How many years of funding do I receive from Student Finance as a part-time postgraduate research student?
Please note this FAQ only refers to students who have applied for a loan via Student Finance England (SFE), Student Finance Wales (SFW), Student Finance Northern Ireland (SFNI) & Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS).
The course that you have applied for at the University has a minimum period of study of six years and a maximum of eight years. The end of minimum period of registration is the earliest date a research degree thesis can be submitted for examination. The end of the maximum period of registration is the latest date on which a research degree thesis can be submitted for examination.
When we advise the Student Loans Company of the duration we must adhere to their regulations. The SLC state that:
"The course length is defined as the maximum period of registration for that particular course. The course duration is normally linked to mode of study: for example, a course may be offered as three AYs FT or six AYs PT. The normal registration period is defined as the duration from course commencement to the point that the student’s initial thesis is submitted for examination (rather than up until the student’s final thesis, after their verbal examination / viva voce). Any period of study beyond the thesis submission date (for the viva voce examination and any post-examination amendments to the thesis) are not included in the maximum period of registration."
It is very exceptional for a part time PhD student to submit their thesis within six years (by the end of the minimum period of study). While it is the intention of some students to submit shortly after the end of the minimum period of registration, the vast majority submit their thesis towards the end of the maximum period of study, with many requiring an extension to the maximum period of registration. Prior to commencing a PhD it is not possible for a student or their supervisor to predict when the thesis is likely to be ready for submission. For these reasons the course is set up as eight years within the SLC Course Management System.
In exceptional circumstances, and with the approval of the Research Progress and Awards Sub Panel, postgraduate researchers may be permitted to submit their thesis before completing their minimum period of study. When this occurs, we can transfer students on to a six year loan.
Masters and Doctoral loans are intended as contribution loans to be used by students for whatever purpose they wish. This is very different from undergraduate tuition fee loans which are paid yearly directly to universities solely to cover course fees.