Research Programme Information

iPhDs in Applied Linguistics and Film Studies are on offer within the Faculty of Arts and Humanities.

Candidates are required to undertake the scheme of study over a period of four years full-time registration, to pass the required examinations, and to submit a thesis not more than 12 months later than the end of the fourth year of study. If part-time candidates are permitted, they are required to submit a thesis not more than 12 months later than the end of the seventh year of study. 

In the first year candidates will be required to follow a prescribed programme of modules which will be taught in the University. Candidates who successfully pass these credits and gain the required part average will be permitted to proceed to the second year of the programme.

Across the second and third years candidates must complete an advanced skills portfolio and any taught modules as described in the Programme Specification.

Information regarding modules on offer during years 1, 2 and 3 can be obtained from the Humanities Student Office.

Please contact modlang@soton.ac.uk for Applied Linguistics queries and efphums@soton.ac.uk for Film Studies queries.

Information regarding skills training sessions and completing the advanced skills portfolio can be found by contacting the PGR Training team at: pgrtrain@soton.ac.uk

For details of the timeframe for students to upgrade/confirm, please refer to the relevant table in the Code of Practice for Research Degree Candidature and Supervision (known from hereon as “the Code”).

The full time candidate’s fourth (or equivalent if part time) year will be devoted to supervised research and preparation of a thesis.

Please read the Integrated PhD Programmes Guidance found in the University's Quality Handbook and the Regulations for Research Degrees and the Code.

Contacts

• Students in year 1 of an iPhD programme should contact the Student Office (hums-studentoffice@soton.ac.uk, 65/1121) for all enquiries.
• Students in years 2 and 3 should also contact the Student Office if their query relates to their modules. However, students in year 2 onwards should contact the Graduate School Office (fah-gradschool@soton.ac.uk, 65/2093) for all other enquiries.

The PhD by Distance Learning is governed by the University's Regulations for Research Degrees and the Code.

Please read the University Framework for a PhD by Distance Learning found in the University Quality Handbook. This document covers the following principles of the programme:

• the approval process
• awarding
• registration and enrolment
• residency requirements and periods to be spent in Southampton
• fees
• the research environment
• the facilities available to the student
• research training and transferable skills training
• supervision
• monitoring and review;
• the upgrade from MPhil to PhD or confirmation doctoral candidature; and
• the PhD examination.

The Faculty of Arts and Humanities currently has the following distance learning programmes:

• PhD by Distance Learning in Applied Linguistics (Part-time)
• PhD by Distance Learning in Archaeology (Full-time and Part-time) 
• PhD by Distance Learning in English (Full-time and Part-time) 
• PhD by Distance Learning in Film (Full-time and Part-time) 
• PhD by Distance Learning in History (Full-time and Part-time) 
• PhD by Distance Learning in Modern Languages (Full-time and Part-time) 
• PhD by Distance Learning in Music (Full-time and Part-time)
• PhD by Distance Learning in Philosophy (Full-time and Part-time) 

If a student is considering changing to one of these programmes, they should speak to their main supervisor in the first instance. More information regarding the structure of this programme can be obtained from the Graduate School Office.

If a change is to be made the following forms must be completed by the student, main supervisor and discipline's Doctoral Programme Director and returned to the Graduate School Office: 

• FAH PGR Change of Programme Form
• Individual Arrangements for Distance Learning PhD

Changing the programme of study encompasses going from full-time study to part-time study or vice versa; changing to distance learning or vice versa; and changing the field of study. For further guidelines please read the Different types of Doctoral Programmes guidance..

If a student receives funding for their programme, they should refer to the Terms and Conditions of this to determine whether a change in programme is permissible.

The Regulations for Research Degrees stipulates the minimum and maximum duration of candidature for part-time and full-time students. The Code states that leave holidays and absences due to ill-health are applicable for part-time students on a pro-rata basis. This should be noted by students who wish to change their mode of study.

Should a student wish to change their mode of study from full time to part time or vice versa, they will need to complete and submit the General Approval Form. The supervisor is also required to sign their support of the change on this form before passing it to the discipline's Doctoral Programme Director (DPD) and Graduate School Office. The Graduate School Office will ask the Director of the Graduate School to approve it and then notify the student and supervisor of the outcome and revised end of candidature deadline.

