Students may follow a variety of recruitment and selection pathways, such as self-funding, or by obtaining studentships funded by the University, the Research Councils, or external partners.

Please visit the following link  for information about the various programmes we offer and further details on how to apply: Research Programmes

If you have any queries about the programmes, please contact the relevant Departmental Recruitment Lead to discuss your area of research interest.  They will be able to offer you advice and guidance on potential supervisors.  You can also look for possible supervisors here Royal Holloway Research Portal.  Once a supervisor has been identified they will be able to help you develop your research proposal.

Applicants will need to apply via the Royal Holloway Applicant Portal for their place to study with us. If you have any queries regarding the Admissions system, or completing the online application, please contact Admissions via their online query form here or via email at Applicants@rhul.ac.uk

Information on available funding can be seen here. Royal Holloway also regularly advertises studentships via Jobs.ac.uk and FindAPhD. 

Deadlines for funding applications vary depending on the scheme the student is applying for. 

If a student is in receipt of funding their supervisor must submit a studentship nomination form which provides the details of their funding to the Doctoral School so the student's studentship may be processed, their tuition fee liability updated, and their stipend issued. Students in receipt of funding will receive an official studentship offer letter from Royal Holloway that will include the full details of their funding.

Our International Advice Team is here to make sure that students get the most from their time in the UK.

The International Advice Teams, provides support to students from over 130 countries who choose Royal Holloway to undertake their studies. 

The International Advice Team serves international students on a range of support and wellbeing issues, including visa and immigration advice, supporting integration into study and life in the UK, administering US Federal Loans and providing guidance on a number of other questions that international students may have while studying here. 

You can find more information, including contact details, for the International Advice Team here. 

Induction:

If students begin at the start of the Autumn or Spring term, they will be invited to join the Doctoral School induction.

Departmental inductions only take place during the Autum term.

Students with start dates that don’t align with the start of term will be invited to the next available Doctoral School induction.

Term dates can be found here. 

More information about inductions can be found here.

 

Welcome Communications:

New students will receive at least two communications before their start date:

• Enrolment Information (including their student email address).
• Basic induction information, PGR student handbook information, Start of Session Form, and how to register with the Disability & Neurodiversity team.
• If starting in September or October, they will also receive a welcome to their school and details about induction sessions.

In the month before their start date students will receive enrolment information. Enrolment consists of three steps: 

• Online Sign Up
• Tuition Fee Payment
• Complete an Identity Check

Students in receipt of studentships must complete enrolment before they can receive their stipend payments. Information on studentship stipend payments can be found here. 

Students should also ensure their UK bank details are added to Campus Connect at this time and kept up to date. Information on how to do this can be found here. 

All students are expected to have one annual review every 12 months.

The annual review deadline is calculated as 12 months from the student’s start date.

The first annual review should take place within 9-12 months from start date.

Annual Review Guidance – For Students

Expectations of the process vary from department to department – refer to the department checklists for more information.

Access Arrangements for Students Registered with Disability and Neurodiversity Services (D&N)

Supervisory Teams:

These should have at least two members:

• Primary Supervisor
• Second Supervisor or Advisor

Advisors are not expected to offer guidance on academic work – they are essentially a pastoral role.

A Start of Session Form should be completed within the first few weeks of study and returned to the Doctoral School so that the supervisory details can be updated.

Supervision:

A schedule of meetings should be agreed between the student and their supervisory team.

• Meetings with supervisors – as a minimum, they should have at least 1 meeting per month. For lab-based projects, contact will be more regular – often on a weekly basis.
• Meetings with advisor – as a minimum, they should meet at least 3 times per year.

Students should keep a record of supervisory meetings to be discussed at annual review.

Students should complete at least 10 days of research training every calendar year. They should keep a log of training completed to be discussed at annual review.

Researcher Development Programme: 

The Researcher Development Programme offers workshops and other resources to help you develop transferable and employable skills and capabilities that will be invaluable for your doctoral research and broader professional development. More information on the Researcher Development Programme can be found here. 

Departmental & School Training Opportunities: 

Please refer to your departmental handbook appendices for department specific opportunities. 

Full-time students are allowed to take up to 26 days of holiday every 12 months of registration plus 14 days of bank holidays and University closure days. Weekends are not included.

Students should notify their supervisors of any holiday taken and keep a log for their record.

If the student holds a Student Route visa, they should also complete this Microsoft Form to alert the Doctoral School.

Leave Guidance for PGRs and Supervisors

Returning students will be sent enrolment email reminders in the summer. Re-enrolment consists of two steps: 

• Online Sign Up - Must be completed each summer
• Tuition Fee Payment - completed annually and billed 1 month prior to the anniversary of the student's start date

Students in receipt of studentships must complete enrolment before they can receive their stipend payments. Information on studentship stipend payments can be found here. 

Students should also ensure their UK bank details are added to Campus Connect at this time and kept up to date. Information on how to do this can be found here. 

All students are expected to have one annual review every 12 months.

The annual review deadline is calculated as 12 months from the anniversary of the student’s start date.

Annual Review Guidance – For Students

Expectations of the process vary from department to department – refer to the department checklists for more information.

Access Arrangements for Students Registered with Disability and Neurodiversity Services (D&N)

To enter the PhD examination, students must successfully complete the Upgrade from MPhil to PhD – it is not an automatic right.

The panel will assess:

• Appropriate standard, progress and adequate project of original research
• Ability to complete the project within the regulatory submission deadline
• Enough research training has been completed since the beginning of studies.

If the panel feels that the student has not met the criteria, they may permit the student to have a second and final attempt at upgrade.

The format of the final thesis will be confirmed during the upgrade meeting.

