Timing of transfer to MSc by Research status

All research students are admitted to the status of Probationer Research Student (PRS), in the first instance. At an appropriate time before the end of the 4th term from admission, as advised by your department, it will be necessary to decide whether to apply for transfer to MSc status or to DPhil status. It is possible to transfer to MSc status initially and thereafter to DPhil status, if appropriate.

It is not possible to hold Probationer Research student status for more than 4 terms. Your status with the University will lapse if you fail to transfer before the end of your 4th term. In exceptional circumstances, students can apply for an extension of one or two terms to their Probationer Research Student status via a GSO.2b form (this form is filled in via the My Student Record section of Student Self-Service).

The transfer procedure

If you decide to attempt transfer to MSc status, you will be required to apply to the Medical Sciences Divisional Board with the following:

A completed GSO.2 MSD form, including a statement from your supervisor that s/he approves the proposed subject for the thesis and considers you well fitted to undertake the advanced research

An outline of your project of not more than 500 words. This is a strict limit set by the Divisional Graduate School Committee and must be adhered to. Assessors must not under any circumstances request that a student write more than this. If a student exceeds this limit, the assessors may return the outline to the student and ask that they amend it to within the word limit. Only once the project outline has been amended and resubmitted will the assessors proceed with arranging the transfer viva.

A timetable leading to submission

These documents, along with the assessor's report form, will be considered by your nominated transfer assessor/s (or assessors appointed by the Medical Sciences Divisional Board) and by the Medical Sciences Divisional Board. You will also be required to give a presentation of your work. Your supervisors must not be present at the presentation. 'Supervisors' in this context means anyone in the supervisory term, i.e. including secondary supervisors.

Further guidance, if required, is available from the Graduate School Assistants.

Checklist for transfer to MSc by Research status

Time limit. Transfer to MSc status must be completed by the end of your 4th term after admission as a Probationary Research Student (PRS). In exceptional circumstances, you can apply to the Medical Sciences Board for an extension of 1 or 2 terms to your PRS status. Details of how to submit such an application are available from the Graduate School Assistants.
GSO form. Obtain a GSO.2 MSD form (please ensure you use the GSO.2 MSD form and not the standard GSO.2 form).
Signatures. Complete Section 1 of the GSO.2 MSD form and attach your report, specifying the title of the thesis, and giving an outline of your project research and a detailed timetable to submission. Your supervisor should complete Section 2 and you should then take the form to your College office to obtain the signature of the appropriate College officer for Section 3. You should then collect the signature of your department’s Director of Graduate Studies on Section 4. The form and attached statement can then be sent to your Departmental Graduate Studies contact, who will forward the necessary documentation, including Guidelines for Transfer of Status Assessors in the Medical Sciences and a report form for completion, to the assessor(s).
Assessment. The written work and statement will then be assessed by the assessors. You will also be required to give a presentation.
Approval by the Medical Sciences Board. The completed report is then returned by the assessors to the Department Graduate Studies Assistant, who forwards it onto the Divisional Graduate Studies Assistant. It will then be sent to a representative of the Medical Sciences Board for approval. The transfer procedure is not complete until this approval has been gained; you will be notified directly in writing once the procedure is complete.

After Transfer to MSc by Research status

A student may apply for permission to supplicate for the MSc by Research degree at any time not earlier than the 3rd and not later than the 9th term after the date of admission as a Probationer Research Student. If a student has been prevented by exceptional causes from completing his or her research for the MSc degree by this time, the Medical Sciences Board shall have power to grant him or her an extension of time for a period not exceeding 3 terms to be determined by the Medical Sciences Board. Alternatively transfer to DPhil status may be sought by applying to the Medical Sciences Board.

Thinking about submitting your thesis? Please read the information regarding Research Degree Examinations.