equivalent (in the case of Drama, Archaeology and Music). Written dissertation You will write a dissertation of up to 15,000 words, excluding footnotes, bibliography and appendices. Core units, optional units and coursework are usually almost wholly completed by the end of the second Teaching Block, so that the period after the Spring Vacation can be mainly devoted to researching and writing the dissertation. A successful MA dissertation requires a continuous period of research and writing over a period of approximately 4 months (i.e. between May and early September). The greater part of the supervision of the dissertation is likely to be provided before the end of the academic year (31 July). You should start thinking about possible topics early. Normally, you will work with your Programme Director to identify a suitable topic and a dissertation adviser (or advisers). Supervisors will offer detailed feedback on an introduction and one chapter of the dissertation. Practice-based equivalent The practice-based equivalent may be a portfolio of compositions, screen work, documentation of practice or an industrial placement. These may be combined with written work. For further information please contact your Programme Director, or see your course pages on Blackboard.

3.5 Assessment and marking criteria To progress through the various parts of the degree programme, you must fully satisfy all the criteria for the award of credit points on all the units taken. The criteria are:

1. Submission of assessed coursework by the specified deadlines, no later than 12 midday: Teaching Block 1: Friday 18 January 2013 Teaching Block 2: Friday 17 May 2013 Exceptions to these deadlines will be specified by your Programme Director.

If you are in any doubt about deadlines see your course pages on Blackboard.

2. A mark of at least 50% in assessed coursework. In order to obtain an MA degree, you must have assembled the full amount of credits (180 points). 60 credit points is the requirement for the award of a Certificate, 120 for the award of a Diploma. Once you have satisfied these criteria, then your work is assessed, in the majority of cases for an MA degree.

The University is required to report to the UK Border Agency on visa-holding students who fail to make satisfactory progress and/or do not regularly attend classes or submit coursework. Therefore visa-holding students will be subject to a formal system of attendance monitoring; details of which will be published on the Graduate School website (see 3.3 above) You will find further details on the rules for assessment below. Taught element Each unit will be assessed, either by coursework or examination. The guidelines below give information on the rules and regulations for the assessment of all MAs; these are followed by a list of criteria that your assessors will use when grading your work. You may also be asked to produce formative (non-assessed) work for many of the units you take in your MA programme. Please refer to the course and unit pages on Blackboard for further information on your course of study. Dissertation or practice-based equivalent You must submit two copies of your dissertation by 16 September 2013. Please note that the deadline is absolute and that the copy of the dissertation that will be examined is the copy submitted by the deadline. They are nonreturnable so you might wish to keep a copy for your own records. Your dissertation will be assessed by two internal examiners. Their assessment is subject to the oversight of an external examiner. Once the marking process is completed and the results have been considered overall, recommendations are then sent to the Faculty Graduate Exam Board which meets in December. Marks are published thereafter via Student Info. You will also receive official notification of the result from the University, and, depending on a successful result, you will be invited to attend a graduation ceremony. Students who have been granted an extension beyond the maximum period of study should be aware that extensions will also extend the examination process.

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Full details are available on the Graduate School website. For information about assessment of practice-based equivalents, please see your course and unit pages on Blackboard, or speak to your Programme Director. Assessment rules for the degree of MA The full Regulations can be found at: www.bristol.ac.uk/esu/assessment/codeonline.html The assessment consists of two parts:

a) course work and/or examination from the taught component, and

b) dissertation. The unit pass mark is 50%. Candidates must achieve an overall average of at least 50% from the taught component and 120 credit points in order to proceed to the dissertation element. The award of credit for the purposes of progression or completion of award in taught postgraduate modular programmes 1. Students must achieve the pass mark for the unit (normally a mark of 40 out of 100 at levels 4-6 and 50 out of 100 at level 7) and meet any additional criteria, if applicable, to be awarded the associated credit.

2. By reaching a satisfactory standard, students thereby acquire the necessary credit points to progress, except as specified below.

3. A student who is not awarded the credit for a unit may be permitted a second attempt to achieve a satisfactory standard to progress (i.e. a ‘re-sit’). A “re-sit” need not be in the same form as the original assessment, as long as it: tests the same learning outcomes, does not compromise any competence standards; and applies to the entire cohort of students who are undertaking the re-assessment.

A re-sit examination should normally take place as soon as possible after the learning experience, while re-submission of essays and coursework should normally be within 4-6 weeks for full-time taught postgraduate students.

A faculty Board of Examiners may, at their discretion, permit a student to undertake a re-sit in a failed unit from the first teaching block PRIOR to the receipt of all the unit marks for the academic year (i.e. before the end of the summer examination period).

4. In order to be permitted a second attempt (i.e. re-sit) in any failed unit(s), taught postgraduate students must gain at least half of the credit points in the taught component by achieving the pass mark at the first attempt AND must have satisfied any additional criteria at the time they are considered by the progression board, or equivalent.

5. A student who does not achieve the specified additional criteria for a unit (regardless of the mark achieved) will be permitted a second attempt to meet the criteria in order to be awarded the credit for the unit.

6. If a student does not achieve the criteria set out in 4, s/he will be required to withdraw from the programme with an exit award, if appropriate; unless there are validated extenuating circumstances. However, exceptionally, the relevant faculty Board of Examiners may permit the student to repeat the whole year of the programme. Faculties have discretionary authority to permit postgraduate students who have failed part, or all, of the taught component to re-sit for the purposes of achieving an exit award.