Upgrade Deadline:

• First attempt – by 20 months from start date (if student started before 01 August 2025) / 18 months from start date (if student started on or after 01 August 2025).
• Final attempt (if necessary) – by 24 months from start date.

Upgrade Guidance – For Students

Expectations of the process vary from department to department – refer to the department checklists for more information.

Access Arrangements for Students Registered with Disability and Neurodiversity Services (D&N)

A schedule of meetings should be agreed between the student and their supervisory team.

• Meetings with supervisors – as a minimum, they should have at least 1 meeting every 6 weeks. For lab-based projects, contact will be more regular – often on a weekly basis.
• Meetings with advisor – as a minimum, they should meet at least 3 times per year.

Students should keep a record of supervisory meetings to be discussed at annual review.

Students should complete at least 10 days of research training every calendar year. They should keep a log of training completed to be discussed at annual review.

Researcher Development Programme: 

The Researcher Development Programme offers workshops and other resources to help you develop transferable and employable skills and capabilities that will be invaluable for your doctoral research and broader professional development. More information on the Researcher Development Programme can be found here. 

Departmental & School Training Opportunities: 

Please refer to your departmental handbook appendices for department specific opportunities. 

Full-time students are allowed to take up to 26 days of holiday every 12 months of registration plus 14 days of bank holidays and University closure days. Weekends are not included.

Students should notify their supervisors of any holiday taken and keep a log for their record.

If the student holds a Student Route visa, they should also complete this Microsoft Form to alert the Doctoral School.

Leave Guidance for PGRs and Supervisors

Returning students will be sent enrolment email reminders in the summer. Re-enrolment consists of two steps: 

• Online Sign Up
• Tuition Fee Payment

Students in receipt of studentships must complete enrolment before they can receive their stipend payments. Information on studentship stipend payments can be found here. 

Students should also ensure their UK bank details are added to Campus Connect at this time and kept up to date. Information on how to do this can be found here. 

All students are expected to have one annual review every 12 months.

The annual review deadline is calculated as 12 months from the anniversary of the student’s start date.

Annual Review Guidance – For Students

Expectations of the process vary from department to department – refer to the department checklists for more information.

Access Arrangements for Students Registered with Disability and Neurodiversity Services (D&N)

A schedule of meetings should be agreed between the student and their supervisory team.

• Meetings with supervisors – as a minimum, they should have at least 1 meeting every 6 weeks. For lab-based projects, contact will be more regular – often on a weekly basis.
• Meetings with advisor – as a minimum, they should meet at least 3 times per year.

Students should keep a record of supervisory meetings to be discussed at annual review.

Students should complete at least 10 days of research training every calendar year. They should keep a log of training completed to be discussed at annual review.

Researcher Development Programme: 

The Researcher Development Programme offers workshops and other resources to help you develop transferable and employable skills and capabilities that will be invaluable for your doctoral research and broader professional development. More information on the Researcher Development Programme can be found here. 

Departmental & School Training Opportunities: 

Please refer to your departmental handbook appendices for department specific opportunities. 

Full-time students are allowed to take up to 26 days of holiday every 12 months of registration plus 14 days of bank holidays and University closure days. Weekends are not included.

Students should notify their supervisors of any holiday taken and keep a log for their record.

If the student holds a Student Route visa, they should also complete this Microsoft Form to alert the Doctoral School.

Leave Guidance for PGRs and Supervisors

Returning students will be sent enrolment email reminders in the summer. Re-enrolment consists of two steps: 

• Online Sign Up
• Tuition Fee Payment - if a student submits their thesis within one month from the anniversary of their start date then they won’t be liable to pay the writing-up fee. If they submit before their submission deadline, they will receive a pro-rata refund of their writing-up fee.

Students in receipt of studentships must complete enrolment before they can receive their stipend payments. Information on studentship stipend payments can be found here. 

Students should also ensure their UK bank details are added to Campus Connect at this time and kept up to date. Information on how to do this can be found here. 

Students are expected to complete a Pre-Submission Review within 6 months from their submission deadline (if they have not submitted their thesis by then).

This meeting will involve the School Director of PGR Education or the PGR Lead.

The meeting is an opportunity to:

• Discuss the student’s work and preparation for the examination
• Assess whether the student is likely to make the deadline and discuss options available if the student is unlikely to make the deadline

Annual Review Guidance – For Students

Expectations of the process vary from department to department – refer to the department checklists for more information.

Once the meeting has taken place, the completed Pre-submission Review form should be sent to the Doctoral School for processing. 

MPhil/PhD Exam Entry

Students will receive communications 6 months, 2 months and 1 month before their submission deadline to:

• Remind them of the date they are expected to submit by.
• Clarify the submission process.
• Request the entry form is submitted.
• Explain what happens if they don’t submit by their deadline.

The Entry Form should be sent to the Doctoral School by the School Director of PGR Education within 2 months from the student’s deadline / the time the student is aiming to submit (if earlier than their regulatory deadline).

Guidance on Completing the PhD/MPhil Entry Form

As needed to support the student during the writing of the thesis.

Students are not required to complete any mandatory number of research training days.

Students might find helpful to take attend training to help them with viva preparation, building their life beyond the PhD, etc.

Full-time students are allowed to take up to 26 days of holiday every 12 months of registration plus 14 days of bank holidays and University closure days. Weekends are not included.

Students should notify their supervisors of any holiday taken and keep a log for their record.

If the student holds a Student Route visa, they should also complete this Microsoft Form to alert the Doctoral School.

Leave Guidance for PGRs and Supervisors

All PGR students must complete online sign-up every academic year until they are formally awarded their programme, even after submitting their thesis.

