Doctoral Academy governance

Find out more about the remit of the Doctoral Academy in the following terms of reference.

Doctoral Academy Leadership Team

The remit of the Doctoral Academy Leadership Team encompasses the following business areas and activities:

postgraduate research (PGR) strategy and operational priorities;
PGR recruitment and major funding schemes;
quality assurance and policy development;
student experience.

The Doctoral Academy Leadership Team reports via the Chair to the Vice Dean for Research and Innovation, and the Manchester Doctoral College.

Role of the Group

To monitor and enhance the quality assurance and academic standards of postgraduate research programmes across the Faculty.
To formulate and implement the Faculty’s PGR strategy.
To set and monitor Faculty targets for postgraduate research as specified in the Faculty Operational Plan, including PGR numbers, submission and completion rates and PRES.
To disseminate important information from key University committees, forums and working groups.
To develop links with postgraduate teaching, business engagement and clinical affairs to maximise student numbers, promote PGR activity and support the needs of particular student groups and projects.
To shape the PGR training and development portfolio, including supervisory training.
To ensure that the student experience is considered in all aspects of PGR activity and strategy.
To promote the recognition of staff supervisory activity.
To receive reports from major funded and strategic programmes.
To consider the University’s internationalisation strategy and work to support its aims.
To oversee the strategic use of Faculty funds for postgraduate research studentships.
To co-ordinate cross-Faculty and inter-Faculty bids for studentships.
To share good practice in postgraduate education.

Membership of the Group

Chair – Associate Dean for Postgraduate Research

School representatives

PGR Director – Biological Sciences
PGR Director – Medical Sciences
PGR Director – Health Sciences
School PGR representatives

Other representatives

Doctoral Academy Lead for PGR Student Experience
Doctoral Academy Lead for PGR International Students
PGR Services Manager
PGR Recruitment and Admissions Officer
PGR Operations Officer (Progression and Welfare)
PGR Operations Officer (Funded/external programmes)

By invitation

CRUK MI PGR Director
Major funded programme directors
Business engagement lead
Clinical affairs lead
A representative from the Student Recruitment, Marketing and Communications Team

Four members are required for the meeting to be quorate.

Research Degrees Panel

The remit of the Research Degrees Panel encompasses the following business areas and activities:

ratification of PGR final examinations;
applications for PhD by Published Work and higher doctorates;
monitoring submission and completion rates;
considering special permissions requests.

RDP COVID Extensions panel (Phase 2)

This panel will review programme extension requests from PGRs with an end date of 1 April 2021 onwards, where the stipend is processed by The University of Manchester.

For PGRs with an end date beyond 1 April 2021 who are self-funded or externally sponsored, cases can be reviewed by their Senior Division Tutor unless the request is greater than six months (in which case, this panel will review the application).

The full Terms of Reference can be found in this document: Terms of Reference (PDF).

Role of the Group

To monitor the research degree examination process to ensure that the appropriate uniform procedures are applied in line with University of Manchester policy.
To approve the award of PhD, MD, MPhil, professional doctorate and higher doctorate degrees.
To act as an examination board in cases where examiners have not reached a joint recommendation.
To exceptionally request a change in the recommendation or revisions to the statement of corrections in agreement with the examiners.
To approve applications and examiners for Higher Doctorates and PhD by Published Work.
To consider special permissions requests relating to a change in circumstances in line with University regulations and policy.
To monitor students approaching their submission deadline to maximise submission and completion rates.
To receive and comment on recommendations from Manchester Doctoral College (MDC) relating to research degree examinations and awards to inform the PG Education Committee on implementation.
To liaise with equivalent panels in other Faculties to share best practice.

Membership of the Group

Chair – Associate Dean for Postgraduate Research

School representatives

PGR Director – Biological Sciences
PGR Director – Medical Sciences
PGR Director – Health Sciences

Other representatives

Doctoral Academy Lead for PGR Student Experience
Doctoral Academy Lead for PGR International Students
PGR Services Manager Programme Directors (as required)

Four members are required for the meeting to be quorate.

School PGR Committee

The remit of the School PGR Committee encompasses the following business areas and activities:

PGR strategy and operational priorities;
PGR recruitment and major funding schemes;
quality assurance and policy development;
student experience.

Role of the Committee

To monitor and enhance the quality assurance and academic standards of postgraduate research programmes across the School.
To implement the Faculty’s PGR strategy.
To monitor School targets for postgraduate research as specified in the School Operational Plan, including PGR numbers, submission and completion rates, PRES.
To disseminate important information from key Faculty and School committees, forums and working groups.
To develop links with postgraduate teaching to maximise student numbers, promote PGR activity and support the needs of particular student groups and projects.
To run School Progress Committees to consider academic progression and attendance and well-being cases.
To collate training needs across the School PGR community and feed into the development of the DAMG PGR training portfolio.
To ensure that the student experience is considered in all aspects of PGR activity and strategy.
To promote the recognition of staff supervisory activity.
To receive reports from major funded and strategic programmes (as appropriate).
To consider the Faculty’s internationalisation strategy and work to support its aims.
To oversee the strategic use of School funds for postgraduate research studentships.
To contribute to cross-Faculty and inter-Faculty bids for studentships.
To share good practice in postgraduate research education.

Membership of the Group

Chair – School PGR Director

Division representatives

Division Senior Tutors

Other representatives (as appropriate)

BBSRC Programme Director
MRC Cohort Lead
Wellcome Trust Programme Director(s)
BHF Programme Director
School Lead for International Postgraduate Students
School PGR Representatives

Four members are required for the meeting to be quorate.

School PGR Progress Committees

Download terms of reference for the School PGR Student Progress Committees (PDF, 381KB).