If a student wishes to change their PhD subject or transfer to MPhil, they must complete a PGR Change of Programme Form and pass it to their supervisor who must sign their support of the change. The supervisor should then submit this form to the Graduate School Office who will ask the Director of the Graduate School to approve it. The Graduate School Office will then notify the student and supervisor of the outcome.

Should a student wish to change to a Distance Learning programme, they should refer to the Distance Learning tab above. The student should complete a PGR Change of Programme Form and pass it to their supervisor who must sign their support of the change. The supervisor should then submit this form to the Graduate School Office who will ask the Director of the Graduate School to approve it. The Graduate School Office will then notify the student and supervisor of the outcome. The student and supervisor will then need to complete an Individual Arrangements for Distance Learning PhD form as well. Please refer to the Distance Learning PhD section above to download this form.

For students studying on a Student Visa, please refer to our Getting Started pages where you will find essential information and further guidance.

If a research student wishes to withdraw from their programme, they will need to complete the Withdrawal Form. The supervisor also needs to sign this form before returning it to the Graduate School Office. The Director of the Graduate School will then consider the request and the Graduate School Office will confirm the outcome to the student and supervisor.

Please note:

Students who were issued with a University laptop will be required to return it if they withdraw from their programme.
It is important that the Graduate School Office is notified of withdrawals as soon as possible to avoid the students being chased for fees or paid their stipend after withdrawal.

Academic Integrity

• As a member of a 'learning community', students will be expected to maintain high standards of academic conduct and professional relationships based on courtesy, honesty and mutual respect (with both university staff and fellow students) throughout their degree. Developing skills in presenting well supported and referenced work is a significant part of students' work at University. As a student, working in accordance with standards of academic integrity means you are open, honest and must give due regard and recognition to the sources and resources which have informed the development of your learning as you progress through your degree programme and achieve success in your studies. Students will be given support and advice by their supervisory team about standards of good academic practice: from referencing conventions, through feedback on written work and advice on copyright. Students are expected to take responsibility for the honesty and integrity of their academic work and will have to declare that they are aware of the requirements for good academic practice and the potential penalties for any breach when they submit their work. The University takes any breaches of academic integrity (such as plagiarism, cheating, recycling of their or another student's work, or falsification of research) extremely seriously and any evidence of such can result in the termination of their programme.
• The Faculty is aware that students may have experienced differing standards at other non UK institutions but it is essential that students take steps to ensure their full understanding of the standards expected at Southampton as significant penalties can be imposed if these are breached.
• If it is suspected that students have not worked with academic integrity and investigation will be conducted within the University's defined procedures as set out in the Regulations Governing Academic Integrity.
• If students are found to have followed one of these practices there are a range of penalties which may be applied. These penalties will always affect the mark the student receives for the piece of work in question, and the most serious cases could lead to a reduction in degree classification or even termination of programme. Any breaches may also impact on any future references the University may be asked to provide. 
• All research conducted by students and staff within the Faculty of Arts and Humanities involving human participants must receive ethical approval before commencement, through the Electronic Research Governance Online II (ERGO II) system.

All students should read the Ethical Guidelines for the Arts and Humanities.

​Students who started before September 2019

Please read Ethics Approval Process - guidelines for student researchers projects starting before September 2019.

Students in Humanities will need to complete the Student Ethics Checklist before carrying out any research. A copy of the completed checklist must be handed into the Arts and Humanities Graduate School Office. Students must also keep a copy for themselves. If a change in the research topic happens, students must complete a new checklist and submit it to the Office to ensure that ethics has been considered before moving forward with the new direction of study. Other useful documents, can be found on the ERGO website under Downloads.

​Students who started September 2019 or after

Please read Ethics Approval Process - guidelines for student researchers projects starting after September 2019. All students MUST register their research project on ERGO II, the university’s online research ethics approval system.

Students undertaking research with human participants must disclose the full details of their project for approval via ERGO, well in advance of research commencement. It is a disciplinary breach to begin research without approval.

For queries regarding ERGO, please contact Fiona Woollard, chair of the Faculty Ethics Committee or the Ethics Coordinator​ in Research Innovation Services.

A request for transfer to nominal registration must be initiated by the student by completing the General Approval Form.

A research student may remain in nominal registration for up to one year initially at which point the position should be reviewed by the Faculty. Time spent in nominal registration will count towards the total period of candidature. In order for a student to transfer to nominal registration, the main supervisor will need to confirm that the criteria stated in the Regulations for Research Degrees have been met.

