Postgraduate Student Handbook 2018/19 - Keele University...Postgraduate Student Handbook 2018/19 . 2 ... The information given in this publication is accurate at the time of distribution

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Postgraduate Student Handbook

2018/19

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Keele University Faculty Medicine and Health Sciences (Laboratory)

Institute of Science and Technology in Medicine

Student Handbook 2018-9

PLEASE NOTE The information given in this publication is accurate at the time of distribution however; the

Postgraduate Committee may make amendments without notice.

If you need the handbook in an alternative format please contact the RI’s Postgraduate

Administrator via phone 01782 674989 or e-mail [email protected] Central University regulations and supplements are supplied separately and are available

online: http://www.keele.ac.uk/pgresearch/

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Welcome

Welcome

We are pleased to welcome you to your period of postgraduate research study with the Faculty of Medicine and

Health Sciences at Keele University. Our Research Institutes and Schools are built on dynamic partnerships of

multi-disciplinary academic teams, based at Keele, and clinicians in the local health services.

In this handbook we offer information and advice which we hope will enhance your time here. This handbook

should be used as a supplement to the Keele University Code of Practice on Postgraduate Research Degrees,

available online at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/research/currentpgrstudents/pgrcodeofpractice/

This provides the University’s authoritative guidelines on Postgraduate Research Degrees. If there is any conflict

between the Institute’s handbook and the University Code of Practice, then follow the University’s Code.

This document will provide information on expectations, requirements and support, including the normal

procedures for admission, registration and monitoring research student progress; the elements of research

training, over and above your thesis, that we regard as an integral part of an MPhil/PhD programme;1 the

support facilities available to you within the Institute and the University in general; and some general advice on

preparing your thesis and your viva.2

Despite every effort on our part, this handbook may contain errors, omissions or inconsistencies. We would

therefore be very grateful to receive your comments and thoughts, be they positive or negative, so future

students may benefit from your input and experience.

We hope and trust that you will enjoy your time with us.

Dr Clare Hoskins

Postgraduate Research Director

Research Institute for Science and Technology in Medicine.

1 All references in this handbook to PhD/MPhil students who are undertaking formal research training also apply to DPharm students. 2 The Institute of Science and Technology in Medicine would like to acknowledge and thank Primary Care and Health Sciences at Keele University, for kindly permitting us to use large parts of the content of their postgraduate research student handbook.

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Contents

Contents WELCOME………………………………………………………………………………………………...…………………………….3

SECTION 1 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES………………………………………………………..…………………….…..5

1.1 Planning & Academic Administration .………………………………………………………………….………….……6

1.2 The Research Institute…………………………………………………………………………………………...…...…..6

1.3 Supervisors……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…..7

1.4 The Student……………………………………………………………………………………………………...............10

1.5 Administrative Issues…………………………………………………………………………………………………..,.13

SECTION 2 STARTING OUT – THE FIRST FEW WEEKS……………………………………………………………………15

SECTION 3 INSTITUTE FACILITIES & RESOURCES…………………………………………………………………..........18

3.1 Facilities & Resources………………………………………………………………………………..………………....19

3.2 Keele University Library………………………………………………………………………….……………………..19

3.3 Theses ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…..20

3.4 Inter-library loans ..…………………………………………………………………………….………………………..20

3.5 Using other libraries ………………………………………………………………………….…………………………21

3.6 Resources for PGR Students………………………………………………………………….……………………….21

SECTION 4 PGR RESEARCH TRAINING AT KEELE………………………………………………………………………...24

4.1 Training Requirements………………………………………………………………………………………………....25

4.2 Personal Development and Learning Plan (PDLP)………………………………………………………….………26

4.3 Research Seminar Programme………………………………………………………………………………………..27

4.4 RI Postgraduate symposium …………………………………………………………………………………………..27

SECTION 5 MONITORING PROGRESS………………………………………………………………………………….…….28

5.1 Progress Report…………………………………………………………………………………………………………29

5.2 Doctoral Progressions and MPhil-PhD Transfer Procedures……………………...………………………….…...31

5.3 Continuation status……………………………………………………………………………………………………..32

SECTION 6 ETHICAL & RESEACH GOVERNANCE………………………………………………………………………...34

SECTION 7 EXAMINATION OF YOUR THESIS…………………………………………………………………………..….36

7.1 The Thesis……………………………………………………………………………………………………….……..37

7.2 How your thesis will be assessed…………………………………………………………………………………….38

SECTION 8 USEFUL READING………………………………………………………………………………………………...41

APPENDICES …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..….43

Appendix 1 Flowchart of Key Stages……………………………………………………………………………………...44

Appendix 2 RI PGR Committee Members………………………………………………………………………….........46

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Section 1 – Roles & Responsibilities

Section 1 - Roles & Responsibilities

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1 Roles & Responsibilities

1.1 Directorate of Student & Academic Services


The Directorate of Student & Academic Services supports the RIs. The Directorate services the

Research Degree Committee (which is responsible for ratifying decisions from the RI Postgraduate

Committees) and the Postgraduate Research Committee (which develops policy and overall strategy

relating to the University's postgraduate student community). The examination process for all doctoral

and MPhil students is also administered jointly by the RI with the Directorate.

Please see The Code of Practice for full details of the roles and responsibilities of Research Degrees

Committee and the Postgraduate Research Committee (formerly Graduate School Board)

https://www.keele.ac.uk/research/currentpgrstudents/pgrcodeofpractice/

1.2 The Research Institute (RI) The RI is responsible to students, the Faculty, the Directorate of Student & Academic Services and

the University for student recruitment, for their students’ research degree programmes and for

monitoring and supporting their progress on those programmes, within the institutional framework.

Within the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences there are two Postgraduate Committees, one

which covers projects within the Research Institute of Science and Technology in Medicine (iSTM)

(Laboratory based) and another within the Research Institutes of Primary Care and Health

Sciences (iPCHS) and Applied Clinical Sciences (iACS) (clinically based). The PGR committee has

responsibility for research degree programmes and students (or such other arrangements as best

suit the needs of students and the organization of the RI). The Committee is chaired by the Director

of Postgraduate research. Other members of the Committee include the RI Director, the RI

Research Manager, and other key academic staff within the RI.

