Progress
Bronwen Phillips is in charge of student administration at the Centre and should be the first point of contact for any queries. Most forms have to be submitted to her, although some are now submitted electronically (see further below).
For more detailed guidance on time limits, forms, deferrals, and extensions, please consult the following pages:
Student Self Service (for general guidance and electronic submissions)*
Graduate forms (for standard forms)*
Graduate forms for exceptional circumstances (for deferrals and extensions)*
Submission dates and extensions of time*
Changes in student status (for suspension of status)*
Research examinations (for general guidance)*
Notes of guidance for examination of research degrees*
Examination Regulations (for the full set of rules and regulations)*
TRANSFER OF STATUS/QUALIFYING TEST
Transfer from Probationer Research Student (PRS) Status to DPhil
Students undertaking a doctorate are first registered as Probationer Research Students (PRS). During the first year of the course you define and focus your project, read into the relevant academic literature, and prepare to gather empirical data.
Towards the end of the year you need to transfer to DPhil student status by submitting papers for a Qualifying Test (QT). Two assessors from the University read the papers submitted and conduct a viva voce exam (viva).
Purpose
The purpose of the QT is to ensure that you are making satisfactory progress, are able to produce work of DPhil quality, and have developed an appropriate and practicable methodology. In short, do you have a suitable project and are you capable of completing it? The viva provides an opportunity for you to discuss your work and receive feedback and advice.
The application
The deadline for applications is the end of Trinity term, that is, 29th September 2023 (the last Friday before 0th week of Michaelmas term). But the Centre encourages students to apply earlier, ideally by the end of Trinity full term (early June) in order to be able to progress to the data-gathering stage of the project.
Applications for the QT should be made using forms GSO2 and Law2.
In addition, you must submit:
Part A: a research proposal of no more than 2000 words, together with a provisional outline of the thesis, a timetable for completion, and a bibliography.
Part B: a piece of work of up to 10,000 words.
Part A must map out a thesis that will make a significant and substantial contribution to its field, and the proposed work must fit comfortably within the remaining two or three years of research. It should clearly articulate a central research question and present a well thought-out methodology with which to address the question. The question should be grounded on an extensive review of the relevant literature.
Part B should be a substantial piece of written work, which demonstrates that you can carry out a sustained argument and accomplish the project. This is usually done by engaging in a part of the argument that the DPhil may present. The assessors will look to Part B for evidence that you have mastered the craft of serious academic writing and can engage in scholarly debates and conduct an argument in an orderly, structured, and lucid manner. The argument should be clear and intelligible to scholars who are well-informed and well-grounded in socio-legal studies but not specialists within the particular field.
The assessment procedure
After consultation with you, your supervisor will suggest the names of two assessors, normally academic members of staff at the University.
You can expect the viva to be held within 5 weeks of submitting their application, although it may take longer to arrange during vacation periods.
The viva is a formal requirement but not an official examination and subfusc is not worn.
The assessors will write a report and submit their recommendations to the Graduate Studies Committee. You can expect to be notified of the outcome within 4 weeks, but the time varies. The assessors may recommend and of the following:
(i) Transfer of status.
(ii) Revision of some part of the application and resubmission. The revised papers may be considered by one or both of the assessors, who may decide not to hold another viva. This should be done within one term of the first attempt. The purpose of revision is generally to ensure that the project is improved and that the student is set on the best possible course for the data-gathering stage. It should certainly not be seen as a failure. Most students find the comments and process of revision helpful in the overall progress of the thesis.
(iii) Transfer to the M.Litt. If the work presented is not suitable for transfer to D.Phil. status, the assessors may nonetheless judge that it is strong enough for the MLitt degree programme.
(iv) Rejection of the application. This is only possibly on a second or subsequent attempt.
Deferral
You should apply for a deferral using the form GSO.2b (submitted electronically).
You may apply to defer for up to three terms. Any application for a further deferral needs to be made to the University’s Education Committee.
