University of Oxford Crest

§4. Residence and other Requirements of Probationer Research Students

To search within this page: Press CTRL + F (PC) or APPLE + F (Mac)

  1. 1. A full-time Probationer Research Student who has been admitted under the provisions of the preceding sub-section shall normally keep statutory residence and pursue his or her course of study at Oxford during the period in which he or she holds the status of Probationer Research Student. Time spent outside Oxford during term as part of an academic programme approved by Council shall count towards residence for the purpose of this clause.
  2. 2. A board may, on application from a candidate, and with the support of his or her college and supervisor, grant dispensation from such residence in exceptional circumstances, on the grounds that it is necessary to the student's work that he or she should be allowed to study at some other place than Oxford.
  3. 3. Part-time students holding the status of Probationer Research Student shall in each case be required to pursue their course of study for a minimum of four terms, and a maximum of eight terms. (For students admitted before 1 October 2011, a minimum of six terms and maximum of twelve terms), prior to an application for transfer of status, save that students who have completed the requirements for the Degrees of Master of Studies or Master of Science (by Coursework) by part-time study may, with the permission of the board or other relevant body, apply for transfer of status after three terms. Part-time students shall not be required to keep statutory residence, but must attend for such instruction as the board or other relevant body shall require, subject to the approval of the Education Committee. No student may apply to the relevant faculty board or other body for the appointment of examiners unless his or her supervisor has certified that the student has fulfilled the requirements for part-time students laid down by the board or other relevant body.
  4. 4. Any student may, with the permission of the board, alter the subject of research approved by the board, provided that the conditions of suitability set out in §2, cl. 1 of this section continue to be met. In such cases the date of the student's admission for all the purposes of this section shall remain unchanged, unless the board shall determine otherwise.
  5. For Probationer Research Students admitted before 1 October 2011
  6. 5. A full-time student may hold the status of Probationer Research Student for up to six terms, and a part-time student for up to twelve terms, including the term in which he or she was admitted.
  7. 6. A Probationer Research Student shall cease to hold such status if:
    1. (i) he or she shall not have gained admission to another status within six terms of admission as a full-time student to the status of Probationer Research Student, or within twelve terms for a part-time student;
    2. (ii) the board concerned shall, in accordance with provisions set down in §2, cl. 7, and after consultation with the student's college and supervisor, have deprived the student of such status.
  8. For Probationer Research students admitted after 1 October 2011
  9. 5. A full-time student (other than students registered on a Doctoral Training Centre Programme or the Doctoral Training Partnership Programme under §4, cl. 9) may hold the status of Probationer Research Student for up to four terms and a part-time student for up to eight terms, including the term in which he or she was admitted.
  10. 6. A candidate whose first application for transfer to D.Phil. status is not approved shall be permitted to make one further application, following the procedures laid down in clauses 1-4 above, and shall be granted an extension of time for one term if this is necessary for the purposes of making the application.
  11. 7. Subject to the approval of the responsible divisional board or the CE Board as appropriate, and for good cause, a full-time student may be permitted to hold the status of PRS (prior to the first application for transfer of status) for a further one or two terms, and a part-time student for a further one to four terms. A first application for transfer of status must take place within the six term limit of PRS status. Any application outside those limits (other than in clause 6 above) must be approved by or on behalf of Education Committee.
  12. 8. A Probationer Research Student (other than a student registered on a Doctoral Training Centre Programme or the Doctoral Training Partnership Programme - see §4, cl. 10) shall cease to hold such status if:
    1. (i)
      1. (a) he or she shall not have gained admission to another status within four terms of admission as a full-time student to the status of Probationer Research Student, or within eight terms for a part-time student, and
      2. (b) he or she has not been given approval under clause 6 above to hold Probationer Research Student status for a further one or two terms as a full-time student or one to four terms as a part-time student;
    2. (ii) he or she has failed to gain admission to either doctoral status or to the status of the applicable lower degree after the two transfer applications allowed under clause 7 above;
    3. (iii) the board concerned shall in accordance with provisions set down in chapter 16, section 5, and after consultation with the student’s college and supervisor, have deprived the student of such status.
  13. 9. For a full-time Probationer Research Student registered on a Doctoral Training Centre Programme or the Doctoral Training Partnership Programme, the maximum number of terms for which he or she may hold that status is as specified in the special regulations governing students on the Doctoral Training Centre Programmes or the Doctoral Training Partnership Programme in the Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences and the Medical Sciences Divisions.
  14. 10. A Probationer Research Student registered on a Doctoral Training Centre Programme or the Doctoral Training Partnership Programme shall cease to hold such status if:
    1. (i)
      1. (a) he or she shall not have gained admission to another status within the number of terms specified in the special regulations governing Probationer Research Students on the Doctoral Training Centre Programmes or the Doctoral Training Partnership Programme in the Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences and the Medical Sciences Divisions and
      2. (b) he or she has not been given approval under clause 7 above to hold Probationer Research Student status for a further one or two terms as a full-time student or one to four terms as a part-time student;
    2. (ii) he or she has failed to gain admission to either doctoral status or to the status of the applicable lower degree after the two transfer applications allowed under clause 7 above;
    3. (iii) the board concerned shall in accordance with provisions set down in chapter 17, section 5, and after consultation with the student’s college and supervisor, have deprived the student of such status.