The responsibilities of the RI Postgraduate Committee include:

• Dealing with enquiries and applications from potential students

• Monitoring student progress via learning plans, and progress reports

• Liaising with Academic Schools, Planning and Academic Administration and the RI

Administrator regarding procedures relating to research students

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• Approving applications relating to continuation, leave of absence and to change mode of

attendance

• Applications for the approval of supervisors and thesis titles

• Managing doctoral progression decision making and reporting to RDC

• Arranging pre-submission reviews and reporting to RDC

• Providing recommendations to RDC for examination panels; extensions; and withdrawals

owing to insufficient academic progress

• Contributing to strategic aspects of research in the Institute, through representing the

research student perspective on the academic management team

• Providing general support to all degree students in the Institute and being available for

confidential discussions and support as necessary

• Approve and ensuring appropriate use of student training funds


1.3 Supervisors

Effective supervision is central to a research student’s successful completion of a research degree.

The Keele University Code of Practice for Research Degrees provides information on supervision for

research degrees. All students and supervisors are urged to ensure that they have read, understood

and complied with the requirements set out there.

It cannot be emphasized enough how important the supervisor-student relationship is in the

MPhil/PhD process. Over the three years of full-time study or equivalent for part-time study, your

supervisors will have many roles such as teacher, mentor, pastoral tutor, colleague and hopefully

friend. They will certainly play a major role in getting you started in your career and the relationship

therefore is a complex one that evolves over the years. It is not easy to put together a person

specification for a generic ‘best PhD supervisor’ or ‘best PhD student’. Different kinds of supervisors

will suit different kinds of students but all are expected to take responsibility for the relationship.

Supervision in the Institute is provided by experienced, research-active members of academic staff

who will advise students on aspects of their research projects and on matters relating to procedures.

All research students must have at least two supervisors, one of whom is clearly designated as the

lead supervisor. The roles of each member of the supervisory team will be specified in the Personal

Development and Learning Plan.

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The Lead Supervisor will have the primary accountability for the student, is selected primarily on the

basis of appropriate subject expertise, and will normally have the necessary skills and experience to

monitor, support and direct research students’ work.

The second (or other additional) supervisor does not need to have core subject expertise, but may

bring other qualities to the supervisory team (e.g. experience, complementary expertise,

methodological advice, etc). The function of the second supervisor is to act as an alternative source

of advice for the student (on all kinds of matters, not just the precise subject), to ensure that a second

person is aware of the student's progress and any issues arising, generally to open up the supervisory

relationship, and to provide for continuity if the Lead Supervisor leaves for any reason (temporarily or

permanently). Therefore it may be positively beneficial if the second supervisor is not in the precise

subject area of the research project.

Additionally students will be provided with an Advisor who will be independent from the students

supervisory team to oversee progress.

The following provides details about the responsibilities of supervisors and research students. These

are an amplification of the University guidance on supervision (referred to above).

The purpose of supervision is to provide support (directly and indirectly) to the student. Your

supervisors have a strong interest and expertise in your chosen research topic and their supervision

responsibilities include:

• being familiar with the Keele University Code of Practice for Postgraduate Research Students

• providing academic guidance and acting as a mentor for the research student

• providing guidance about the planning, execution and standard expected of the student

participating in the research programme

• providing guidance and support on project planning and ensuring appropriate co-ordination of

resources and support to the students’ project across the Institute

• agreeing on a Personal Development and Learning Plan jointly with the student, in line with

agreed research training needs

• participating in regular meetings. This will be a minimum of 1 meeting per month for full-time

students and 1 meeting per 2 months for part-time students. At these meetings the student will be

asked to prepare a short paper outlining progress to date and key issues to be discussed or

resolved. It is expected that during the initial stages (6 months), more frequent contact may be

needed.


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• ensuring ethical and research governance requirements are met at all stages of the project

• ensuring project approvals are gained at key stages – e.g. ethics approval

• monitoring written work, as appropriate, and providing constructive written feedback on such work

in reasonable time

• ensuring that the student is made aware when progress is less than adequate or when standard

of work is below that generally accepted

• ensuring formal reviews of research progress are completed at key stages of the research degree

• giving detailed advice on the necessary completion dates of successive stages of work, so that

the whole may be submitted within the scheduled time, and on the submission process

• providing guidance in research dissemination and getting involved in the wider academic

community, including identifying opportunities for the student to present their work and to seek

funding to support conference attendance

• arranging advice from other individuals as appropriate

• providing reports, as required, by the Institute Committee on student’s progress

At the point of submission, each student has to sign a declaration that their thesis is their own work.

It therefore should be clearly understood that the supervisor could only act in an advisory capacity.

From time to time, you may well need to seek specific advice or other input from members of academic

staff who are not your supervisors in relation to certain aspects of your project. You should ensure

that you discuss this with your supervisors in advance of approaching other staff. This does not, of

course, prevent you from engaging in general discussion and debate about the topic of your research

or the proposed methods.

Changing a supervisor Once a supervisor has agreed to supervise a student, the expectation should be that he or she would

remain the supervisor until the student has successfully completed their degree. Maintaining

continuity of research supervision is desirable and should be worked towards, if at all possible. Should

difficulties emerge between a supervisor and a student, the matter should be brought to the attention

of the Postgraduate Committee, who will advise as to the best course of action. It is important that

any concerns are taken up at the time, rather than left until later.

It may be possible to change supervisor if the student is concerned and a proposed new supervisor

has agreed. A procedure for appeals by postgraduate students registered for higher degrees is

provided by the University.


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Publishing with your supervisors It is expected that research students will give conference papers and publish accounts of their

research before their thesis is completed. It is expected that these papers and publications will include

the name of the supervisor(s) as co-author(s). Publication policy requires that all authors should give

approval of the final version of conference abstracts and publications before they are submitted.

It is normally the person who makes the major contribution to the content of the paper (the lead

investigator) who is designated first author. As part of good practice, the method and order of

authoring should be decided in advance and negotiated with all researchers involved in the work. The

research student is normally lead-author of publications, which arise directly from the research

degree.

1.4 The Student

Research students are also expected to take responsibility for the supervisor-student relationship.

Your responsibilities as a research student include:

• being familiar with relevant documentation/handbooks, particularly in relation to research

governance and ethics, attend induction activities, and comply with the Keele University Code

of Practice for Postgraduate Research Students

• clarifying and agreeing your expectations and your supervisors’ expectations

• discussing with your supervisor the type of guidance and comments you find most helpful

• maintaining regular contact with your supervisors by initiating a schedule of meetings, and plan

the agenda for these meetings in advance. Prepare written reports of progress and current

issues for supervisory meetings.

