Latest updates - Postgraduate Research courses
Due to the ongoing Coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic, and with the health and safety of students and staff our priority, changes have been made in the delivery of your course for the 2020/21 academic year.
Induction and generic skills training sessions and supervisory meetings have moved online and research activities that can be done from home should be prioritised. Access to research facilities is limited through requirement to book space in laboratories and animal facilities. Travel to field sites to collect data is subject to appropriate risk assessment and approval on a case-by-case basis. This generally means that planned research projects have to be re-organised or amended on a case-by-case basis through discussion with supervisors.
Please note that, as this is an evolving situation, further adjustments may be needed as restrictions associated with the pandemic dictate. We will update these pages with any changes and inform you of these via email.
Please do check your RVC email account frequently for updates (or email account provided at application if you have not yet completed your first enrolment at the RVC).
The RVC cannot be responsible for any costs unnecessarily incurred by students following notification of changes.
EU/EEA and Swiss students need to be mindful of their changing citizen rights in light of Brexit and the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020. For further information, please visit our Brexit intranet pages.
Professional Doctorate
To be confirmed
MPhil / PhD
| Teaching delivery mode September 2020 – January 2021: |
|---|
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Research students are expected to study remotely wherever possible. Access to campus and laboratories may be required according to stage and requirements of your research project. Access to campus and laboratories is by advance booking, is limited to ensure social distancing in the laboratories and must be discussed and agreed in advance with your supervisor. Training will require individualised local arrangements to ensure new techniques can be carried out safely. Special cases can be made to the Campus Head of Department for access to office space for demanding computing needs where these cannot be met through remote working but prior booking through the same system will be required. For further information, please visit Accessing the College’s Research Facilities (on Intranet) |
| Estimated hours per week on campus September 2020 - January 2021: |
|
Varied according to stage and requirements of your research project. Generic skills training, journal clubs and seminars will all be offered remotely. |
| Summary of changes to teaching delivery: |
|
Please liaise closely with your supervisor over specific arrangements regarding your studies and working from home as productively as possible. We fully appreciate that these restrictions will affect each student in differing ways, depending on the nature and stage of your project. Scheduled meetings between research students and their supervisors should continue, replacing face-to-face meetings with virtual meetings by telephone or videoconferencing (e.g. Skype, Zoom or MS Teams). The expectation is that the frequency of such meetings should be increased, if possible, in the current climate. PgR Manager should be used to document and keep track of such meetings. |
| Summary of changes to assessment: |
|
Whilst COVID-19 restrictions are in place, hard copies of your thesis will not be required, and examiners will be sent the electronic copy only. The PhD submission form is available on Learn and we do not require physical signatures for submission; an email confirmation in lieu of the signature is therefore sufficient. Viva voice examinations should be conducted by video conferencing rather than face-to-face whilst COVID-19 restrictions dictate. Please contact the Graduate school (researchdegrees@rvc.ac.uk) for more information and then do please discuss specific arrangements with your supervisor. |
| For further information please contact: |
|
Your supervisor and/or researchdegrees@rvc.ac.uk |
MRes
| Teaching delivery mode September 2020 – January 2021: |
|---|
|
Research students are expected to study remotely wherever possible. Access to campus and laboratories may be required according to stage and requirements of your research project. Access to campus and laboratories is by advance booking, is limited to ensure social distancing in the laboratories and must be discussed and agreed in advance with your supervisor. Training will require individualised local arrangements to ensure new techniques can be carried out safely. Special cases can be made to the Campus Head of Department for access to office space for demanding computing needs where these cannot be met through remote working but prior booking through the same system will be required. For further information, please visit Accessing the College’s Research Facilities (on Intranet) |
| Estimated hours per week on campus September 2020 - January 2021: |
|
Varied according to stage and requirements of your research project. Generic skills training, journal clubs and seminars will all be offered remotely. |
| Summary of changes to teaching delivery: |
|
Please liaise closely with your supervisor over specific arrangements regarding your studies and working from home as productively as possible. We fully appreciate that these restrictions will affect each student in differing ways, depending on the nature and stage of your project. Scheduled meetings between research students and their supervisors should continue, replacing face-to-face meetings with virtual meetings by telephone or videoconferencing (e.g. Skype, Zoom or MS Teams). The expectation is that the frequency of such meetings should be increased, if possible, in the current climate. PgR Manager should be used to document and keep track of such meetings. |
| Summary of changes to assessment: |
|
Whilst COVID-19 restrictions are in place, hard copies of your thesis will not be required, and examiners will be sent an electronic copy (PDF format) only. The MRes submission form is available on Learn and we do not require physical signatures for submission; an email confirmation in lieu of the signature is therefore sufficient. Viva voce examinations may be conducted by video conferencing (e.g. Microsoft Teams) rather than face-to-face, if COVID-19 restrictions dictate. Where health and safety conditions (e.g. social distancing) can be met, face-to-face viva voce examinations may be reintroduced in 2021 Please contact the Graduate school (researchdegrees@rvc.ac.uk) for more information and then do please discuss specific arrangements with your supervisor. |
| For further information please contact: |
|
Your supervisor and/or researchdegrees@rvc.ac.uk |