department of economics and related studies
TRANSCRIPT
1
Welcome to York
Department of Economics and
Related Studies PGR DEPARTMENT HANDBOOK
2018/19
2
Contents
Contents
Introduction 4
The purpose of this handbook 4
The York Graduate Research School (YGRS) 4
University Policy on Research Degrees 4
Where to go for more information 4
Your department 5
Welcome to your department 5
Introduction to the department 6
Staff contacts 8
Communicating with the department 9
Departmental facilities 9
Health, safety and security 10
Psychological and mental health support 11
Governance and committees 11
Student representation 12
Student evaluation and feedback 13
Accessibility and disability support 13
Equality and diversity 14
Your research degree 15
Departmental programmes 15
Programme aims 15
Research integrity 16
Research Integrity Tutorial 17
Ethics 17
Academic misconduct 18
Academic progression 19
Your supervisor 19
Thesis Advisory Panel 22
Formal reviews of progress for PhD and MPhil students 22
Key milestones for your research degree 28
Programme structure 28
Researcher training and development 32
Becoming an Effective Researcher Tutorial 32
Research training modules/courses 32
Other departmental training 39
Research Excellence Training Team (RETT) 39
Library Research Support Team 39
Academic Liaison Librarians 40
Research Computing 40
Departmental conferences/seminars/fora/publications 40
Publication of research 41
Financial support for research 41
Your thesis 43
Thesis content and style 43
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Thesis submission 46
Continuation period 46
Thesis examination 46
Change of plan? 48
Leave of absence 48
Full-time/part-time 48
Change programmes 49
Extension 49
Withdrawal 50
Professional development and employability 51
Teaching/demonstrating opportunities 51
Public engagement 52
Careers/employability 52
Appeals and complaints 54
Disclaimer 55
Glossary 56
4
Introduction
The purpose of this handbook
This handbook provides a comprehensive introduction to the Department of Economics and
Related Studies and information on all aspects of your studies and research. It is a reference
guide to help you and should be kept alongside the York Graduate Research School handbook.
The York Graduate Research School handbook can be downloaded from:
https://www.york.ac.uk/research/graduate-school/support/.
The York Graduate Research School (YGRS)
The York Graduate Research School (YGRS) exists to ensure research students receive the
highest quality supervision and training, and are treated consistently and fairly. The YGRS
coordinates resources from across the University to help research students achieve successful
outcomes. The YGRS Board has oversight of all matters relating to research students and leads
the strategic development of this vitally important section of the University community. The
YGRS webpages (https://www.york.ac.uk/research/graduate-school/) are the main source of
information for research students. The YGRS newsletter provides additional updates. All
registered research students should automatically receive this.
University Policy on Research Degrees
The Policy on Research Degrees sets out University policy on research degree programmes for
research students, supervisors of research students, members of Thesis Advisory Panels and
Progression Panels, examiners of research degrees, and other University staff with
responsibility for research students. This document provides vital information for all those
concerned with research and it is recommended that all are familiar with it. To read the
University Policy on Research Degrees in full, visit: https://www.york.ac.uk/research/graduate-
school/support/policies-documents/research-degree-policy/.
Where to go for more information
The York Graduate Research School handbook provides information on central services and
support, including accommodation, finance, living in York and further information on Careers,
the Library, and other University services: https://www.york.ac.uk/research
/graduate-school/support/.
Useful information for PhD students in Economics can be found in
http://www.york.ac.uk/economics/current-students/phd-students/
and in the VLE
https://www.york.ac.uk/students/
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Your department
Welcome to your department
As one of the largest economics departments in the UK we offer a great diversity of research
expertise and research-led teaching. The Department has been constantly ranked top 10 in the
UK and top 70 in the world. We are an innovative department that has made pioneering
contributions in areas such as health economics, econometrics, experimental economics,
economic theory, economic history and public economics. Our academic community of staff,
students and visitors is both intellectually vibrant and international in perspective. We aim to
deliver research excellence via contribution to discipline, research supervision and relevance to
the broader economy and society.
Our academic faculty are drawn from across the world and are research leaders in their fields.
We have a strong record of top quality research, with recent publications appearing in leading
journals such as Econometrica, Economic Journal, Journal of Econometrics, Journal of
Economic Theory, Journal of Political Economy, Review of Economics and Statistics, and so on.
Our research is funded by prestigious and highly competitive research bodies, and has a
significant and identifiable impact on wider society both in the UK and internationally.
Our research strategy is founded on six research clusters, Microeconomic Theory,
Macroeconomics and Finance, Econometrics, Applied Microeconometrics, Health Economics,
and Economic History, which promote, sustain and monitor research excellence and embrace
opportunities for external funding, as well as engagement with research users and impact.
Every year the Department organises high-calibre international conferences and has become a
research hub that has attracted both distinguished scholars and active young researchers,
where our PhD students get more opportunities to access cutting-edge research and present
their own papers.
We actively encourage, and expect our research students to participate in, and contribute to the
research environment of the Department as well as the wider academic community here at the
University of York. We consider this engagement crucial for you to maximise your own research
potential as well contributing to the vibrancy of the research experience for all our students. We
support our research students through their PhD via the PhD supervisor(s), TAP member(s) and
dedicated administrative support in the Department.
We wish you a very happy, intellectually challenging and successful period of research study
with us over the next few years.
Professor Jo Swaffield Professor Yuan Ju
Head of Department Chair, Department Research Committee
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Introduction to the department
You are now a member of the Department of Economics and Related Studies. The department
is made up of academic staff involved in teaching and research, support staff and students.
Academic staff - may have the title Professor, Reader or Lecturer. They are leaders in their
fields and engaged in teaching and research. Most will supervise research students and some
also hold certain key administrative roles within the Department.
Research staff - members of staff employed to conduct research projects within their field of
expertise. They may not be involved in teaching or supervision, instead concentrating on their
research projects.
Support staff – making the department run smoothly. They communicate important information,
provide technical assistance and help signpost you to other services and support you might
need within the University.
Students – can be enrolled in undergraduate programmes (UG students), postgraduate
teaching programmes such as an MSc (PGT students), or postgraduate research programmes,
in particular the PhD programme in Economics. PhD students (also called PGR students or
research students) can decide to be involved in teaching and to become a teaching scholar.
PhD students who are teaching scholars are called postgraduate students who teach (PGWT
students).
All postgraduate programmes in DERS are organized by the Graduate School of Economics
one of the UK's top postgraduate education centres in economics and econometrics. Our staff
members are strongly committed to graduate work and you will be working in a friendly,
supportive, international environment.
The vast majority of a PhD student’s time is devoted to his or her personal research work, which is conducted in regular consultation with the student’s supervisor(s); but in the first two years a PhD student has also to take some taught PhD modules.
As well as pursuing your own studies, we are also keen that you should be involved in the
general research and teaching of the Department. There are two main weekly seminars:
the Department Seminar given by outside speakers on Wednesday afternoons; and
the Thursday Workshops which are usually given by internal speakers. PhD students are
strongly encouraged to attend these, and indeed a free buffet lunch is offered at the latter. For
more informal discussion and presentation of preliminary research, there are also the Research
Clusters. You should choose, in consultation with your supervisor(s), at least one of the
research clusters and become a student associate. You are expected to actively participate in
seminars and workshops organised by DERS and to play an active role in the Department
research clusters by participating in their meetings, seminars and workshops on a regular basis.
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The Department has 6 main research clusters (1) Microeconomic Theory, (2)
Macroeconomics/Finance, (3) Econometrics, (4) Applied Microeconometrics, (5) Health
Economics and (6) Economic History. For each of these clusters details are available at
http://www.york.ac.uk/economics/research/
One of the key aims of the clusters is to stimulate interaction between academics and PhD
students, and this can be through presentations by PhD students, round-table discussions, or
whatever format the cluster may choose. In addition, research students in York present their
work in the Research Student Workshop which is usually attended by the TAP and all research
students. Students are also expected to present their work in international conferences and
workshops. The department can offer financial support to students who present their work at
leading academic conferences around the world. Applications must be made well in advance to
the Director of Research Students using the form “Applying for financial assistance from the
Department”. This form can be found on the departmental website at:
http://www.york.ac.uk/economics/current-students/phd-students/
Any PhD students can also apply to become a "Teaching Scholar". Many of our research
students take up this opportunity – it adds to your CV and gives access to training for teaching.
Teaching Scholarships provide financial support towards the completion of the degree in
exchange for undertaking a limited amount of teaching in the Department (for which Scholars
will be trained). Scholarships may be held by Home, EU and Overseas students. Vacancies for
Teaching Scholarships are usually advertised internally. All current and prospective PhD
students whose PhD application has already been accepted are informed about Teaching
Scholarships by e-mail.
Students who are going to be in the job market are requested to approach our PhD Placement
Officer who can provide help and advice regarding the job search process, organize mock
interviews for you and put your CV on the departmental website for PhD job market candidates
http://www.york.ac.uk/economics/jobmarket/
We encourage all PhD students to have their own webpage in the departmental website with
details of your biography, research, publications and teaching. For some examples, consult
http://www.york.ac.uk/economics/our-people/phd-students/
As a PhD student in DERS you will be experiencing life in a major UK economics department,
located in a historic city with many tourist attractions. As a large Department, we can offer high-
quality PhD supervision and teaching across most fields of economics; the chance to hear
visiting speakers from important international universities and research institutes; and
opportunities to gain experience of undergraduate teaching. You will also obtain a PhD which
will give you a good chance of employment in major universities around the world and in
prestigious organisations such as central banks and the IMF.
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Postgraduate Administrative Team
Student Services Office– Room A/D/002
(Opening Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00am – 5:00pm during term time and 9:00am – 4:00pm
during vacation periods)
Postgraduate Administrator Katie Walton [email protected]
01904 323789
Assistant Postgraduate
Administrator
Jamie Stephenson [email protected]
01904 323755
Assistant Postgraduate
Administrator (part-time)
Alex-Jane Hardstaff [email protected]
01904 323788
Room A/EC/023
Research Student
Administrator
Michael Shallcross [email protected]
01904 32 3681
For a full up to date list of the administrative team please see the department website:
http://www.york.ac.uk/economics/our-people/support-staff/
Academic Staff contacts
The following members of staff are key contacts in the Graduate School in Economics and
Related Studies:
Role
Name Contact details
Director of Research
Students
Professor Giacomo De
Luca
Head of Department
Professor Jo Swaffield [email protected]
Chair of the Graduate
School Board
Professor Emma Tominey
Director of Teaching
Scholars
Dr. Andrew Pickering
PhD Job Market Officer
Dr. Peter Wagner
A full list of academic staff contacts can be found on the Department website:
http://www.york.ac.uk/economics/our-people/academic-staff/
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Communicating with the department
Official communications to PhD students from the Department are usually sent by e-mail. PhD
students have a personal pigeon hole located in A/D/102. It is your responsibility to keep track
of your e-mail and check your pigeon hole regularly.
You can contact the Department either by sending e-mail or by visiting the Student Services
Office (see page 9 for contacts). When contacting the Department by e-mail you should include
your Student ID number in the e-mail subject line to help with electronic record management.
This Handbook and other useful information can be found on the departmental website at:
http://www.york.ac.uk/economics/current-students/phd-students/. You are advised to check this
version periodically for any updates that might be made during the year.