• taking the initiative in raising problems or difficulties, however trivial they may seem. If the

student feels unable to raise a problem with their supervisor, they should approach their

Advisor or the Postgraduate Director.

• familiarizing yourself with professional good practice, the Institute’s and University’s

operational procedures and requirements as they pertain to your research and comply with

these.

• maintaining the progress of work in accordance with the agreed timetable, including the

presentation of material as required in sufficient time to allow for comments and discussion

before proceeding to the next stage

• developing responsibility for the direction of an innovation in the research project as it develops


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• writing up experimental work into a laboratory book or maintaining well documented electronic

copies of experimental data.

• liaising and organising meetings with support staff where needed to ensure a coordinated

approach to your project

• in conjunction with your supervisor, organizing and agreeing your Personal Development and

Learning Plan so that it meets your training needs and fully participating in the agreed research

training programme, including attending recommended modules and seminars

• informing supervisors of illness or other circumstances which you consider will affect your

academic progress or mode of registration

• being aware of, and following, guidelines for plagiarism (see Section 8 of this handbook)

• deciding when to submit the completed thesis, taking due account of advice from the

supervisor

Other requirements of the research student

The ultimate responsibility for undertaking and completing the research to a satisfactory conclusion

lies with the student. It is expected that you will attend the University regularly during your MPhil/PhD

programme. Specific requirements will largely depend upon whether you are registered as full-time

or part-time and where the majority of your research study is being carried out (either in the University

or in a clinical setting).

• You will be expected to fully participate in the research environment of your designated research

group within the Institute, the training offered through the Keele Institute for Innovation and

Teaching Excellence, and the particular research training programme agreed by both you and

your supervisor(s). Examples include internal and external speaker research seminars, journal

clubs, participating in an annual postgraduate conference (either in the RI or at the University-

wide ILAS symposium) and specifically identified modules and regular supervisory meetings.

Essentially, you have an important responsibility for your own academic progress and fully

participating in the academic community within the Institute will be to your benefit.

You may be allocated specific research support tasks within your Institute research grouping (for

example developing operational policies, organising the seminar programme or journal clubs). These

tasks are planned and should be undertaken as part of your research training and development. You

may also undertake a small teaching or demonstrating role on courses in other Schools or Institutes,

upon agreement with your supervisor(s) and the Institute’s Director of Postgraduate Research. Any

teaching must take second place to your research progress.


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It is good practice to ensure that your supervisor is aware of the duties you have been asked to

undertake and that they are involved in planning how they can be undertaken alongside your research

programme.

Paid work Full-time postgraduate students, including Research Students in receipt of student bursaries, rather

than salaried posts under the terms of their award, shall not undertake paid employment for more than

6 hours per week.

Working Hours The expectation for students is that they work in the RI. However, in some circumstances a supervisor

may allow occasional working from home. This should be discussed and agreed with the supervisor.

The differing requirements of research will, to a large extent, determine the length of the working day

or week appropriate to each student, and students should be guided by their supervisor(s). However,

it would be reasonable to expect postgraduate students to work in the student office during normal

office hours (e.g. about 9.00 a.m. - 5.00 p.m.) to take advantage of working alongside fellow students,

and other people (e.g. supervisors) and Institute facilities are likely to be available at the same time.

Students registered for part-time degrees in general are considered to be half-time, and they should

therefore expect to commit about half the time of a full-time student (that is, about 20 hours a week).

Holidays or Absence Full-time research students (i.e. NOT employed staff) are entitled to up to 40 days holiday in a year

(this will be calculated using the start date as the beginning of the year), inclusive of normal public

holidays and university closed periods. Employed staff that are also registered for research degrees

will have their rights to holidays and other absence from their work base described in their job contract.

Annual leave or other periods of leave should be agreed with your supervisor(s). Overseas students

wishing to return home for leave need to contact the PGR administrator for a formal letter to help with

re-entering the country after the period of leave. This holiday request should be submitted at least 14-

days before travel.

If you are ill or cannot attend the Institute for any other reason, you will be expected to follow the

Institute’s sickness, study leave or compassionate leave procedures as appropriate and inform your

supervisor and the PGR administrator, who will record the period of absence.


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Student Support Services There may be times when you have questions or difficulties. If your work is being affected by

uncertainties over your progress or personal problems of any sort, we urge you to see your supervisor.

The Institute has no wish to be intrusive in any respect in relation to your life, but if it is to be as

supportive as it can be when people are passing through a difficult patch, it does need to be aware that

there are genuine difficulties. We of course have a responsibility to respect confidences made to us in

such circumstances. The University’s Student Support Services are available to help you with any

personal, emotional or academic issues and is completely confidential.

No matter what the question, issue or concern Student Support and Development Services alsoaim to

support and assist you during your time here.Professional staff who have expertise in areas such as

health, disability, counselling, mental health, bullying and harassment, finance, accommodation or work

related problems are all committed to ensuring that our students learn the educational, personal and

professional skills required to build the lives and careers they want. For more information please go to: https://www.keele.ac.uk/studentservices/

There is also a dedicated team for international student support accessed via

https://www.keele.ac.uk/internationalstudents/

1.5 Administrative issues

Feedback, complaints and appeals procedure The PGR Committee very much wants your postgraduate years here to be a success. You may find

that there are external factors which might be affecting your work; please make a point of letting us

know if there are - it may be within our power to help. If you do experience any difficulty with any aspect

of your work in the Institute, or any personal problems that you feel may be affecting your work, your

first contact should be your research supervisor. If for any reason you feel that approaching your

supervisor is not the right course of action in the circumstances in which you find yourself, you should

approach your Advisor or the Postgraduate Research Director.

You can appeal against decisions made about transfer of registration from MPhil to PhD or vice versa,

requirements to withdraw or award following examination. The appeals procedure for research degrees

and information about the potential outcomes of an appeal can be found in the code of practice:



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Withdrawal and leave of absence A student who finds it necessary to withdraw or obtain a leave of absence from the University should

inform their supervisor and the Postgraduate Research Director. A student who wishes to apply for a

leave of absence should consult their supervisor and complete an application form for this purpose.

Leave of absence is subject to approval by the Postgraduate Committee. The Code of Practice provides

detailed guidance on the procedure to follow if you are requesting leave of absence, withdrawal from

your Research Degree Programme or transfer to a different Research Degree Programme.

