2024-25 DPhil handbook final

Table of Contents

• 1. Introduction 10
• 1.1 Welcome from the Director of Graduate Studies 10
• 1.2 Scope and purpose of this handbook 10
• 1.3 Induction 11
• 1.4 Laptop Specification for Students 12
• 1.5 Key sources of useful information 12
• 1.6 Academic Progress—Whom to Contact 13
• 2. General programme structure and timetable 14
• 2.1 Scheduling for Part-Time Students 15
• 2 15
• 2.2 Coursework Requirements 16
• 2.2.1 Waiver of Core Course Requirements 16
• 2.2.2 Coursework Deadline Extension Requests 16
• 2.2.3 Managing submission deadlines 17
• 2.2.4 Late Submission and Non-Attendance 17
• 2.2.5 Failures and Resubmission of Coursework 18
• 3. DPhil in Information, Communication and the Social Sciences 18
• 3.1 Aims of the programme 18
• 3 18
• 3.2 Core Courses: DPhil in Information, Communication and the Social Sciences 19
• 3.2.1 Core course waiver policy 19
• 3.3 Part-Time DPhil ICSS Core Course Schedule 19
• 3.3.1 Digital Social Research: Methods Core 20
• 3.3.2 Digital Social Research: Statistics Core 21
• 3.3.3 Advanced Social Theory 21
• 3.4 Summary of 2024-25 Coursework Deadlines 21
• 4. DPhil in Social Data Science 22
• 4.1 Aims of the programme 22
• 4 22
• 4.2 Core Courses: DPhil in Social Data Science 22
• 4.2.1 Core course waiver policy 23
• 4.3 Part Time DPhil Schedule 23
• 4.4 Foundations and Frontiers of Social Data Science 25
• 4.5 Applied Analytical Statistics 25
• 4.6 Research Design for Social Data Science 25
• 4.7 Summary of 2024-25 Coursework Deadlines 25
• 5. DPhil training and development 26
• 5.1 DPhil Seminar 26
• 5.1.1 Part-time Students in the DPhil Seminar 26
• 5 26
• 5.2 Auditing Optional Courses 27
• 5.3 Researcher Development 27
• 5.3.1 How do I get help to develop as a researcher? 27
• 2.3. 27
• 5.3.2 Research and Skills Training at OII and the Social Science Division 27
• 5.3.3 How do I find the training I need? 28
• 5.3.4 What is a Training Needs Analysis? 29
• 5.3.5 How can I get teaching experience? 29
• 5.4 Additional Talks and Seminars 30
• 5.5 Training in Research Ethics in the Social Sciences 30
• 5.5.1 What you need to do 31
• 5.6 Fieldwork Safety and Training 32
• 6. Examinations and progress through the DPhil 35
• 6.1 Overview of Progression 35
• 6 35
• 6.2 Transfer to DPhil status 35
• 6.2.1 Purpose of Transfer of Status 36
• 6.2.2 Timing of Transfer of Status 36
• 6.2.2.1 Deferral of Transfer of Status 37
• 6.2.3 How to Apply for Transfer of Status Assessment 38
• 6.2.4 Content of Transfer of Status Application 38
• 6.2.4.1 Preparation of Transfer of Status document 39
• 6.2.5 Appointment and role of assessors 40
• 6.2.6 Criteria for Success 41
• 6.2.7 Outcomes of Transfer of Status 42
• 6.3 Confirmation of DPhil status 44
• 6.3.1 The Purpose of Confirmation of Status 44
• 6.3.2 The Timing of Confirmation of Status 45
• 6.3.2.1 Deferral of Confirmation of Status 46
• 6.3.3 How to Apply for Confirmation of Status 47
• 6.3.4 Content of Confirmation of Status application 47
• 6.3.5 Appointment of Assessors and Arranging the Interview 48
• 6.3.6 Instructions to Confirmation Assessors 49
• 6.3.7 Criteria for Success 50
• 6.3.8 Outcomes of Confirmation of Status 51
• 6.4 The final viva 52
• 6.4.1 Examination criteria 52
• 6.4.2 Application process 53
• 6.4.3 Timing of the viva 53
• 6.4.4 Selection of examiners 54
• 6.4.5 Oral examination arrangements 54
• 6.4.6 Notification of results of DPhil viva 56
• 6.4.6.1 Minor DPhil corrections 56
• 6.4.6.2 Major Corrections 56
• 6.4.6.3 Reference Back 57
• 6.4.7 Conferral of degree 57
• 7. Thesis Preparation & Submission 58
• 7.1 Thesis preparation 58
• 7.1.1 Choice of thesis topic 58
• 7.1.2 Thesis title 59
• 7.1.3 Change of title 59
• 7.1.4 Notifying funders of changes of title or topic 59
• 7.1.5 Introduction 60
• 7.1.6 Writing 60
• 7.1.7 References 62
• 7.1.8 Thesis length 62
• 7.1.9 Integrated Thesis 63
• 7 58
• 7.2 Intellectual Property Rights and Plagiarism 64
• 7.2.1 Intellectual property rights 64
• 7.2.2 Plagiarism 64
• 7.3 Thesis submission 66
• 7.3.1 Title page 66
• 7.3.2 Abstract 66