Useful material on PhD modules is usually made available in the VLE
https://www.york.ac.uk/students/
In the VLE you will find also other relevant information for PhD students.
Departmental facilities
PhD students who regularly work on campus are entitled to have a personal desk and
computer. Research students have a communal suite of rooms in Alcuin College in the first floor
over the Porter’s Lodge (behind Alcuin Bistro).
The Head of Alcuin College, Dr. Paola Zerilli, kindly allows PhD students in Economics to use
the Alcuin College Common Room as an area for coffee or lunch breaks. Please leave the
Common Room tidy and clean and avoid using it when there are official meetings of the Alcuin
College team.
DERS allows free printing for its research students. We monitor what and how much is printed
to ensure that this facility isn't abused. There is a York Print Plus device in the PhD area, and
others around campus, where you can print, photocopy and scan.
Two PhD students are responsible for the PhD student area, and they are called PhD Area
Managers. It is their responsibility to provide all new PhD students with an induction on the
student research area, and details on printing, computer use, etc. It is also their responsibility to
allocate desks to new PhD students and to make sure that the PhD area is kept clean and tidy.
If you have issues with the PhD area, please contact the Area Managers and if the issues
persist please contact the Postgraduate Administrator. For computer issues that the area
managers cannot help you with, please contact our Technical Services Manager.
For details on computing in DERS please see
http://www.york.ac.uk/economics/resources/computing/
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DERS has site licences or network licences for many software packages, including: EViews,
Microfit, Mathematica, Stata, Matlab, Gauss, Scientific Workplace, OxMetrics, Datastream,
CRSP and other finance oriented software. All this software is available to research students.
Full internet access and library databases are available via the campus network. For information
on software available please see
http://www.york.ac.uk/economics/resources/computing/software/
For data collection (lab experiments), data management and computationally intensive task
please see also the services provided by the Research Centre for Social Science (see below).
For details on other training courses on software provided in York please visit
http://www.york.ac.uk/it-services/training/
https://wiki.york.ac.uk/display/RCTS/University+of+York+training+resources
Current research students in DERS are also encouraged to have their own departmental
webpage with details of your biography, research, publications and teaching. Please contact the
Postgraduate Administrator (Katie Walton) or Research Student Administrator (Michael
Shallcross) with details to include in your webpage
See for some examples http://www.york.ac.uk/economics/our-people/phd-students/
Research students in York benefit from excellent research infrastructure such as the computing facilities in the Research Centre for Social Science, https://www.york.ac.uk/social-science/ and close links to interdisciplinary research centres such as the Centre for Health Economics.
You can find details on central facilities (Library, IT rooms, etc.) in the Graduate Research
School handbook, http://www.york.ac.uk/research/graduate-school/
Health, safety and security
In an emergency you can call campus security on 01904 32 (3333)
For information about the University’s Health, Safety and Security policy, visit:
www.york.ac.uk/admin/hsas/
If you have any queries or concerns about health and safety in DERS please contact the
Departmental Safety Officer (DSO): Paul Hodgson ([email protected], ext 3760).
The Health, Safety and Welfare Department has introduced on-line accident/incident reporting
to speed up communication and to ensure that all necessary people are promptly informed if an
incident occurs, this must be completed for any incident or near miss.
https://www.york.ac.uk/univ/mis/cfm/accidents/
Health and Safety is a very important part of your working environment. In DERS we endeavour
to do all that is possible to help you in this respect. However, there is a duty of care for all staff
and students, which means it is important to complete any training and assessments in an
accurate and timely manner so that we can act quickly to resolve any issues.
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It is also the responsibility of every member of DERS, staff and students alike, to ensure that
your actions do not endanger the health and safety of yourself or others. Carelessness, like
leaving a chair, bag or books in a corridor or chaining a bicycle so as to obstruct a pedestrian
way, may seem trivial but can lead to a serious accident. We reserve the right to remove without
notice any object, which, in our opinion, is causing a real or potential safety hazard. No liability
will be accepted by the University or any of its members for any damage or loss, direct or
consequential, which may be caused as a result of such a removal.
Electrical Equipment
All Department equipment is regularly checked and should be in accordance with the relevant
Health and Safety at Work legislation. If you look on any piece of electrical equipment within
DERS, you should see a sticker that says that it has been electrically tested and when it needs
to be tested next. This is a ‘PAT’ (Portable Appliance Test) certificate. You should not use
equipment after the date on the sticker. No one should use such equipment until it has been re-
checked. If you find an out-of-date sticker, report it to the DSO as soon as possible.
Fire
If you hear the Fire Alarm you should make your way immediately to one of the fire assembly
points. Do not run, do not stop to pick up belongings, do not use a lift. If in doubt, in all
University buildings the location of the fire assembly point is displayed on notices in the
corridors.
Psychological and mental health support
The University team can help you through difficult stages and psychological issues. You can
contact the open door team. Have a look at details in
https://www.york.ac.uk/students/health/help/
If you prefer to have a confidential chat with somebody within DERS, you can contact Diane
Atkinson (room A/D/019; Tel: 01904 323753; Email: [email protected]). Diane will be
able to help you and she will keep any detail confidential.
Governance and committees
Progress Committee/Panel
This comprises the Chair of the Graduate School Board, the Director of Research Students, the
Head of the Department and some other academic members of staff. The other members for
2018/19 are Professor Subir Chattopadhyay, Professor Gulcin Ozkan, and Professor Peter
Smith. The Progress Committee meets to discuss the progress of each first and second year
research student and to determine if a student can progress to the following year.
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Graduate School Board
The Graduate School Board has overall responsibility for all postgraduate students including
teaching and learning, and quality assurance of all postgraduate programmes of study offered
by DERS. The Graduate Board of Studies meets once a term. Its membership includes all
department academic staff. Postgraduate teaching and research student representatives are
also invited to attend the meetings.
Graduate School of Economics
The Graduate School of Economics encompasses all postgraduate programmes including the
PhD Programme in Economics. It is headed by Professor Emma Tominey, the chair of the
Graduate School Board.
Staff/Research Student Forum
The Staff/Research Student Forum includes PhD student representatives, the Chair of the
Graduate School Board, the Director of Research Students and the Postgraduate Administrator.
It meets once a term to allow PhD student representatives to provide their feedback on the PhD
programme, to convey their views and interests of students to the Department and to report
potential issues.
Student representation
Research student representatives are elected by their peers to act as a two-way mechanism of
communication between the University and the student body they represent. They convey the
views and interests of students to the Department and within the Graduate Students’
Association (GSA). Academic representation is a partnership between students, through the
University of York Students’ Union (YUSU) and the GSA, and the Department. Together, we
aim to ensure that students play an essential role in monitoring, driving and developing the
quality of the academic experience. See for more details
http://www.yorkgsa.org/students/academic/postgraduate-departmental-course-reps/
The research students in the Department have their own representatives (also called Course
reps, PhD reps or PGR reps) on the main departmental committee that is concerned with
graduate affairs: the Graduate School Board. Also, there is a Staff/Research Student Forum
which meets once per term to discuss any issues of concern to research students. The main job
of the PhD student representatives is representing all PGR students in Economics and acting as
a communication channel between the students and the Department. The main obligations
include attending the Staff/Research Student Forum and Graduate School Board meetings.
Nomination for PhD reps is done by YUSU at the start of each academic year. Details can be
found on the YUSU website: http://www.yusu.org/representation/academic-reps
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Several changes were introduced thanks to suggestions provided by our PhD reps. E.g. the
PhD modules programme have been revised and improved thanks to the feedback received
from our PhD reps
Postgraduate course reps are supported by the GSA, with dedicated support and training
throughout the year following the elections and initial training in the autumn term, which is
coordinated jointly between the GSA and YUSU.
If you’d like to represent the views of your fellow students and have a say in how your course is
run, why not apply to be a course rep? Visit: http://www.yorkgsa.org/students/academic/.
Student evaluation and feedback
We take your views on your experience within the department and University very seriously.
This is an important part of the University’s programme of quality assurance and enhancement,
and in the appraisal of members of staff. As such, there are points during your degree where
you will be asked to give detailed feedback on your experiences as a student and researcher;
for example, a Review of Supervision form is completed as part of each meeting of your Thesis
Advisory Panel and you may be asked to complete the sector-wide Postgraduate Research
Student Experience Survey (PRES). Your support of this process, by providing relevant and
constructive feedback, is critical in delivering the best possible research student journey, as well
as in facilitating the continued success of postgraduate research at York.
Accessibility and disability support
Disability Services can provide support, advice and guidance for those with a diagnosed
disability, including: dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties; Asperger’s syndrome; visual
and hearing impairments and physical/medical impairments, amongst others. All students with
disabilities, including research students, are encouraged to contact Disability Services to
discuss meeting your individual needs.
Please let the department know as soon as possible if you have a disability and may require any
support. You can discuss this with your supervisor. Please note that even if you studied a
previous degree at York you will need to notify the department’s disabilities representative again
of any disability when you enrol for a research programme, as your support needs for the
research degree are likely to be different than those for your taught degree.
Our departmental disability representative is Diane Atkinson, Tel: 01904 32 3753, Email:
[email protected], Office: A/D/019,
For further information, visit: https://www.york.ac.uk/students/support/disability/.
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Equality and diversity
(Central)
The University of York values the diversity of its students and staff and is committed to the
creation of a positive environment which is fair, welcoming and inclusive, and where everyone is
treated with dignity and respect.
For further information about the University’s equality and diversity policies, visit:
https://www.york.ac.uk/admin/eo/.
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Your research degree
Departmental programmes
The most advanced research degree offered by DERS is the PhD in Economics and there are
two programmes leading to it:
The 3 year PhD programme in Economics, which is for students who already hold an
MSc in Economics.
The 1+3 programme in Economics, which is for students who do not hold an MSc in
Economics but have a Bachelor degree in Economics.
We also offer a less advanced MPhil programme, the standard length of which is two years;
this is usually suggested for PhD students who do not meet the progression requirements.
Programme aims
The PhD programme in Economics: The normal expectation is that a PhD student in
Economics passes the chosen PhD and MSc modules with an average of 60 or more in each of
the first two years and completes a PhD thesis in 3 years of ‘full-time’ enrolment. Over Years 1
and 2 together, you must take at least three 10-credit assessed modules and at least 20 out of
the cumulative total of 30 credits are to be done in the core modules for PhD students.
By the end of the first year, a student is usually expected to have completed a draft of one of
their three main chapters or to have carried out an equivalent amount of research work for more
than one chapter (or a proportional amount of work for theses with a different number of
chapters).
During the second year, the student continues to write his/her thesis and he/she is usually
expected to complete the draft of two of the three main chapters (or a proportional amount of
written work for a thesis with a different number of chapters).
The third year is devoted to the continuation of the thesis. For theses structured in three main
chapters plus introduction and conclusions, students are usually expected to have completed at
least a draft of the three main chapters by the end of the third year. For theses with a different
structure, students are expected to have completed a proportional amount of work. If required,
students may have an additional period of up to one year, called continuation period, to
complete and submit the thesis.
The 1+3 programme in Economics: The Year 0 requirement is to complete an MSc in
Economics (or another taught MSc programme in related topics) with an average exam mark of
at least 60 and a final MSc dissertation rated 60 or above. Years 1-3 have identical
requirements to Years 1-3 for the PhD programme.
