First-year Assessment
The first-year assessment for PhD students must take place before the end of the first year (or second year for part time students) and leads to a recommendation as to whether the student should be transferred from being a Graduate Student to register as a PhD student.
Objectives
The objectives of the assessment at this stage are first, to check that the student has the ability to successfully complete the PhD; second, to sort out the specifics of the project that the student is pursuing; and third, to ensure that there are no difficulties with the supervisory relationship.
Format of student’s report
You will be asked to prepare a report on your first year’s work. The report should be between 3000 and 6000 words in order not to take too much time out of your research schedule.
The report should include the following:
- General aims
- Literature review
- Overview of work to date
- Proposed PhD plan including objectives, thesis plan, timeline and publication plan
Timeline and responsibilities for First year Report:
You should not spend more than three or four weeks of part-time work preparing the report.
The report should be submitted at least three months before the end of your first year (for full time students) or second year (for part-time students). The following timeline might be helpful for you:
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NB: Timing and responsibilities for First Year Report |
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• By End of Month 7 (18 if P/T) – Student to arrange to meet with supervisor to discuss first year assessment, including structure of report and appointment of assessors. - It is the student’s responsibility to ensure this meeting takes place. - It is the supervisor’s responsibility to make sure potential assessors are appointed and that they will be available to carry out the assessment during month 11 (or find alternative examiners). • Month 8 (19/20 if P/T)– Student begins work on report allowing Supervisor to see drafts in plenty of time for alterations as required in time for submission by end of month 9. • Before end of Month 9 (21 if P/T) – Student sends completed report and assessment form* to both assessors, copying in Postgraduate office. Student liaises with Assessors and Supervisor to set a date and book a room for the assessment, which should happen before the end of month 10 if possible. The supervisor should be available after the assessment to discuss outcome with assessors. It is the student’s responsibility to arrange the timing and book the room for the Assessment. • Before end of Month 10 (22 if P/T) – Assessment to take place leaving time for any amendments to be made prior to the end of year 1 (yr 2 if P/T). |
| Full-time students | MT starters | LT Starters | ET starters |
|---|---|---|---|
| DISCUSS | April | July | October |
| WRITE | May | August | November |
| SUBMIT | June | September | December |
| EXAM | July | October | January |
| CORRECTIONS | August | November | February |
| Part-time students (in Yr2) | MT starters | LT Starters | ET starters |
|---|---|---|---|
| DISCUSS | March | June | September |
| WRITE | April/May | July/Aug | Oct/Nov |
| SUBMIT | June | September | December |
| EXAM | July | October | January |
| CORRECTIONS | August | November | February |
Assessors
There will usually be two assessors who will be appointed by the supervisor in consultation with you. There is room for considerable flexibility in the appointment of assessors compatible with student needs; these assessors may come from within or outside of the Department. Make sure that they will be available and willing to read it soon after it is handed in.
Assessment
Assessment takes the form of a meeting between the student and the assessors to discuss the first-year report and other matters bearing on the project, and last perhaps 1–1.5 hours. The assessment is an ideal opportunity for refining the goals of the thesis.
Assessors’ report
Once an assessment is completed, the assessors compile a report to go to your supervisor. It is your supervisor who has the responsibility of recommending to the Graduate Office whether or not you should be registered for a PhD with the formal approval of this recommendation being the responsibility of the Degree Committee. The possible recommendations from a first-year assessment are as follows:
i) (most usually) to change your registration from “graduate student” to PhD student
ii) that you are not yet ready to be registered as a PhD student and should be reassessed in one further term. (In these cases you will be given directions to help you improve your performance, and be reassessed at the end of your fourth term).
iii) (unusually) that you will not be able to achieve the standard required for a PhD. In these cases the assessors and supervisor will consider the possibility of successfully completing an MPhil, and recommend accordingly.
Download blank Assessor's report here