5. Delivery of a PGR programme by practice

References to the PhD in Creative Writing are for illustration only and do not relate to the PhD in English with Creative Writing offered at York. 

Supervision and monitoring

Supervisors for a PGR programme by practice should have a detailed understanding of the specific programme requirements and ideally have had personal experience of being a practitioner in the same, or closely-related, field as their PGR. The practice element of the programme should be regularly discussed within formal supervisory and Thesis Advisory Panel (TAP) meetings and these discussions recorded in SkillsForge.

Progression requirements for PGR programmes by practice

The criteria for formal reviews of progress are the same for all PhD and MPhil programmes (Appendix 2 of the Policy on Research Degrees). However, departments must consider how the evidence requirements might be differentiated to take into account the practice element of a PhD or MPhil by practice, particularly if PGRs are required or permitted to submit an alternative assessment format. (For example, for a PhD in Creative Writing, the PGR should be required to submit some creative writing as part of the evidence for their formal reviews of progress.) 

Training and support for PGRs

PGRs on a PGR programme by practice may require (in addition to the usual PGR training and support opportunities):

• training to support them in the production of any permitted alternative assessment format (eg how to structure a portfolio of work and critical reflection)
• opportunities to learn with and from other PGRs with a practice focus (for example, in the case of practice-based research to critique the work of their peers, and have their peers critique their work; in the case of practice-led research, to participate in action learning sets with their peers). 

Individuals who enter a PGR by practice programme with a strong practitioner background but a more limited or distant educational background may require additional training and support to meet the academic requirements of the programme. This might include, for example, additional training and support on the nature of doctoral level research and research methodologies.

Resources

The resources needed to support a PGR undertaking a PGR programme by practice should have been assessed as part of the admissions process (see above) and should be reviewed on an ongoing basis eg at Thesis Advisory Panel (TAP) meetings and as part of formal review of progress (where applicable).

Guidelines information

PGRs who started their programme after 16 September 2024 should adhere to these guidelines.

PGRs who started their programme before 16 September 2024 should adhere to these guidelines as much as possible but will not be penalised for following previously available guidance from their department.