7. Notwithstanding 3, the relevant Board of Examiners will award credit to a taught postgraduate student to permit progression or completion, despite failure to achieve a pass mark associated with taught unit(s) at the first attempt, provided conditions (a)-(f) are satisfied.

a) Either, where the total of the taught credit points failed does not exceed the normal permitted maximum value of a sixth of the total credit points for the award (typically, 30 credit points for a 180 credit point Masters programme, 20 credit points for a 120 credit point Diploma and 10 credit points for a 60 credit point Certificate). Or, for programmes where the credit value of each and every taught unit exceeds the maximum permitted value, as defined above, the total of the credit points failed does not exceed the value of the taught unit with the lowest amount of credit points.

b) The student receives a unit mark within a pre-specified range (35-39 out of 100 for level 6 units or 45-49 out of 100 for level 7 units) at the first attempt.

c) The student has an overall average mark for all the taught units of at least 50 out of 100.

d) The student has not failed a unit that is deemed by the faculty or a professional body as being ‘required to pass’ either for entry onto a subsequent unit(s) or for professional body accreditation reasons.

e) Fulfils all other requirements for the award of credit, as stated in the programme and/or unit specification, such as:

• completion of practical work, e.g. field courses, laboratory sessions, language tuition, etc, deemed essential to

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understanding the academic discipline the student is studying;

• a combination of coursework and practical work, supplemented by a record of attendance at teaching sessions, e.g. tutorials or laboratory sessions;

• the acquisition of professional skills and attributes required in disciplines such as education, the health professions or the performing arts.

f) Satisfactorily completes any additional work deemed necessary, as determined by the relevant Board of Examiners, so as to enable the student to achieve the learning outcomes in the assessment(s) that they had failed.

8. Students who are permitted to progress as described in 7 (i.e. notwithstanding a failed unit mark) will be awarded and carry forward the actual unit mark they achieved at their first attempt (not the unit pass mark) and will only receive the credit for these unit/s upon final completion of the programme for which they are registered (i.e. at graduation).

9. If any student fails to achieve the unit pass mark following a re-sit of the unit, s/he will be required to withdraw from the programme with an exit award, if appropriate; unless there are validated extenuating circumstances. However, exceptionally, the relevant faculty Board of Examiners may decide to offer one of the following opportunities:

• To permit the student to repeat the whole year of the programme.

• To permit a final opportunity to be re-assessed, as part of a ‘supplementary year’, in order to obtain the necessary credit points to progress. Students who are placed on a supplementary year will be registered on the units they have failed, as well as any additional study skills units as determined by the faculty.

10. For any unit which is passed by re-assessment, the student will receive the awarded mark for the re-assessment, however the recorded unit mark will be capped at the minimum pass mark (40 out of 100 for units at levels 4, 5 and 6, and 50 out of 100 for units at level 7), even if the student achieves a higher mark in the re-assessment. The marks recorded when repeating the whole year or undertaking the supplementary year will also be capped at the minimum pass mark regardless of what marks are actually achieved, unless the student is being permitted to repeat the year or undertake a supplementary year “as for the first time” due to validated extenuating circumstances.

The award of credit for the dissertation in taught postgraduate programmes

11. Students must achieve the pass mark for the dissertation to be awarded the associated credit; by reaching a satisfactory standard students thereby acquire the necessary credit points to complete the programme of study, except as specified below.

12. Where a student has achieved a near-pass mark (45 or over but less than 50 out of 100) for the dissertation and, in addition, the examiners recommend that it is suitable for re-assessment, the relevant Board of Examiners may decide to permit the student to re-submit the dissertation, or equivalent.

13. Re-submission of the dissertation where the student has achieved a mark less than 45 out of 100 will be permitted where failure is due to validated extenuating circumstances (see full Regulations on extenuating circumstances at: www.bristol.ac.uk/esu/assessment/codeonline.html

14. The recorded mark for any re-submitted dissertation will be capped at the minimum pass mark (50 out of 100) even if the student achieves a higher level of attainment in the re-assessment, except that where there is good cause for the initial failure (validated extenuating circumstances) the dissertation may be re-submitted “as though for the first time” and the mark achieved need not be capped.

15. Re-submission of the dissertation must normally be made within 3 months of the student being notified by the faculty Board of Examiners of its decision (and within 6 months for part-time students and 12 months for part-time variable students).

16. Where re-assessment of the dissertation is not permitted the student may be awarded a postgraduate diploma, if appropriate, by the relevant Board of Examiners, subject to the satisfactory accumulation of credit points. Whenever a Board decides that re-submission of the dissertation is not permitted, the reason(s) must be clearly documented in the meeting minutes.

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Awards: for taught postgraduate modular programmes

17. An award with Merit or Distinction is permitted for postgraduate taught masters, diplomas and certificates, where these are specifically named entry-level qualifications. An award with Merit or Distinction is not permitted for exit awards where students are required to exit the programme on academic grounds.

An exit award with Merit or Distinction may be permitted where students are prevented by exceptional circumstances from completing the intended award.

18. The classification of the award in relation to the final programme mark is as follows:

• Award with Distinction: at least 65 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 70 out of 100 for the dissertation. Candidates who achieve less than 70 for their dissertation cannot be awarded a Distinction.

• Award with Merit: at least 60 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 65 out of 100 for the dissertation. Candidates who achieve less than 65 for their dissertation cannot be awarded a Merit.

• Pass: at least 50 out of 100 for the taught component overall and, for masters awards, at least 50 out of 100 for the dissertation.

