A bench fee relates to PG student projects and is to cover specific additional costs associated with laboratory or field work and to determine an amount to reflect the funding required.

In order to provide a more structured and standardised approach to calculating bench fees, MVLS College has agreed a maximum charge for bench fees, these are:

Wet lab projects    £12K

Dry lab projects      £5K

An indication of allowable costs can be found on the Bench Fee Proforma.

This form should be used in all cases where a bench fee applies and is included with the admission instructions when a new student is made an offer. The completed form and admission instructions are returned to admissions (External Relations) to process. Your local admin support will be able to give further information regarding this process.

Please be aware that increasingly international sponsors request a breakdown of expenditure each year against the charged bench fee, therefore it is important to ensure that accurate recording and monitoring of spend is in place.

This tuition fee pertains to a student who will be working on a clinical project. From the 1 September 2018 supervisors will be required to apply for clinical tuition fee.

To apply please complete  Clinical Tuition Fee Form and return it to Lesley Dinning. Your request will then be considered by the Dean of Graduate Studies.

Doing research or fieldwork away from your University base.

Graduate students are expected to be based at the University throughout their studies unless there is a specific arrangement for locating at a recognised institution (listed below) or local NHS hospital.  In cases where the location is not University premises, permission should be sought in advance.  Special permission must also be obtained in advance for any work undertaken away from the usual location.  This applies whether the remote work is in another academic or research institution, or industrial laboratory, where supervision levels and facilities and safety are at least equivalent to those here; or whether you are doing fieldwork.  Permission is required, under the University’s guidelines, for any period of over a month away.  Permission is not withheld unreasonably but we do have to ensure that students are appropriately supervised, are safe, and that facilities are adequate. 

Further Information

Research Furth of Glasgow

Research Furth Application Form (MS Word)

Research Furth Checklist (MS Word)

The University expects students to complete their study in a single continuous period.  Absences from research degree studies may, however be appropriate when a student needs to suspend or interrupt studies, for example, as a result of maternity leave.  In such instances a Suspension of Studies form should be completed for a prospective suspension of study.

Students should be aware that relevant funder guidelines and visa restrictions will take primacy over University Regulations.

Please return the completed form to the Graduate School.

Students should record short periods of absences from their studies, e.g., a short period of illness, in MyCampus as detailed in the Student Absence Policy, to have an ongoing record of any negative impacts on their ability to fully participate in their studies.

While students sometimes resist this so that they don’t appear to be struggling, a thorough absence record can support requests for extensions, or a case for a change in status from full time to part time.

Where students are experiencing periods of mental or physical ill health or are experiencing any issues or pressures that affect their ability to fully participate in their studies, they are encouraged to seek appropriate support and, where needed, a period of leave from their studies. Students may request leaves of absence (suspensions of study), or extensions as detailed in Section 9.22 - 9.34 of the PGR Code of Practice .

Periods of suspension or extension are not granted retrospectively, e.g., on return to study, except where this was unavoidable.

Students who are in receipt of scholarship funding to support their studies should be mindful of any terms and conditions of their funding and how a period of absence might affect stipendiary or other payments.

The University is unable to continue stipend payments out with the 13-week period set out in the Student Absence policy unless individual funders make specific provision for this. Students should seek advice from their Graduate School and/or the Student Services Enquiry Team who may be able to direct them to hardship or emergency funding, where this is available.

A suspension of study usually cannot extend beyond 12 months. Beyond this original 12-month period, a second period of suspension (also only up to 12 months) will only be considered in exceptional circumstances. Students must provide appropriate documentation to support any such requests.

International Students - Suspensions of more than 60 days

If your student has approval to be absent for more than 60 days, the University is required to withdraw sponsorship of their visa. If they are in the UK, they will need to leave the UK and apply for a new visa when they are ready to return and resume their studies. Please note that this also applies to suspensions of study requested for maternity leave.

If your student is considering suspending or deferring their studies, they, and you, can contact International Student Support who can offer further advice.

Responsibility of the Supervisor:

• Support your student and have a good line of communication with them.
• Have a chat with your PG Convenor.
• Ensure the student completes a suspension form below, which you and the PGC need to approve and sign.
• Send the form into the MVLS Graduate School for review at the next Higher Degrees Committee.
• The grad school will inform the student and yourself of the outcome and undertake any changes on MyCampus.