The MPhil programme: The normal expectation is that an MPhil student in Economics passes
the chosen postgraduate modules with an average of 50 or more and completes an MPhil thesis
in two years of ‘full-time’ enrolment.
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For a PhD degree, the University regulations state that the thesis must satisfy the examiners
and contain a substantial original contribution to knowledge or understanding. Moreover,
examiners at the viva must satisfy themselves that the candidate has demonstrated “the
creation and interpretation of new knowledge through original research or other advanced
scholarship, of a quality to satisfy peer review, extend the forefront of the discipline, and merit
publication”. The typical PhD thesis should contain a substantial amount of original material,
which means either developing new frameworks and extending them to old or new problems, or
extending existing approaches to new areas. The underlying philosophy which inspires the PhD
programme in York is that a PhD student should also demonstrate a sound knowledge of
economics as a whole - not just of his/her more or less narrowly defined field of expertise - as
well as have a command of research methods.
See for more details on requirements set by the University section 2 of the Policy on Research
Degrees, which is available at https://www.york.ac.uk/research/graduate-
school/support/policies-documents/research-degree-policy/
The Graduate Research School handbook covers the QAA base descriptors, under Rules and
Responsibilities: What makes a research degree.
http://www.york.ac.uk/research/graduate-school/support/policies-documents/
Research integrity
Researchers have an obligation to the research community, to the funders of research and to
society as a whole to conduct their research to the highest standards across the full research
process, from planning and conducting research through to recording, reporting and applying
the findings. This is known as ‘research integrity’. The University’s expectations are set out
online, at https://www.york.ac.uk/staff/research/governance/research-integrity-and-ethics/.
These are:
● Code of Practice on Research Integrity.
● Code of Practice and Principles for Good Ethical Governance. (Research ethics form a
subset of research integrity, focusing on the avoidance of harm within the conduct of
research. This Code sets out the University’s framework of ethical principles and
University requirements for formally reviewing and approving research which raises
ethical considerations. It includes a ‘Checklist of areas where ethical considerations are
likely to arise’.)
It is important that you read these documents and ensure that you have a clear understanding
of the standards and practices expected of you. You are advised to talk through the implications
with your supervisor. Key elements include:
● Ensuring that your research data and supporting records are accurate, complete and
retrievable, and stored securely, taking particular care in relation to any sensitive
information.
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● Taking responsibility, supported by your supervisor, for identifying any areas of your
research project which fall within the University’s ethical framework, and referring them
for University review and approval prior to commencing the activity.
Research Integrity Tutorial
The Research Integrity Tutorial (RIT) is a compulsory requirement for all postgraduate research
students and must be completed prior to your first TAP meeting. The RIT is tailored to the
specific needs of postgraduate research students and has been designed to familiarise you with
the principles, policies and procedures of research integrity and ethics at the University of York.
The tutorial is divided into three main sections each of which takes approx. 45 mins to complete
and is followed by a short section test. After completing all 3 section tests you will receive a
Research Integrity Certificate and your completion will be recorded in e:vision. The RIT will
provide you with practical information for your research here at York and will be highly valuable
in the development of your academic career.
The Research Integrity Tutorial is located in your Yorkshare VLE module list. If you have trouble
accessing the tutorial, email [email protected].
For more information and details of further support for research integrity to build on the core
training provided by the tutorial, visit https://www.york.ac.uk/staff/research/governance/
research-integrity-and-ethics/training-and-support-for-research-integrity.
Please note that completion of the tutorial is mandatory for all research students and completion
is a requirement for progression.
Ethics
All PhD students whose research might give rise to ethical concerns must obtain approval from
the appropriate ethics committee within the University of York. For details on procedures for
approval please contact our Department representative on the University’s ELMPS (Economics,
Law, Management, Politics and Sociology) Ethics Committee, Dr. Vanessa Smith
PhD students who plan to run experiments in the Centre for Experimental Economics (EXEC) at
the University of York need simply sign the EXEC’s standing approval arrangement.
If your research involves the collection of primary data (e.g. a collection of data through
interviewing, recording or filming of people, surveys and questionnaires, or the running of a
randomised control trial experiment involving individuals) you will have to apply for ethical
approval before beginning the data collection. More general ethical approval will be needed for
the following activities:
1. “Research or research related activity involving humans, including through participation,
observation and/or the collection/use of personal data (e.g. in relation to lifestyle,
housing, working environment, attitudes and preferences), including images
2. Human tissue and/or other material (e.g. fluid samples)
18
3. Animals
4. Potential or actual application of research findings to cause harm or infringe privacy (e.g.
surveillance, defence)
5. Sensitive information, materials, techniques or findings, particularly those which might
be subject to misuse in order to cause harm
6. Impact on and/or risk of damage to the environment (i.e. beyond that covered by
standard laboratory health and safety procedures)
7. Involvement of sponsors/participants/associates whose connections or interests might
impede or be perceived as impeding the impartiality of the research process from design
through to publication/exploitation
8. Involvement of sponsors/associates with a controversial ethical record
9. Risk of psychological or physical harm to the researcher (beyond standard laboratory
health and safety procedures)
10. Activities conducted overseas or in collaboration with overseas partners, in particular
countries with emerging economies, and countries/under regimes with a poor human
rights record or identified as dangerous by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office.”1
For the University’s full code of practice and principles for good ethical governance, visit: https://www.york.ac.uk/staff/research/governance/research-integrity-and-ethics/.
Academic misconduct
The University is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and any academic
misconduct is regarded as an extremely serious matter. It is your responsibility to be aware of
the University's guidelines, policies and procedures on misconduct and act with integrity. Further
information is available at https://www.york.ac.uk/staff/supporting-students/academic/research/
misconduct/.
1 Source: “Code of practice and principles for good ethical governance. Appendix A: Checklist of areas
where ethical considerations are likely to arise”
https://www.york.ac.uk/media/staffhome/research/documents/researchgovernance/codeofeth
ics/Appendix%20A%20-
%20Checklist%20of%20areas%20where%20ethical%20considerations%20are%20likely%20
to%20arise.pdf
19
Academic progression
Your supervisor
Supervisors play a fundamental role in supporting research students throughout their
programme. Your supervisor or supervisory team is responsible for helping you to manage your
research, as well as being your primary link to your department and the University. Your main
supervisor is your first point of contact for any issues that arise throughout your programme.
Formal Supervision meetings with your supervisor or supervisory team should take place at
least eight times per year, with an expectation of one meeting at least every 6-7 weeks for all
full-time and part-time students. At these meetings your supervisor(s) should give detailed
feedback on the work you present and help you make plans for your next steps. A detailed
record of your formal supervisory meetings and actions agreed will be kept through SkillsForge,
and must be signed by both you and your supervisor(s).
The relationship with the supervisor is likely to change at different stages of the thesis. The
frequency at which a research student sees his/her supervisor varies between students and
supervisors. Some supervisors like to see their students at regular intervals: for example, for
an hour every fortnight. Other supervisors will see students "on demand", when they have
some particular pieces of written work to show, or a problem needing advice. At different stages
of the thesis, the frequency of meeting is likely to vary widely.
It is important that both the student and supervisor are clear about the supervisory arrangement.
It is part of the supervisor's job to supervise and to meet regularly with his/her research
students. It is also important that students do not bury themselves away and remain out of
contact with the supervisor for prolonged periods. Even if there is no formal meeting, it should
be possible to send the supervisor e-mail messages keeping him or her up to date with
progress. Normally, students should expect to be able to meet with their supervisor within a
week of requesting an appointment and should expect to get reactions to work returned within a
fortnight of its delivery. (On the other hand, it is reasonable for your supervisor to set a limit to
the number of times he/she reads the same piece of work: there is no point in him/her re-
reading a chapter if it has undergone only minor variations since the last time it was read.)
In the case of joint supervision, it is essential that a clear division of responsibility and/or time is
agreed at the outset. The student should always be able to approach at least one of the
supervisors at any particular time.
Formal supervisory meetings, at which substantial discussion of, and feedback on, research
progress and plans takes place, are vital for ensuring that a student’s research project remains
on target and should be held at least twice a quarter for both full-time and part-time students
during the normal enrolment period. This requirement may only be temporarily waived by the
Graduate School Board where the student is absent on academic grounds and unable (e.g. due
to the fieldwork location) to participate in a supervisory meeting by alternative means, normally
video-conferencing. Formal supervisory meetings normally take place in person but where this
is not possible (e.g. due to a supervisor being on sabbatical) alternative means, preferably
video-conferencing, may be used.
20
Further rules on supervision and on research degrees are described in https://www.york.ac.uk/research/graduate-school/support/policies-documents/research-degree-policy/ Formally, a summary checklist of the supervisors’ responsibilities are:
to give guidance about the nature of the research and the standard to be expected; to advise
about the planning of the research programme and about relevant literature and sources; to
direct the student to attend taught modules whenever necessary; to encourage students to
acquire and maintain familiarity with relevant developments in the subject; to give advice
about requisite techniques (including arranging for instruction where necessary), and about
the problem of plagiarism;
to maintain contact through regular supervisory sessions and seminars in accordance with
University and departmental policy and with arrangements previously agreed with the student
and to ensure that the TAP is constituted;
to be accessible to the student at other appropriate times when advice may be needed. All
members of staff use and look at their e-mail regularly. Students can always contact staff
members by e-mail, and are encouraged to do so (staff members can read their e-mail whilst
away from York);
to give detailed advice on the necessary completion rates of successive stages of the work so
that the whole may be submitted within the scheduled time;
to request written work as appropriate, and to return such work with constructive criticism and in
reasonable time;
to arrange, as appropriate, for the student to talk about his or her work to staff or graduate
seminars;
to ensure that the student is made aware of inadequacy of progress or of standards of work
below that expected;
to advise the Chair of the Graduate School Board and the student if, in his or her opinion, there
is significant likelihood of the student failing the degree for which he or she wishes to submit;
to submit regular reports on the student's progress to the Director of Research Students;
to write objective academic references as required.
In many cases the supervisor can see how the thesis will evolve and perhaps anticipate the main
results; however, the supervisor is certainly not expected to write the student's thesis for him/her.
In practice this means that usually the supervisor suggests the structure and methods to follow in
broad outline in the very early stages but it is up to the student to work out the details and then to
develop ideas for further directions in which to take the thesis. The supervisor will of course give
advice when possible, but research students are expected to do the bulk of the work themselves.
21
One misconception that should be dispelled is that in order to do a good job, the supervisor should
be an expert on the specific topic selected by the student. While it is clearly the case that the
supervisor should have good knowledge of the general area (e.g. macroeconomics), it is not very
likely that the supervisor will also have a very good knowledge of the specific topic in which a
student is writing his/her thesis. In particular, it should certainly be the case that by the time a
student has finished his/her thesis, he or she should be one of the “world's experts” on his or her
topic, and should therefore know more about it than his/her supervisor.
In order to evaluate whether your supervisor is devoting enough energy to your thesis, you must
keep in mind that the main supervisor receives 12 hours credit per year. This works out at 4 hours
per term. As with lectures and tutorials, preparation (i.e. the time it takes to read a supervisee’s
work before a meeting) and administration (i.e. the time it takes to organise TAP meetings, or to
write reference letters) are not included in the 4 hours. If you believe that your supervisor is
devoting substantially less than 4 hours per term to your work, then you should consider the
reasons why this is so, and consider whether actions should be taken.
