Second Progression Review – Month 18
The Second Progression Review is also known as Confirmation of Doctoral Candidature. Your report will be subject to a viva voce examination and you should be prepared to answer questions from the assessment panel.
The report should be double spaced, 12 pt font, and should contain no more than 30 pages of text (~10,000 words), though this should be discussed explicitly with your supervisor as different projects will require a variety of report lengths. It does not need to be bound but printed copies are required for the panel members. The report will include figures and tables (not included in the page count). A full bibliography should be included (not included in the page count). Relevant analytical data may be included as appendices (not included in the page count). Both the presentation and report should have been discussed and rehearsed with the supervisory team prior to the confirmation meeting.
The report will contain:
· title of report, name of candidate, date of submission and supervisor names;
· abstract of less than 200 words;
· the report should be in the form of a research paper – this paper may have been published, submitted for publication, or should be in an advanced stage of preparation;
· it follows from (3) that you are not expected to include in the report every activity you have undertaken in your project prior to the confirmation meeting;
· a research plan in the form of a Gantt chart (not included in page count).
The panel will expect that you have:
· a good knowledge of the general research field and specific problems that are the subject of the project, and have made clear progress in the project;
· displayed a good understanding of the methods and techniques used in your research and their limitations (e.g. analytical errors, assumptions, etc.);
· the ability to write in clear scientific English;
· developed a well thought-out plan for the remainder of the project.
Possible outcomes are that:
1. You have passed with no amendments to the report required.
2. You have passed the confirmation, but you are requested to rewrite some sections.
3. Your report needs to be reassessed.
In the case of (3), you will be required to submit a revised report according to the regulations. Failure to pass the second attempt at the second progression review will result in termination of candidature or transfer to an MPhil programme.