Deadline Date for Submission to the HDC Committee

Extension/suspension/HDC requests have to be submitted to mvlsgradschool@glasgow.ac.uk by the 15^th of each month, not to the chair of the HDC. 

Any requests received before/on the 15^th will be processed and added to the current months agenda. 

Requests received after the 15^th will be added to the following months agenda (there will be a level of flexibility for any urgent requests). This will allow for items to be added to the agenda accordingly and give the HDC members time to review the items before HDC meetings.

Suspension of Studies

If a student and their supervisor(s) perceive that the original submission date may not be achievable, they may apply for an extension, or suspension of studies, no later than 3 months prior to the planned submission date. 

An extension, or suspension, to a student’s submission deadline may be granted subject to approval by the Higher Degrees Committee and in compliance with any funder terms and conditions.  Read the Code of Practice for more information.

Extensions are not normally granted for a period in excess of 12 months and are considered on a case by case basis.

Eligible reasons for granting an extension / suspension include: ill health (accompanied by medical certification); death of a person with whom a close relationship can be demonstrated (e.g. immediate family member; spouse); delay to data gathering/analysis due to lack of operable equipment; dramatic change in circumstances.

The application should be written and submitted by the student and include:

• an account of the reasons for the application
• a plan and timetable for the revised submission
• sufficient evidence to support the application (medical certificates, evidence of relationship)
• letter of support from the principal supervisor.

The Graduate School shall inform the student in writing of the outcome of the application for extension with the reasons for the outcome with any revised submission dates if applicable.

Deadline Date for Submission to the HDC Committee

Extension/suspension/HDC requests have to be submitted to mvlsgradschool@glasgow.ac.uk by the 15^th of each month, not to the chair of the HDC. 

Any requests received before/on the 15^th will be processed and added to the current months agenda. 

Requests received after the 15^th will be added to the following months agenda (there will be a level of flexibility for any urgent requests). This will allow for items to be added to the agenda accordingly and give the HDC members time to review the items before HDC meetings.

Choose the appropriate form and email back to the MVLS Graduate School:

Extension to Thesis Submission

You can find Plagarism Satement on the University Regulations web pages, in the section on Student Support and Conduct Matters.

This information is also outlined for students in Appendix 6 of the PGR Student Handbook .

This policy should be read in conjunction with the University's Student Maternity Policy as outlined by the Senate Office.

Scope of the Policy

This policy covers any registered PhD student in the College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences who is pregnant during the period of PhD study; whose partner is pregnant; and for those who become a parent through adoption, whilst receiving a stipend from the University.

There is no maternity, paternity or adoption pay provision available for students who are self-funded or in a writing-up status after funding has ceased.

Eligibility

There is no qualifying period for maternity, paternity, or adoption leave e.g. a student can take leave regardless of when they commenced their studies.

Policy

Students should contact their supervisor initially, or where necessary the funding organisation, for advice and guidance.

It is recommended that students discuss this with their supervisor at the earliest opportunity so that provision can be made available.

Should funding not be found, students will be entitled to the following:

1. 52 weeks of maternity leave. The first 26 weeks are paid at the full stipend rate. The following 13 weeks are paid at a level equivalent to employee SMP. The final 13 weeks are unpaid. Current rates for employee SMP can be found on the GOV.UK website - Statutory Maternity Pay and Leave: Employer Guide.
2. Partners are entitled to up to 10 days paid ordinary paternity leave on full stipend.
3. Submission dates can be amended for periods of maternity, paternity, or adoption leave and if the student changes to part-time study; however, a formal request must be submitted in advance to the Higher Degrees Committee.
4. There is no limit to the number of periods of maternity, ordinary paternity, shared parental or adoption leave that can be taken during a studentship.
5. Students may opt to study part-time (normally 50%) following a change in their personal circumstances, a request for which must be submitted in advance to the Higher Degrees Committee.

Where no funding is found local PGR administrators should be advised. They will then liaise with the MVLS Financial Aid tram to arrange payment.

