Staff candidates seeking admission to PGR awards

Current members of staff can apply for candidacy for any PGR course and would be examined in accordance with the staff candidate regulations (regulations 4.43 - 4.47 in the Principal Regulations for Postgraduate Research Degrees (.pdf)). Students who teach (Assistant Lecturers, Graduate Laboratory Assistants, and Graduate Demonstrators) are not considered members of staff*.

Current members of staff can apply for admission to a PhD by Publication, whereby they use previously published works as the equivalent to a thesis submission for the award of a PhD. Colleagues wishing to apply to the PhD by Publication course should follow the guidance for separate PhD by Publication guidance. However, colleagues who wish to undertake a standard PGR course, undertaking supervised research to be examined via submission of a thesis and viva voce (or equivalent for Practice as Research courses) should follow the guidance outlined on this webpage.

Application process

Members of staff of the University and its Partner Institutions can apply to become students for a research degree using the standard postgraduate admissions form. 

Members of staff of the University are encouraged to consult the Employee Tuition Fee Waiver Policy to check whether the degree is covered by the Employee Tuition Fee Waiver Policy and whether you would be eligible for the fee waiver: https://www.essex.ac.uk/staff/professional-development-and-training/employee-fee-waiver

Requirements of the award

The regular requirements of the award for the degree will be applicable for staff candidates. See PGR award requirements. The examination and viva for staff candidates is conducted by two external examiners appointed by the Executive Dean or nominee. The Executive Dean or nominee shall also appoint an Independent Chair for the viva examination of all staff candidates. Otherwise, the examination follows the same process as a standard PhD examination.

* Regulations 4.43-4.47.