The Department recommends that supervisory meetings be properly recorded. To minimise
bureaucracy, the record is usually a brief note of the date of the meeting, its length, and its content.
The online system for recording supervision meetings is Skillforge
(http://www.skillsforge.york.ac.uk/). The recording of meetings in Skillforge is especially important
in cases where the student progress is not satisfactory or when there is dissatisfaction about the
supervision process.
During a three-year period of research, it is very likely that your supervisor will go on research
leave for a term or more. When this happens, you will need to arrange with your supervisor for
supervision during his or her absence. This may take the form of another TAP member who is
familiar with your work becoming a temporary supervisor, or some specific schedule of meetings
with your supervisor. Even if your supervisor is away from York for some or all of his or her
research leave, you should still keep in contact (this should be easy with e-mail).
If, for whatever reason, you are away from York for any length of time, then you should try to
remain in contact with your supervisor, even if only to send e-mails to let him/her know of your
progress. Prolonged periods of absence from the University must be reported to the Postgraduate
Administrator.
If you have any personal problems you should feel free to contact your supervisor to discuss them.
Pastoral care is included in the supervisor’s duties. For psychological issues you can also have a
confidential chat with Diane Atkinson, (room A/D/019; Tel: 01904 323753; E-mail:
Students should feel free to approach the members of their Thesis Advisory Panel (see section
below) with any worries about supervision. The Thesis Advisory Panel meetings will normally end
by giving the student the opportunity to talk further with the panel members other than the
supervisor. Sometimes problems may arise in the relationship between the student and the
supervisor, even if this occurs rarely. In such cases, both the student and the supervisor must not
let the situation worsen. They should contact the TAP members, the Head of Department, the
Chair of the Graduate School Board, or the Director of Research Students to solve their problems.
More information on supervision is available at: www.york.ac.uk/research/graduate-
school/support/academic/supervision
22
Thesis Advisory Panel
Your Thesis Advisory Panel (TAP) consists of your supervisor(s) and at least one other member
of academic staff from your department. Full-time students meet with their TAP at least once
every six months. The purpose of TAP meetings is to discuss your progress and training needs
and to give advice on the direction of your research and your professional development.
You and your TAP will document your meeting on the TAP meeting form, highlighting your
progress and any goals that you should be working towards for the next meeting. This record of
your TAP meeting will be kept on SkillsForge and must be signed by you and your TAP
members.
Before a TAP meeting students must fill Sections 1-3 of the Meeting of Thesis Advisory Panel
(TAP) form and send it together with the written chapter(s) to the TAP members at least 10
working days in advance. After the first year, PhD students should also send a timetable for
completion.
After each TAP meeting, students have to meet with one of the TAP members who is not a
supervisor and fill the Review of Supervision form.
While your supervisor receives 12 hours credit for your supervision (7 if it is a joint supervision), the
TAP members receive 2 hours credit per year. This includes TAP meetings, and any preparatory
work, academic help, reference writing, as required, and so on.
For further information visit https://www.york.ac.uk/research/graduate-school/academic/
supervision/.
Formal reviews of progress for PhD and MPhil students (Masters by research
students do not have formal reviews of progress)
Formal reviews of progress: overview
All PhD and MPhil students (but not MA/MSc by research students) are subject to formal
reviews of progress. The purpose of formal reviews of progress is to ensure that you are making
satisfactory progress with your research project and other elements of your PhD or MPhil
programme. A formal review of progress should give you a clear sense of the progress you are
making on your degree but the decision of a progression panel does not serve as a prediction
for the outcome of the final examination.
Formal reviews of progress take place on an annual basis, towards the end of each year of
enrolment, for full-time PhD and MPhil students, and on a biennial basis for part-time PhD and
MPhil students. Formal reviews of progress are not required for entry into a continuation period,
where this is permitted.
You have a maximum of two opportunities to meet the relevant University progression criteria at
each formal review of progress. If you have not met the relevant University progression criteria
23
after two attempts you will have failed the progression point and will be transferred to an
alternative programme or your enrolment will be terminated.
Procedure for formal reviews of progress
In a formal review of progress, you will be assessed against University progression criteria (see
below) which set out the threshold requirements for progression to the next year (or equivalent
period for part-time students).
The assessment is undertaken by a progression panel, which is independent of your
supervisor(s) to gain an external perspective on the progress that you are making, and to
ensure that your relationship with your supervisor remains focused on your development as a
researcher.
The Progress Committee comprises the Chair of the Graduate School Board, the Director of
Research Students, Head of the Department and other academic members of staff.
DERS determines what evidence (oral and/or written) its PhD and MPhil students should
provide to demonstrate that they have met the relevant University progression criteria (see
below for details). The evidence you provide is considered alongside your supervisor’s report on
your progress (TAP reports).
In the following we provide details on the progression criteria for PhD students in
Economics who started in September 2016 or later. For previous cohorts please refer to
the Research Student Handbook 2015/2016 and to the key milestones of your research
degree reported below. Please notice that these are minimum requirements for progression
and it is usually expected that students well exceed these requirements. E.g. by the end of the
first (second) year, a student is usually expected to have completed a draft of one (two) of their
three main chapters or to have carried out an equivalent amount of research work for more than
one chapter (or a proportional amount of work for theses with a different number of chapters).
Your department determines what evidence (oral and/or written) its PhD and MPhil students
should provide to demonstrate that they have met the relevant University progression criteria
(see below for details). The evidence you provide is considered alongside a supervisor’s report
on your progress and agreed TAP reports.
Progression criteria and student evidence for a first formal review of progress
For progression into year 2 of a full-time PhD or MPhil programme (or equivalent stage of a
part-time PhD or MPhil programme), a student must demonstrate that they:
(a) can articulate the direction their research is taking and the research questions it
addresses;
(b) have planned in a realistic fashion the second year (or equivalent) of their research,
indicating any risks and how these will be mitigated;
(c) have sufficient acquaintance with the relevant field of knowledge to place their research
into context;
24
(d) have sufficient proficiency in the relevant research methods, techniques and theoretical
approaches to move their research to the next stage;
(e) have undertaken all required training;
(f) have considered ethical issues (including data management and authorship) where
applicable.
Departmental requirements for progression to the second PhD year:
1. A mark of 50 or more for each of the PhD and MSc advanced modules taken and an
average of 60 or more (see more below).
2. A report of about 2,000 words, with details on research achievements during the first year
and a plan for the completion of the first chapter, which is deemed to be of high enough
quality and has to be submitted electronically as pdf to the Postgraduate Office team by
the end of April of the first year.
3. A satisfactory TAP (Thesis Advisory Panel) report, i.e. a report that confirms that the PhD
progression is satisfactory, the written work is of good quality and there are no issues with
training.
Departmental requirements for progression to the second MPhil year:
1. A mark of 40 or more for two of the PhD and MSc advanced modules taken and an average
of 50 or more in two modules.
2. A report of about 2,000 words, with details on research achievements and a plan for the
completion of the MPhil, which is deemed to be of high enough quality and has to be
submitted electronically as pdf to the Postgraduate office team by the end of April of the
first year.
3. A satisfactory TAP report i.e. a report that confirms that the MPhil progression is
satisfactory, the written work is of good quality and there are no issues with training and
with the proposed time plan for completion of the MPhil.
Progression criteria for a second formal review of progress
For progression into year 3 of a full-time PhD programme (or equivalent stage of a part-time
PhD programme), a student must demonstrate that they:
(a) can articulate the direction their research is taking and the research questions it
addresses and how this will lead to a substantial original contribution to knowledge or
understanding;
(b) have planned in a realistic fashion the third year (or equivalent) of their research, based
on the expectation that the project will be completed and the thesis submitted on time,
indicating any risks and how these will be mitigated;
(c) have the ability to write up their research in an appropriate academic format for it to be
critically assessed by peer reviewers and examiners;
(d) have begun to acquire the wider background knowledge of their research field required
for the degree of PhD;
(e) can apply the relevant research methods, techniques and theoretical approaches
required to make an original contribution to knowledge or understanding;
25
(f) have undertaken all required training;
(g) have considered ethical issues (including data management and authorship) where
applicable.
Departmental requirements for progression to the third PhD year:
1. A mark of 50 or more for each of the PhD and MSc advanced modules taken and an
average of at least 60 (see more details below).
2. Presentation of a workshop in the Research Student Workshops series or alternatively in
the Departmental Workshop or in one of the Research Cluster Seminars series by end of
May of the second year.
3. A draft of one chapter of the three main PhD chapters (or an equivalent amount of
written work for more than one chapter) which is deemed to be of high enough quality
and has to be submitted electronically as pdf to the Postgraduate office team by the end
of April of the second year.
4. A satisfactory TAP report i.e. a report that confirms that the PhD progression is
satisfactory, the written work is of good quality, and there are no issues with training and
with the proposed time plan for completion of the PhD thesis.
Details on PhD modules requirements
PhD students in Economics must take 30 credits of assessed PhD or MSc advanced modules
(not previously taken), usually 20 credits during the first year and 10 credits during the second
year. At least 20 out of the cumulative total of 30 credits are to be done in the core modules
(Mathematics for Economists, Microeconomic for Research, Macroeconomics for Research,
Applied Econometrics for Research and Asset Pricing). Students starting in January can take 10
credits during the first year and 20 credits during the second year.
Students have to get an average of 60 or more in the modules taken and a minimum mark of at
least 50 for each exam taken.
Students who fail to get an average mark of 60 in two 10-credit modules in the first year will not
meet the requirements for progression to the second year. Students who get an average of 60
in two 10-credit modules in the first year but with one exam under 50 will also fail to meet the
requirements for progression to the second year.
Second year students failing to get an average mark of 60 or more across the three 10-credit
modules taken during the first two years and an individual mark in each exam of at least 50 will
not meet the requirements for progression to the third PhD year.
First and second year students who fail to meet the requirements for progression because of
their marks in the taught credits can be re-assessed in those modules in August for a second
progression attempt.
Students who take all the three 10-credit modules in the first year and obtain an average mark
over 60 and a minimum mark of 50 in all three exams will not need to take any additional
module in the second year. Students who take the three 10-credit modules in their first year and
do not get an average of 60 will still meet the requirements for progression to the second year if
26
they have an average over two exams of 60 or more and both exams are marked 50 or more.
For the failed module excluded from the computation of the two-module average, the student
can decide either to re-sit the exam in August to get a mark over 50 and an average over the
three exams of 60 or more, or to register for that or a different module in the following year.
Progress review meeting
The progression panel (known within DERS as Progress Committee) will consider your
evidence, the supervisor’s report and agreed TAP reports at a progress review meeting. Based
on these elements, the progression panel will make a decision as to whether you have met,
exceeded or not met the relevant University progression criteria as well as a recommendation
regarding your progression.
The decision about whether a student has met the relevant University progression criteria, and
the recommendation regarding progression, will be taken by the Progress Committee alone
(although TAP reports will feed into this process). If the Progress Committee identifies some
issues with the progression, then a sub-set of the committee of at least two individuals, normally
including the Chair (with the right to appoint a departmental expert in the field), will be
nominated to interview the PhD student and take a final decision on behalf of the Committee.