Health and Safety

Health and safety issues also arise in carrying out research in and out of the Institute. The Institute has

a Health and Safety training requirement, full training will be carried out locally to the laboratory work

as well as through the formal training sessions provided by the RI.


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Section 2 - Starting out – the first few weeks

Section 2 – Starting out

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2 Starting out – the first few weeks

During the first few weeks there are many things to do. Please do not hesitate to ask your supervisor

or the Postgraduate Administrator if you have any problems. Essential tasks include:

Familiarize yourself with the Keele Code of Practice for Postgraduate Research Students:


Register and obtain your Keele card – you will need this to access buildings

• Register with Library and Computer Centre

• Familiarize yourself with fire drill/safety regulations

The first few meetings with your supervisor(s) should cover the main ground rules for supervision

and for completion of a research degree.

Discussions should include the following:

• The nature of research and concept of originality

• The importance of independent thinking

• Timescales of different milestones in the research as well as overall timescales

• Expected commitment to the research programme by the student in terms of length of the

working day or week

• The nature and extent of assistance the supervisor(s) will provide

• The roles of different supervisors, if applicable

• Scheduling of supervisory meetings

• Facilities and resources available to the student

• Planning and time management

• Record keeping

• Identify specific research training needs and suitable training modules/courses

• How progress will be monitored and managed

During the first few weeks there are many things to do. Please do not hesitate to ask your supervisor.

Once you have agreed the detailed research protocol with your research supervisor, you will need to

finalize your project plan. This will include:


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• Specifying tasks and timescales and what you need to do to fulfil these

• Finalising and agreeing your Personal Development and Learning Plan, and agreeing an overall

strategy for your personal development plan and its regular review

• Identifying any resources you need to complete your research

• Defining and allocating detailed roles (whilst preserving the integrity of your own role as PhD

student)

• Organizing and overseeing project management meetings

• Liaising with your supervisor over research governance and project approval requirements

• Liaising with Institute staff and supervisors to submit your ethics submission (joint responsibility of

student and supervisor)

You are strongly advised to liaise with your Supervisor regarding research governance issues that

your project may present, specifically in relation to any special approvals that may be required, or

particular procedures that need to be followed.


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Section 3 - Institute Facilities & Resources

Section 3 – Institute & Resources

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3 Institute Facilities & Resources

3.1 Facilities & Resources

All research degree students will share the same access to the Institute’s and the University’s research

facilities as staff. You will have access to a work-station with a Networked computer and the software

which your supervisors agree is needed to support your research. You will have full borrowing rights

at the University and Health Libraries, including inter-library loans. Those students located off campus

at hospital sites will have the same access to Keele Facilities as students located on campus.

3.2 Keele University Library Our Libraries offer fantastic facilities, a choice of study spaces, free WiFi, excellent support, and access

to extensive print and online resources.

We have two Library sites: the main Campus Library (www.keele.ac.uk/library) and the Health Library

(www.keele.ac.uk/healthlibrary) at Royal Stoke University Hospital. Both Libraries are open seven

days a week with the Campus Library open 24/7 during semester.

We provide academic collections online and in print, subscribing to over 20,000 e-journals, 300,000 e-

books and there are over half a million items on our shelves. We also provide you with access to a

range of databases for finding references for research papers including many full text articles.

You can access the majority of online collections anytime, anywhere, both on and off-campus. Use

Library Search: http://library.keele.ac.uk/ our discovery service, to search for and access items from

our collections. You can use your Keele card to borrow books for two weeks, one week or three days

(Short Loan), and they will be renewed automatically unless requested by another borrower, in which

case fines will be charged for overdue items.

There are over 1,100 study spaces for you to work in groups, on your own, or in silence. Both group

and individual study rooms are available to book. There is Wi-Fi access throughout both sites and a

refreshment area in the Campus Library.

Library staff will help you at any time and for more subject specific support you can book an

appointment with a Research Support Librarian: https://www.keele.ac.uk/library/support/liaisonlibrariansupport/informationforresearchers/


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They also provide a range of training workshops to help you including sessions on Literature

Searching, Open Access and the Keele Research Repository and Selecting Where to Publish. You

can find out more about these sessions through the Keele Institute for Innovation and Teaching

Excellence (KIITE) website: https://www.keele.ac.uk/academicdevelopment/

Both libraries have developed a host of guides and videos to help you. For example, view our floor

plans when you are new to each Library:

Campus Library: via - http://www.keele.ac.uk/library/using/

Health Library: https://www.keele.ac.uk/healthlibrary/usingthehealthlibrary/floorplan/ Subject Resource Collections: Find lists of databases (and other recommended resources) arranged

by subject/School from the list available via this link: http://www.keele.ac.uk/library/find/subject/

Electronic Journals: Check our searchable list of online journals for a specific journal title from the e-

journals A to Z quick link on the Library website

Print journals: Visit Library Search

3.3 Theses It is now a regulatory requirement (University Regulation C10) that all Keele postgraduate research

students from September 2011 onwards deposit an electronic copy of their final approved thesis for

uploading to the University’s Open Access Research Repository: http://eprints.keele.ac.uk/

Hard copies of all Keele Postgraduate theses are also held in the Library, and can be searched for on

Library Search

3.4 Inter Library Loan Most items not held in the Library can be borrowed or copied from another Library for a small charge.

Currently, Keele staff and students in the Research Institute can request loans via the Health Library

and pay £2.00 towards the cost of each request, or £6 if only available from the British Library. UK

Ph.D Theses are now available to search, order and download via the British Library’s ‘Electronic

Theses Online Service’ (EThOS) at http://ethos.bl.uk/ If you register on the site, you will then be able

to download a copy of a thesis if it has been digitised, or order a digitised copy. If you wish to consult

a thesis from a university that is not participating in EThOS, or is not a Ph.D, then you can order it

through Inter Library Loans but there is a charge of £10 for this service. Some research groups are


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able to cover the cost of inter-library loans to research students up to an agreed limit. This arrangement

should be negotiated with your supervisor. Loan forms can be found at:

http://www.keele.ac.uk/healthlibrary/usingthehealthlibrary/inter-libraryloans/

3.5 Using Other Libraries Keele University participates in the reciprocal SCONUL Access scheme which enables you, (research

students), full time postgraduates and part-time, distance learning and placement students to use other

academic libraries. The scheme covers most of the university libraries in the UK and Ireland. Further

information and details on how to join is available from:

www.keele.ac.uk/library/info/part/otherlibraries/sconul

3.6 Resources for postgraduate research students

The following provides an overview of the resources, which are typically available to you as a

research student in any of the major research groups within the Institute.

