Change of Programme & Modes of Attendance
Modes of attendance at Queen Mary may be changed under certain circumstances, allowing a transfer from full-time to part-time status should you feel this necessary.
During your research programme, personal circumstances may change, and this could lead to adjustments such as a change in mode of attendance (for example; from full-time to part-time) or a change to the programme itself.
If you are considering any such change, please discuss your situation with your supervisor. They will be able to guide you on the academic implications and advise on appropriate next steps.
In addition, Queen Mary offers a dedicated Advice and Counselling Service, which provides tailored support. Their team is trained to assist with visa-related queries and can offer guidance on a wide range of personal and practical matters. A direct link to their service is available at the bottom of this page.
If you have definitely decided to procced with the change, please complete the online form, which can be accessed through MySIS, from My Research Details, under the Change of Circumstances tab within your Research Student Profile.
Once you submit it, through MySIS, it will trigger an approval workflow (to the supervisor, the School Director for Graduate Studies, the School PGR Coordinator, until it reaches the Research Degrees Office - RDO).
Once the request has been fully approved and processed by the RDO, the student will be notified of the changes.
The following modes of attendance are available to students:
- Full-time
- Part-time (50% of the workload of a full-time student per year)
You are expected to continue in the same mode of study for which you originally registered; however, transfer between full-time and part-time study may be permitted. If you are permitted to change your mode of attendance, your minimum and maximum registration periods and expected submission date will be adjusted accordingly.
You should discuss the implications of changing your mode of attendance with your supervisor. You might find it helpful to speak with the Advice and Counselling team. Students who are in receipt of a studentship should refer to the terms and conditions of their studentship for guidance on the implications for their funding and expected submission date. Part-time students are not entitled to exemption from Council Tax. Part-time students are usually not entitled to an 18+ Oystercard.
If you decide to change your mode of study, please write to the Research Degrees Office for your School. If you are in receipt of a studentship your School must also send the Research Degrees Office a signed Studentship Change of Details form.
Full-time and part-time milestones
Transfer between full-time and part-time study has implications for academic progression points and the period of registration. Progression is a formal process that permits a student to continue to the next stage/period of their research studies programme.
Please note that your “period of study” is calculated from the date of enrolment to the date of submission of the thesis.
- The minimum period of full-time study for the awards of MPhil, PhD, MD(Res), DrPS and DClinDent is 2 calendar years.
- The maximum period of full-time study for the awards of MPhil, PhD, MD(Res), DrPS and DClinDent is 4 calendar years (including any writing up period).
- The minimum period of part-time study for the awards of MPhil, PhD, MD(Res), DrPS and DClinDent is 4 calendar years.
- The maximum period of part-time study for the awards of MPhil, PhD, MD(Res), DrPS and DClinDent is 7 calendar years (including any writing up period).
- The maximum period for ‘writing up’ is one calendar year regardless of the mode of attendance of the student.
- For students registered after 1st September 2010, the normal minimum progression points for a full-time student occur between 6 to 9 months after registration on the research studies programme. For a part-time student the normal progression points occur between 12 to 18 months after registration on the research studies programme.
- A student registered before 1st September 2010 for a research studies programme leading to the award of MPhil/PhD may transfer his/her registration to PhD. The transfer process normally takes place between 12 to 24 months for a full-time student and 24 to 48 months for a part-time student.
If you have any confusion regarding this process of implications, you may contact the Research Degree Office in the first instance who may be able to answer your query or signpost to the appropriate resource within Queen Mary.