Returning students will be sent enrolment email reminders in the summer. Re-enrolment consists of two steps: 

• Online Sign Up - Must be completed each summer
• Tuition Fee Payment - No further fees will be billed following submission, unless the student is granted a resubmission as outcome of the viva.  

MPhil/PhD submissions are electronic only. Hard copies are only needed if:

• Reasons of Confidentiality – this should be requested on the entry form.
• The examiner(s) request a hard copy.

The following should be emailed to the Doctoral School when submitting the thesis:

• Electronic version of the thesis
• Declaration of number of words

Formats of the MPhil/PhD thesis

Practice-Based Theses

Instructions and Notes for Submission

MPhil/PhD Thesis Submission

The Doctoral School will send the thesis to the examiners and independent chair once they have formally accepted our invitation to examine.

The Viva: 

The supervisor will schedule the viva and inform the Doctoral School of the date.

At the viva, the examiners will discuss the contents of the thesis with the student to ensure it is the student’s own work and to clarify any areas the examiners are unclear about.

Access Arrangements for Students Registered with Disability and Neurodiversity Services (D&N)

Outcome: 

Viva outcome

After the viva, the examiners will send their final report to the Doctoral School. The Doctoral School will communicate the outcome to the student officially and confirm the deadline to complete any necessary amendments (if applicable).

The most common outcomes are:

• Pass
• Pass subject to minor corrections (3 months)
• Pass subject to moderate amendments (9 months)
• Resubmission within 12 / 18 months (with or without a second viva) – the student will be billed a resubmission fee

Amendments Process:

Students are expected to send their corrections by email to the nominated examiners on or before their deadline (cc’ing the Doctoral School in the communication).

The examiner will check the amended thesis and confirm whether the student has completed the necessary amendments.

Submitting the Final Version of the Thesis to Pure:

Once the thesis is signed off by the examiners, the student will be asked to submit their final thesis to Pure before the award can be confirmed formally.

The thesis will be available via Open Access, but the student can request this to be embargoed for a limited time for confidentiality / commercial reasons.

Award Process

The formal award must be approved by the School Director of PGR Education after the examiners confirm that the student’s thesis meets the MPhil/PhD requirements.

The award date is the 1^st of the month following the approval of the award.

The Doctoral School will process the award and send the award letter and copy of the examiners’ report by email to the student.

The certificate will be sent within 3 to 6 months following this by the Diploma Production Office.

Degree Certificate and Graduation

PGR students are eligible to attend both the Winter and Summer graduation ceremonies.

Students in the writing-up year will be invited to book attendance on the next graduation ceremony as standard, but that does not make them automatically eligible.

Winter graduation eligibility – the student needs a 01 November award date (or earlier) and the final copy of the thesis should be submitted to Pure by 30 November.

Summer graduation eligibility – the student needs a 01 June award date (or earlier) and the final copy of the thesis should be submitted to Pure by 30 June.

Students may follow a variety of recruitment and selection pathways, such as self-funding, or by obtaining studentships funded by the University, the Research Councils, or external partners.

Please visit the following link  for information about the various programmes we offer and further details on how to apply: Research Programmes

If you have any queries about the programmes, please contact the relevant Departmental Recruitment Lead to discuss your area of research interest.  They will be able to offer you advice and guidance on potential supervisors.  You can also look for possible supervisors here Royal Holloway Research Portal.  Once a supervisor has been identified they will be able to help you develop your research proposal.

Applicants will need to apply via the Royal Holloway Applicant Portal for their place to study with us. If you have any queries regarding the Admissions system, or completing the online application, please contact Admissions via their online query form here or via email at Applicants@rhul.ac.uk

Information on available funding can be seen here. Royal Holloway also regularly advertises studentships via Jobs.ac.uk and FindAPhD. 

Deadlines for funding applications vary depending on the scheme the student is applying for. 

If a student is in receipt of funding their supervisor must submit a studentship nomination form which provides the details of their funding to the Doctoral School so the student's studentship may be processed, their tuition fee liability updated, and their stipend issued. Students in receipt of funding will receive an official studentship offer letter from Royal Holloway that will include the full details of their funding.

Our International Advice Team is here to make sure that students get the most from their time in the UK.

The International Advice Teams, provides support to students from over 130 countries who choose Royal Holloway to undertake their studies. 

The International Advice Team serves international students on a range of support and wellbeing issues, including visa and immigration advice, supporting integration into study and life in the UK, administering US Federal Loans and providing guidance on a number of other questions that international students may have while studying here. 

You can find more information, including contact details, for the International Advice Team here. 

*Students on a Tier 4 Student-Route Visa are not eligable to study part time. 

Induction:

If students begin at the start of the Autumn or Spring term, they will be invited to join the Doctoral School induction.

Departmental inductions only take place during the Autum term.

Students with start dates that don’t align with the start of term will be invited to the next available Doctoral School induction.

Term dates can be found here. 

More information about inductions can be found here.

 

Welcome Communications:

New students will receive at least two communications before their start date:

• Enrolment Information (including their student email address).
• Basic induction information, PGR student handbook information, Start of Session Form, and how to register with the Disability & Neurodiversity team.
• If starting in September or October, they will also receive a welcome to their school and details about induction sessions.

In the month before their start date students will receive enrolment information. Enrolment consists of three steps: 

• Online Sign Up
• Tuition Fee Payment
• Complete an Identity Check

Students in receipt of studentships must complete enrolment before they can receive their stipend payments. Information on studentship stipend payments can be found here. 

Students should also ensure their UK bank details are added to Campus Connect at this time and kept up to date. Information on how to do this can be found here. 

All students are expected to have one annual review every 12 months.

The annual review deadline is calculated as 12 months from the student’s start date.

The first annual review should take place within 9-12 months from start date.

Annual Review Guidance – For Students

Expectations of the process vary from department to department – refer to the department checklists for more information.