All research students should normally have access to:

• a workstation and storage space

• a Pentium standard Windows PC with Internet connection, access to group drives, email, and

relevant software (specialist software may need to be individually negotiated)

• shared office space

• a shared printer

• a phone with external access to local numbers during office hours (not overseas)

• access to a printer and photocopier for research articles, chapters etc.

General facilities such as meeting rooms, may be booked by students for research-based meetings.

The local room booking procedure can be obtained by the relevant building manager.

Once registered, you will be provided with an induction package to familiarize you with the academic

and social environment of the Institute and the University. Documentation will include this Handbook

and online information such as the University’s Code of Practice for Research Degrees.


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Within the RI we have a staff/student group which includes the PGR Direcor and the nominated

student representatives to ensure concerns can be raised etc.

Student reps We have three student reps: one from each of our main sites (Guy Hilton Research Centre (Hartshill),

Keele Campus, and Robert Jones & Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, Oswestry). The current student

reps are:

RJAH - Tim Hopkins ([email protected] or [email protected])

Guy Hilton - Ana Kyoseva ([email protected])

Keele Campus - Yolanda Gómez Gálvez ([email protected])

Mailing list Students wishing to email the entire student body should request communications to be sent through

the PGR Administrator ([email protected]).

The University Students Liaison Committee The University has a Postgraduate Students’ Executive Liaison Committee, chaired by the Pro Vice Chancellor

for Learning and Student Experience, which meets several times during the year to discuss issues of interest

and relevance to postgraduate students. All RIs are invited to send a student representative: http://www.keele.ac.uk/paa/governance/committees/executiveliaisoncommittees/universitystudentliaisoncomm

ittee/

Other information about Keele Campus Keele is a campus-based University and details of the structure of the academic faculties can be obtained from

the University’s web-site at: www.keele.ac.uk.

Keele Postgraduate Association The Keele Postgraduate Association (KPA) is the body responsible for promotion of the general

interests of postgraduate students and for giving a recognized channel of communication between

postgraduate students and the University authorities. See: https://kpa.org.uk/


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It provides additional support services geared to the needs of postgraduate students, and has elected

officers including Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Welfare Officer, and both Postgraduate Research

Degree (PGR) and Postgraduate Taught Course (PGT) representatives for each faculty. They also

offer a bar, hot and cold food, lounge and TV, pool table, meeting room and computer resource area.

They also organize special events and have a Saturday BBQ during the summer. You can find KPA

directly behind the Students Union building at the entrance to Horwood Hall.

Keele University Students’ Union Keele University Students’ Union (KUSU) is responsible for promoting the general interests of all

students (including postgraduates) and, again, gives a recognized channel of communication between

students and the University authorities. KUSU provides a variety of support services such as the

Independent Advice Unit, and elected officers who can help students with academic and welfare

advice. See: https://keelesu.com/


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Section 4 - Postgraduate Research Training at Keele

Section 4 – PGR Training

25

4 Postgraduate research training at Keele Your research training will be supported by:

• Taking specific mandatory modules and others relevant to your studies, these are available in the

University through (https://www.keele.ac.uk/academicdevelopment/)

• Participating in the Institute-based internal and external Seminar Programmes, which consist of

presentations by staff and students and external speakers respectively. A range of such seminars

are organized by the research groups within the Institute.

• Participating in an annual student symposium

• Attending scientific meetings and disseminating your research through scientific papers and at

conferences, as agreed with your supervisor

4.1 Training Requirements

• The emphasis is on student-led training set in consultation with the lead supervisor and

monitored and reported through a single (student) Personal Development Learning Plan (PDLP) (see below). The students PDLP assumes major importance as the vehicle by which

quality assurance of Keele research training is achieved (and as the record of research targets

and achievements).

• The new PhD "requirement" is around 200 hours non-subject specific (personal development

and employability skills) training over three years (for MPhil, around 60-70 hours) accrued

through any acceptable route (modules, workshops, courses, seminars, talks etc.) and at any

time during the three years. This meets all external requirements.

• Note that a 10 credit "generic" module is equivalent to 100 hours.

• Students are required to complete compulsory modules before the end of their first year (FT)

these are LSC-40017 & LSC-40018. PhD students are also required to complete LSC-40019.

• The PhD pre-submission review (30 months FT PhD) assumes greater importance as a

checkpoint (in addition to the check at Doctoral Progression which take place at 10 months FT

PhD) for monitoring (progress towards) completion of the 200 hours non subject-specific RT,

which should be recorded on the PDLP.

• Credit for prior/equivalent training can be given by PG Committee - again this is entered in the

PDLP in the appropriate section.


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The objectives of the research training programme are to develop skills and understanding in a number

of key areas, some related specifically to research, and some relating to transferable and generic skills

which are likely to be essential in any future career. The key areas are:

• Research skills and techniques

• Research environment

• Research management

• Personal effectiveness

• Communication skills

• Networking and team-working

• Career management

The University provides a number of Research Training modules designed to help students gain the

skills they need to design and complete their programmes effectively and to help prepare themselves

for their subsequent career. These are accessed through https://www.keele.ac.uk/academicdevelopment/)

Modules should be selected on the basis of need, as discussed with the lead Supervisor and recorded

in the PDLP. Any individual module may be seen as either generic or subject-specific, depending on

the needs of the student and the nature of the research project.

All research training agreed and/or taken (and formal exemptions) must be recorded by the student in

the student’s Personal Development Learning Plan, including a critical review of what the student has

learned and how this will contribute to the development of the research project or to the acquisition or

development of other generic or transferable skills.

4.2 Personal Development and Learning Plan (PDLP) All students are required to develop and maintain a Personal Development and Learning Plan (PLDP). The PDLP should be discussed with the supervisory team and submitted to RI PGR committee within 3 months of registration. The PDLP sets out an agreement between the student, the Lead Supervisor and the Director of Postgraduate Research about the learning needs of the student and how these are to be met. As such the PDLP is a central log of an individual student’s targets and objectives, learning and skills development, research training completed and a record of Supervisory meetings for a student to be successful on their postgraduate research course. Students are required to keep an accurate record of activities undertaken in relation to their research degree programme, updated on a regular basis, and submitted when appropriate as part of the Progress Review. The PDLP is therefore considered a ‘living document’ which must be kept up to date by the student at least once a month and reviewed by the Supervisory Team at least every 6 weeks.


