Attendance and engagement
If you are registered on a full-time postgraduate research programme, you are expected to devote your whole time to the degree programme.
Residency requirements
The University requires you to reside within a commutable distance from Manchester during your time as a registered student, unless you are on approved fieldwork/a formal placement or are on a period of 'submission pending'. This is to ensure that you are able to meet attendance expectations and participate in wider research activities within your discipline area and/or school.
Should you be unable to do this at any point during your programme, a formal case must be made to the Faculty office, together with the full support of your supervisor(s). The University reserves the right to reject such a request where it is considered that your residency could have a detrimental impact on the progression and engagement of your studies.
Attendance and engagement
PGRs must maintain regular contact with their supervisory team and continue to engage and be present as required by their studies and by UKVI (if under UK immigration control). The attendance and engagement contacts should be recorded in eProg record.
For PGRs on a Student Route (including Tier 4) visa, there is a visa requirement that they physically attend and engage with their programme until the final thesis submission is approved or our sponsorship of their visa ends, whichever comes first. This includes the submission pending period.
Your supervisory team has the responsibility of checking and recording your attendance and engagement in your eProg record. Most supervisors have contact/meetings with their PGRs formally and informally very regularly. The minimum standard is for the main supervisor and PGR to maintain contact at least once a month to discuss progress, training needs, and plans for the next phase of work, and this eProg form which monitors attendance and engagement can be completed as part of these regular meetings or contact points. Please note that at least six of the supervision meetings in the 12-month cycle must be physical engagement points.
As well as monitoring attendance, these forms are a useful tool to monitor your progression. If your timetable or progress begins to slip then it is important to discuss these issues explicitly, to note them using this form and to make plans to rectify the situation. Good planning and monitoring of progress are key to a successful and timely completion.
International PGRs
International students are required to attend census checkpoints across the academic year.
PGRs whose UK visa is sponsored by The University of Manchester during interruption period
PGRs are able to maintain their Student visa status while undertaking required fieldwork overseas, during periods of annual leave, and during approved periods of interruption of less than 60 days, but we are unable to maintain the Student visa status of PGRs who choose to be absent from the UK for over 60 days for other reasons, such as writing up.
Whilst PGRs are not able to maintain their Student visa status during interruptions exceeding 60 days (and will need to return home should their extension exceed this allowance), supervisors should know the whereabouts of their PGRs and be able to confirm monthly contact for the full duration of the interruption.