Approval for internal student surveys that form part of an externally funded research project should be sought before the funding bid is submitted.  Surveys that form part of either an undergraduate or postgraduate project should also be approved before the project is initiated. For surveys that will only involve students from within one School or College, permission for the survey should be obtained from the relevant Head of College.  For surveys that will involve a broader cross-section of the student population, permission should be sought from the Clerk of Senate who will make the decision whether or not to grant permission in consultation with the President of the Students Representative Council.  Approvals of this type should be sought prior to submission of the project for ethics approval.

All requests from external organisations to survey any group of students of the University should be referred to the Clerk of Senate who will make the decision whether or not to grant permission in consultation with the President of the Students Representative Council.

For further information click here

Note: “University Supported” projects (such as NSS), that include a student survey element, are exempt from this policy as appropriate mechanisms are already in place for their approval.  If there is any doubt whether a project is “University Supported”, the matter should be referred to the Vice-Principal (Learning and Teaching) for decision.

Applicable to the College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences (MVLS) only

 If visiting researchers are coming for 1 year or less:

1. Applicant, Supervisor and School / Home Institution must complete a downloaded application form 
   • Students interested in applying for visiting status, must first make contact with their proposed supervisor and agree the terms and duration of their visit. This should also be agreed with their home institution.
   • Visiting Postgraduate Researcher Form
   • This form should be signed by the agreed supervisor at Glasgow, the Head of School where the supervisor is located, as well as a representative of the home institution.
   • Visiting researcher application form can be found here:
     https://www.gla.ac.uk/research/ourresearchenvironment/prs/mobilityandcollaborationopportunities/visitingresearcherpolicy/
     
     
2.  Students then apply via via Direct Admissions
   • Students should then complete an online application where they will upload a copy of their completed Visiting Postgraduate Researcher application form as part of the process.
   • https://www.gla.ac.uk/study/applyonline/?CAREER=PGR&PLAN_CODES=AC31-1501
   • This should not be framed as making a ‘second’ application but rather to complete a process to create their student record and address any visa or other requirements.
   • The application will be routed to an appropriate contact within the College, who will add relevant information to the form (such as the plan number and the applicable fees) and sign it off.
   • If the request is not acceptable, the decision to refuse Visiting PGR status will be communicated to the applicant in writing by the appropriate School/Research Institute.
   • The Admissions Team will contact the School in any cases where the completed visiting researcher application form is not provided with the online application.
   • Students should be aware that applications for a ‘visiting’ period of longer than 6 months may have Tier 4 visa implications.

• The Admissions Team will provide the student with an offer letter and a Certificate of Acceptance for Studies (if applicable).
  • Admissions issue them with a CAS once they've applied.
  • If they are from a non-English speaking country they will need to provide an acceptable English test before they will be issued a CAS.
    
    
• The School will issue a welcome letter with any additional relevant information.

 To find out more about the universities visiting researcher policy go here.

PGR students are entitled to take a maximum of eight weeks annual leave, including public holidays. Please see your local School or College guidance to confirm annual leave procedures. 

Annual leave may be taken in accordance with a funder or employer's regulations and in line with any visa requirements or restrictions with which a student must comply:

• Funder, visa or employer terms and conditions overrule University Policy regarding periods of leave. By accepting a studentship/employment/visa, students are agreeing to these specific terms and conditions if they differ from University policy.
• Always refer to the funder/employer/visa terms and conditions in the first instance and contact the Graduate School if further clarification is required.
• If a student is subject to visa restrictions, inform the Graduate School and your local PGR admin of the dates of absence once a period of annual leave is agreed with the student.

Be aware that students may experience workload requirements which make taking annual leave impractical at certain times. Discuss this with your students.

If a period of annual leave cannot be agreed upon, contact your School.

Should the situation remain unresolved the issue should be brought to the attention of the Graduate School office and the Dean of Graduate Studies. 

I have funding for a PhD student, how do I advertise for one?

Please download the Findaphd Advertising Form and send to Danielle Higgins.

IMPORTANT

Pay particular attention to the eligibility requirements and whether only UK students can apply or all students can apply.

For example, since Brexit, most scholarships will cover the minimum amount of UK home fees/stipend/bench fees.

If you want EU/International students to apply, they may have to pay the balance difference in fees up to the EU/International fee amount which is thousands in difference.

See UKRI.org for more information.