27

For all Postgraduate Research Students, starting their course from September 2018 onwards the PDLP, will be available online accessible through the eVision. To access the electronic PDLP, you will need to log into your eVision account. The PGR Director, the Co-ordinator of Research Training and the student’s Supervisor will advise a student about their individual Personal Development Learning Plan. Any research needs identified and training programmes to be undertaken will then be agreed and arranged by the Supervisor and Student. This should be logged in the Learning Plan. Students can apply for funds to help cover the costs of these requirements. The information contained within the PDLP can be shared with your Supervisor, Postgraduate Director of Research, Research Institute administrative staff and University Central Services, as appropriate. Further details and a handbook for using the EPDLP can be found at https://www.keele.ac.uk/research/currentpgrstudents/researchtraining/ 4.3 Research Seminar Programme

Postgraduate Students are expected to attend seminars as part of their ‘academic apprenticeship’.

There are two types of research seminar programmes offered within the Institute: • Research Seminars by external speakers, held frequently during the semester. These seminars

expose students to leading research taking place nationally and internationally in the field of

medical sciences.

• Staff and Student (Internal) Research Seminars. Staff and Student Research Seminars are

usually organized at research group level. Information on these will be made available to all

Institute students.

4.4 RI Postgraduate Symposium

In order to provide opportunity for practice of research presentations, one full-day research student

conference is held each academic year.

All MPhil/PhD students will be expected to participate in the student conference each year in their

student careers, and this will provide the opportunity for feedback and wider discussion of research

findings with other research students and staff. They will have the opportunity to present their work in

different formats such as by giving an oral presentation, turbo talks or presenting work in a poster

format. Where appropriate, some of the allotted time during the conference may be led by a

supervisor or invited speaker on a subject felt important by research students.


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Section 5 - Monitoring Progress

Section 5 – Monitoring Progress

29

5 Monitoring Progress

5.1 Progress Reviews

The University regularly monitors the progress of its postgraduate students closely through annual and

interim reviews.

Annual Progress Reviews Annual progress reviews are a formal check of the student’s progress and support requirements for

the intended award against individual targets and university criteria for the award of a research degree.

An annual progress review must be completed for all full-time research degree students at

approximately 10 months into each year of registration (or equivalent for part-time students, i.e. every

2 years for 0.5 FTE students). Annual review progress reports should be completed and discussed

with the student prior to submission to the Faculty/RI PGR Committee where they are considered and

approved. Copies of all progress reports submitted to the Institute will be forwarded to Planning and

Academic Administration. These reports allow supervisors and students to reflect on the student's

progress during the previous year and to plan for the year ahead. They are an important method of

providing formal feedback to students that may not otherwise be addressed in supervisory meetings.

If necessary, the reviews can result in a recommendation to alter the student’s status to that of MPhil

path (if on a doctoral programme) where progress is unsatisfactory.

The specific format of each annual review will be:

• Year 1 (10 months or equivalent for part-time students): The student attends an independent panel

interview (excluding members of their supervisory team) and a report will be completed by the panel.

For students on a doctoral programme this review forms doctoral progression (see section 6.2 below).

• Year 2 (22 months or equivalent for part-time students): An annual progress report form is completed

by supervisors and discussed with the student before submission to the Faculty/RI PGR Committee.

• Year 3 (34 months or equivalent for part-time students): A pre-submission review report is completed

by supervisors and discussed with the student before submission to the Faculty/RI PGR Committee.

This review can take place earlier than planned if necessary.


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Interim Progress Reviews In addition to annual reviews, interim progress reviews will be undertaken every the six months (or part-

time equivalent) for all students completing all research degrees. The interim progress review will reflect

on the Personal Development and Learning Plan, general progress and standard of works in alignment

with the university’s criteria for the award of a research degree.

It is the joint responsibility of supervisors and students to complete progress reports and Personal

Development and Learning Plans in a comprehensive and accurate manner. It is the responsibility of the

RI to manage and monitor the progress of research students.

The Postgraduate Administrator will co-ordinate the reporting of your research progress, and ensure that

reports are submitted to the correct committees in a timely fashion.

Students are graded A-E, with E being unsatisfactory. The first E grade will act as a warning to the

student and the Postgraduate Office will send a formal warning letter to the student. The student will be

provided with a 4-week work plan. If the student fails to satisfy the work-plan, a second warning will be

issued. After three subsequent warning periods, should the student still have failed to complete their

work plan without good cause, the PGR Committee will recommend withdrawal to the University’s

Research Degrees Committee. If the student’s progress is not satisfactory, the supervisor will explore

the difficulties further in conjunction with the RIs Postgraduate Committee to decide on appropriate

action(s).

A = Excellent

B = Good

C = Satisfactory

D = Poor

E = Unsatisfactory

A copy of each completed form is kept by the Institute’s Postgraduate Administrator. Supervisor(s) and

students should also keep copies of these forms.


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5.2 Doctoral Progression and MPhil-PhD Transfer Procedures

Early in the research programme (normally after 10 months’ full-time equivalent study), there will be a

formal progression stage where the student is required to submit a report and undergo a viva to

confirm progression. The Postgraduate Administrator will co-ordinate the reporting of your research

progress, and ensure that reports are submitted to the correct committees in a timely fashion.

• Students wanting to complete a PhD must go through the formal review of doctoral progression

after 10 months full-time or 20 months part-time. This is irrespective of whether they originally

registered for an MPhil or PhD.

• MPhil students who wish to be considered for transfer should consult their supervisor as soon as

possible. The decision to recommend transfer will rest with the RIs Postgraduate Committee. Such

recommendations for transfer of registration will be made to the University Research Degrees

Committee.

For Doctoral Progression and transfer to from MPhil to PhD you will be asked to submit a report of

approximately 5000 words that represents your research so far and defend this in a mini viva voce.

We understand that each PhD is different therefore the guidance is flexible and the specific contents

of your report should be negotiated with your supervisors. In general, it is anticipated that the report

will include:

• Background literature review and rationale for proposed research

• Methodology

• Results

• Discussion

• Structured and detailed research plan for the next year

Your submission could also include a draft plan of the proposed chapters in your PhD or a draft chapter

or a paper for publication if already completed.