Progression panel decision and recommendation
If a progression panel decides that you have met or exceeded the relevant University
progression criteria at the first attempt, they will recommend to the Standing Committee on
Assessment (SCA), which is responsible for approving progression decisions on behalf of
Senate, that you progress into the next year of your programme.
If the progression panel decides that you have not yet met the relevant University progression
criteria, you will be permitted a second attempt at progression within three months but the panel
may recommend that it would be in your best interests to transfer to an alternative programme
or to withdraw from the University. You will need to let your department know as soon as
possible if you wish to ignore a recommendation for transfer or withdrawal.
Second attempt at progression
If you make a second attempt at progression but do not meet the relevant University
progression criteria at this attempt, the progression panel will recommend that you are
transferred to an alternative programme or that your enrolment with the University is terminated.
If you make a second attempt at progression and do meet or exceed the relevant University
progression criteria at this attempt, the progression panel will recommend that you are
progressed but this does not alter the timing of the next formal review of progression (if
applicable) or the deadline for submission of the thesis.
See https://www.york.ac.uk/research/graduate-school/support/policies-documents/research-
degree-policy/ (Appendix 4) for full details of the procedure to be followed for making a second
attempt at progression.
27
Exceptional circumstances
If you have any exceptional circumstances that may impact on a formal review of progress then
you should contact your supervisor as soon as possible to discuss your options.
28
Key milestones for your research degree
The following section lays out the key milestones that you must achieve as a research student.
Programme structure
Cohorts of students starting in the academic year 2016-17 or later
PhD Programme structure
For PhD Students who started their programme at the beginning of the academic year (End of
September- Beginning of October) the following deadlines apply. For PhD Students who started
in January all deadlines should be moved forward by 3 months. For both full- and part-time
students, TAP meetings are every 6-months and the deadlines are the 31st March and 15th
September of each year.
If you commence a PhD or MPhil programme outside a cohort entry point, or if your journey goes
out of sync with the rest of your cohort (e.g. due to a leave of absence) the dates specified below
may not apply to you but will be calculated in terms of how long you have been enrolled.
1st Year Full time/2nd Year Part time PhD Programme in Economics
31 March: Deadline for the first TAP meeting.
30 April: Deadline for submission of the PhD student’s report for assessment by the Progress
Committee.
End of June- Start of July: Period (after the exam results are known) in which the Progress
Committee will meet to take a decision on progression for each of the first year students. The
decision will be based on the progression requirements described earlier.
August: Reassessment period for students who have not met the progression requirements for
the taught modules.
15 September: Deadline for the second TAP meeting.
September-October: Period (after the resit exam results are known) in which the Progress
Committee will take a decision on second attempt of progression for students who failed the first
attempt.
2nd Year Full time/ 4th Year Part-time PhD Programme in Economics
31 March: Deadline for the first TAP meeting.
30 April: Deadline to submit a complete draft of a thesis chapter for assessment by the
Progress Committee.
31 May: Deadline for Presentation of a workshop
End of June- Start of July: Period (after the exam results are known) in which the Research
Student Progress Committee will meet to take a decision on progression for each of the second
year students. The decision will be based on the progression requirements described earlier.
August: Resit period for exams if the progress requirement about modules grades is not met.
15 September: Deadline for the second TAP meeting.
29
September-October: Period (after the resit exam results are known) in which the Research
Student Progress Committee will take a decision on second attempt of progression for students
who failed the first attempt.
3rd Year PhD Programme in Economics
For both full- and part-time students TAP meetings are every 6-months and the deadlines are:
31 March: Deadline for the first TAP meeting.
15 September: Deadline for the second TAP meeting.
MPhil Programme Structure
For MPhil Students who started their programme at the beginning of the academic year (End of
September- Beginning of October) the following deadlines apply. For MPhil Students who
started in January all deadlines should be moved forward by 3 months. For both full- and part-
time students TAP meetings are every 6-months and the deadlines are the 31st March and 15th
September of each year.
1st Year Full-time/2nd Year Part-time MPhil Programme in Economics
31 March: Deadline for the first TAP meeting.
30 April: Deadline to submit the report for assessment by the Progress Committee.
End of June- Start of July: Period (after the exam results are known) in which the Research
Student Progress Committee will meet to take a decision on progression for each of the first
year students. The decision will be based on the progression requirements described earlier.
August: Resit period for exams if the progress requirement about modules grades is not met.
15 September: Deadline for the second TAP meeting.
September-October: Period (after the resit exam results are known) in which the Research
Student Progress Committee will take a decision on second attempt of progression for students
who failed the first attempt.
2nd Year MPhil Programme in Economics
For both full- and part-time students TAP meetings are every 6-months and the deadlines are:
31 March: Deadline for the first TAP meeting.
15 September: Deadline for the second TAP meeting.
30
First year (and part-time equivalent) PhD and MPhil milestones
Cohorts of students who started in the academic year 2016-17 or later
First formal review of progress Second attempt at first formal review of progress
Event TAP 1 TAP 2 Taught Module assessment
Submission of written evidence
Progress review meeting
Reassessment of taught modules (if applicable)
Resubmission of written evidence
Further Progress Review meeting
Full-time
Month from enrolment
6 12 8 7 9 11 11 12
Date(s) for October cohort starters
31st March 15th September May-June 30th April June/July August August September
Date(s) for January cohort starters
31st June 15th December May-June 30th July June/July (Taught Modules)
August 30th October Dec/Jan
Requirement - - Relevant pass mark in summative assessment
2000 word report See Progression requirements (Page 23-28)
Relevant pass mark in summative assessment
2000 word report
See Progression requirements (Page 23-28)
Meeting TAP meeting
TAP meeting - - Progress review meeting
- - Progress Review meeting
Outcome Agreed TAP form
Agreed TAP form
Overall average for taught element
- Decision and recommendation
Overall average for taught element
- Decision and recommendation
Part-time
Month from enrolment
6 & 12 18 & 24 8 & 20 19 9 & 21 11 & 23 23 12 & 24
If you commence a PhD or MPhil programme outside a cohort entry point, or if your journey goes out of sync with the rest of your cohort (e.g.
due to a leave of absence) the dates specified above may not apply to you, but will be calculated in terms of how long you have been enrolled
on the programme.
31
Second year (and part-time equivalent) PhD and MPhil milestones
Cohorts of students who started in the academic year 2016-17 or later
Second formal review of progress Second attempt at second formal review of progress
Event TAP 3 TAP 4 Taught Module assessment
Research seminar
Submission of written evidence
Progress review meeting
Reassessment of taught modules (if applicable)
Resubmission of written evidence
Further progress review meeting
Full-time
Month from enrolment
18 24 20
20 19 21 23
23 24
Date(s) for October cohort starters
31st March 15th September
May-June 31st May 30th April June/July August August September
Date(s) for January cohort starters
31st June 15th December
May-June 31st August 30th July June/July (Taught Modules)
August 30th October Dec/Jan
Requirement - - Relevant pass mark in summative assessment
- Complete draft of a thesis chapter
See Progression requirements (Page 23-28)
Relevant pass mark in summative assessment
Complete draft of a thesis chapter
See Progression requirements (Page 23-28)
Meeting TAP meeting
TAP meeting - - - Progress Review Meeting
- - Progress review meeting
Outcome Agreed TAP form
Agreed TAP form
Overall average for taught element
- - Decision and recommendation
Overall average for taught element
- Decision and recommendation
Part-time
Month from enrolment
18 & 24 30 & 36 32 & 44 44 43 33 & 45 35 & 47 47 36 & 48
If you commence a PhD or MPhil programme outside a cohort entry point, or if your journey goes out of sync with the rest of your cohort (e.g.
due to a leave of absence) the dates specified above may not apply to you but will be calculated in terms of how long you have been enrolled on
the programme.
32
Researcher training and development
Being a research student isn’t just about producing a piece of academic work. It’s about
developing skills that will help you succeed in your chosen career. Your department and
supervisor will help you with skills specific to your subject, and training and support is also
provided centrally.
Becoming an Effective Researcher Tutorial
The ‘Becoming an Effective Researcher Tutorial’ is an online induction available through the
VLE to all postgraduate research students and supervisors. The tutorial is organised in six easy
to navigate sections so that, following completion of the tutorial, you are able to come back to
the information as you need it throughout your programme. You are expected to complete this
tutorial as part of your induction at the University and are encouraged to discuss it with your
supervisor and TAP. You can access BERT directly from the VLE or by clicking the link:
https://www.york.ac.uk/research/graduate-school/new-students/.
Research training modules/courses
We provide a comprehensive postgraduate taught programme at PhD and MSc advanced level.
PhD students must take 30 credits of assessed PhD or MSc advanced modules, 20 credits
during the first year and 10 credits during the second year. At least 20 out of the cumulative total
of 30 credits are to be done in the core modules while the remaining credits can be done
choosing other PhD or MSc modules. We recommend PhD students to audit extra PhD modules
to get advanced knowledge in different economic areas and to audit more than once modules
whose programme changes from year to year.
We have 4 core modules for PhD students running in 2018/19:
Mathematics for Economists (Autumn and Spring terms, 10 credits) organised by Subir Chattopadhyay
Microeconomics for Research (Autumn and Spring terms, 10 credits) organised by Anindya Bhattacharya
Macroeconomics for Research (Autumn and Spring Term,10 credits) organised by Michal
Horvath
Applied Econometrics for Research (Spring Term, 10 credits) organised by Laura Coroneo
We also have a large set of MSc modules, see
http://www.york.ac.uk/economics/postgrad/taught-masters/module-list/
The outlines of the PhD modules are reported below. The outlines of the MSc modules can be
found on the MSc webpages:
http://www.york.ac.uk/economics/current-students/gsp/
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Mathematics for Economists
Module Code: ECO00057M Credits: 10 Term: 1 and 2
Contact Hours: 16-18 Hours of Lectures; Student Presentations.
Module Organiser: Professor Subir Chattopadhyay
Overview
The module serves as an introduction to formulating and analysing economic problems in a
mathematically rigorous manner. It is aimed primarily at those doctoral students who wish to
work in areas in which they will have to read material that is technically demanding. There will
be lectures on optimisation, a narrow area that will be studied in some depth, followed by
student presentations on topics chosen with the lecturer's approval.
Aims
To introduce students to optimisation at an adequate level. Emphasis will be laid on both an
intuitive grasp of the material (by using geometry in the exposition and examples) and on formal
proofs. The topics covered include elementary analysis, Lagrange's method, convex analysis,
separation theorems, Kuhn-Tucker result on local maximisation, concave programming,
quasiconcave programming, Euler-Lagrange conditions, discrete time dynamic programming
under certainty, and a study of the corresponding Bellman Equation.
Objectives
On completing the course of lectures the student is expected to recognize a proof, and to
identify the technique appropriate for resolving optimisation problems that one encounters in
economics. By extension, the training should permit the student to access other tools from
mathematics that are used in economic analysis. The presentations will allow students to
develop the technical skills necessary to engage in research in areas of their choice.
Assessment
There will be no written examination. 75% of the final mark will be based on the Student’s
presentation and answers to questions asked by the lecturer and fellow students; the remaining
25% will be based on a short report on another student's presentation and questions by the
lecturer on the report.
If a reassessment is needed, it will take place in August. The format will be as close as
practically possible to the structure of the “first attempt”.
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Main References
SUNDARAM, R. K.: A First Course in Optimization Theory, Cambridge, 1996.