Access Arrangements for Students Registered with Disability and Neurodiversity Services (D&N)

Supervisory Teams:

These should have at least two members:

• Primary Supervisor
• Second Supervisor or Advisor

Advisors are not expected to offer guidance on academic work – they are essentially a pastoral role.

A Start of Session Form should be completed within the first few weeks of study and returned to the Doctoral School so that the supervisory details can be updated.

Supervision:

A schedule of meetings should be agreed between the student and their supervisory team.

• Meetings with supervisors – as a minimum, they should have at least 1 meeting every 2 months. For lab-based projects, contact will be more regular – often on a fortnightly basis.
• Meetings with advisor – as a minimum, they should meet at least 3 times per year.

Students should keep a record of supervisory meetings to be discussed at annual review.

Students should complete at least 5 days of research training every calendar year. They should keep a log of training completed to be discussed at annual review.

Researcher Development Programme: 

The Researcher Development Programme offers workshops and other resources to help you develop transferable and employable skills and capabilities that will be invaluable for your doctoral research and broader professional development. More information on the Researcher Development Programme can be found here. 

Departmental & School Training Opportunities: 

Please refer to your departmental handbook appendices for department specific opportunities. 

Part-time students are allowed to take up to 13 days of holiday every 12 months of registration plus 14 days of bank holidays and University closure days. Weekends are not included.

Students should notify their supervisors of any holiday taken and keep a log for their record.

If the student holds a Student Route visa, they should also complete this Microsoft Form to alert the Doctoral School.

Leave Guidance for PGRs and Supervisors

Returning students will be sent enrolment email reminders in the summer. Re-enrolment consists of two steps: 

• Online Sign Up
• Tuition Fee Payment

Students in receipt of studentships must complete enrolment before they can receive their stipend payments. Information on studentship stipend payments can be found here. 

Students should also ensure their UK bank details are added to Campus Connect at this time and kept up to date. Information on how to do this can be found here. 

All students are expected to have one annual review every 12 months.

The annual review deadline is calculated as 12 months from the anniversary of the student’s start date.

Annual Review Guidance – For Students

Expectations of the process vary from department to department – refer to the department checklists for more information.

Access Arrangements for Students Registered with Disability and Neurodiversity Services (D&N)

A schedule of meetings should be agreed between the student and their supervisory team.

• Meetings with supervisors – as a minimum, they should have at least 1 meeting every 12 weeks. For lab-based projects, contact will be more regular – often on a fortnightly basis.
• Meetings with advisor – as a minimum, they should meet at least 3 times per year.

Students should keep a record of supervisory meetings to be discussed at annual review.

Students should complete at least 5 days of research training every calendar year. They should keep a log of training completed to be discussed at annual review.

Researcher Development Programme: 

The Researcher Development Programme offers workshops and other resources to help you develop transferable and employable skills and capabilities that will be invaluable for your doctoral research and broader professional development. More information on the Researcher Development Programme can be found here. 

Departmental & School Training Opportunities: 

Please refer to your departmental handbook appendices for department specific opportunities. 

Part-time students are allowed to take up to 13 days of holiday every 12 months of registration plus 14 days of bank holidays and University closure days. Weekends are not included.

Students should notify their supervisors of any holiday taken and keep a log for their record.

If the student holds a Student Route visa, they should also complete this Microsoft Form to alert the Doctoral School.

Leave Guidance for PGRs and Supervisors

Returning students will be sent enrolment email reminders in the summer. Re-enrolment consists of two steps: 

• Online Sign Up
• Tuition Fee Payment

Students in receipt of studentships must complete enrolment before they can receive their stipend payments. Information on studentship stipend payments can be found here. 

Students should also ensure their UK bank details are added to Campus Connect at this time and kept up to date. Information on how to do this can be found here. 

All students are expected to have one annual review every 12 months.

The annual review deadline is calculated as 12 months from the anniversary of the student’s start date.

Annual Review Guidance – For Students

Expectations of the process vary from department to department – refer to the department checklists for more information.

Access Arrangements for Students Registered with Disability and Neurodiversity Services (D&N)

To enter the PhD examination, students must successfully complete the Upgrade from MPhil to PhD – it is not an automatic right.

The panel will assess:

• Appropriate standard, progress and adequate project of original research
• Ability to complete the project within the regulatory submission deadline
• Enough research training has been completed since the beginning of studies.

If the panel feels that the student has not met the criteria, they may permit the student to have a second and final attempt at upgrade.

The format of the final thesis will be confirmed during the upgrade meeting.

Upgrade Deadline:

• First attempt – by 40 months from start date (if student started before 01 August 2025) / 36 months from start date (if student started on or after 01 August 2025).
• Final attempt (if necessary) – by 48 months from start date.

Upgrade Guidance – For Students

Expectations of the process vary from department to department – refer to the department checklists for more information.

Access Arrangements for Students Registered with Disability and Neurodiversity Services (D&N)

A schedule of meetings should be agreed between the student and their supervisory team.

• Meetings with supervisors – as a minimum, they should have at least 1 meeting every 12 weeks. For lab-based projects, contact will be more regular – often on a fortnightly basis.
• Meetings with advisor – as a minimum, they should meet at least 3 times per year.

Students should keep a record of supervisory meetings to be discussed at annual review.

Students should complete at least 5 days of research training every calendar year. They should keep a log of training completed to be discussed at annual review.

Researcher Development Programme: 

The Researcher Development Programme offers workshops and other resources to help you develop transferable and employable skills and capabilities that will be invaluable for your doctoral research and broader professional development. More information on the Researcher Development Programme can be found here. 

Departmental & School Training Opportunities: 

Please refer to your departmental handbook appendices for department specific opportunities. 

