iPhD Biomedical Science 2025-26

Academic Regulations: Faculty of Medicine

School	Clinical and Experimental Sciences
Final Award	Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) (with intermediate award of Master of Research (MRes)) With exit awards of: Master of Research (MRes) Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
Programme(s)	Integrated PhD in Biomedical Science
Last modified	April 2025

The Academic Regulations apply to and regulate the programme(s) listed above.

On occasion, programmes can be exempted from one or more of the clauses in the Regulations; one or more of the clauses can be varied; and programmes can impose additional requirements.

Exemptions are characterised by the omission of the relevant clause.
Variations are characterised by the replacement of the clause with alternative wording.
Additions are characterised by requirements in addition to those detailed in the Academic Regulations.

The programmes listed have approval from the Academic Quality and Standards Subcommittee for the exemptions and/or variations and/or additions to the regulations noted below.

Progression, Determination and Classification of Results Postgraduate Master’s Programmes

Exemption/Variation/Addition

6 Repeat

6.1

A student who has not passed at the first attempt or is not eligible to Refer, or who has Referred and not passed, may Repeat the taught part of the programme Internally or Externally as chosen by the student following academic advice from within the School.

Exemption

No Repeat Year is allowed.

Regulations for Research Degrees

Exemption/Variation/Addition

8. Additional Requirements for Integrated PhDs

8.1

Integrated PhDs are typically structured as follows, with any specific exemptions, variations or additional requirements detailed in the Academic Regulations:

The early stage of the programme (the taught phase) requires students to complete a prescribed set of modules which are assessed under the Progression, Determination and Classification of Results: Postgraduate Master’s Programmes regulations and, regarding progression to the research phase of the programme, under the relevant Academic Regulations for the programme.
Students' attainment of the academic requirements to progress to the research phase of the Integrated PhD will be considered at the relevant Board of Examiners and those who complete the prescribed set of modules and pass the required assessments at the specified standard will be permitted to proceed to the research phase of the programme. Where the Board of Examiners determines that a student has not met the requirements to progress, they will have such options for Referral and Repeat as set down in the Progression, Determination and Classification of Results: Postgraduate Master’s Programmes and the relevant Academic Regulations for the programme.
On occasion, and where defined in the relevant Academic Regulations, an interim award of MA, MSc or MRes may be given. In the event of failure to achieve the required standard to progress to the research phase of the programme, and where stated in the Academic Regulations, students may be eligible for an exit award of a Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert) or Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip), subject to the completion of further academic work.
The research phase of the student's programme will be devoted to supervised research and preparation of a thesis and may include the completion of further modules, training and development activities.

Variation

Integrated PhDs are typically structured as follows, with any specific additional requirements detailed in the Academic Regulations:

The early stage of the programme (the taught phase) requires research students to complete a prescribed set of modules which are assessed under the Progression, Determination and Classification of Results: Postgraduate Master’s Programmes regulations. Students who complete these modules and pass the required assessments at the specified standard, as well as successfully completing the PhD competence review, will be permitted to proceed to the research phase of the programme. On occasion, and where defined in the relevant Academic Regulations, an interim award of MA, MSc or MRes may be given.
The PhD competence review will be held at three points during year 1, with the first two being formative and the last one summative. Feedback will be provided after each review. If the third PhD competence review is failed, a second attempt will be offered. Should the second attempt be failed, the Faculty may, at the end of year 1, recommend to Senate that candidature for the PhD is terminated. Eligible candidates may be offered the exit award of MRes.
The research phase of the student's programme will be devoted to supervised research and preparation of a thesis and may include the completion of further modules, training and development activities.

9. Duration of Research Degrees

9.1

The minimum and maximum periods of candidature for each research degree is set out in the following table:

Degree	Minimum Length of Candidature		Maximum Length of Candidature
Degree	Full-time	Part-time	Full-time	Part-time
PhD – Integrated route	36 months	48 months	60 months	108 months

The minimum and maximum periods of candidature for each research degree is set out in the following table:

Degree	Minimum Length of Candidature		Maximum Length of Candidature
Degree	Full-time	Flexible route	Full-time	Flexible route
PhD – Integrated route	36 months	48 months	54 months	108 months

Code of Practice for Research Degree Candidature and Supervision

Section 15: Progression Monitoring and Reviews

Summary of timings of progression reviews for students who enrolled on their doctoral studies on or after 1 August 2016 (full-time programmes)
	First Attempt		Second Attempt
	Submission window	Decision deadline	Submission window	Decision deadline
First Progression Review	7-9 months	Before the end of month 10	10-11 months	Before the end of month 12
Second Progression Review (Confirmation)	18-20 months	Before the end of month 21	21-23 months	Before the end of month 24
Third Progression Review	30-32 months	Before the end of month 33	33-35 months	Before the end of month 36

Summary of timings of progression reviews for students who enrolled on their doctoral studies on or after 1 August 2016 (part-time programmes).
	First Attempt		Second Attempt
	Submission window	Decision deadline	Submission window	Decision deadline
First Progression Review	15-20 months	Before the end of month 21	21-23 months	Before the end of month 24
Second Progression Review (Confirmation)	30-41 months	Before the end of month 42	42-47 months	Before the end of month 48
Third Progression Review	61-65 months	Before the end of month 66	66-71 months	Before the end of month 72

Variation

Summary of timings of progression reviews for students who enrolled on their doctoral studies on or after 1 August 2016 (full-time iPhD Biomedical Science programme)
	First Attempt		Second Attempt
	Submission window	Decision deadline	Submission window	Decision deadline
Year 1 Taught Modules
First Progression Review	16-18 months	Before the end of month 19	19-20 months	Before the end of month 21
Second Progression Review (Confirmation)	27-29 months	Before the end of month 30	30-32 months	Before the end of month 33
Third Progression Review	39-41 months	Before the end of month 42	42-44 months	Before the end of month 45

Summary of timings of progression reviews for research students who enrolled on their doctoral studies on or after 1 August 2016 (flexible route iPhD Biomedical Science programme).
	First Attempt		Second Attempt
	Submission window	Decision deadline	Submission window	Decision deadline
Year 1 Taught Modules
First Progression Review	36-40 months	Before the end of month 42	42-44 months	Before the end of month 46
Second Progression Review (Confirmation)	52-56 months	Before the end of month 58	58-62 months	Before the end of month 64
Third Progression Review	70-74 months	Before the end of month 76	76-80 months	Before the end of month 82

Addition

Years 2-4 of this programme may be subject to DBS requirements, see clause 4 of the Policy and guidance for applicants with criminal records.

These regulations should be read in conjunction with the Programme Specification.

Disclaimer

As a research-led University, we undertake a continuous review of our programmes to ensure quality enhancement and to manage our resources. As a result, these regulations may be revised during a student’s period of registration, however, any revision will be balanced against the requirement that the student should receive the educational service expected. Please read our Disclaimer to see why, when and how changes may be made to a student’s programme.