DIXIT, A. K.: Optimization in Economic Theory, Oxford, 1976/1990.
MANGASARIAN, O. L.: Nonlinear Programming, McGraw Hill, 1969.
RUDIN, W.: Principles of Mathematical Analysis, McGraw Hill, 1976.
STOKEY, N. L., AND R. E. LUCAS: Recursive Methods in Economic Dynamics, Harvard, 1989.
35
Microeconomics for Research
Module Code: ECO00068M Credits: 10 Term: 1 and 2
Contact Hours: 18 hours of lectures.
Module Organiser: Dr Anindya Bhattacharya
Overview
This module is based on recent research developments and areas of expertise in the
department. The topics treated in this module are not covered by the MSc level courses and
this module aims to take the students to some frontiers of research in the respective areas.
Aims
This module aims to provide research-level (MPhil/PhD) students with the skills necessary to
understand research in microeconomics in preparation for writing their thesis. The focus is on
microeconomic theory.
Objectives
Upon completing this module successfully, a student should be able to:
have a working knowledge of some of the important formal tools that are used in the
study of microeconomic problems;
provide an informed interpretation of published microeconomic models in journal articles;
start on his/her own research in certain fields of microeconomics: for example, industrial
organisation theory, some topics in game theory and mechanism design etc.;
utilise/incorporate ideas and techniques from these fields of Microeconomics into other
areas.
Assessment
By assessed essay(s); to be submitted in Term 3 (Summer). Should a reassessment be
needed it will be in the identical pattern as the 1st attempt: i.e., by assessed essay(s). The
deadline for resubmission is the start of the week of the Summer Resit Exams.
Main References
Teaching of this module will be mainly based on research papers. However, some preliminary references are: M.Armstrong and R Porter (Eds) (2007): Handbook of Industrial Organization, vol 3. North Holland. Borgers, T (2015): An Introduction to the Theory of Mechanism Design. Oxford. Jackson, M. O. (2008): Social and Economic Networks. Princeton. Maschler, M., E. Solan, S. Zamir (2013): Game Theory. Cambridge. Vohra, R.V. (2011): Mechanism Design: A Linear Programming Approach. Cambridge.
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Macroeconomics for Research Module Code: ECO00069M Credits: 10 Term: 1 and 2 Contact Hours: 18 Lectures Module Organiser: Dr Michal Horvath Overview The module covers a selection of topics based on recent macroeconomic research developments and areas of macroeconomic expertise in the department. Topics and teachers change from year to year. Aims The module aims to provide research students with the skills necessary to understand and undertake theoretical and applied research in macroeconomics in preparation for writing their thesis. Objectives After the completion of the autumn term, the module participants should be able to formulate an optimal policy problem, apply a generic method to a range of models, including a simple model of a New Keynesian economy, solve approximations to optimal policy problems analytically, use Matlab to obtain a second-order accurate solution to an optimal policy problem and interpret the results of optimal policy exercises. After the spring term, the students should have an insight on how macroeconomists attempt to explain complex economic phenomena, such as economic growth and the business cycle, through different approaches and analytical models. A deep understanding of these models will help the students in pursuing their own research. The following topics, or a selection of them, will be covered: Ramsey model (emphasis on transitional dynamics); Endogenous growth models; Business cycle models - Endogenous fluctuations models (animal spirits and self-fulfilling prophecy); Medium term cycles. Assessment There will be two small research projects at the end of each term carrying equal weight in the final mark. In the case of unsatisfactory performance necessitating a re-sit, a long essay on a topic chosen by the module lecturers will have to be submitted during the summer. References A detailed list of supporting references will be provided by the lecturers for each lecture.
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Applied Econometrics for Research
Module Code: ECO00070M Credits: 10 Term: Autumn and Spring
Contact Hours: 18 (12 Lectures, 6 Practical Lectures)
Module Organiser: Dr Laura Coroneo
Module Overview The module provides an advanced treatment of selected topics on Applied Econometrics.
The module will cover the following three topics
1) Factor Models (Dr Laura Coroneo) 2) GMM for moment conditions models (Dr Francesco Bravo) 3) Policy Evaluation (Dr Valentina Tonei)
Aims
Develop the understanding of Econometric Theory and the implementation of Applied Econometrics.
Objectives
The topics are:
1. Factor Models - Dr Laura Coroneo (6 h lectures/practical lectures) Factor models allow analysing high dimensional time series, which are becoming increasingly more available in the era of “big data”. The topics on factor models covered in this module include: principal components, dynamic factor models, identification, maximum likelihood estimation and the kalman filter. The module overviews the main applications of factor models: forecasting, missing observations, structural identification and counterfactual analysis. Real data applications in macroeconomics and finance will be presented.
2. GMM for moment conditions models - Dr Francesco Bravo (6 h lectures/practical lectures) The Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) has become the standard statistical method to estimate and obtain inferences for econometric models defined by a set of moment conditions. This set of lectures provides an introduction to the basic ideas and concepts of GMM. Topics covered in the lectures include optimal GMM and inference for unconditional moment conditions models, GMM estimation of misspecified models, GMM with conditional moment restrictions and GMM inference with weakly identified moment restrictions models. The lectures will focus mainly on some theoretical aspects of GMM estimation and inference, however, some illustrative examples will be provided and available software will also be discussed.
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3. Policy Evaluation - Dr Valentina Tonei (6 h lectures/practical lectures) This topic will define the econometric problems inherent in policy evaluation, decomposing the bias into the bias from selection, overlapping support and distribution weighting. It will then work through modern and classic methods for estimating causal parameters, including natural experiments, propensity score matching, regression discontinuity and instrumental variables.
Assessment
By take home assessment to be submitted at the beginning of Term 3 (Summer). Re-sit exam
will also be a take home assessment.
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Other departmental training
Besides the 30 credits of assessed PhD or MSc advanced modules, students are also
expected to attend the Research Student Workshops and other training and specialist lectures
organised for PhD students, to actively participate in seminars and workshops organised by
DERS and to play an active role in the Department research clusters by participating in their
meetings, seminars and workshops on a regular basis.
First and second year students have to submit a Research Student Training Record by the end of June. You can find the link to the downloadable from here: https://www.york.ac.uk/economics/current-students/phd-students/#tab-4
Transferable skills
We also provide a set of transferable skills lectures for PhD students. The main lectures usually
include:
PhD exams/viva, for 3rd & 4th year students (organised by Peter Simmons)
Conferences, for 1st year students (organised by Andrew Jones)
Publishing in economics journals, for all years PGR students (organised by Karl Claxton
and Zaifu Yang)
The PhD job market, for all years PGR students (organised by Peter Wagner)
Academic Writing: Some Suggestions for PhD Students, for all years PGR students
(organised by Cheti Nicoletti)
Specialist lectures
Each academic year extra lectures and seminars are organised for PhD students and presented
by distinguished visitors or academic members of the Department.
Research Excellence Training Team (RETT)
The University’s Research Excellence Training Team (RETT) provides a range of skills training
and support to help you develop the skills you need to progress your research and your career.
This includes communication, careers, collaboration, project management and public
engagement. Book on workshops via SkillsForge and visit the RETT pages
(https://www.york.ac.uk/staff/research/training-forums/research-excellence-training-team/),
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/rett.york) and Twitter (@rett_york) for up to date
information.
Library Research Support Team
The Library’s Research Support Team (RST) provides advice and guidance on research data
management, open access publishing and repositories, copyright and bibliometrics.
The team delivers workshops on these themes within the Research Excellence Training
programme. To view information on workshops and to make a booking, visit
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http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/hr/researcher-development/students/. For further information on
the team, visit https://www.york.ac.uk/library/info-for/researchers/support/.
The Library also provides a wide range of services for researchers in addition to the RST, for
more information, visit http://www.york.ac.uk/library/info-for/researchers/.
Academic Liaison Librarians
Your Academic Liaison Librarian is your main contact in the Library. Talk to your Academic
Liaison Librarian about your research; they can point you in the direction of the best resources.
Find your librarian, lists of useful resources and further guidance by clicking on your
department’s name on this website: subjectguides.york.ac.uk.
Research Computing
All researchers use computers at some point in the research process and IT Services provide a
wide range of services and support, from email to Tier 3 High Performance Computing. The
Research Computing team provides training and one-to-one support so that you can make the
most of the systems and resources provided at York. Whatever your level of experience, help is
on hand to get you started and choose the right tools for your research or project.
Designed with the aim of making research easier, faster and more productive, our systems and
resources could be of use to all researchers, regardless of discipline or research project. To
discuss what help we can provide, email: [email protected].
Additional information can also be found at: https://www.york.ac.uk/it-services/research-
computing/.
Departmental conferences/seminars/fora/publications
There are two main weekly seminars: the Department Seminar given by outside speakers, on
Wednesday afternoons; and the Thursday Workshops which are usually given by internal
speakers. PhD students are strongly encouraged to attend both seminar series and to present
at the Thursday workshop series. For more informal discussion and presentation of preliminary
research, there are also the Research Clusters . PhD students should choose, in consultation
with their supervisor(s), at least one of the research clusters and become a student associate.
You are expected to actively participate in seminars and workshops organised by DERS and to
play an active role in the Department’s research clusters by participating in their meetings,
seminars and workshops on a regular basis. DERS has 6 main research clusters (1)
Microeconomic Theory, (2) Macroeconomics/Finance, (3) Econometrics, (4) Applied
Microeconometrics, (5) Health Economics and (6) Economic History. For each of these clusters
details are available at http://www.york.ac.uk/economics/research/
One of the key aims of the clusters is to stimulate interaction between academics and PhD
students, and this can be through presentations by PhD students, round-table discussions, or
whatever format the cluster may choose. In addition, research students in York present their
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work in the Research Student Workshop which is usually attended by the TAP and all research
students.
If you want to present at the Research Student Workshop please contact our Postgraduate
Administrator to fix a date and inform your TAP members about the date. To fix a slot for
presentation in the Thursday workshop, or in one of our research clusters, please contact the
organizers. Details can be found on the DERS website.
Students are also expected to present their work in international conferences and workshops.
The Department can offer financial support to students who present their work at leading
academic conferences around the world. Applications must be made well in advance to the
Director of Research Students using the form “Applying for financial assistance from the
department”. This form can be found on the departmental website at:
http://www.york.ac.uk/economics/current-students/phd-students/
Publication of research
PGR students are encouraged to publish their research work. Once you have a finalized draft of
your job market paper (this is usually the best of your thesis chapters and is the paper that you
will have to disseminate through participation at international conferences) discuss with your
supervisor(s) a strategy for publication in academic journals.
Research students may publish discussion papers in the departmental series; as a condition for
acceptance the paper has to have been approved by your supervisor as suitable for inclusion.
Details on the Discussion Paper in Economics Series are provided at
http://www.york.ac.uk/economics/research/discussion-papers/
Financial support for research
The Department can offer financial support to students who present their work at leading
academic conferences around the world and for paying subscription fees for submission to
international journals. Applications must be made well in advance to the Director of Research
Students using the form “Applying for financial assistance from the department”. This form can
be found on the departmental website at: http://www.york.ac.uk/economics/current-
students/phd-students/
A detailed guideline for the application for financial support is provided at the end of the form.
