Registration of new and continuing research students
Registration is the process by which the University confirms that it holds correct information about its students, their programmes of study, and the arrangements for the payment of their tuition fees.
Registration of new research students
All full-time research students are required to register in person on commencing their studies. Part-time research students and University staff candidates are required to register at the commencement of their research, but are not required to register in person.
Students entering the University at the beginning of the Autumn Semester are expected to register at the start of the Semester, according to the published timetable. Students whose research commences during the course of the session should register on arrival at the Registry Services, Level 6, University House.
Before registering, all students must provide satisfactory evidence of their ability to pay tuition fees and other dues. New research students are also required to provide evidence of their qualifications and should bring their original certificates, or certified copies of them, to registration.
Students requiring formal confirmation letters relating to registration status and immigration matters must apply to the Student Services Department, who are the only personnel authorised to issue such letters on behalf of the University.
Please note that it is not possible to amend a student's registration start date once they have registered for their degree. If a student is aware that their start of registration date is incorrect (i.e. they have arrived earlier or later than originally expected), and they wish to amend it, this should be done prior to registering. Students should contact Registry Services for further advice and guidance.
Registration of continuing research students
All full-time and part-time research students are required to register annually until the required period of registration for full fee paying purposes is completed. The re-registration of all research students is online, approximately two months prior to the registration start date.
Permission to re-register will be withheld in cases where students have monies outstanding to the University in respect of, for example, tuition fees or accommodation charges.
Application to Read
The University's regulations for higher degrees by research state that research students' qualifications and proposed scheme of study or research are subject to Faculty approval. This formal approval, often referred to as the 'application to read' or approval of candidature, normally takes place within the first three months of registration. Once the 'application to read' has been submitted to the Faculty (with documentary evidence as required), the student receives a certified copy of the form, together with an information sheet which:
- confirms that he/she is eligible and qualified to be a candidate for a higher degree by research;
- confirms that he/she is registered for the specified research degree programme (e.g. PhD, MPhil, LLM, EdD, etc.);
- confirms the appointment of the supervisor(s);
- records the scope of research;
- records the date of commencement, the required period of registration for full fee paying purposes and the time limit for submission of the thesis;
- specifies the regulations and conditions under which the candidature is approved.
The student should consult their supervisor to ascertain whether their research will require consideration by the University Ethics Committee or, in the case of research involving animals, a Home Office licence. Approval should be sought from the appropriate bodies. Research in the affected areas should not be undertaken until this is granted. Students whose research involves any invasive procedures or handling of any unfixed human tissue should have completed the required course of vaccinations prior to the commencement of the research.