• Fail: 49 or below out of 100 for the taught component overall or, where relevant, 49 or below out of 100 for the dissertation.

19. To be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma, 120 credit points are required. These credit points must be obtained from the taught component only and not from the dissertation. 20. To be awarded a Postgraduate Certificate, 60 credit points are required. These credit points must be obtained from the taught component only and not from the dissertation. Penalties for late submission of coursework Deadlines for coursework are specified above. Extensions to these deadlines will normally be agreed in advance, but may in exceptional circumstances be granted retrospectively.

• For work submitted up to 24 hours after the agreed submission deadline, a penalty of 10 marks out of 100 (or 3 marks out of 20) from

the mark the student would have received applies (e.g. coursework that is marked at 60/100 would become 50/100 or a mark of 10/20 would become 7/20) once the penalty is applied).

• For work submitted after 24 hours and up to, and including, 7 days from the original submission deadline the maximum mark awarded will be the pass mark (50%).

• For work submitted 8 or more calendar days after the submission deadline the student will receive a mark of 0, although work of a satisfactory standard must still be submitted within 6 weeks in order for credit to be awarded.

Students who have failed an assessment for non-submission are given six weeks to submit the original piece of work to secure the credit points, but no mark will be attained and recorded. The assessment, however, must be of satisfactory pass standard to secure the credit points in order to progress in the programme. If the assessment is not of satisfactory standard, or is not submitted at all by the end of this six week period, credit points cannot be awarded. Where resubmission of failed assessment is permitted, it must constitute a revised version of the original piece work rather than a new piece. Where resubmission is permitted, only one resubmission for each piece of work will be permitted. Normally, no extension to the deadline for a resubmission will be permitted. Assessment failure As stated in the Assessment Rules, in case of a failed unit assessment, you may be permitted to re-submit, normally within 6 weeks of the date of the notification of the failure. The re-submission must be of a revised version of the original piece of work, i.e. an essay or equivalent (according to unit requirements). In case of failure of an element of a unit, which subsequently fails the unit with a mark of 49 or below, normally you will be required to re-submit the failed element within six weeks of notification of the failure in the same manner as for a failed unit assessment. Please note, some units have must-pass elements. Regardless of the overall unit mark, you must pass each of these elements with a mark of 50 or above. If the unit assessment mark at the first attempt is in the range 45-49% and the overall average of unit marks for the taught component is at least 50 out of 100, you may be permitted to progress to the dissertation stage providing you have met all other requirements prescribed for credit and completed any

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additional work (see point 7 under Assessment Rules for the Degree of MA). In order to be permitted a second attempt (i.e. re-sit) in any failed unit(s), taught postgraduate students must gain at least half of the credit points in the taught component by achieving the pass mark at the first attempt AND must have satisfied any additional criteria at the time they are considered by the progression board, or equivalent. Faculty penalties for under/over length assessments Students must declare an exact word count on the appropriate coversheet when submitting written assignments (such as essays and dissertations). 5 marks will be deducted for any work that is more than 10% over or under the word limit set for that assignment. The word limit on unit assessments includes front matter (including title and abstracts), all the main text including tables, and all footnotes. The word limit excludes headers, bibliography, appendices, graphs and images, and declarations. Note that for MA dissertations, the word-limit excludes footnotes, front matter, appendices and bibliography, as specified in the University’s Dissertation Guidelines for Taught Postgraduate Programmes (Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes, Annexe 26, p. 205). For reasons of consistency, only the Harvard or MHRA referencing systems should be used within the faculty. In writing to a prescribed brief and set length, the arts of rigour and concision are developed. These are valuable transferable skills. In order to avoid penalties:

• an assessment with a word-limit of 2,000 should have a word count between 1,800 and 2,200.

• an assessment with a word-limit of 2,500 should have a word count between 2,250 and 2,750.

• an assessment with a word-limit of 3,000 should have a word count between 2,700 and 3,300.

• an assessment with a word-limit of 10,000 should have a word count between 9,000 and 11,000.

MA marking criteria These marking criteria are a general guide to the kind of considerations that inform the decisions of examiners. Different disciplines may place additional specific requirements on students and rank the qualities of work accordingly. 80-100%

• Work is worthy of publication or dissemination as appropriate to the field.

• Evidence of originality and independent thinking, as appropriate to the task.

• Exceptional in-depth knowledge across specialised and applied areas of relevant literature, available information, and conceptual issues.

• The work is very well written and presents an excellent synthesis of appropriate available information, coherently structured.

• Where group work is involved there is evidence of an outstanding individual contribution.

• Outstanding evidence of acquisition of relevant skills and their application.

• Excellent presentation. 70-79%

• Commanding knowledge of relevant literature, available information, and conceptual issues appropriate to the field.

• Demonstrates the ability to make good judgements as appropriate to the assessment task.

• The work is very well written and presents an excellent synthesis of appropriate available information, coherently structured.

• Where group work is involved there is evidence of an excellent individual contribution.

• Excellent evidence of acquisition of relevant skills and their application.

• Excellent presentation. 60-69%

• Good knowledge of relevant literature, available information, and conceptual issues appropriate to the field.

• The work is well written and presents a good synthesis of appropriate available information, coherently structured.

• Draws valid conclusions. • Where group work is involved there is

evidence of a productive individual contribution.

• Good evidence of acquisition of relevant skills.

• Very good presentation. 50-59%

• Adequate understanding of relevant literature, available information, and conceptual issues appropriate to the field.