The form asks for the following information: 1) title, length of the paper(s) to be presented and
format of the presentation; 2) information about the workshop or conference (organisers,
scientific committee, local committee, sessions, date, etc.) 3) a detailed breakdown of expected
costs with justifications (state alternative and complementary funding possibilities when they
exist). The following files should be attached to the application: 1) the paper to be
presented/submitted or short description of the research design; 2) proof of acceptance of the
paper. Your supervisor should provide a brief note of her/his view of the application directly to
the Director of Research Students. An application has to be made well in advance of the
conference or workshop (at least 2 months in advance or as soon as the paper has been
accepted for presentation).
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Generally applications for participation to summer schools are considered only if the student has
the opportunity to present his/her research work and to receive feedback during the summer
school. An application for participation in a summer school with no presentation is only
exceptionally accepted and requires justifying why its content is required and essential for the
research to be undertaken by the student and the extent to which it exceeds the content
provided by DERS lectures (PhD and MSc modules). In response to demand for training in
certain areas DERS may organise a series of specialist lectures on these subjects.
For holders of external studentship awards (e.g. ESRC funded) there may be an annual
personal research allowance. ESRC funded students can claim their expenses through the
departmental Finance Officer, Vin McDermott, Room A/D/101. There is no need to contact the
Director of Research Students in this case. External award holders who do not have a personal
research allowance or who have exhausted their allowance are also entitled to apply for
financial assistance from DERS. In this case they have to verify that alternative sources do not
exist or that they have been exhausted.
Refunds require the production of receipts for the expenses incurred, and confirmation in writing
of your participation in the conference. After the conference you need to obtain a claim form
from the DERS Reception; complete it, and provide documentary evidence of your participation
in the conference and, of course, receipts (e.g. ticket stubs or invoices) to cover the sum
involved. You will also have to include the final programme of the conference where your
presentation and affiliation clearly appear. No reimbursement will be made without the
document. The claim form should be submitted to Vin McDermott (Room A/D/101).
An application for financial support will not be considered if it was not made well in advance of
your project and if there is no statement from the supervisor. Please also note that DERS will
not cover expenses for subsistence (i.e. meals), unless they are included in the event fees and
for the use of a taxi (unless an important reason is provided).
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Your thesis
Thesis content and style
DERS sets an upper word limit for a PhD thesis of 50,000 words. This limit includes Tables,
Figures, Appendices and a Bibliography. The recommended length for a thesis (which does not
contain much peripherally relevant material) is 30,000 words. A thesis might have an
introduction/survey of 5-20 pages, and three further chapters of about 25-40 pages each. You
should not think that length is, in itself, a "good thing": indeed, excessive length is often a signal
that the research student has not sorted out what is important and what is not. The best theses are
written in a concise manner that is easy to read and shows that the candidate has a clear
understanding of the results he/she has obtained. To the extent that chapters will be submitted for
publication in refereed journals, you will soon find that, as an almost unbreakable rule, editors will
always require that the paper submitted be shortened as a condition for publication; and typically
revisions are required.
Theses need not necessarily have a uniform structure but, in many cases, there is a common
pattern of:
An introduction: this states the problem or phenomenon on which the thesis focuses, and
summarises the main conclusions of each chapter.
There may be a survey of the literature (as a separate chapter, or together with the above).
This should make clear how other people have approached the topic of the thesis and what
the established results are. This may also highlight existing areas of ignorance, and the
contribution that the thesis will make to the existing literature. A survey of the literature
should be included only if it constitutes a contribution to knowledge, for example because it
organises existing contribution in a novel way, or because it links the material covered to
new areas of economics, or simply because there are no current surveys on the topic. The
criterion for inclusion in the thesis should be, as with the rest of the thesis, its publishability
(see below).
Some chapters containing the main body of original work in the thesis. These may develop
sequentially, with each chapter developing from the previous ones, or they may be in
parallel (developing a basic idea in different directions/applications, or looking at different
approaches to related phenomena). It is not necessary that the chapters cover related
topics. Indeed, many theses could be entitled “Three Essays on [insert broad area here]”.
It is important from early on to get an idea how the final product might look.
It is common to include acknowledgements but not obligatory, whereas it is compulsory to
state explicitly which parts of the thesis are written jointly with somebody else. Please follow
instructions provided by the Graduate School Website.
A conclusion which answers your main research questions and outlines areas for further
research.
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On the length and number of chapters, there are several factors. There is obviously a trade-off
between the number of chapters and their substance. Therefore while three substantial chapters
might be sufficient, three short notes are unlikely to be sufficient. The requirement which many
examiners work on is that there should be two publishable contributions. Publishability, however, is
in the eye of the beholder, and what you or the supervisor may think is publishable may be
insufficient to the examiner’s eye. It is therefore helpful to have at least some buffer of extra
material, in the event of a “conflict of opinion” with the examiner in respect of the quality of one of
the chapters. Short notes may count for a fraction of one publishable chapter.
It is not uncommon for theses to contain joint work, developed by the research student and the
supervisor, or with another research student. This is to be encouraged, and is a good way of
learning how to do research. In the case of joint work, there is some need for a greater quantity:
roughly speaking, you get slightly above 50% credit for writing a joint chapter. In the case where
the work is joint with another research student, the same chapter can appear in the theses of both
students. However, in the case of joint work, its co-authorship should be made absolutely
clear when the work is written up for PhD thesis examination.
There is no compulsion for a research student to do joint work with his/her supervisor. Clearly, the
input of the supervisor to a research student's work will usually be considerable in the normal
course of events. Whilst it may be useful and appropriate to have some chapters of the thesis as
joint work, it is best to keep some of the chapters "sole authored": There should be a clearly
identified part of the thesis that is your own independent work. Otherwise, there is a danger that
your ability to undertake independent research may be questioned. There is one exception to this
general rule: where a PhD is funded by and linked to a research project, then most (if not all) of the
PhD might be joint work with the supervisor or other members of the research team. If you have a
disagreement with your supervisor about how to treat research, you should feel free to discuss this
matter with the Director of Research Students, or the Chair of the Graduate School Board.
Some examiners may also take a dim view of chapters similar to each other. So, if you have a
chapter called “An important theorem on the theory of competition in duopoly”, containing a
publishable contribution and another chapter called “An important theorem on the theory of
competition in oligopoly”, which extends the previous chapter to the case of n firms, the examiner
may view each chapter publishable, but not both (because they view the contribution of the second
chapter as marginal, given the first chapter).
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To sum up, consider the following two extreme thesis shapes:
Thesis 1 Thesis 2
By By
A. Very Confident Risk A. Verse
Title Title
Two very important papers The theory of something
Table of contents Table of contents
1 Introduction 1
2 A fundamental result 3
3 Empirical estimation 36
Index 60
1 Introduction 1
2 Literature Survey 8
3 First chapter (joint with A. Friend & M.Y.
Wife)
22
4 Second chapter: A small variation on
the above theme (joint with A. Friend)
31
5 Yet another variation 45
6 Comment on the paper by A. Bigname 49
7 Application to Vietnamese data (joint
with M.Y. Supervisor)
56
8 Application to Peruvian data (joint with
M.Y. Supervisor)
79
9 Instrumental Variable estimation of the
Peruvian data
95
10 Concluding remarks 119
Index 135
Thesis 1 has two chapters, one theory and one empirical, both of good length, and clearly different
in topic and approach (also showing that the candidate can handle both theory and empirical work).
The introduction is very short (probably just two short abstracts). The second has 10 chapters.
But, Chapter 1 is an introduction [which the examiners would probably count as a 0 contribution],
the literature survey has little original material (by definition) [1/4], ch 3 is joint [1/3], ch 4 is joint and
a variation on a theme [1/2 * 1/3 = 1/6], ch 5 is also a variation and is a note [1/3 * 1/3 = 1/9], ch 6 is
a comment [1/4], ch 7 is joint [1/2], ch 8 is joint and a variation on a theme [1/2 * 1/3 = 1/6], ch 9 is a
variation on a theme [1/3], ch 10 has no original material [0]. While examiners do not follow this
strict accounting, totting up the contributions of each chapter we get 2 and 1/9. The first thesis
seems preferable. The second is probably also exceeding the word limit. Clearly the two are
extreme cases, and most theses fall somewhere in between.
For detailed guidance about the style, formatting and sequence of material standards for your
thesis, go to https://www.york.ac.uk/research/graduate-school/academic/thesis/format/.
In addition to online guidance on preparing and formatting your thesis, the University also offers
courses to help you through the Library’s research support team and through RETT.
For more information visit: http://subjectguides.york.ac.uk/skills/training and
https://www.york.ac.uk/staff/research/training-forums/research-excellence-training-
team/research-students/.
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Thesis submission
Before submitting
You should discuss your submission plans with your supervisor, though ultimately it is your
decision when to submit your thesis for examination. About two months before you expect to
submit your thesis, you should complete the ‘notification of intention to submit’ in
your e:vision account (located under ‘Research Progress’ within the ‘My Supervision Meetings
and Research Details’ section). This allows the department to make the necessary
arrangements for your examination. You do not need to be over-exacting in calculating your
submission date, provided that you adhere to your deadline for submission.
When to submit
You must submit your thesis by the final deadline, though it is a good idea to plan to submit
long before that, in order to give yourself time to deal with unexpected events in both your
research and your personal life. You can see your submission deadline in your SkillsForge
account. Late submissions will only be accepted once an extension has been applied for and
approved. A pending extension request is not sufficient.
How to submit
Theses may be submitted to the Research Student Admin (RSA) team by hand via the Student
Hub (https://www.york.ac.uk/students/support/student-support-hub/), by post, or by courier
service. It is your responsibility to ensure that the thesis reaches RSA by the deadline.
Continuation period
The normal expectation is that a PhD student in Economics completes a PhD thesis in 3 years
of ‘full-time’ enrolment. If required, students may have an additional period of up to a maximum
one year, called continuation period, to complete and submit the thesis.
PhD students should plan to submit at the end of the normal period of enrolment. The purpose
of the continuation period is only to allow for contingencies.
Your continuation period: https://www.york.ac.uk/research/graduate-school/academic/thesis/
continuation/ begins at the end of your normal period of enrolment. During this time you will
retain access to the Library and IT facilities. You may only access departmental facilities with
the written permission of the Chair of the departmental Graduate School Board. Students
entering a continuation period will be liable to pay a continuation fee.
Thesis examination
Once a notification of your intention to submit has been presented, the Director of Graduate
Studies nominates examiners and submits the recommendation to the Standing Committee on
Assessment for approval. Your supervisor(s) will have been consulted on who will be suitable
examiners and you should be asked to confirm that there are no known conflicts of interest with
47
the selected examiners. There will be at least two, and not more than three, examiners,
including at least one external examiner from another university.
Oral examination
Following the submission of your thesis for examination, MPhil, PhD and EngD candidates will
be required to sit an oral examination known as a viva. The purpose of an oral examination is to
allow your examiners to explore your work and satisfy themselves that:
● the work is of appropriate quality;
● you are well acquainted with your subject matter;
● you have applied appropriate research methods;
● the work is your own, or if a collaborative piece, that your contribution is adequate.
The oral examination also allows you to respond to any shortcomings identified by the
examiners. Your oral examination will take place within three months of submitting your thesis.
Oral examinations for all research degrees will be recorded. These recordings are used only in
the event of an appeal based on the conduct of the examination, or when an additional
examiner has been subsequently appointed to resolve a dispute. Recordings will be destroyed
one year after the result of the examination has been confirmed, or one year after appeal
proceedings have been concluded. PhD, MPhil or EngD students: your department will contact
you to arrange your viva.
