Preparation of your Research Proposal document (form UCE9R)

Your research proposal should be developed in close collaboration with your Supervisory Team, using the UCE9R form and taking into account the UCE9R Guidance Notes. Because of the detailed nature of this document which requires substantial background research, it is quite normal for this phase to occupy the first 3-6 months of the enrolment period. URDC does expect, however, that a full-time student will submit their UCE9R within 6 months of enrolment and that a part-time student will submit the UCE9R within 12 months of first enrolment.

Ethical Considerations of Your Research

It is extremely important that you consider fully with your Supervisors the ethical aspects of the research programme that you are proposing. tic-RDC (technology innovation centre-Research Degrees Committee) has to consider both the academic and ethical aspects of your research prior to approval of the UCE9R. The main principles that are involved are those of informed consent of all participants; minimising harm to participants; animals and the environment; responsibility to the subject area and; compliance with the relevant legislation. More details of the Ethical Approval process can be found by clicking here

 

Approval of Research Proposal document by tic-RDC

You will be required to present your finalised research proposal to the tic Research Degrees Committee for approval. Both you and your Director of Studies will be required to attend and defend the Research Proposal to a panel of tic-RDC. Whilst the majority of proposal documents are approved at first submission, you may be required to modify and re-submit the proposal to tic-RDC if there are felt to be errors or omissions in the proposal.

Once approved by the tic-RDC, the proposal will be submitted to the agenda for the next Birmingham City University Research Degrees Committee meeting. The tic-RDC will also consider and advise on the Supervisory Team, to ensure that an appropriate balance of technical expertise and experience of successful supervision is represented and a detailed Curriculum Vitae / résumé is required for each supervisor which outlines academic qualifications, technical expertise, recent relevant publications and previous and current supervisions.

Once your proposal has been approved by tic-RDC, it will be sent to Birmingham City University Research Degrees Committee for consideration and approval at the next meeting of URDC, which requires that items for consideration are submitted 14 days prior to the next meeting.

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STEP 7: Research Proposal Approved

Birmingham City University Research Degrees Committee meets nominally every six weeks (see calendar) to consider Research Degrees business from each of the Faculties of Birmingham City University, including the tic. Because Research Degrees are awarded by Birmingham City University, URDC must satisfy itself that your research proposal, either MPhil or PhD, is soundly conceived and is likely to be successful at final examination if you carry out the proposed work to the appropriate standard.

It is assumed by URDC that pre-approval of each UCE9R by the Faculty ensures that the necessary facilities and resources are available, including appropriate supervision, and that the proposed research is technically sound.

Therefore each UCE9R from the tic is considered first by tic-RDC at which the Director of Studies (and if possible the candidate) must defend the research proposal and answer questions from tic-RDC.Once the tic-RDC has approved your UCE9R proposal document, this will be normally be considered at the next available meeting of URDC.

You do not have to attend the URDC meeting in person, but your Director of Studies must defend your research proposal to URDC and respond to questions from the panel. This process can be extremely helpful as suggestions may be made by panel members to the Director of Studies that will improve the research proposal .

URDC will normally approve the proposal at the meeting and you and your supervisor will be informed in writing that your proposal has be approved and that your are now registered for MPhil or PhD.

On occasions, URDC may ask for minor changes to be made to the proposal document, either for the purposes of clarification or to add something that has been omitted.

Sometimes URDC may approve the proposal in principle, but ask for the tic to reconsider, or strengthen the supervisory team to ensure that appropriate technical skills and experience of successful supervisions is available within the team, particularly at PhD level. If the required changes are minor, it is common for the proposal to be approved by URDC Chair's action once the required changes have been made, to avoid the inevitable delay associated with resubmission to the next URDC meeting.

On rare occasions, URDC may reject the proposal document and ask that a revised document be resubmitted to a subsequent meeting.

Once your research proposal has been approved by URDC your proposal is registered and your research starts in earnest!

 

Maximum period of registration

The date on which URDC approved your registration document is your Registration Date. It is anticipated that candidates will make reasonable progress with their research degree, and URDC defines a maximum period of registration after which an Extension of Registration request must be made and approved by tic-RDC and URDC. The maximum period depend on Study Mode and Program of Study and can be seen below:

 

 

When you approach the Maximum Registration Period you and your Supervisors will be required to request an Extension of Registration if you wish to continue with your research programme. All parties will need to be confident that real progress is being demonstrated and that there is a realistic possibility of a successful completion of the research programme.

There is a very real issue with technologically based research programmes that if an undue period of time elapses before completion, the research may become "out of date" which can cause problems at the examination stage. Even with non-technology based research, there is always the risk that other researchers active in the field may submit their thesis before you do!

 

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