Skip to main contentCambridge University Reporter

No 6553

Wednesday 26 June 2019

Vol cxlix No 35

pp. 723–758

Reports

Joint Report of the Council and the General Board on the governance of matters for postgraduate and graduate students

The Council and the General Board beg leave to report to the University as follows:

1. This Report proposes changes to the committee structure with responsibility for policy and decision-making concerning graduate and postgraduate students.1

2. In Michaelmas Term 2018 the General Board, through its Education Committee, conducted a review of governance arrangements for postgraduate and graduate students. Schools, Colleges, Degree Committees, the Graduate Union, relevant trust fund managers, central offices and Committees were consulted as part of the review.

3. The review focused on two specific matters: the distinction between postgraduate and graduate students (and consistency of decision-making on individual student cases) and governance arrangements, including the committee structure. The aim of the review was to create a single, robust governance structure for all types of graduate and postgraduate students to improve strategy and policy-making and understanding, and to ensure that appropriate focus is given to matters relating to these students. This supports the Council’s ambitions to streamline administration and reduce committee load. In relation to consideration of matters relating to individual students, the aim of the review was to ensure that decisions are made by the most appropriate body, with clear responsibility resting with academics in the subject area.

4. The review noted that responsibility for post-undergraduate student matters currently rests with both the General Board and the Board of Graduate Studies. The General Board, through its Education Committee, has responsibility for the educational policy of the University and for overseeing teaching. The Board of Graduate Studies has responsibility for individual student cases and operational matters affecting graduate students as covered in the programme regulations and the General Regulations for Admission as a Graduate Student.

The review was conducted in the light of recent changes to the way that the Education Committee exercises the General Board’s responsibility for education and the establishment of a sub-committee structure to support its work (as set out in Annex A). That sub-committee structure includes the Postgraduate Admissions Committee (which has responsibility for oversight of postgraduate recruitment and funding strategy), the Academic Standards and Enhancement Committee (which oversees the quality of learning opportunities), and the Examination and Assessment Committee (which oversees the examination and assessment of undergraduate and current postgraduate students). The Board of Graduate Studies – and therefore matters relating to graduate students – sits outside this committee structure.

5. The review concluded with a recommendation that policies and processes should be made consistent in so far as is appropriate, and that educational matters for all students should fall under the remit of the General Board through its Education Committee. Such changes would help to ensure that issues relating to research students are given equal prominence alongside those arising under taught undergraduate and Master’s programmes.

6. It is therefore proposed that the Board of Graduate Studies be dissolved and its work transferred to a new committee (the Postgraduate Committee; see Annex B) under the General Board’s Education Committee, creating a single comprehensive governance structure for all students, and that in future the University refer to all students at post-undergraduate level as postgraduate students.

7. It was recognised that the current distinction between taught postgraduate and Graduate Students is arbitrary, causes significant confusion and leads to inappropriate instances where students on taught Master’s courses (such as the Master of Law and the Master of Philosophy by Advanced Study) are subject to different regulations, policies and provision. It was also acknowledged that these differences left the University vulnerable to appeals to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator. However, it was appreciated that further work was required to consider how these issues might be addressed.

8. The rationale for academic decisions to be made by local academic committees consisting of subject experts (Degree Committees) rather than a central body was accepted, but it was also recognised that without clear rules and guidance the disparity of knowledge and experience currently held in these committees might lead to inconsistency in decision-making and impact on the quality of decisions made.

9. The review therefore also recommended that the Postgraduate Committee, under the direction of the Education Committee of the General Board, would undertake a systematic review of arrangements for post-undergraduate students. Consulting with relevant stakeholders and recognising the differing needs of taught and research students, that review would consider the most appropriate governance and operational arrangements for admissions (as part of the admissions review), fees (in conjunction with the proposed fees review), progress monitoring and student status, and examination and award. Recommendations from the review would be submitted to the General Board and its Education Committee for approval prior to implementation.

10. To provide continuity of support and to facilitate a smooth transfer of activity from the Board of Graduate Studies to the Postgraduate Committee a number of current members of the Board would be invited to serve on the Postgraduate Committee and the secretaryship would remain the same. To conclude the transition a final meeting of the Board may be held in October 2019.

11. The Council and General Board have endorsed the recommendations of the review and consider that the new arrangements will provide a consistent and robust governance structure. The recommendations have the support of the General Board’s Education Committee, and its sub-committees the Postgraduate Admissions Committee and the Examination and Assessment Committee.