Examination outcomes
There are five possible outcomes for research degree examinations:
1. Pass
2. Pass conditional on corrections
3. Revise and resubmit for re-examination
4. Opportunity to be awarded lower degree either with or without changes being made
5. Fail
For details of these outcomes are applied to a Masters by Research, MPhil, PhD and EngD, see
the Policy on Research Degrees: https://www.york.ac.uk/research/graduate-school/support/
policies-documents/research-degree-policy.
The outcome will be ratified by the Standing Committee on Assessment (SCA) and you will be
informed of the decision and advised on how to proceed. You have the right to appeal against
the examiners' recommendations on the grounds of unfair or improper conduct of the
examination, prejudice on the part of the examiners, or procedural irregularity.
More information
Full details on thesis submission and examination can be found on the University website, at:
https://www.york.ac.uk/research/graduate-school/academic/thesis/.
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Change of plan?
Leave of absence
A leave of absence allows you to take an authorised break of a month or more from your
studies. You may apply for a leave of absence for a documented medical or personal reason.
Breaks of less than 1 month can be approved at departmental level, but will not then result in an
extension to your progression or final submission deadlines.
Any student can apply for a leave of absence. It can be a good solution for a research student
who genuinely finds that medical or personal difficulties are preventing their study for a period of
time. However, approval remains at the discretion of the Special Cases Committee.
As far as possible, you should apply for a leave of absence in advance. Departments should not
submit requests to the Special Cases Committee later than one month after the proposed start
date of the leave period. Leave of absence that is entirely retrospective will not be considered or
approved.
For more information on when and how to apply for a Leave of Absence, visit
https://www.york.ac.uk/research/graduate-school/academic/change/loa/.
Students on Tier 4 visas should be aware that a Leave of Absence will impact on their eligibility
to remain in the UK, and so should consult with immigration advice before making any decision.
Full-time/part-time
You may be able to switch between full-time and part-time attendance at University. Not all
programmes have a part-time option, so you should check with your department first.
Speak with your supervisor and discuss the options available to you. This decision should not
be taken lightly. It is essential that you understand the implications that changing your mode of
attendance may have.
Changing your mode of attendance will affect the end of your period of registration, your
submission deadline and the tuition fees payable for the remainder of your programme. It will
alter how you fulfil the University's requirement of a minimum period of registration.
Changing your mode of attendance may also affect your entitlement to:
● Financial support
● Funding
● Student visas
● Accommodation
● Council Tax exemptions.
● Tuition fees and accommodation.
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Your funding body may place restrictions on whether and how often you can change status.
RSA can give you further guidance.
For more information, visit https://www.york.ac.uk/research/graduate-school/academic/change/
full-time-part-time/.
Change programmes
While we do not encourage research students to change programme, situations may arise
which make a change worthwhile.
Reasons may include:
● you're progressing well at a lower level and wish to upgrade to a degree at a higher
level;
● you have not met the requirements for the degree for which you are registered and are
transferring to a lower degree;
● a change in personal circumstances means you need to end your programme early, but
still want to receive a qualification;
● your supervisor is moving to a different department.
This is by no means an exhaustive list. Reasons for a change of programme are often unique to
your situation. If you think a change of programme may be right for you, you should speak to
your supervisor.
For more information, visit https://www.york.ac.uk/research/graduate-school/academic/change/
transfer/.
Extension
If exceptional circumstances are affecting your ability to work in the final 3 months before your
submission deadline, you may be permitted to extend your submission deadline, but only in
proportion to the documented impact on your work. You should be planning to submit
considerably before the deadline to allow for less exceptional but still unpredictable events that
might affect your work.
There is no guarantee that you will be able to extend your programme in this way, especially if
the circumstances could have been remedied with a leave of absence at an earlier stage.
Extensions are normally limited to a maximum of six months. In exceptionally compelling
circumstances, a longer extension of up to one year may be granted. Multiple extensions
exceeding a total period of two years will not normally be granted.
Applications for extensions should be made before your current submission deadline. If you
need to apply for an extension of submission date, you should speak to your supervisor. This
date should be justified by the circumstances and approved by the departmental Graduate Chair
or the Director of Graduate Studies.
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For more information, visit https://www.york.ac.uk/research/graduate-school/academic/change/
extension/.
Withdrawal
Withdrawal is the term used when a student decides to permanently leave the University before
completing their programme of study. Before deciding to withdraw you should meet your
supervisor to discuss any issues you may have and explore your options. It may be more
appropriate for you to take a leave of absence, switch to part-time study, or change
programmes.
If you need more advice, or want to speak to someone other than your supervisor, support is
available from:
● RSA;
● the Student Hub;
● GSA.
For more information, visit https://www.york.ac.uk/research/graduate-school/academic/change/
withdraw/.
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Professional development and employability
Teaching/demonstrating opportunities
As a research student, you work at the cutting edge of your field. You live, breathe and care
passionately about your subject. We encourage you to take advantage of the opportunities
available to teach and share some of your expertise with other students. Each department has a
designated Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) co-ordinator who organises the teaching
opportunities and provides support. In DERS, PGWTs are known as “Teaching Scholars”.
The Director of Teaching Scholar (also called PGWT co-ordinator) in DERS is Dr Andrew
Pickering, [email protected].
Many of our research students take up the opportunity to gain experience of teaching and it
adds to your CV and gives access to training for teaching.
All PhD and MPhil students can apply to become a "Teaching Scholar". Teaching Scholarships
provide financial support towards the completion of the degree in exchange for undertaking a
limited amount of teaching in the Department. Scholarships may be held by Home, EU and
Overseas students. Teaching Scholars can be given up to 55 hours per year of undergraduate
seminar teaching and for this they will receive a scholarship of up to £3,500 per year. Teaching
scholarships are divided into three bands
Tier A, 24 teaching hours, £1,500 per year,
Tier B, 40 teaching hours, £2,500 per year,
Tier C, 56 teaching hours, £3,500 per year.
Teaching Scholars normally have, on average, less than 6 contact hours per week. In addition
to contact hours, Teaching Scholars are obliged to attend training and review sessions, plus
‘Shadowing’ and ‘Buddy’ sessions. Other obligations include reading, commenting on, grading
and providing feedback to students on weekly assignments; office hours; monitoring and
pursuing unsatisfactory students; and completing end-of-term tutorial reports.
Why teach? It can:
● improve your confidence;
● enhance your ability to explain and engage people with your research;
● allow you to reflect on the impact of your research and why it is important;
● develop skills of creativity and innovation in you and your students;
● increase your resilience and resourcefulness;
● assimilate you into the faculty as a recognised expert in your field.
Vacancies for teaching scholars are usually advertised internally or on our departmental
webpage. All current and prospective PhD students whose application has already been
accepted are informed about Teaching Scholarships by e-mail and they can apply by sending a
formal application.
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Assessment of your suitability for a Teaching Scholarship is undertaken by the Director of
Teaching Scholars in consultation with the Head of Department. Provisional allocations are
usually made in late summer. The final allocation is made, and your teaching workload is
usually confirmed, in late September/October.
The PGWT co-ordinator contacts can be found at: http://www.york.ac.uk/research/graduate-
school/pgwt/
All students who wish to teach at the University must attend the ‘Introduction to Learning and
Teaching’ workshop. The training for GTAs is designed to help you develop the skills and
confidence you need to support your students. For more information on training opportunities,
visit: https://www.york.ac.uk/staff/research/training-forums/research-excellence-training-
team/postgraduates-who-teach/.
RETT additionally advertises teaching opportunities for GTAs on behalf of academic and
support departments (e.g. Maths Skills Centre and Writing Centre Tutors), visit:
https://www.york.ac.uk/staff/research/training-forums/research-excellence-training-
team/postgraduates-who-teach/teaching-opportunities-for-postgraduates/.
Public engagement
Another way to share your expertise and enthusiasm for your research is through public
engagement. The University runs a range of one-off and ongoing public events and initiatives
that are fantastic opportunities for you to share your research and its findings with a broad
audience. This includes events such as YorNight, York Talks and the Festival of Ideas. For
more information, visit https://www.york.ac.uk/news-and-events/events/.
Like teaching, public engagement activities can:
● improve your confidence;
● enhance your ability to explain and engage people with your research;
● allow you to reflect on the impact of your research and why it is important;
● assimilate you into the faculty as a recognised expert in your field.
Careers/employability
The University Careers service offers information and advice to support postgraduate
researchers with their skills development and career planning. For more information, visit
https://www.york.ac.uk/research/graduate-school/careers/.
DERS provides assistance for research students in their job seeking process towards the
completion of their studies. While your supervisor will be able to give you general advice, DERS
has a PhD Placement Officer. The latter organises the website with the information about
current PhD job market candidates (http://www.york.ac.uk/economics/jobmarket/), arranges
mock interviews and is happy to provide further general advice, for example about important job
market events. The PhD Placement Officer is currently Dr Peter Wagner.
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We would like to emphasize the importance to have a personal webpage where you can share
details on your research. Please contact our Postgraduate Administrator (Katie Walton) or
Research Student Administrator (Michael Shallcross) with details to include in your webpage.
For some examples, visit http://www.york.ac.uk/economics/our-people/phd-students/
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Appeals and complaints
A complaint is about any service received. An appeal is about an academic decision reached.
Appeals
You can appeal against a procedural error in arriving at the academic decision or on the basis of
mitigating circumstances if you have a good reason for not declaring these at the appropriate
time. You cannot appeal against an academic judgement of the quality of your work.
Complaints
You may complain about your experience of any academic or non-academic service you have
received as a student. If you are not happy with the outcome of an initial investigation of your
complaint you can pursue your complaint further under the formal Complaints Procedure.
The GSA has a dedicated advice service to guide students through these procedures. If you
are considering making an appeal or a complaint, email [email protected], or visit
http://www.yorkgsa.org/students/welfare/book-an-advice-service-appointment/.
For more information on complaints and appeals, and how to complain or appeal visit:
https://www.york.ac.uk/students/help/appeals.
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Disclaimer
Whilst the University tries to ensure that information contained in this document is accurate
when published, the University does not accept liability for any inaccuracies contained within it.
Where circumstances occur or change outside the reasonable control of the University, the
University reserves the right to change or cancel parts of, or entire, programmes of study or
services at any time without liability, before or after students have registered at the University.
Circumstances outside the University’s reasonable control include: industrial action, over or
under-demand from students, staff illness, lack of funding, severe weather, fire, civil disorder,
political unrest, government restrictions and concern regarding risk of transmission of serious
illness. The University’s contract with its students does not confer third party benefits under the
Contract (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.
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Glossary
Term Meaning
BoS Board of Studies
CDT Centre for Doctoral Training
CELT Centre for English Language Teaching
DRC Departmental Research Committee
DTC Departmental Teaching Committee
DTP Doctoral Training Partnership
GSA Graduate Students’ Association
GTA / TS Graduate Teaching Assistant / Teaching
Scholar
RETT Research Excellence Training Team
RSA Research Student Administration
RST Research Support Team (Library)
SCA Standing Committee on Assessment
SCC Special Cases Committee
TAP Thesis Advisory Panel
YGRS York Graduate Research School
YUSU University of York Students’ Union