Research Degrees and Higher Doctorates: Definition of Terms 2026-27

The academic individuals with responsibility for overseeing the support and training of research students. The Faculty Graduate School directorate has oversight of research student training within the Faculty, ensuring that this is delivered locally to agreed institutional standards.

The directorate includes the Faculty Director of the Graduate School (and Deputy, where appointed), and Doctoral Programme Directors (including those leading Centres for Doctoral Training and Doctoral Training Programmes), and roles supporting the Faculty Director of the Graduate School and Doctoral Programme Directors (including PGR Admissions Tutors and PGR Senior Tutors).

An experienced¹ academic member of staff (or other suitably qualified individual) employed by the University of Southampton who is appointed as an assessor for a Progression Review. In order to allow an objective assessment of the work of the research student, the Independent Assessor should:

• have had no direct involvement with the research project or student, either in a formal or informal capacity; 
• not have been a member of the student’s current or previous supervisory team;
• not have provided any significant pastoral support to the student at any point prior to the Progression Review process;
• not have acted currently or previously in the role of Independent or Academic Mentor for the student.

The Independent Assessor is not required to be from the same department, School, or Faculty, provided they meet all other eligibility criteria.

¹ For the purposes of the First Progression Review, the Independent Assessor’s “experience” is defined as an individual who has supervised a student up to and including a successful Second Progression Review (Confirmation of Doctoral Candidature) and who has also conducted at least one examination on a final submitted thesis. This experience may have been gained from within or outside of the University of Southampton.

¹For the purposes of the Second Progression Review, the First Independent Assessor’s “experience” is defined as an individual who has supervised a student to completion (i.e. recommended for award following any necessary amendments) and who has also conducted at least one examination on a final submitted thesis. This experience may have been gained from within or outside of the University of Southampton. For the purposes of the Second Progression Review, the Second Independent Assessor may be an inexperienced supervisor who is gaining experience at conducting examinations at the University of Southampton. 

¹For the purposes of the second attempt at the Third Progression Review , the Independent Assessor’s “experience” is defined as an individual who has supervised a student to completion (i.e. recommended for award following any necessary amendments) and who has also conducted at least one examination on a final submitted thesis). This experience may have been gained from within or outside of the University of Southampton.

The Independent Chair ensures that the viva voce is conducted fairly and appropriately, and in accordance with the General Academic Regulations for Research Students and the Code of Practice for Research Degree Candidature and Supervision. They also ensure that the recommended outcome represents fairly the view of the assessment panel/examination team.  The Independent Chair is not a member of the Assessment Panel or Examination Team and, as such, is not provided with a copy of the student’s submission. They attend the viva voce in a procedural capacity and are required to be present for the pre- and post-viva deliberations, although they do not contribute in any way to the assessment of the thesis and viva voce.  

The Independent Chair should be an academic member of staff of the University of Southampton with substantial experience in supervising and examining research students in the United Kingdom. An individual who is not a member of University of Southampton staff but who holds Visiting Professor, Fellow or Academic status may not be appointed as an Independent Chair. 

The Independent Chair should:

• have had no direct involvement with the research project or student, either in a formal or informal capacity; 
• not be a member of the student’s current or previous supervisory team;
• not have provided any significant pastoral support to the research student at any point prior to the Progression Review or Examination process;
• not have acted currently or previously in the role of Independent Mentor for the student.

The Independent Chair is not required to have any knowledge of the research or discipline area and is not required to be from the same department, School, or Faculty.