Part-time students are allowed to take up to 13 days of holiday every 12 months of registration plus 14 days of bank holidays and University closure days. Weekends are not included.

Students should notify their supervisors of any holiday taken and keep a log for their record.

If the student holds a Student Route visa, they should also complete this Microsoft Form to alert the Doctoral School.

Leave Guidance for PGRs and Supervisors

Returning students will be sent enrolment email reminders in the summer. Re-enrolment consists of two steps: 

• Online Sign Up
• Tuition Fee Payment

Students in receipt of studentships must complete enrolment before they can receive their stipend payments. Information on studentship stipend payments can be found here. 

Students should also ensure their UK bank details are added to Campus Connect at this time and kept up to date. Information on how to do this can be found here. 

All students are expected to have one annual review every 12 months.

The annual review deadline is calculated as 12 months from the anniversary of the student’s start date.

Annual Review Guidance – For Students

Expectations of the process vary from department to department – refer to the department checklists for more information.

Access Arrangements for Students Registered with Disability and Neurodiversity Services (D&N) 

*Only required in year 4 if not passed in year 3.  

To enter the PhD examination, students must successfully complete the Upgrade from MPhil to PhD – it is not an automatic right.

The panel will assess:

• Appropriate standard, progress and adequate project of original research
• Ability to complete the project within the regulatory submission deadline
• Enough research training has been completed since the beginning of studies.

If the panel feels that the student has not met the criteria, they may permit the student to have a second and final attempt at upgrade.

The format of the final thesis will be confirmed during the upgrade meeting.

Upgrade Deadline:

• First attempt – by 40 months from start date (if student started before 01 August 2025) / 36 months from start date (if student started on or after 01 August 2025).
• Final attempt (if necessary) – by 48 months from start date.

Upgrade Guidance – For Students

Expectations of the process vary from department to department – refer to the department checklists for more information.

Access Arrangements for Students Registered with Disability and Neurodiversity Services (D&N) 

A schedule of meetings should be agreed between the student and their supervisory team.

• Meetings with supervisors – as a minimum, they should have at least 1 meeting every 12 weeks. For lab-based projects, contact will be more regular – often on a fortnightly basis.
• Meetings with advisor – as a minimum, they should meet at least 3 times per year.

Students should keep a record of supervisory meetings to be discussed at annual review.

Students should complete at least 5 days of research training every calendar year. They should keep a log of training completed to be discussed at annual review.

Researcher Development Programme: 

The Researcher Development Programme offers workshops and other resources to help you develop transferable and employable skills and capabilities that will be invaluable for your doctoral research and broader professional development. More information on the Researcher Development Programme can be found here. 

Departmental & School Training Opportunities: 

Please refer to your departmental handbook appendices for department specific opportunities. 

Part-time students are allowed to take up to 13 days of holiday every 12 months of registration plus 14 days of bank holidays and University closure days. Weekends are not included.

Students should notify their supervisors of any holiday taken and keep a log for their record.

If the student holds a Student Route visa, they should also complete this Microsoft Form to alert the Doctoral School.

Leave Guidance for PGRs and Supervisors

Returning students will be sent enrolment email reminders in the summer. Re-enrolment consists of two steps: 

• Online Sign Up
• Tuition Fee Payment

Students in receipt of studentships must complete enrolment before they can receive their stipend payments. Information on studentship stipend payments can be found here. 

Students should also ensure their UK bank details are added to Campus Connect at this time and kept up to date. Information on how to do this can be found here. 

All students are expected to have one annual review every 12 months.

The annual review deadline is calculated as 12 months from the anniversary of the student’s start date.

Annual Review Guidance – For Students

Expectations of the process vary from department to department – refer to the department checklists for more information.

Access Arrangements for Students Registered with Disability and Neurodiversity Services (D&N)  

A schedule of meetings should be agreed between the student and their supervisory team.

• Meetings with supervisors – as a minimum, they should have at least 1 meeting every 12 weeks. For lab-based projects, contact will be more regular – often on a fortnightly basis.
• Meetings with advisor – as a minimum, they should meet at least 3 times per year.

Students should keep a record of supervisory meetings to be discussed at annual review.

Students should complete at least 5 days of research training every calendar year. They should keep a log of training completed to be discussed at annual review.

Researcher Development Programme: 

The Researcher Development Programme offers workshops and other resources to help you develop transferable and employable skills and capabilities that will be invaluable for your doctoral research and broader professional development. More information on the Researcher Development Programme can be found here. 

Departmental & School Training Opportunities: 

Please refer to your departmental handbook appendices for department specific opportunities. 

Part-time students are allowed to take up to 13 days of holiday every 12 months of registration plus 14 days of bank holidays and University closure days. Weekends are not included.

Students should notify their supervisors of any holiday taken and keep a log for their record.

If the student holds a Student Route visa, they should also complete this Microsoft Form to alert the Doctoral School.

Leave Guidance for PGRs and Supervisors

Returning students will be sent enrolment email reminders in the summer. Re-enrolment consists of two steps: 

• Online Sign Up
• Tuition Fee Payment

Students in receipt of studentships must complete enrolment before they can receive their stipend payments. Information on studentship stipend payments can be found here. 

Students should also ensure their UK bank details are added to Campus Connect at this time and kept up to date. Information on how to do this can be found here. 

All students are expected to have one annual review every 12 months.

The annual review deadline is calculated as 12 months from the anniversary of the student’s start date.

Annual Review Guidance – For Students

Expectations of the process vary from department to department – refer to the department checklists for more information.

Access Arrangements for Students Registered with Disability and Neurodiversity Services (D&N)  

A schedule of meetings should be agreed between the student and their supervisory team.

