Academic Registry

UNIVERSITY OF PORTSMOUTH – RESEARCH DEGREE PARTNERSHIPS

The University has in place procedures for approval of research degree partnerships that may be tailored to individual arrangements, providing flexibility within a quality assurance framework proportionate to any risks involved as part of the proposed collaboration.

DEVELOPING RESEARCH DEGREE PARTNERSHIPS

Due to the individual nature of research degree partnership arrangements you are advised to contact Kay Underhay, Quality Management Division, Academic Registry to discuss in the first instance.  A short meeting will be arranged to consider the arrangement details and suggest the most appropriate approval process. 

Kay Underhay, Principal Administrator (Secretariat/Research), kay.underhay@port.ac.uk or telephone Ext 3402.

Research degree partnerships may be put in place for:

  • PhD, MPhil or MD awarded by the University of Portsmouth

  • PhD, MPhil or MD awarded by both the University of Portsmouth and a partner institution (Dual Award)

Approval processes for research degree partnerships are:

Where a partnership proposal arrangement falls between these two types of collaborative partnerships, it may be possible to develop a tailored approach which combines elements of both of the above processes.  In this case, the tailored approval process would be considered at Stage 1 Curriculum Committee for consideration of its fitness of purpose.

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH DEGREE PARTNERSHIP

A Collaborative Research Degree Partnership is considered for approval when the University of Portsmouth delegates any one of the following to a partner institution:

  • Admissions Decision

  • Delivery of the Research Training

  • First Supervision

FLEXIBLE AND DISTRIBUTED LEARNING WITH A PARTNER

Flexible and Distributed Learning with a Partner is considered for approval when the University of Portsmouth research programme is dependent on specialist facilities or equipment provided by a partner institution.  This type of arrangement may also include second supervision by the partner institution, any financial provision by either the University of Portsmouth or the partner institution and agreed periods of research at both institutions.

SITE VISIT TO THE PARTNER INSTITUTION

A site visit is included within the approval processes for research degree partnerships.  Exemptions for a site visit may be considered when the partner has a high international academic and research standing and the research degree programme is undertaken in English with the thesis being written and defended in English.

DUAL AWARD

A Dual Award arrangement is considered for approval when both the University of Portsmouth and a Partner institution each make the award of PhD, MPhil or MD when on completion of the research degree programme the same thesis is submitted to both institutions. This may include joint supervision and a period of time spent at each institution. On successful completion the student receives two certificates one from each institution.

JOINT AWARD – Not currently possible

A Joint Award is when two institutions develop a research degree programme which includes joint supervision, joint research training and periods of time spent undertaking research at each institution.  Assessment processes are combined and the student would receive one award of PhD and one certificate which includes both institutions.  Joint awards by the University of Portsmouth and a partner institution are not currently possible.