• Adequate synthesis of available information. • Work is coherent and adequately structured. • Where group work is involved there is

evidence of a positive individual contribution. • Evidence of acquisition of relevant skills. • Good presentation.

40-49%

• Demonstrates clear but limited attempt to become acquainted with relevant source material and draw relevant conclusions, but

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draws conclusions that do not all follow logically from the work undertaken.

• Work is not fully coherent, poorly structured, and indicates that key concepts are generally not understood.

• Little evidence of acquisition of relevant skills.

• Where group work is involved there is inadequate individual contribution to the relevant task.

• Poor presentation. Less than 40%

• Makes little attempt to become acquainted with relevant source material.

• Does not draw conclusions or if it does then they consist of unsupported assertions.

• Work is not coherent, very poorly structured, and indicates that key concepts are not understood.

• Little or no evidence of the acquisition of key skills.

• Where group work is involved there is very poor individual contribution to the relevant task.

• Very weak presentation. Moderation Moderation is a review of the assessment process. It is not second-marking of the coursework. Moderators are asked to confirm that the range of marks given is suitable for the range of work submitted. Their primary responsibility is to ensure that the marking criteria are being fairly and evenly applied by their colleagues. The moderator must read and have reviewed the marking for (i) an appropriate sample of first class items of work, (ii) all failed items of work, (iii) all borderline items of work (39, 49, 59, 69), and (iv) a sample from mid-class work (i.e., mid-2.1, mid-2.2 and third). The total sample should not normally equate to more than 6-8 individual items of work or 10% of the total. However, where the total amount of work is small e.g. a group of 12, it may be more practical to review all work. If the review of the sample reveals any anomaly the moderator should in the first instance refer to the marker themselves to discuss them. If they consider the marks awarded are not well justified they should invite the marker to re-evaluate them. If a moderator is concerned, through consideration of the sample, about the marking of the coursework, they should consider whether this is a single occurrence or a systemic issue by reviewing the remainder of the work for that coursework submission. If they consider that the variance applies to the entire marking spread, moderators may raise or lower marks for all students, or increase or decrease the spread of marks across the unit as a whole. But an individual mark may only be changed following review of the whole of the unit. Moderators should always attempt to resolve any disagreement with the marker.

The Faculty of Arts Coursework Moderation Form can be found by clicking on the link below: www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/staff/organisation/ coursework.html (Staff access only) All marks are subject to confirmation by moderators, external examiners and Progress/Exam Boards. Language tests and exams Some language units (for example Ancient Greek and Latin units in the MA in Classics and Ancient History) are assessed by a series of formal class tests and are subject to University examination regulations. Failure to attend a class test without reasonable cause will result in the award of no marks for that test. It is your responsibility to be aware of the details of the test timetable. No candidate may enter the room after the test has been in progress for more than 15 minutes. If you fail to attend as the result of illness, you should obtain a medical certificate from a qualified medical practitioner as soon as reasonably practicable, and submit it to the Graduate School Office. If you miss a test for valid medical reasons an average will be calculated from the remaining marks on the unit. If you miss two tests for valid medical reasons you will be required to complete an alternative assessment. The Advanced Language units within the School of Modern Languages are also assessed by means of language exams. The Graduate School will write to students to confirm the schedule for these exams. Mark capping The following system is used as a means of ‘capping’ marks at the higher end of the scale in language units where this has been identified as a necessary procedure: The number of marks above 70 should be reduced by one third. For example, in a ‘raw’ mark of 85 the number of marks above 70 is 15. Reduced by one third, this becomes 10. The final mark is therefore 80. If you have any questions about mark capping, please contact the Graduate School office.

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3.6 Applying for a research degree If you are thinking of going on to study for a research degree after your MA, it is a good idea to start investigating the possibilities early in the academic year. It is most important to have a well-formulated project when applying for a place or, most especially, when applying for funding. Competition for funding is high. If you apply for funding you will normally be expected to have either a first-class honours BA degree or equivalent, and/or a distinction (or predicted distinction) in the MA. You should arrange an appointment to discuss the possibility of undertaking a research degree and of appropriate funding for such a course with the MA Programme Director soon after the Christmas break. If you are a potential candidate for funding you will need to be in the position to write a detailed proposal for a research project early in the Spring term. You cannot be considered by funding bodies unless you have first applied and been accepted by a University. This is therefore your first priority. Application information is available on the Graduate School website.

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Academic information for postgraduate research students 4.1 University rules and regulations governing your programme of study Research Degree Programmes are governed by the University’s Regulations and Code of Practice. You were issued with this at registration, and you can find it online at: www.bristol.ac.uk/esu/pg/cop-research-degrees.html It is your responsibility to ensure you are familiar with the requirements of your programme. Therefore you are strongly urged to read the Code at the beginning of your studies and to refer to it thereafter at each approaching stage of your progress.