• Meetings with supervisors – as a minimum, they should have at least 1 meeting every 12 weeks. For lab-based projects, contact will be more regular – often on a fortnightly basis.
• Meetings with advisor – as a minimum, they should meet at least 3 times per year.

Students should keep a record of supervisory meetings to be discussed at annual review.

Students should complete at least 5 days of research training every calendar year. They should keep a log of training completed to be discussed at annual review.

Researcher Development Programme: 

The Researcher Development Programme offers workshops and other resources to help you develop transferable and employable skills and capabilities that will be invaluable for your doctoral research and broader professional development. More information on the Researcher Development Programme can be found here. 

Departmental & School Training Opportunities: 

Please refer to your departmental handbook appendices for department specific opportunities. 

Part-time students are allowed to take up to 13 days of holiday every 12 months of registration plus 14 days of bank holidays and University closure days. Weekends are not included.

Students should notify their supervisors of any holiday taken and keep a log for their record.

If the student holds a Student Route visa, they should also complete this Microsoft Form to alert the Doctoral School.

Leave Guidance for PGRs and Supervisors

Returning students will be sent enrolment email reminders in the summer. Re-enrolment consists of two steps: 

• Online Sign Up
• Tuition Fee Payment - if a student submits their thesis within one month from the anniversary of their start date then they won’t be liable to pay the writing-up fee. If they submit before their submission deadline, they will receive a pro-rata refund of their writing-up fee.

Students in receipt of studentships must complete enrolment before they can receive their stipend payments. Information on studentship stipend payments can be found here. 

Students should also ensure their UK bank details are added to Campus Connect at this time and kept up to date. Information on how to do this can be found here. 

All students are expected to have one annual review every 12 months.

The annual review deadline is calculated as 12 months from the anniversary of the student’s start date.

Annual Review Guidance – For Students

Expectations of the process vary from department to department – refer to the department checklists for more information.

Access Arrangements for Students Registered with Disability and Neurodiversity Services (D&N)  

As needed to support the student during the writing of the thesis.

Students are not required to complete any mandatory number of research training days.

Students might find helpful to take attend training to help them with viva preparation, building their life beyond the PhD, etc.

Part-time students are allowed to take up to 13 days of holiday every 12 months of registration plus 14 days of bank holidays and University closure days. Weekends are not included.

Students should notify their supervisors of any holiday taken and keep a log for their record.

If the student holds a Student Route visa, they should also complete this Microsoft Form to alert the Doctoral School.

Leave Guidance for PGRs and Supervisors

Returning students will be sent enrolment email reminders in the summer. Re-enrolment consists of two steps: 

• Online Sign Up
• Tuition Fee Payment - if a student submits their thesis within one month from the anniversary of their start date then they won’t be liable to pay the writing-up fee. If they submit before their submission deadline, they will receive a pro-rata refund of their writing-up fee.

Students in receipt of studentships must complete enrolment before they can receive their stipend payments. Information on studentship stipend payments can be found here. 

Students should also ensure their UK bank details are added to Campus Connect at this time and kept up to date. Information on how to do this can be found here. 

Students are expected to complete a Pre-Submission Review within 6 months from their submission deadline (if they have not submitted their thesis by then).

This meeting will involve the School Director of PGR Education or the PGR Lead.

The meeting is an opportunity to:

• Discuss the student’s work and preparation for the examination
• Assess whether the student is likely to make the deadline and discuss options available if the student is unlikely to make the deadline

Annual Review Guidance – For Students

Expectations of the process vary from department to department – refer to the department checklists for more information 

Once the meeting has taken place, the completed Pre-submission Review form should be sent to the Doctoral School for processing. 

 MPhil/PhD Exam Entry

Students will receive communications 6 months, 2 months and 1 month before their submission deadline to:

• Remind them of the date they are expected to submit by.
• Clarify the submission process.
• Request the entry form is submitted.
• Explain what happens if they don’t submit by their deadline.

The Entry Form should be sent to the Doctoral School by the School Director of PGR Education within 2 months from the student’s deadline / the time the student is aiming to submit (if earlier than their regulatory deadline).

Guidance on Completing the PhD/MPhil Entry Form

As needed to support the student during the writing of the thesis.

Students are not required to complete any mandatory number of research training days.

Students might find helpful to take attend training to help them with viva preparation, building their life beyond the PhD, etc.

Part-time students are allowed to take up to 13 days of holiday every 12 months of registration plus 14 days of bank holidays and University closure days. Weekends are not included.

Students should notify their supervisors of any holiday taken and keep a log for their record.

If the student holds a Student Route visa, they should also complete this Microsoft Form to alert the Doctoral School.

Leave Guidance for PGRs and Supervisors

All PGR students must complete online sign-up every academic year until they are formally awarded their programme, even after submitting their thesis.

Returning students will be sent enrolment email reminders in the summer. Re-enrolment consists of two steps: 

• Online Sign Up - Must be completed each summer
• Tuition Fee Payment - No further fees will be billed following submission, unless the student is granted a resubmission as outcome of the viva.  

MPhil/PhD submissions are electronic only. Hard copies are only needed if:

• Reasons of Confidentiality – this should be requested on the entry form.
• The examiner(s) request a hard copy.

The following should be emailed to the Doctoral School when submitting the thesis:

• Electronic version of the thesis
• Declaration of number of words

Formats of the MPhil/PhD thesis

Practice-Based Theses

Instructions and Notes for Submission

MPhil/PhD Thesis Submission

The Doctoral School will send the thesis to the examiners and independent chair once they have formally accepted our invitation to examine.

The Viva: 

The supervisor will schedule the viva and inform the Doctoral School of the date.

At the viva, the examiners will discuss the contents of the thesis with the student to ensure it is the student’s own work and to clarify any areas the examiners are unclear about.