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A panel of two examiners (who are outside of your supervision team) plus a member of the

Postgraduate Committee (who chairs the progression) reviews your report and then meets with the

student to discuss progress. The progression panel will be organized by the Postgraduate Committee

and should be convened ideally within a month following submission of doctoral progression report.

At this meeting, the student will be required to provide a 5-minute presentation of their work so far and

raise specific issues, which they perceive have a (positive or negative) impact on progress.

Following progression the examiners and chair will provide a joint report including progress against

objectives set, any specific difficulties, recommendations or specific actions for the student, the

supervisor or the Institute (see Code of Practice). This report will be placed on the student’s file and

sent to the Institute’s Postgraduate Research Committee for review and recommendation and onward

transmission to the University’s Research Degrees Committee for approval.

The recommendation to the University Research Degrees Committee via the RIs Postgraduate

Committee will be one of the following:

• Upgrade/continuation be permitted

• Upgrade/continuation not be permitted and student to prepare a thesis for MPhil degree

• Withdraw

• In exceptional circumstances, the Committee may give a student an extra 3 months before being

assessed

Students will also need to consult the Code of Practice for detailed information on doctoral progression

procedures: https://www.keele.ac.uk/research/currentpgrstudents/pgrcodeofpractice/

5.3 Continuation status

In order to transfer registration to continuation status students must have completed the minimum

period of supervision and also be formally evaluated by the Institute’s Postgraduate Research

Committee to ensure that they have satisfied the criteria for such status.


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In order for a student to be allowed to register as a continuation student, the University must be satisfied

(a) that the student will submit the thesis within 12 months and (b) that the work still required to be

completed up to submission of the thesis is such that it can be satisfactorily completed using only the

following level of resources:

• Minimal supervision, primarily related to reading and commenting on draft thesis chapters

• Access to the library and other facilities available through Keele Information Services

• Use of personal office and computing facilities in the RI

If additional resources are required, particularly project-related resources or a higher level of

supervision, then the Postgraduate Research Committees cannot recommend registration as a

continuation student. However, in these circumstances, students may be permitted to change to part-

time registration.

For students on a PhD programme, usually sometime towards the end of the third year, or equivalent,

the continuation review will:

• review student progress and training since their upgrade from MPhil to PhD (if appropriate)

• ensure the student is on target to submit at the end of year three, or equivalent, and if not, determine

how that might be achieved


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Section 6 - Ethical & Research Governance Issues

Section 6 – Ethical & Research Governance Issues

35

6 Ethical & Research Governance Issues Ethical issues arise whenever research is carried out and you will need to consider these.

Investigations may have ethical implications for those participating in the study, others they have

contact with, members of the public, the researcher or the reputation of the profession under

investigation. You need to consider the rights and welfare of the people (or subjects) involved, the

value of the knowledge obtained and the need to promote and maintain a positive image of your

research profession. Please refer to the University website for more information:

https://www.keele.ac.uk/raise/researchsupport/projectassurance/researchgovernance/

You will be required to obtain approval from your supervisor, your research group’s academic

management team and a research ethics committee – depending on the nature and scale of your

work, this may be the University Ethics Committee:

(https://www.keele.ac.uk/researchsupport/researchethics/) or a NHS Research Ethics Committee

(https://www.myresearchproject.org.uk/) if appropriate.

Please seek initial advice and guidance from your supervisor.

Section 6 – Ethical & Research Governance Issues

36

Section 7 - Examination of your Thesis

Section 7 – Examination of your Thesis

37

7 Examination of your Thesis

7.1 The Thesis The thesis is the document, which forms your examination submission. It is on this basis that examiners

will determine whether you have fulfilled the criteria for the award. Therefore from the outset you should

ensure that you are familiar with the relevant award criteria, and when writing your thesis aim to

demonstrate that you have fulfilled them.

The thesis is also a description of your research project, its definition, purpose, methods, results and

conclusions. It needs to be a self-contained work which places your project in context and then sets out

in a coherent and logical way how and why you pursued the project in the way you did, what new results

or data were obtained, or how you developed your arguments and theories, and what conclusions you

draw from them. Examiners will look carefully at the methods you have used and whether they are

appropriate to the project.

The thesis (particularly for a doctoral award) should provide evidence of originality. Originality may be

in terms of a previously unexplored field or topic (or aspect), or may consist in a re-analysis of previous

findings or a new interpretation of events. You will need to demonstrate independent critical thought.

The regulations for structure and presentation of the thesis can be found in the Code of Practice. You

should always refer to the website for the most recent information:


There is no objection to your thesis including work that you may already have published with your

supervisor and other collaborators. It may well be that the supervisor likes work involving postgraduate

students to have published during the three postgraduate years; this obviously gives you some

confidence that your work at least satisfies the 'contribution to knowledge' requirement.

Intellectual property rights/plagiarism

In short, to plagiarize is to give the impression that you have written or thought something that you have

borrowed from someone else. You will be required to provide a declaration that your final thesis is an

account of your own work. The Keele University Code of Practice includes an extensive section on

Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty.


38

Please ensure that you have read and understood this information. If anything is not clear, seek

clarification from your supervisor. Please note that any serious cases of academic dishonesty are

referred by the Directorate of Student and Academic Services, who will then investigate the case further.

7.2 How your Thesis will be Assessed

Before submitting your thesis you must submit a title to the University Research Degrees Committee

via your supervisor, for approval, 3 to 6 months prior to submission. For full-time PhD students, this is

normally during the third postgraduate year, after consultation with your supervisor. When the thesis is

submitted the wording on the title page must be identical to that approved: even substituting 'the' for 'a',

or changing the case of a letter, will not be allowed.

One copy per examiner of your completed thesis must be submitted to the Directorate of Student and

Academic Services along with an Academic Honesty Form (see standard format provided in the

University’s Code of Practice). These will be then sent to the external and internal examiner(s). There

will be two external examiners if you are a member of the University staff.

Choosing the Examiners Once the title is agreed, internal and external examiner(s) are approved by University Research

Degrees Committee. Both MPhil and PhD theses are examined by viva voce examination.