Extensions and deferrals do not affect the overall time permitted for the degree.
CONFIRMATION OF STATUS
Purpose
The Confirmation of Status process involves an assessment of your work by two assessors. The assessors must consider whether it is reasonable to consider that you can submit a satisfactory thesis within a further three terms. The work submitted must be of the standard expected of a DPhil thesis, the bulk of any fieldwork must have been completed, the analysis must be well developed, and the schedule for completion must be viable.
The application
The University Examination Regulations state that students should normally achieve confirmation of status within nine terms of their admission as a graduate student.
Applications should be made using the form GSO.14 and Law5. In addition you must submit:
An overview of the thesis. This should be approximately 2,000 words. It must present the main themes and arguments of the thesis, summarize each chapter, and state how much of the thesis is complete and how much remains to be done, with an estimate of the probable date of completion.
Two chapters of the thesis. One should normally be the introductory chapter.
The assessment procedure
In consultation you, the supervisor suggests the names of two assessors, who conduct a viva. Only in exceptional circumstances will an external assessor be appointed. It is permissible for the same assessor to be used for both transfer and confirmation of status, and this person may also act as the internal examiner for the D.Phil. viva.
You can normally expect to be interviewed within four weeks of submitting you application, though this may be longer during the vacation periods. The viva is not an official examination and sub fusc is not worn.
The assessors write a report and submit their recommendations to the Graduate Studies Committee. It will provide a record of their advice and an indication of your progress.
The assessors may recommend one of five outcomes:
(i) Successful confirmation, accompanied by suggestions and advice for future progress.
(ii) Revision of some or all of the materials and resubmission. This should normally involve take place within one term of the first submission. The assessors are expected to provide clear guidance on what needs to be done to improve the application. This is generally an attempt to ensure that the student’s work is enhanced and that they are set on the best possible course towards final completion. It should certainly not be seen as a failure. Most students go on to a successful DPhil and find the comments, at least in retrospect, to have provided the opportunity to make substantial improvements to the thesis.
(iii) Transfer to MLitt, in cases where the assessors feel the work is not suitable for DPhil. status but still strong enough for the lower award.
(iv) Rejection of the application. This exceptional outcome is only appropriate if the quality of the student’s work has regressed to below the standard that the assessors of the QT had anticipated could be achieved.
Options (iii) and (iv) are only chosen after a second submission.
When reviewing the assessors’ report, the Graduate Studies Committee may, exceptionally, request additional work or other evidence or appoint an additional assessor to help them make a final decision.
Deferral of Confirmation of Status
If you are unable to apply for confirmation of status within nine terms, you must apply for a deferral by submitting form GSO.14B (submitted online). Normally deferral is only granted for one term, but you may make successive applications for up to the end of twelve terms from admission as a PRS student.
FINAL SUBMISSION
DPhil
Your thesis must be submitted within twelve terms form your admission as a PRS student (or 24 for part-time students). For general guidance, see the Research examinations pages.*
After discussion with you, your supervisor will normally make informal enquiries of potential examiners. You should then make an application for their appointment using form GSO.3. Once the examiners have accepted the request to act, you can submit your thesis electronically via the Research Theses Digital Examination website.*
Your examiners will schedule a viva, which should normally be held at least four weeks after submission of the thesis.
For further guidance on the preparation of the thesis, the conduct of the viva, outcomes, corrections, and deposit of the final thesis, please consult the Research examinations pages and the Notes of guidance for research examinations (GSO.20a).
You may apply for an extension of time for submitting your thesis for up to six terms, using form GSO.15 (submitted electronically). For further extensions, you would have to apply to the University's Education Committee.
MPhil
Your thesis must be submitted within three terms.
The procedure is the same as that for the DPhil, except that you should apply for the appointment of examiners using form GSO.27 (not GSO.3). The thesis should then be submitted electronically via the Research Theses Digital Examination website.
Extensions of time can only be granted by the University's Education Committee.