Access Arrangements for Students Registered with Disability and Neurodiversity Services (D&N)

Outcome: 

Viva outcome

After the viva, the examiners will send their final report to the Doctoral School. The Doctoral School will communicate the outcome to the student officially and confirm the deadline to complete any necessary amendments (if applicable).

The most common outcomes are:

• Pass
• Pass subject to minor corrections (3 months)
• Pass subject to moderate amendments (9 months)
• Resubmission within 12 / 18 months (with or without a second viva) – the student will be billed a resubmission fee

*The length of corrections is the same irrespective of mode of study. 

Amendments Process:

Students are expected to send their corrections by email to the nominated examiners on or before their deadline (cc’ing the Doctoral School in the communication).

The examiner will check the amended thesis and confirm whether the student has completed the necessary amendments.

Submitting the Final Version of the Thesis to Pure:

Once the thesis is signed off by the examiners, the student will be asked to submit their final thesis to Pure before the award can be confirmed formally.

The thesis will be available via Open Access, but the student can request this to be embargoed for a limited time for confidentiality / commercial reasons.

Award Process

The formal award must be approved by the School Director of PGR Education after the examiners confirm that the student’s thesis meets the MPhil/PhD requirements.

The award date is the 1st of the month following the approval of the award.

The Doctoral School will process the award and send the award letter and copy of the examiners’ report by email to the student.

The certificate will be sent within 3 to 6 months following this by the Diploma Production Office.

Degree Certificate and Graduation

PGR students are eligible to attend both the Winter and Summer graduation ceremonies.

Students in the writing-up year will be invited to book attendance on the next graduation ceremony as standard, but that does not make them automatically eligible.

Winter graduation eligibility – the student needs a 01 November award date (or earlier) and the final copy of the thesis should be submitted to Pure by 30 November.

Summer graduation eligibility – the student needs a 01 June award date (or earlier) and the final copy of the thesis should be submitted to Pure by 30 June.

Students may follow a variety of recruitment and selection pathways, such as self-funding, or by obtaining studentships funded by the University, the Research Councils, or external partners.

Please visit the following link  for information about the various programmes we offer and further details on how to apply: Research Programmes

If you have any queries about the programmes, please contact the relevant Departmental Recruitment Lead to discuss your area of research interest.  They will be able to offer you advice and guidance on potential supervisors.  You can also look for possible supervisors here Royal Holloway Research Portal.  Once a supervisor has been identified they will be able to help you develop your research proposal.

Applicants will need to apply via the Royal Holloway Applicant Portal for their place to study with us. If you have any queries regarding the Admissions system, or completing the online application, please contact Admissions via their online query form here or via email at Applicants@rhul.ac.uk

Information on available funding can be seen here. Royal Holloway also regularly advertises studentships via Jobs.ac.uk and FindAPhD. 

Deadlines for funding applications vary depending on the scheme the student is applying for. 

If a student is in receipt of funding their supervisor must submit a studentship nomination form which provides the details of their funding to the Doctoral School so the student's studentship may be processed, their tuition fee liability updated, and their stipend issued. Students in receipt of funding will receive an official studentship offer letter from Royal Holloway that will include the full details of their funding.

Our International Advice Team is here to make sure that students get the most from their time in the UK.

The International Advice Teams, provides support to students from over 130 countries who choose Royal Holloway to undertake their studies. 

The International Advice Team serves international students on a range of support and wellbeing issues, including visa and immigration advice, supporting integration into study and life in the UK, administering US Federal Loans and providing guidance on a number of other questions that international students may have while studying here. 

You can find more information, including contact details, for the International Advice Team here.

*Students on a Tier 4 Student-Route Visa are not eligable to study part time. 

Induction:

If students begin at the start of the Autumn or Spring term, they will be invited to join the Doctoral School induction.

Departmental inductions only take place during the Autum term.

Students with start dates that don’t align with the start of term will be invited to the next available Doctoral School induction.

Term dates can be found here. 

More information about inductions can be found here.

 *Please note, Masters by Research students with taught elements to their programme may have further restrictions on start dates. 

Welcome Communications:

New students will receive at least two communications before their start date:

• Enrolment Information (including their student email address).
• Basic induction information, PGR student handbook information, Start of Session Form, and how to register with the Disability & Neurodiversity team.
• If starting in September or October, they will also receive a welcome to their school and details about induction sessions.

In the month before their start date students will receive enrolment information. Enrolment consists of three steps: 

• Online Sign Up
• Tuition Fee Payment
• Complete an Identity Check

Students in receipt of studentships must complete enrolment before they can receive their stipend payments. Information on studentship stipend payments can be found here. 

Students should also ensure their UK bank details are added to Campus Connect at this time and kept up to date. Information on how to do this can be found here. 

Supervisory Teams:

These should have at least two members:

• Primary Supervisor
• Second Supervisor or Advisor

Advisors are not expected to offer guidance on academic work – they are essentially a pastoral role.

A Start of Session Form should be completed within the first few weeks of study and returned to the Doctoral School so that the supervisory details can be updated.

Supervision:

A schedule of meetings should be agreed between the student and their supervisory team.

• Meetings with supervisors – as a minimum, they should have at least 1 meeting per month (pro-rata part time). For lab-based projects, contact will be more regular – often on a weekly basis (fortnightly for part time).
• Meetings with advisor – as a minimum, they should meet at least 3 times per year.

Researcher Development Programme: 

The Researcher Development Programme offers workshops and other resources to help you develop transferable and employable skills and capabilities that will be invaluable for your doctoral research and broader professional development. More information on the Researcher Development Programme can be found here. 

Departmental & School Training Opportunities: 

Please refer to your departmental handbook appendices for department specific opportunities. 