• 7.3.3 Style and formatting 67
• 7.4 Technical instructions for submission 67
• 7.4.1 Deadlines and extensions of time 68
• 7.5 Library copies 68
• 7.5.1 DPhil student research data and records management 69
• 8. Supervision and Teaching 70
• 8.1 Supervision 70
• 8.1.1 Appointment of supervisor(s) 70
• 8.1.2 Role of supervisors 71
• 8.1.3 Contact with supervisors 71
• 8.1.4 Supervision reports 72
• 8.1.5 Change of supervisor 72
• 8.1.6 Periods of supervisor absence 73
• 8.1.7 Role of College Adviser 73
• 8 70
• 8.2 Responsibilities of Graduate students 73
• 8.3 Teaching by graduate students 74
• 9. Feedback, concerns and queries 76
• 9.1 Feedback from students 76
• 9.1.1 Opportunities to provide evaluation and feedback 76
• 9.1.2 Student representation 76
• 9 76
• 9.2 Complaints and academic appeals 79
• 9.2.1 Complaints about university services and academic matters 79
• 9.2.2 Academic appeals 80
• 9.2.3 Complaints about staff or student behaviour 81
• 10. Welfare and Support 82
• 10.1 Sources of advice, help, and counselling 82
• 10 82
• 10.2 Problems completing the DPhil 83
• 10.2.1 Illness 83
• 10.2.2 Suspension of status as a postgraduate student 83
• 10.3 Disability Advisory Service 84
• 10.4 Equality, Diversity and Inclusion 86
• 10.4.1 The Equality and Diversity Unit 86
• 10.4.2 The Oxford Students’ Union 87
• 10.4.3 EDI at the Social Sciences Division 87
• 10.4.4 EDI at the OII 87
• 10.4.5 OII Professional Code of Conduct 88
• 10.5 Bullying and Harassment 88
• 10.5.1 Support within the University 89
• 10.5.2 Support external to the University 91
• 10.5.3 Raising your concern about a staff member’s conduct informally 91
• 10.5.4 Making a formal complaint about a member of staff 93
• 10.5.5 Making a complaint about another student 96
• 10.5.6 What to do if you hear about or witness bullying or harassment 97
• 11. Regulations and Policies 100
• 11.1 Examination Regulations 100
• 11 100
• 11.2 Fee regulations 100
• 11.3 Residence requirements (Full-Time Students only) 100
• 11.4 University Statutes and Regulations 101
• 11.5 Disability 101
• 11.6 Equality 102
• 11.7 Freedom of speech 102
• 11.8 Health and safety 102
• 11.9 University Policy on Student Maternity, Paternity and Adoption Leave 103
• 11.10 Fieldwork safety and training 103
• 11.11 OII Framework of Expectations for Inclusive Teaching 104
• 11.12 Educational Recordings Policy 104
• 11.13 Academic Integrity in Research 105
• 11.14 Conflicts of Interest 105
• 11.15 Data protection 105
• 12. The University 106
• 12.1 The OII as a department 106
• 12.1.1 Organisation 106
• 12.1.2 OII facilities 107
• 12 106
• 12.2 The Colleges 107
• 12.3 Social Science Graduate Office 108
• 12.4 Research Services 108
• 12.5 Proctors’ Office 108
• 12.6 Library Facilities 108
• 12.6.1 Oxford libraries 108
• 12.6.2 The OII Library 109
• 12.6.3 The Bodleian Social Science Library 109
• 12.6.4 Bodleian Libraries 109
• 12.7 Computing Facilities 110
• 12.7.1 University facilities 110
• 12.7.2 OII IT facilities 110
• 12.7.3 Canvas 111
• 12.8 Training facilities 111
• 12.9 The Language Centre 111
• 12.10 Careers guidance 112
• 13. Financial matters 113
• 13.1 OII DPhil Student Research Budget 113
• 13 113
• 13.2 DPhil Cohort-building Budget 114
• 13.3 Disability Support Funding 114
• 13.4 Carers’ Support Fund 115
• 13.5 Grants, prizes and other funds 115
• 13.6 Assistance with financial difficulties 115
• 13.6.1 University and college funding 115
• 13.6.2 OII Hardship Fund 116
• 13.7 Paid Work 117
• 13.8 Travel Insurance 117
• Appendix A: Graduate Joint Consultative Committee 118
• Appendix B: Standing Committees 120
• Graduate Studies Committee (GSC) 120
• Research Committee 121
• Appendix C: Guidance on MLitt 123
• Appendix D: Guidance on MSc by Research (MRes) 124
• Appendix E: OII Marking Scales 129
• Appendix F: Graduate Supervision Reporting (GSR) 130
• Appendix G: Research Supervision 132
• Appendix H: Advancing Teaching and Learning (ATL) 146
• Appendix I: Training Needs Analysis Framework 147
• Appendix J: Oxford University Research Archive (ORA) and Digital Publication of Theses 153