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Covid-19 upgrade deadline extensions


 

Phase 2 of the Covid non-funded extension scheme is focussed on those of you with a deadline this calendar year and combines a blanket extension with the opportunity to apply for a further extension if your circumstances demand it.

 

12 week blanket extension

A 12 week blanket deadline extension will be granted automatically to postgraduate researchers with an upgrade deadline before 31 December 2021.

The Doctoral School will be contacting all of you who are eligible by 12 March to confirm your new deadline under this scheme.  

 

Application for a further extension

We understand that there will be some of you with a deadline this year for whom this 12 weeks does not adequately reflect the extent that the pandemic has impacted on your progress, regardless of any mitigating steps you have tried to take.  If you fall into this category, we welcome an application from you for a further extension (unfunded) to your deadline.

Phase 2 Covid-19 deadline extension application form  

 

Not eligible under this scheme?

For those of you with an upgrade deadline after December 2021 whose progress has been adversely affected by Covid-19, we invite you to submit a Covid non-funded deadline extension application once you are within 3 - 4 months of your upgrade deadline.  In the meantime, please continue to work with your supervisor to reshape your research where possible to help minimise the impact and please continue to keep an informal log of how you have been affected, so that you have all the details to hand when the time comes for you to apply for the extension.

 

Still have questions?

Please have a look at the FAQs below but if you are not able to find the answer to your query  there, please do not hesitate to contact the Doctoral School at doctoralschool@rhul.ac.uk.

 

FAQs 

Does the 12 week blanket extension mean that I'm not permitted to have my upgrade meeting by the date originally planned?

No - don’t worry if you are ready to have your upgrade meeting as originally planned; the blanket extension is not there to hold you up unnecessarily but to be used if you need it.

Am I eligible for the 12 week blanket extension scheme even if I successfully applied for an extension under phase 1 of the extension scheme?

Yes - all postgraduate researchers with a current upgrade deadline before 31 December 2021 are eligible for the blanket  extension, regardless of whether you were granted an upgrade extension under phase 1 of the scheme.

I wish to request a further extension due to the impact of Covid-19. What is the application process?

  1. Complete section 1 of the Phase 2 Covid-19 deadline extension application form  
    • The maximum period that can be requested at any one time is 6 months
  2. Forward the completed form to your supervisor for approval;
  3. Your supervisor completes section 2 to confirm their support for the request
  4. Your supervisor forwards the completed form and any available evidence to doctoralschool@royalholloway.ac.uk;
  5. The Doctoral School sends the request to your School Director of PGR Education for approval;
    • All previous extensions granted due to Covid-19 will be taken into consideration when making a decision
    • All evidence submitted and mitigation strategies employed will be considered when making a decision
  6. The Doctoral School informs you and your supervisor of the outcome and your student record is updated accordingly.

 

Contact us

By email: 

doctoralschool@rhul.ac.uk

 Quick link

Phase 2 Covid-19 deadline extension application form 

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