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Welcome
It is a great pleasure to welcome you to the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. This
handbook aims to provide you with key information about studying for research degrees
(PhD and MPhil) at Keele as well as information about resources and procedures within our
Faculty.
The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences has a thriving academic community made up
of active researchers in a wide variety of areas within the broad spectrum of Social Sciences.
As a postgraduate research student you are a member of this community, and you are
encouraged to take advantage of the various activities that make up the intellectual life of
the Faculty.
Research students are a very valuable part of the Faculty and we try and provide an
environment where your research can develop and flourish. If you have any queries, please
do not hesitate to get in touch with the relevant staff members (see a full list of contacts and
roles in the appendix), who will be happy to help you.
Every effort is made to ensure that the information contained in this Handbook and in all
other documentation provided by the School is correct at the time of publication. The
Handbook does not replace the entries in the University Regulations, which are authoritative
statements. In the case of a contradiction or other discrepancy between information in this
Handbook and the Regulations, the Regulations shall be authoritative, unless approval has
been given for a variation. We would however, be grateful to you for drawing any sources of
contradictory information to our attention. The University will do all it reasonably can to
provide the programme as described in this document. Given the duration of the
programme, circumstances beyond the University’s reasonable control may mean that it
cannot deliver the programme as described. In addition to the other information provided,
the University seeks to identify below the circumstances in which it may be required to make
changes. Where any such changes are made, the University will notify the relevant students
as early as reasonably possible and will take all reasonable steps to minimise any disruption
which may result, for example, by delivering a modified version of the programme, affording
the opportunity to withdraw and providing help to transfer to another institution or, where
relevant, by providing alternative optional modules. It may be helpful to remember that
Schools sometimes operate different procedures and you are advised to refer to the relevant
School Handbook for modules being taken in another School.
University Policies and Regulations
Student Charter: http://www.keele.ac.uk/aboutus/studentcharter/ - the Charter sets out
what you can expect of the University and our expectations of you. Student-related
regulations:
http://www.keele.ac.uk/aboutus/studentcharter/
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http://www.keele.ac.uk/paa/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/unive
rsityregulations/stud ent-relatedregulations/ Student Discipline procedures:
http://www.keele.ac.uk/studentdiscipline/ Regulations on examinations and assessments:
http://www.keele.ac.uk/regulations/regulation8/ Key University dates:
http://www.keele.ac.uk/keydates/ University Policy on Late Submission of Assessed Work:
http://www.keele.ac.uk/paa/academicadministration/policies/lateandfailuretosubmitwritte
nwork/
Code of practice http://www.keele.ac.uk/research/currentpgrstudents/codeofpractice/
file:///C:/Users/KeeleUni/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/Content.IE5/FTPU5PXS/Transfer/Conference%20Papers%202/www.keele.ac.uk/paa/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/universityregulations/stud%20ent-relatedregulations/
file:///C:/Users/KeeleUni/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/Content.IE5/FTPU5PXS/Transfer/Conference%20Papers%202/www.keele.ac.uk/paa/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/universityregulations/stud%20ent-relatedregulations/
file:///C:/Users/KeeleUni/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/Content.IE5/FTPU5PXS/Transfer/Conference%20Papers%202/www.keele.ac.uk/studentdiscipline/%20Regulations
file:///C:/Users/KeeleUni/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/Content.IE5/FTPU5PXS/Transfer/Conference%20Papers%202/www.keele.ac.uk/regulations/regulation8/%20Key%20University
file:///C:/Users/KeeleUni/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/Content.IE5/FTPU5PXS/Transfer/Conference%20Papers%202/www.keele.ac.uk/keydates/%20University%20Policy%20on%20Late%20Submission%20of%20Assessed%20Work
http://www.keele.ac.uk/paa/academicadministration/policies/lateandfailuretosubmitwrittenwork/
http://www.keele.ac.uk/paa/academicadministration/policies/lateandfailuretosubmitwrittenwork/
file:///C:/Users/KeeleUni/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/Content.IE5/FTPU5PXS/Transfer/Conference%20Papers%202/www.keele.ac.uk/research/currentpgrstudents/codeofpractice/
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CONTENTS
WELCOME ............................................................................................................................................................. 1
SECTION 1: THE POSTGRADUATE RESEARCHER.................................................................................... 5
1.1 THE AIMS OF POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH ................................................................................................................... 5
1.2 THE ROLE OF SUPERVISION ........................................................................................................................................... 6
SECTION 2: THE FACULTY OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES ............................................... 9
2.1 KEY CONTACTS ............................................................................................................................................................. 10
2.1.1 HumSS Faculty Research Director ........................................................................................................... 10
2.1.2 Postgraduate Research (PGR) Directors ............................................................................................... 10
2.1.3 PGR Administrators........................................................................................................................................ 11
2.1.4 PGR Student Representatives ..................................................................................................................... 11
2.2 COMMUNICATION ......................................................................................................................................................... 12
2.2.1 EVision ................................................................................................................................................................. 12
2.2.2 Keele Learning Environment (KLE) ......................................................................................................... 12
2.2.3 Links to forms and documentation .......................................................................................................... 12
2.2.3 Timetabling ....................................................................................................................................................... 13
2.2.4 IT Services .......................................................................................................................................................... 13
2.2.5 On-line profile ................................................................................................................................................... 14
2.3 KEY RESOURCES ..................................................................................................................................................... 14
2.3.1 Work space ........................................................................................................................................................ 14
2.3.2 Funding ............................................................................................................................................................... 15
2.3.3 Links to University policies and regulations............................................................................................ 15
2.3.4 Teaching Opportunities ................................................................................................................................. 16
2.3.5 Equipment Loans .............................................................................................................................................. 16
3.1 POSTGRADUATE COMMITTEES ....................................................................................................................................... 16
3.2 PLANNING AND ADMINISTRATION DIRECTORATE ..............................................