4.2 Supervision, progress and attendance monitoring Your supervisor(s) has a fundamental role in supporting you on your research programme. They should meet with you regularly, and where face-to-face meeting is impractical, they should maintain contact by other means. They should act to advise you in refining and focusing your project; they should guide you in the acquisition and development of the key skills -linguistic, technical -you require to advance your research; they should direct you in devising a schedule of work, both research and writing; in particular, they should encourage you to write regularly and reflexively; they should appraise critically and constructively your written work and do so as promptly as possible given their commitments. It is important that you take the time to foster a productive academic relationship with your supervisor. Ensure you keep appointments wherever possible. Ensure you maintain contact with them, even when you are absent from the University. Ensure you advise them of any change in your circumstances. Ensure you keep to your agreed schedule of work, including the writing of draft sections of your thesis. It is an old but not unhelpful mantra of the research student, write early, and write often! University guidelines on the roles and responsibilities of Supervisor/research student can be found at: www.bristol.ac.uk/esu/pg/cop-research-degrees.html

Annual progress monitoring Annual progress report Each year in May you and your supervisor will be asked to complete an Annual Progress Report. Completion of the form provides an opportunity for you and your supervisor to discuss your progress in a formal way and to formulate or develop your research plans for the coming year. It also provides an opportunity for you to comment separately on your progress and support. The report must be submitted to the Graduate School by 30 June. If you do not receive your Annual Progress Report from your supervisor at the appropriate time you must contact your Head of Subject/ Subject Lead immediately. Attendance monitoring The University is required to report to the UK Border Agency on visa-holding students who fail to make satisfactory progress and/or do not regularly attend classes or submit coursework. Therefore visa-holding students will be subject to a formal system of attendance monitoring; details of which will be published on the Graduate School website: www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/gradschool/current/academic/ general-guidance/forms.html ‘At risk’ procedure Where the quality of a student’s work is perceived as being below standard the supervisor is expected to make the student aware at the earliest opportunity and put appropriate support in place to enable improved performance. Where there are significant concerns about a student’s ability to reach the required academic standard (and following the implementation of informal procedures above) the School will initiate formal procedures. Full details of the procedures for dealing with unsatisfactory academic progress can be found in the Regulations and Code of Practice for Research Degrees: www.bristol.ac.uk/esu/pg Maximum completion period The University imposes an overall maximum completion periods for students to ensure that students do not take an excessive amount of time to complete their degrees. The maximum completion period, set out below, refers to the total time limits for doctoral awards and includes any suspensions or extensions that might have been granted. The maximum completion period runs from initial registration to final approval of the award by the Research Degrees Examination Board. The maximum completion period for any research degree programme is the maximum period of study plus five years.

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4.3 Upgrade procedures MPhil to MLitt Candidates who wish to proceed to doctoral work may apply to upgrade their registration to MLitt/PhD. The process should be completed no later than the eighth month from initial registration (normally May), to allow you the remaining four months to complete the MPhil should you not be permitted to upgrade to MLitt. Successful upgrade will be dependent on the following:

• The assessment of a draft chapter or chapters of between 4,000 and 8,000 words in total by an academic assessor other than the supervisor. For certain projects, such as those with an interdisciplinary dimension, a second assessor may be required.

• The assessment of a bibliography in support of the submission.

• The assessment of a synopsis of the thesis showing the scheme of chapters and a summary of their contents together with a schedule of work still to be completed. Please note that Departments may have additional guidelines for presentation and formatting.

• Candidates for whom English is a second language must provide evidence that any in-sessional language training required at the point of admission has been completed and passed at the appropriate level.

• Successful completion of the training units. • An interview with the assessor of the

submitted work in the presence of the supervisor.

Students wishing to upgrade will need to notify the relevant PG Student Administrator for their subject (see 1.3) with details of their upgrade assessors so that the necessary communications regarding submission of upgrade materials can be distributed. MLitt to PhD If you wish to submit for a PhD you must upgrade your registration. The upgrade process, including completion, signature and submission of the form to the Graduate Education Director, must take place within one year of initial registration on the MLitt degree (allowing for any suspensions of study) if you are a full time student (or two years if you are a part-time student). Your supervisor will normally advise you of the appropriate time to request an upgrade, but you have a right to ask to be upgraded. Successful upgrade is dependent upon the following:

• The assessment of a draft chapter (or chapters) of the thesis of between 6000 and 12000 words in total by two academic assessors other than your supervisor.

• An interview with the two assessors in the presence of your supervisor.

• The assessment of a bibliography of the thesis.

• The assessment of synopsis of the thesis showing the scheme of chapters together with a summary of their contents and an outline schedule of the work still to be undertaken and a proposed timetable for completion.

Please note the following:

• Departments may have additional guidelines for presentation and formatting.

• Candidates for whom English is a second language must provide evidence that any in-sessional language training required at the point of admission has been completed and passed at the appropriate level.

• The conduct of the interview and the recommendations of the assessors will be documented in a formal report form. You will be required to add your own comments to this report, which is also seen by your supervisor and Head of Subject / Subject Lead. The recommendation of the assessors is subject to the approval of the Graduate Education Director.

• Students wishing to upgrade will need to notify the relevant PG Student Administrator for their subject (see 1.3) with details of their upgrade assessors so that the necessary communications regarding submission of upgrade materials can be distributed.

• The Internal Examiner may not contribute to the formative development of the thesis. Therefore, if there is an 'ideal' Internal Examiner in the department, s/he should wherever possible not be one of the upgrade assessors, but should be held in reserve to act as the Internal Examiner when the time comes. It should be borne in mind that the upgrade assessment is not, primarily, a test of subject-knowledge, necessarily requiring the involvement of the foremost subject expert. The upgrade should assess the research practice of the candidate: Have they demonstrated that they can frame research questions in the appropriate way? Have they shown a capacity to tackle those questions with an appropriate body of material? Do they demonstrate an emerging capacity to evaluate and articulate clearly the results of the research in prose, supported by the appropriate level of scholarly apparatus? Any researching member of academic staff in the subject department should therefore be capable of assessing in these terms, and be eligible to act as an upgrade assessor.