12. If the Report’s recommendations are approved, the General Board would adopt the changes to the General Board Regulations as set out in Annex D. These changes transfer academic decision-making and oversight from the Board of Graduate Studies to the General Board, and administrative matters from the Secretary of the Board of Graduate Studies to the Registrary. In practice the work would be carried out by the Postgraduate Committee (with a quorum requirement) and the Student Registry, acting on the General Board’s behalf.

13. The Council and the General Board recommend:

 I. That the Board of Graduate Studies be dissolved and its remit transferred to the General Board.

II. That, subject to the approval of Her Majesty in Council, the Statutes of the University be amended as set out below and that these amendments be submitted under the Common Seal of the University to Her Majesty in Council for approval.2

(a)That in Statute A IX 3(b)(ii) (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 10) the reference to the Board of Graduate Studies be removed and replaced with a reference to the General Board.

(b)That Statute A V 19 (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 7) be revised to read as follows:

19. It shall be the duty of each Degree Committee to exercise such functions as may be prescribed by Regulation of the General Board in respect of the admission of postgraduate students and the supervision of their work, the award of degrees, diplomas, and certificates in respect of graduate study or contributions to learning, and other cognate matters.

III. That, with effect from 1 October 2019, in Special Ordinance A (vi) (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 69) paragraph (i) concerning the Board of Graduate Studies be deleted and the remaining paragraphs renumbered.

IV. That, with effect from 1 October 2019, the changes to Ordinance set out in Annex C be approved.

17 June 2019

Stephen Toope, Vice-Chancellor

David Greenaway

Richard Penty

Sam Ainsworth

Jennifer Hirst

Michael Proctor

Evie Aspinall

Christopher Kelly

Sofia Ropek-Hewson

R. Charles

Mark Lewisohn

Sara Weller

Anthony Freeling

Marcel Llavero Pasquina

Mark Wormald

Nicholas Gay

Jeremy Morris

Jocelyn Wyburd

5 June 2019

Stephen Toope, Vice-Chancellor

A. L. Greer

Sofia Ropek-Hewson

Philip Allmendinger

Matthew Kite

Helen Thompson

John Dennis

Patrick Maxwell

Graham Virgo

Abigail Fowden

Richard Rex

Chris Young

Footnotes

  • 1Doctoral students, students on courses leading to the degrees of Master of Education, Literature, Philosophy, Research, Science and Study, and to the Certificate of Postgraduate Study and various diplomas, are classed as graduate students. Students on courses leading to the degrees of Master of Accounting, Advanced Study, Business Administration, Corporate Law, and Law, and to the Postgraduate Certificate in Education, are classified as postgraduate students.

  • 2As these are consequential amendments to Statute, it is proposed that the changes to Ordinances under Recommendation IV would take effect on 1 October 2019 following their approval by Grace.

ANNEX A: Committee structure

ANNEX B: Postgraduate Committee terms of reference

1. The Postgraduate Committee shall be a sub‐committee of the Education Committee of the General Board.

2. The Committee shall consist of the following members appointed by the Education Committee:

(a)one member of the General Board’s Education Committee who shall be appointed as Chair;

(b)one member nominated by the Senior Tutors’ Committee;

(c)one member of the Academic Standards and Enhancement Committee;

(d)up to three members of the Regent House who represent a broad subject balance and who act or have recently acted as Chair of a Degree Committee;

(e)one member nominated by the Graduate Union, who will normally be a current or recent research student.

Members in classes (a)–(d) shall serve for three years. The Secretary shall be appointed by the Head of Education Services.

3. The Chair shall have authority to invite others to attend meetings where relevant to the discussion.

4. A meeting of the Committee shall be quorate if at least four of the members in classes (a)–(d) are present.

5. It shall be the duty of the Committee, on behalf of the General Board’s Education Committee,

(a)to determine criteria for admission to particular postgraduate courses1 and to consider student cases referred by the Postgraduate Admissions Office;

(b)to decide on applications for admission as postgraduate students from persons who have been recommended for admission by a Degree Committee;

(c)to exercise a general superintendence on postgraduate students and consider matters of policy and procedure relating to progress monitoring, student status, examination and award (except for those overseen by the Examination and Assessment Committee or Faculty Boards), and to consider cases referred to it by Officers in Student Operations;

(d)to consider and decide upon applications of postgraduate students for such allowances under the regulations for degrees (except for those overseen by the Examination and Assessment Committee);