There are usually two examiners, an external examiner who has to be satisfied that the work contained

in the thesis represents original research and is worthy of the award and an internal examiner. In some

cases (e.g. where it is not possible to appoint an internal examiner) there will be two external examiners.

When the PhD candidate is a member of the Keele staff two external examiners are appointed. Each

oral examination will have an independent Chair, who manages the conduct of the oral examination.

The independent chair will be chosen from a list of Keele staff who have been approved by the University

Research Degrees Committee.


39

The external examiner is normally chosen by the supervisor, in conjunction with the candidate, and

his/her name is submitted to the Institute Research Degrees Committee several months before the

thesis is due to be submitted. Prior to doing this, your supervisor will have been in contact with the

suggested examiners to see if they are (i) willing and (ii) available before proposing them.

Your supervisor will also ensure that appropriate information is provided on external examiners’

experience. You should not approach potential examiners yourself. The external examiner is normally

a person holding a PhD who has experience of PhD supervision and examining. The internal examiner,

who is not the candidate’s supervisor, also normally holds a PhD or has equivalent research experience.

(Full details of the approval of examiners are provided in the Code of Practice).

The examiners write independent and confidential reports, which they submit to the University's

Research Degrees Committee before the viva or oral exam.

The examiners are asked to bear in mind the following questions when writing their reports:

1. Does the thesis give satisfactory evidence of experience of methods of research such as can be

normally gained by a student in three years' work following graduation?

2. Has the greater portion of the work been done subsequent to the registration of the candidate for the

MPhil / PhD degree?

3. How much of the work, if any, has been done in collaboration?

4. Is the thesis a contribution to knowledge in the subject matter, and does it afford evidence of

originality, shown either by the discovery of new facts or by the exercise of independent critical power

(or both)?

5. Is the literary presentation satisfactory and, if not already published in an approved form, is the thesis

- or parts of it - suitable for publication either as submitted or in an amended form?

An oral or viva-voce examination then is held with the candidate and the examiners.


40

The examiners may make one of the following recommendations (for full details see the Code of

Practice: https://www.keele.ac.uk/research/currentpgrstudents/pgrcodeofpractice/

Recommendation 1 - The student be awarded the degree for which he or she has made a submission.

Recommendation 2 - The student be awarded the degree for which he or she has made a submission

once revisions have been made to the thesis to the satisfaction of the examiner(s) named.

Recommendation 3 [Only for original submissions, not for re-submissions.] - Although the required

standard for the award for which the student has submitted has not been met, the submission is of

sufficient merit to justify the student being permitted to re-present the thesis and to submit to a further

oral examination within two calendar years from the date of the decision at the relevant meeting of

Senate.

Recommendation 4 [Only for doctoral candidates, not for masters candidates.] - The student should

be approved for a Masters level award, not a Doctoral level award.

Recommendation 5 [Only for original submissions by doctoral candidates, not for re-submissions, nor

for Masters candidates.] - The required standard for a doctoral level award has not been met, and the

submission is of insufficient merit to justify the award of a doctoral degree. However, the student should

be permitted to re-present the thesis for the award of a master’s degree, and to submit to a further oral

examination, within two calendar years from the date of the decision at the relevant meeting of Senate.

Recommendation 6 - The student should not be awarded any degree, nor be permitted to re-present

the thesis, nor submit to any further examination.

Recommendation 7 - The examiners are unable to come to a joint recommendation and an additional

examiner or examiners should be appointed whose decision shall resolve the matter.

After the viva examination the examiners agree a joint report. Both the separate and the joint reports

are submitted confidentially to the University's Research Degrees Committee, which decides the final

outcome. After the examination process is complete, copies of all examiners’ reports will be sent to the

student, the lead supervisor and the Postgraduate Director. The Postgraduate Research Committee will

review all reports. Please note that the expectation is that the whole examination process from

submission to receipt of a joint report should take no longer than 3 months.


41

Section 8 - Useful Reading

Section 8 – Useful Reading

42

8 Useful Reading

www.vitae.ac.uk. Vitae is the UK organisation championing the personal, professional and career

development of doctoral researchers and research staff in higher education institutions and RIs.

Section 8 – Useful Reading

43

Appendices

Appendix 1: Flowchart of Key Stages Appendix 2: PGR Committee Members

Appendices

44

Student is withdrawn

Degree Application made electronically to Keele University

RI Review the application and offer of a place

Student confirms a place of study at Keele and completes all necessary

paperwork

Student is registered for the course and a Keele card is produced

Minimum and Maximum period of supervision ends:

PhD (minimum 36 months)

MPhil (minimum 12 months)

Annual Progress Review – Year 1 (10 months)

(Doctoral Progression if undertaking a PhD)

Every July/August a Re-registration Form is sent to the student (excludes

students on leave of absence (LOA) and

those who have submitted their thesis

Re-Registration

Form completed

electronically by

September

Re-registration form is not returned

6-month Interim Progress review

Interim Progress review

Annual Progress Review – Year 2 (22 months)

Interim Progress review

Pre-submission checks and move to continuation status

Appendix 1 Flowchart of Key Stages

Appendix 1

45

Appendix 1

Student Invited to Graduate

Thesis is lodged in the University Library

(Incorporating any revisions required by the examiners)

Examiners nominated by supervisors and submitted to the Institute Research

Committee (at least 3 months prior to submission

Submission of Thesis

(together with completed Declaration Form)

Viva

Examination Reports sent to Records, Exams office/University Research

Degrees Committee, and Outcome of Examination letter sent to students

University Research Degrees Committee reports to Senate and examination

result is confirmed

Pre-Submission Review (Annual Progress Review – Year 3 – 34 months)

46

Other Committee members: Professor Ying Yang

Dr David Morgan Dr Oksana Kehoe Dr Heidi Fuller Dr Fran Gilchrist Dr Wen Wu Li Dr Sue Hunter

Appendix 2 RI Postgraduate Committee Members

Postgraduate Director Dr Clare Hoskins

01782 734799 / [email protected]

Research Institute Manager Mrs Jeanette Forrester


Director of ISTM Professor Nicholas Forsyth

01782 674388 / [email protected] [email protected]

Postgraduate Administrator Andrea Biddulph-Reynolds


International Postgraduate Admissions Professor Trevor Greenhough


Appendix 2

Documents

Postgraduate Student Handbook 2018/19 - Keele University...Postgraduate Student Handbook 2018/19 . 2 ... The information given in this publication is accurate at the time of distribution