Failure of the upgrade examination Students who fail the upgrade examination at the first attempt may, in some circumstances, be permitted a

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second attempt. This may incur additional tuition fees. If you wish to request a second upgrade attempt you should consult your supervisor. A recommendation for a second upgrade must be put forward by your supervisor and is subject to the approval of the Graduate Education Director. Should permission for a second upgrade attempt be granted, the normal time limit for completion will be six months from the date of notification of the failure of the initial upgrade. To download the forms needed to apply for upgrades, please see: www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/gradschool/current/academic/ general-guidance/forms.html

4.4 The PhD - assessment You will find full details about the assessment of the PhD in the Regulations and Code of Practice for Research Degrees. It is your responsibility to ensure you are familiar with the requirements of your programme. Therefore you are strongly urged to read the Code at the beginning of your studies and to refer to it thereafter at each approaching stage of your progress: www.bristol.ac.uk/esu/pg In addition to the University regulations PhD dissertations in the Faculty of Arts are subject to the following subject-specific guidelines on word-limit: Archaeology and Anthropology The written PhD is c. 80,000 words, typically organised in 6-8 chapters. It normally has an introduction that sets out the research area; research questions; methodology and approach, as well as giving a brief outline of the structure of the PhD. This is then usually followed by a literature review which outlines how the study relates to previous work on the topic and what contribution it aims to make. The main body of the PhD is a series of chapters that present the research methods, the data or evidence collected, arguments and new research undertaken for the study. For most PhDs, there is a separate chapter devoted to presenting the results of the study, followed by a subsequent chapter on interpreting or discussing those results. The conclusion summarises the contribution made to knowledge, the main evidence and arguments contained in the thesis and how the questions posed in the introduction have been addressed. Music Musicology A musicology PhD has a maximum word limit of 80,000 words. This excludes footnotes, bibliography and appendices. It should constitute an original contribution to knowledge and understanding in the research field and, in positioning itself within the relevant field of scholarship, will invariably include a

literature review. The thesis should be a piece of work which a capable, well-qualified and diligent student, who is properly supported and supervised, can complete in three years (or, at most four years) full-time study; six years (at most seven) part-time. It is therefore a major piece of work that demonstrates the candidate's competence at the highest level within a research field. As such, its parameters will be sharply defined by the upper word limit and the time available for completion. The PhD is typically organised in 5-8 chapters (including introduction and conclusion). The introduction usually sets out the research area; research questions; methodology and approach; gives a brief outline of the structure of the PhD; and incorporates a literature review which outlines how the study relates to previous work on the topic and what contribution it aims to make. The main body of the PhD is a series of chapters that present the evidence, arguments and new research undertaken for the study, each ending with a summary of the chapter's findings. The conclusion usually summarises the contribution made by the dissertation to knowledge in the field and how the questions posed in the introduction have been addressed. It often suggests directions for future research. There may be appendices (often of transcriptions, analytical data, images, or other data). Editing A PhD submission in musical editing is a major submission of a large work (for example, an opera) or self-contained body of work by a single composer or cognate grouping of composers. The work(s) will normally be previously unpublished in a modern scholarly edition and will be presented to the highest editorial and notational standards. The submission will include (but is not restricted to): a scholarly preface, including a detailed methodological report; a detailed physical description of all sources (including facsimile illustrations, where appropriate); a full critical apparatus; the score itself, realised in appropriate modern notation, typeset and fully proofread; a separate libretto (where appropriate); appendices, including sketches and variants (as appropriate); bibliography. Composition A PhD in composition consists of a portfolio of works (normally up tot about seven works totalling between 75 and 100 minutes of music, depending on the density of the music and the forces involved) that are worthy of professional performance and publication. Indeed, it is normally expected that a number of them will have received performances (some probably professional) by the time they are submitted. Like any PhD, the submission must be ‘a substantial and original contribution to knowledge’. For composition, this means producing a body of work that contributes in an individual, significant, and demonstrable way to contemporary musical repertoire. While it is fully expected that the submitted works will be located in one or more of the many streams of contemporary creative practice (from theatre to orchestra; electro-acoustics to brass band; cathedral choir to

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experimental installation), the claim to originality is key. This does not necessarily mean producing work that sounds like nothing ever heard before, but work that is individual in approach, which extends and enriches the expressive/technical/structural possibilities within its chosen genre and which is above all artistically credible and intellectually robust within its given genre(s). These claims are made and supported in an accompanying commentary of 12,000 to 15,000 words, outlining the composer’s path towards artistic self-discovery, relating their musical language to relevant developments in contemporary musical composition, demonstrating the composer's powers of analysis through detailed examination of individual works in the portfolio, and their self-reflection through candid self-assessment of progress between works. Philosophy The form of a PhD should be a series of chapters, each of which may be relatively self-contained, or may be part of an overall argument. A PhD should show mastery of the relevant literature, as well as novel engagement with it. The bulk of the content of the thesis should consist in the analysis and development of argument. Critical editions are not acceptable. Drama: Theatre, Film and Television Written The written PhD is c. 80,000 words, typically organised in 6-8 chapters. It normally has an introduction that sets out the research area; research questions; methodology and approach, as well as giving a brief outline of the structure of the PhD. This is then usually followed by a literature review which outlines how the study relates to previous work on the topic and what contribution it aims to make. The main body of the PhD is a series of chapters that present the evidence, arguments and new research undertaken for the study. Each chapter should indicate at the end how the following chapter builds on its the findings and moves the study forward. The conclusion summarises the contribution made to knowledge , the main evidence and arguments contained in the thesis and how the questions posed in the introduction have been addressed. Practice-based PhD A practice-based PhD may encompass any or all of the research themes explored across and through performance and screen at Bristol: adaptation and translation, aesthetics, colour and intermediality, archives and documentation, the body and gesture, comedy and popular form, curation and programming, digital and networked media, documentary and narrative fiction, live art and performance, place and performativity, professional and industrial structures. The PhD submission will comprise either a major single work or portfolio of works undertaken during the PhD period. The submission will include, where appropriate, live