Full-time students are allowed to take up to 26 days of holiday (13 days for part-time students) every 12 months of registration plus 14 days of bank holidays and University closure days. Weekends are not included.

Students should notify their supervisors of any holiday taken and keep a log for their record.

If the student holds a Student Route visa, they should also complete this Microsoft Form to alert the Doctoral School.

Leave Guidance for PGRs and Supervisors

Masters by Research Entry Form

Students will receive communications 4 months, 2 months and 1 month before their submission deadline to:

• Remind them of the date they are expected to submit by.
• Clarify the submission process.
• Request the entry form is submitted.
• Explain what happens if they don’t submit by their deadline.

The Entry Form should be sent to the Doctoral School by the School Director of PGR Education within 2 months from the student’s deadline / the time the student is aiming to submit (if earlier than their regulatory deadline).

Guidance on Completing the Masters by Research Entry Form

Students are expected to submit by their regulatory deadline (or earlier if stipulated by their funding body).

The dissertation will be assessed by two examiners. A viva voce will only be required if the examiners are considering a resubmission or a fail as the outcome of examination. 

After the examination, the student will be expected to make amendments to the dissertation before their programme can be formally awarded.

A final copy of the thesis should be submitted to the university’s online repository, Pure.

Overview of the Masters by Research Process

Returning students will be sent enrolment email reminders in the summer. Re-enrolment consists of two steps: 

• Online Sign Up
• Tuition Fee Payment

Students in receipt of studentships must complete enrolment before they can receive their stipend payments. Information on studentship stipend payments can be found here. 

Students should also ensure their UK bank details are added to Campus Connect at this time and kept up to date. Information on how to do this can be found here. 

A schedule of meetings should be agreed between the student and their supervisory team.

• Meetings with supervisors – as a minimum, they should have at least 1 meeting every 2months. For lab-based projects, contact will be more regular – often on a fortnightly basis.
• Meetings with advisor – as a minimum, they should meet at least 3 times per year.

Researcher Development Programme: 

The Researcher Development Programme offers workshops and other resources to help you develop transferable and employable skills and capabilities that will be invaluable for your doctoral research and broader professional development. More information on the Researcher Development Programme can be found here. 

Departmental & School Training Opportunities: 

Please refer to your departmental handbook appendices for department specific opportunities. 

Part-time students are allowed to take up to 13 days of holiday every 12 months of registration plus 14 days of bank holidays and University closure days. Weekends are not included.

Students should notify their supervisors of any holiday taken and keep a log for their record.

If the student holds a Student Route visa, they should also complete this Microsoft Form to alert the Doctoral School.

Leave Guidance for PGRs and Supervisors

Masters by Research Entry Form

Students will receive communications 4 months, 2 months and 1 month before their submission deadline to:

• Remind them of the date they are expected to submit by.
• Clarify the submission process.
• Request the entry form is submitted.
• Explain what happens if they don’t submit by their deadline.

The Entry Form should be sent to the Doctoral School by the School Director of PGR Education within 2 months from the student’s deadline / the time the student is aiming to submit (if earlier than their regulatory deadline).

Guidance on Completing the Masters by Research Entry Form

Students are expected to submit by their regulatory deadline (or earlier if stipulated by their funding body).

The dissertation will be assessed by two examiners. A viva voce will only be required if the examiners are considering a resubmission or a fail as the outcome of examination. 

After the examination, the student will be expected to make amendments to the dissertation before their programme can be formally awarded.

A final copy of the thesis should be submitted to the university’s online repository, Pure.

Overview of the Masters by Research Process

UKRI and University funded students may be eligable for funded sick leave. 

Non-funded students are not eligible for funded sick leave. However, if a student needs to take a period of leave for sickness, and are not in receipt of any funding, or they wish to take a period of leave after their funding has ended, they can request an interruption for medical reasons here.

UKRI and University funded students may be eligible for funded maternity, paternity, or adoption leave.  

Non-funded students are not eligible for funded maternity, paternity, or adoption leave. However, if a student needs to take a period of leave for maternity, paternity, or adoption, and are not in receipt of any funding, or they wish to take a period of leave after their funding has ended, they can request an interruption here. 

Throughout the programme, a student's circumstances may change, requiring them to change their mode of study. It is important that if they wish to change their mode of study to part-time or full-time, they inform the Doctoral School as soon as possible.

More information on changes of mode can be found here. 

In exceptional circumstances, an extension to the upgrade, submission, or the resubmission/corrections deadline may be granted via a Suspension of Regulations.  If required, a student should first contact their supervisory team to discuss.

If a student has not interrupted before, or has interrupted for less than 24 months in total throughout their study, they will be able to request an interruption, which is subject to the approval of their School's Director of PGR Education. However, there are particular issues that students should be aware of if they are funded, sponsored, on a student visa by Royal Holloway, or in their writing up year. Full information on the Interruption of Studies can be found here. 

Placements offer students a chance to gain valuable employability experiences outside of their research within a real working environment, bridging the gap between academic study and professional practice. Designed to develop practical skills, industry insight, and personal confidence, placements allow students to work alongside experienced teams, contribute to meaningful projects, and explore potential career paths. More information on Placements can be found here. 

When Student Route Visa students interrupt their studies, Royal Holloway will withdraw sponsorship and they will need to apply for a new visa when ready to return.

In exceptional circumstances, you may be permitted an authorised absence for a period less than 60 days:

• Under this type of authorised absence you are permitted to remain in the UK for the duration but this will impact the amount of leave remaining on your visa to complete your studies.
• Authorised absence must be approved in the same way as an interruption. 
• To discuss the authorised absence process please contact internationaladvice@rhul.ac.uk.