Maximum Submission Date & Extension of Time
Maximum Submission Date
This is the final date by when your thesis should be submitted to the Examination Schools. However, please do check whether you are required to submit sooner by any funding body supporting your studies.
The Maximum Submission Date is usually 12 terms (4 years) for D.Phil. Students and 9 terms (3 years) for M.Sc.(by Research) Students from the Start Date of your studies and is increased accordingly based on any Suspension of Status or Extension. The Graduate Studies Assistant in your Department or Faculty will be able to tell you your Maximum Submission Date.
Expected Completion Date
The Expected Completion Date is the Maximum Submission Date plus six months. This is to allow adequate time for your viva voce examination, and if requested by the examiners, to undertake any minor corrections required and to submit your revised thesis. During this period you will be classed as being ‘under examination’ until you are granted leave to supplicate for your degree. Note: The extra six months is not additional time for you to complete your research as your Maximum Submission Date remains the same.
Extension of Time: DPhil students
You are expected to submit your thesis within three or at most four years of starting your doctoral course. You will lose your DPhil status if you have failed to complete your thesis within twelve terms of being admitted as a research student, and will no longer be registered as a student of the University. The twelve terms rule is net of any suspension of status.
Extension of Time: MLitt and MSc by Research students
You are expected to submit your thesis within three years of starting your research course. You will lose your status as a MLitt or MSc by Research student if you have failed to complete your thesis within nine terms of being admitted as a research student, and will no longer be registered as a student of the University. The nine terms rule is net of any suspension of status.
Applying for an extension: all students
In exceptional circumstances extensions of time can be given for up to six terms for DPhil students, and up to six terms for MLitt and MSc by Research students. Your department/ faculty/division may decide that you should be given no more than one term of extension at a time, and are very unlikely to grant more than three terms of extension at once.
If you are funded by a research council or charity you may need to make a separate application to the funding body in parallel to that being made within the University. Your funding body’s regulations for extension of time will not necessarily be the same as those of the University.