In order for a student to transfer to nominal registration, the main supervisor will need to confirm that the criteria stated in paragraphs 37-41 of the ​Regulations for Research Degrees have been met.

The student must obtain the signatures of their main supervisor and the Discipline DPD before returning the form to the Graduate School Office for approval by the Faculty Director of Graduate School. During the period of nominal registration, it is possible for a student to suspend or request an extension to candidature subject to the Regulations for Research Degrees.

Money matters: Students transferring to nominal registration should discuss the implications to their council tax with their local council directly. Please see the University's Council Tax page for more information. Also, students should be aware that student fees are payable up to the date of the transfer to nominal registration. Students should also refer to the Regulations for Research Degrees for information about what fees are due at the start of nominal registration.

Please refer to the Nominal Registration section on our Degree Candidature page for further information.

The Faculty of Arts and Humanities does not have a specific policy on referencing. Students should discuss options with their supervisor and refer to the Library which has a useful site about referencing found here.

Thesis in a Language Other than English 

If English is not the student's first language and they feel that they would need to submit their thesis in a language other than English, they need to discuss this with their supervisor. This decision needs to be made within the first year of candidature.

If the supervisor and student wish to request that the thesis be written in a language other than English they must complete the General Approval Form and obtain the relevant discipline Doctoral Programme Director's (DPD) signature before submitting the form to the Graduate School Office. The Director of the Graduate School will then review the request. The Graduate School Office will then contact the student and supervisor with the outcome.

Thesis Length

If a student's thesis exceeds the prescribed length, they must complete the General Approval Form and obtain the relevant discipline DPD's signature before submitting the form to the Graduate School Office. The Director of the Graduate School will then review the request. The Graduate School Office will then contact the student and supervisor with the outcome.

Annual Leave 

The annual leave year runs from 1 August to 31 July. Full-time research students may take up to eight weeks holiday (annual leave) per academic year (1 August and 31 July). This includes public holidays and University closure days. Please see Closure Days & Public Holidays for details of the dates. This leaves a balance of 26 working days (Monday- Friday) which can be requested as annual leave. Please note that any unused annual leave cannot be carried over to the following academic year. The University's regulations regarding annual leave can be found in the Code of Practice.

For part-time research students this is applicable on a pro-rata basis i.e. a balance of 13 days annual leave excluding public holidays and University closure days.

New students who begin their first year later than 1 August are likely to have 22 days of annual leave in their first year if they start at the end of September or 13 days if they start at the end of January. Please refer to the Pro-Rata Leave Chart for details of exact leave entitlement dependent on start dates.

Annual leave for iPhD students in their taught year (year 1) is treated the same as PG taught students for annual leave entitlement purposes. Once they begin their research phase, annual leave is calculated using the pro-rata entitlement and is calculated from the date they commence the research phase (normally the start of year 2).

All students who wish to take annual leave must seek approval from their supervisor in the first instance and then forward this on to the Graduate School for recording.

Further regulations around attendance can be found under Attendance and Completion of Programme Requirements.

Student Visa Holders

Students with a student visa who would like to request a leave of absence for any reason (including research leave or holidays within/outside the UK) should submit their request in writing on the relevant form, in a timely fashion. Students must obtain a signature from their supervisor before bringing the completed form to the Graduate School Office for processing.

There are THREE forms:

Remote Study Leave (data collection, research leave and conferences)

 

Annual Leave

Compassionate Leave (including illness)

All three forms can be downloaded here. Please make sure that the correct form is completed.

If the request is to attend a conference please include details of the conference otherwise your request may be returned. To speed up the process it is recommended to add a link to the conference website or attach confirmation of your attendance.

At particularly busy times of year it may take the Visa and Immigration Student Advice Service (VISAS) Team longer to approve absence/leave requests so please allow plenty of time for the request to be considered. 

Please note that if a student does not take a period of authorised annual leave and does not inform the Graduate School Office until after the period of leave has passed, the student will be not be able to claim back this period of annual leave.

For any visa related queries, students and supervisors should refer to the Visa page or contact the VISAS team for more information. 

Supervisor Information: Supervisors must be aware of the student visa regulations but should not give visa advice to students. Supervisors should not agree any leave commitments which conflict with the regulations. Please forward any queries to the Graduate School Office in the first instance who can liaise with the VISAS team.