(e)working closely with the Academic Standards and Enhancement Committee, to exercise a quality assurance role through monitoring of key indicators including awards, submission rates and completion of supervisor progress reports;

(f)to ratify the reports, recommendations or resolutions of the Degree Committees on the work of candidates for the degrees of Ph.D., Eng.D., Ed.D., M.D. and Vet.M.D. who have been recommended by the Degree Committee concerned, and publish the names of those candidates on whom, in the opinion of the Degree Committee concerned, the degrees should be conferred;

(g)to consider the reports, recommendations or resolutions of the Degree Committees on the work of candidates for the degrees of D.D., LL.D., Sc.D., Litt.D., Mus.D. and Vet.M.D.;

(h)to undertake such other functions as may from time to time be assigned to it by the Education Committee of the General Board.

6. Minutes of the Committee’s meetings, an annual report of cases managed by the Committee and such other reports as may be requested from time to time, shall be provided to the General Board’s Education Committee.

Footnote

  • 1Doctors of Education, Engineering and Philosophy; Masters of Literature, Philosophy, Research, Science and Studies; Certificate of Postgraduate Study; Advanced Diplomas in Economics, Hebrew Studies, Research Theory and Practice in English and Theology, Religion and Philosophy of Religion; Postgraduate Diplomas in Legal Studies and International Law.

ANNEX C: Changes to Ordinance*

Proposed changes to Ordinance with effect from 1 October 2019

(1)By rescinding the regulations for the Board of Graduate Studies (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 120).

(2)By amending the regulations for University Composition Fees (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 151) as follows:

(a)In Regulation 1, by revising the first part of the regulation to read as follows:

1. Except as provided otherwise in the general regulations for certain postgraduate degrees and other qualifications, a matriculated student who is pursuing a course leading to a qualification specified in the following regulations or a postgraduate student not registered as a candidate for any qualification shall pay a University Composition Fee, at the rate specified in Regulation 10, as follows:

(b)By replacing the reference to ‘a Graduate Student’ with a reference to ‘a matriculated postgraduate registered student’ in Regulation 2;

(c)By inserting the following as new Regulation 3:

3.(a) Students undertaking research leading to the Ph.D., Bus.D., Eng.D., Ed.D.,* M.Litt., M.Sc. Degree or M.Phil. Degree by thesis shall pay the University Composition Fee as determined by Regulation 10 for each term up to and including the term in which they are permitted to submit a thesis, up to a maximum of twelve terms if a candidate for the Bus.D. Degree, nine terms if a candidate for the Ph.D. or Eng.D. or Ed.D.* Degree (except in the case of certain doctoral programmes as defined by the General Board, in which case up to twelve terms of fees may be collected), six terms if a candidate for the M.Litt. or M.Sc. Degree, or three terms if a candidate for the M.Phil. Degree by thesis, except that in the case of a student following a course of study that requires a period of instruction in an approved institution, the General Board may, on the recommendation of the Degree Committee concerned, remit or reduce payments under Regulation 8.

(b) Students taking the courses listed in the Schedule shall pay the same total fee whether registered for a part-time course or for a full-time course leading to the same qualification, and the maximum number of terms specified in the regulations for the award shall be increased accordingly.1

(c) A person employed in a University institution at least 40% full-time2 who has been accepted for admission or who is registered as a candidate for the Ph.D., Ed.D., M.Litt. or M.Sc. Degree, or for an M.Phil. Degree by thesis, or for a Certificate of Postgraduate Studies, shall pay a University Composition Fee of one-third the Home and EU Postgraduate Fee for any term in which that person continues in employment by the University.

(d)By amending Regulation 7 (renumbered 8) to read as follows:

8. The Council and General Board shall have power

(a)to determine the appropriate fee for a student in cases of doubt;

(b)to reduce or remit fees in cases of hardship, provided that no student shall be entitled to a remission of part of a University Composition Fee for any term on the ground that he or she has not made use of any of the facilities provided by the University.

(e)By deleting Regulations 8 and 11, renumbering existing Regulations 4–6 as Regulations 5–7, renumbering the remaining regulations and updating any cross-references;

(f)By inserting the following Schedule at the foot of the regulations:

Schedule under Regulation 3(b)
Ph.D., Eng.D., Ed.D., M.Litt., M.Sc., M.Ed., M.Phil. by thesis, M.Phil. by Advanced Study, M.Res., C.P.G.S.

