Your research degree

If you study for a full-time PhD, your registration period will normally be four years. This means that you are registered with the University as a student for this period and would usually complete your PhD by the end of your fourth year of study.

If you are a part-time PhD student, the registration period is usually seven years.

For full-time MPhil students, the registration period is normally between one and two years, and for part-time MPhil students is normally between two and three years.

The registration period covers all stages of your research, from the instigation of your project and reviewing the current literature in your field, to data collection and analysis, and writing up.

It is possible to apply to extend your registration period if you need more time (for example, due to illness or caring responsibilities).

If you are a full-time student, you should devote on average 35 hours per week to your research.

If you are a part-time student, you should devote on average 12 hours per week to your research.

This will include requirements to attend induction and welcome events, research training and seminars, and meetings with your supervisors. These amounts will vary from time-to-time depending on the stage of your research.

You will be assigned a team of supervisors to support your studies. The Director of Studies will be your main supervisor.

On average, you should have at least one formal supervisory meeting each month with a member of your supervisory team. The purpose of these meetings is to discuss your progress, offer academic support and guidance on your research, and signpost to other University services as required.

Your supervisor will log notes of these meetings on the University's e-Vision system.

You will take part in a review process each year to ensure that you are making progress with your research and have the support you need study successfully.

Read our guidance on the annual review process.

All postgraduate research students are entitled to take leave. This is currently 35 days per year plus statutory holidays for full-time students, pro-rata for part-time students. Your leave allowance runs from your start date and renews each year on the anniversary of your start date.

You should agree with your Director of Studies when you will take leave.

Your research degree will centre on the development of your thesis, which you will present and discuss at your final examination.

Indicative word limits are provided below:

• PhD in science, engineering, art and design: 40,000 words
• MPhil in science, engineering, art and design: 20,000 words
• PhD in arts, social sciences and education: 80,000 words
• MPhil in arts, social sciences and education: 40,000 words

If your thesis is accompanied by material which is not in written form, or involves creative writing or a scholarly edition, the written thesis should normally be:

• PhD: 30,000 - 40,000 words
• MPhil: 15,000 - 20,000 words

Find out more about the final examination process.

You can access theses before you begin your studies on the University's research portal. The portal brings together theses written by previous Teesside University students. This can help you to gain a feel for the scope of projects in subject areas which interest you, and review examples of a typical thesis.