events, independent screenworks, installations, websites, documentation, designs, storyboards, production information, music, choreography and so on. Like any PhD, the submission must be 'a substantial and original contribution to knowledge'. A PhD-by-practice must make an original contribution to performance and/or screen aesthetics, forms, methods, narratives. The claim to originality does not necessarily mean producing work that is completely new and unknown, but work that is individual in approach, which extends and enriches the expressive/technical/structural possibilities within the chosen genre and which is (above all) artistically credible and professionally orientated. These may be fully realised, stand-alone works, or more experimental works-in-progress. Practical work may constitute up to 50% of the project and is complemented by an accompanying piece of extended reflective writing (minimum of 40,000 words), relating the student's practice to relevant critical-theoretical and creative-conceptual frameworks. School of Humanities The following requirements pertain to students registered for the PhD in the departments of Classics and Ancient History, English, History of Art, Historical Studies, Theology and Religion: The word-limit for the PhD dissertation is 80,000 words inclusive of footnotes but exclusive of appendices and bibliography.

4.5 Teaching opportunities Some departments may be in a position to offer you the opportunity to gain experience of undergraduate teaching, at an appropriate stage in your programme. If you are interested, in the first instance please consult your Supervisor. Postgraduate Teaching Assistants are eligible to enrol in the University’s accredited teaching and learning programme, Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, which aims to help all involved with teaching students become established and confident in their teaching. Further information on this training can be found at: www.bristol.ac.uk/esu/tlhe Each year, the Graduate School organises workshops for students teaching in the Faculty of Arts. Please consult your Postgraduate Skills Development Programme Handbook for details. Remember that the key criterion for entering an academic career is a completed doctoral thesis. You should only undertake teaching commitments with the agreement of your supervisor and when you and they are certain it will not constrain your completion of your thesis.

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4.6 Corrections to your thesis The University's Research Degree Exam Board consider all final awards and any cases where corrections to your thesis are required. Tier 4 Visa holders please note however, the UK Border Agency does not usually recognise a period of corrections as part of the study period for any programme, and so they consider the programme finished at the point of submission - regardless of the outcome of that submission. They stipulate that the visa only covers the period of standard study up to the first point of submission, and therefore, although it is unfortunate in many cases, any students in this position must return to their home country to complete any corrections.

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Frequently asked questions 5.1 FAQs for postgraduate taught programmes (PGT) Where do I find information on my programme? For general information on MA programmes in the Faculty of Arts, you should consult the Graduate School website. For detailed information on your chosen programme you should consult the Blackboard site which is maintained by your programme director and their colleagues. Key information on all units and their assessments will be found on the Blackboard site. Regular announcements are also posted there. You should consult it throughout your period of registration. Further details relating to your specific MA programme can be found here: www.bristol.ac.uk/esu/unitprogcat/Welcome.jsa May I change my mode of study (e.g. from full-time to part-time)? Yes. Normally, you must not have completed more than 60 credit-points of your programme prior to the submission for a change in the mode of study. There is a form to be completed and approved by your supervisor, Head of Subject and School and the Graduate Education Director. The form can be found here: www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/gradschool/current/ academic/general-guidance/forms.html May I take units offered on programmes other than my own? Each programme specifies a number of Core Units which are mandatory for your programme. Most programmes in addition offer the opportunity to select from a ‘menu’ of optional units; some allow you to select options from those offered on other programmes. Some units require prerequisites which may prevent your registration. Your selections should always be made in consultation with your programme director. Further details relating to the mandatory and optional units that make up your specific MA programme can be found here: www.bristol.ac.uk/esu/unitprogcat/Welcome.jsa Does the word-limit on unit assessments (Core or Optional) include or exclude footnotes? The word-limit on unit assessments is inclusive of footnotes. It is one of the objectives of the assessment task for you to offer a well-researched and reasoned response which is made concisely. A submission which significantly exceeds, or falls short of, the word-limit may be penalised.

