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Research Degrees in Sponsoring Establishments Student Handbook

4 Study support > 4.1 The Research School

The Research Degrees Team in the Research School is responsible for the administration of the research degree programme in sponsoring establishments and implements policy developed by the Research Degrees Committee.
Its main areas of activity can be summarised as:

• registration of research students in sponsoring establishments
• approval of supervision arrangements
• arrangements for monitoring research students’ progress (the annual progress exercise and the probationary period reports)
• administering the Access to Learning Fund provided by HEFCE for UK research students
• approval of research degree examination panels
• ratification of research degree examination results. This includes advising the Awards and Ceremonies Centre that the research degree can be awarded
• providing administrative support for the quality assurance of the sponsoring establishments programme.

The Research Degrees Team in the Research School should be the first point of contact for questions about registration, fee liability and such matters that can’t be answered by the research degree coordinator in your sponsoring establishment. It can also refer queries to other parts of the University if necessary.
The Research School plays a major role in events, projects and initiatives to improve the quality of the University’s research degree provision and the experience of its research students.
The Research School welcomes suggestions and comments about its role and how it can help to improve the quality of Open University research degree study.