Does the word-limit on my dissertation include or exclude footnotes? The word-limit on your dissertation excludes footnotes. The University regards your MA dissertation as a project of research, akin to the research dissertation of a higher research degree (e.g. MLitt, PhD). The main focus of your effort should be the main text of the dissertation in which you display your analytical and critical skills. This text should be well-supported with a scholarly apparatus, underpinned with a bibliography; you may opt to include appendices. However, no element of this supporting apparatus will be counted towards the word-limit. Is there any lee-way on word-limits? There is no penalty for an assignment that falls short of, or exceeds the required word-limit by up to 10%. Assignments that fall short or exceed by more than 10% will incur a penalty. What do I do if I fail a unit assessment? You may be permitted to re-submit, normally within 6 weeks of the date of the notification of the failure. The re-submission must be of a revised version of the original piece of work, i.e. an essay or equivalent (according to unit requirements). In case of failure of an element of a unit, which subsequently fails the unit with a mark of 49 or below, normally you will be required to re-submit the failed element within six weeks of notification of the failure in the same manner as for a failed unit assessment. Please note, some units have must-pass elements. Regardless of the overall unit mark, you must pass each of these elements with a mark of 50 or above. If the unit assessment mark at the first attempt is in the range 45-49% and the overall average of unit marks for the taught component is at least 50 out of 100, you may be permitted to progress to the dissertation stage providing you have met all other requirements prescribed for credit and completed any additional work (see point 7 under Assessment rules for the degree of MA). In order to be permitted a second attempt (i.e. re-sit) in any failed unit(s), taught postgraduate students must gain at least half of the credit points in the taught component by achieving the pass mark at the first attempt AND must have satisfied any additional criteria at the time they are considered by the progression board, or equivalent. See 3.5 Assessment and marking criteria for further details. Is progression to the dissertation automatic? No. When you register you are admitted to the first 120 credit-points of your programme, i.e. the taught component. Progression to the dissertation is dependent upon a satisfactory performance in the taught component. Failure of unit assessments without successful re-submission will prevent you from proceeding to the dissertation.

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May I end my programme prior to the dissertation? Yes. On withdrawal from your programme prior to completion of the dissertation you may eligible for the award of a Postgraduate Diploma (which requires 120 credit-points achieved) or a Postgraduate Certificate (which requires 60 credit-points achieved). How many meetings can I expect with my dissertation supervisor and how much of the dissertation will they read in draft? You can expect to meet at regular intervals with your dissertation supervisor to the end of the academic year (31 July). Your supervisor can provide detailed feedback on the equivalent of an introduction and one full chapter of your dissertation. When will I know the outcome of my programme? For full-or part-time students whose period of study has not been extended or interrupted by a period of suspension, the Graduate Examination Board is convened in December of the year in which the dissertation has been submitted; informal communication of the outcome of the Board will normally be issued following the Board; formal notification of the outcome will be given by the University in December or January. May I receive feedback on my dissertation and/or programme performance? You may request a copy of the report on your dissertation. Such requests must be made via the Graduate School Office. You may approach your Programme Director for verbal feedback on your programme performance. Can I apply for financial assistance during my studies? The Graduate School administers a conference and research fund for taught and research postgraduates. Taught postgraduates may apply for aid to support activities which directly relate to their programme studies, e.g. research expenses connected with their dissertation project. Please refer to the Financial Aid pages on the Graduate School webpage. As a part-time student is there a minimum number of units that I need to complete in each year? Yes. You need to complete 60 credit points in your first year and 120 credit points in your second year, comprising 60 for the taught elements and 60 for your dissertation. How many hours per week should I commit to my studies? Full-time students should be prepared to commit 30 hours per week inclusive of teaching time.

5.2 FAQs for postgraduate research programmes (PGR) Can I change my mode of study (e.g. full-time to part time)? Yes. There is form to be completed and approved by your supervisor, Head of Subject and School and the Graduate Education Director. A change in mode of study will be effective from the beginning of a particular month and, where appropriate, fees will be adjusted accordingly. The relevant form can be found here: www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/gradschool/forms Can I change the title of my research project? Yes. There is form to be completed and approved by your supervisor, Head of Subject and School and the Graduate Education Director. The relevant form can be found here: www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/gradschool/forms Can I change the subject of my research project? You may re-focus your project in the course of your programme. The University recognises that your studies are dynamic and the scale and scope of your project and the specific research questions at its heart may require revision. At the point of registration, the University undertakes to provide you with appropriate supervision in the subject-area of your stated project. A fundamental change of direction, or discipline, may not be so supported. The relevant form can be found here: www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/gradschool/forms Can I change my supervisor? If you are experiencing problems with your current supervision arrangements in the first instance you should discuss the matter with your Head of Subject / Subject Lead in your subject department, who is responsible for the oversight of research students. If the Head of Subject / Subject Lead recommends a change in the current supervision arrangements this may be possible subject to the availability of appropriate expertise and the approval of the Graduate Education Director. The relevant form can be found here: www.bristol.ac.uk/arts/gradschool/forms Can I receive supervision from an academic outside the University? It is a University requirement for your main supervisor to hold an academic post at the University of Bristol. If additional specialist input is required this may be considered subject to the recommendation of the main supervisor, supported by the Head of Subject / Subject Lead and with the approval of the Graduate Education Director.

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What happens if my supervisor leaves? The University has an obligation to support the research project for which you were admitted. You will be assigned appropriate alternative supervision by your Head of Subject or Subject Lead in consultation with the Graduate Education Director. Can I re-take my upgrade? A second attempt at the upgrade may be permitted on the recommendation of the upgrade assessors, with the approval of the Graduate Education Director. See 4.3 Upgrade Procedures for further details. Is the word-limit on my research dissertation absolute? Yes. Research Degree Examiners are not obliged to assess a submission beyond the regulation word-limit. Submissions of excessive length may be rejected for examination. Can I apply for financial assistance during my studies? The Graduate School administers a conference and research fund for taught and research postgraduates. Taught postgraduates may apply for aid to support activities which directly relate to their programme studies, e.g. research expenses connected with their dissertation project. Please refer to the Financial Aid pages on the Graduate School webpage. Does the word limit for my PhD thesis include or exclude footnotes? The Faculty policy on word count for the PhD thesis states that appendices and bibliography are excluded from the word count but footnotes are included.

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