(3)By replacing ‘For a candidate in statu pupillari, other than a Graduate Student’ with ‘For a candidate pursuing a course of study towards an undergraduate degree or other award’ in Regulation 3 of the regulations for Matriculation (Statutes and Ordinances,p. 166).

(4)By replacing ‘Graduate Student’ with ‘matriculated postgraduate registered student’ in Regulation 1 of the regulations for Status of Master of Arts (Statutes and Ordinances,p. 172).

(5)In the regulations for Degree Committees (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 614):

(a)by deleting the words ‘for appointment by the Board of Graduate Studies’ in Regulations 2 and 3;

(b)by replacing ‘Chair of the Board of Graduate Studies’ with ‘General Board’ in Regulation 3;

(c)by amending Regulation 6 to read as follows:*

6. It shall be the duty of each Degree Committee:

(a)to recommend applicants for admission as postgraduate registered students to the General Board, and to consider matters affecting those students within the oversight of the Degree Committee, including review of their subsequent progress, reporting or making recommendations to the Board as appropriate;

(b)to make recommendations on applications for allowances as appropriate under the regulations for allowances to candidates for examinations and the regulations for the degrees, diplomas and certificates listed in Schedule II;

(c)to receive the reports and recommendations from Examiners and boards of Examiners on the work of candidates for the degrees listed in Schedules II and III, and to submit to the Registrary lists of those candidates to whom, in the opinion of the Committee, the qualifications should be awarded, in a form as prescribed by the Board;

(d)to receive the reports and recommendations from Examiners and boards of Examiners on the work of candidates for the Advanced Diploma in Theology, Religion, and Philosophy of Religion, the Advanced Diploma in Research Theory and Practice in English (Engineering or Business Management),* and the Diploma in the Conservation of Easel Paintings, and to determine those candidates to whom, in the opinion of the Committee, the qualifications should be awarded;

(e)to review and comment on applications for new postgraduate programmes;

(f)to make an Annual Report to the cognate Faculty Board or comparable authority as those bodies deem necessary or as they may require;

(g)to undertake such other functions as may from time to time be assigned to them by the General Board or the cognate Faculty Board.

(d)by adding new Schedule III to read as follows:

SCHEDULE III

Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Law
Doctor of Science
Doctor of Letters
Doctor of Music
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

(e)by adding the following to Schedule II:*

Advanced Diploma in Research Theory and Practice in English (Engineering or Business Management)

(6)By replacing ‘junior members of the University who are graduate students’ with ‘members of the University who are postgraduate students’ in Regulation 9 of the regulations for the Graduate Union (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 190).

(7)By amending Regulation 2 of the regulations for Honours Examinations (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 244) to read as follows:

2. No one who is a member of the Senate or qualified to be admitted to a degree giving membership of the Senate, or is registered as a postgraduate registered student, shall be a candidate in any Honours Examination.

(8)By deleting ‘or the Board of Graduate Studies’ in Regulation 6 of the Procedure to Determine Fitness to Study (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 241).

(9)By replacing ‘required to be Graduate Students’ with ‘examined solely by thesis and oral’ and a footnote referring to the general regulations for certain postgraduate degrees and other qualifications in the following:

Regulation 3 of the regulations for Allowances to Candidates for Examinations (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 244).

Interviews in the regulations for Form and Conduct of Examination (Statutes and Ordinances,p. 252).

(10)By replacing Regulations 3(c)–(d) of the regulations for Allowances to Candidates for Examinations (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 244) with the following:

(c)where the candidate is a candidate for a degree other than the B.A. Degree and the degrees governed by the general regulations for certain postgraduate degrees and other qualifications: (i) declare the candidate to have attained the honours standard; or (ii) approve the candidate to receive the degree or such other award as may be allowed under the regulations for the degree;

(d)to require the Chair of Examiners, or a deputy appointed by the Chair from among the Examiners, to move the candidate’s name to a higher class, provided that such an amendment shall not be made unless the Chair of Examiners or deputy, after consulting at least two other Examiners, is satisfied that the candidate has performed at the standard of the higher class in all but a relatively small part of the examination;

(11)In the regulations for Entries and Lists of Candidates for Examinations (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 246):

(a)by deleting ‘and for the M.Phil. Degree by advanced study’ in Regulation 1;

(b)by amending Regulation 5 to read as follows:

5. Any entry of a candidate who proposes to offer less than is required by the regulations for the examination concerned shall require the sanction of the General Board. The name of any such candidate shall not be included in the class-list for the examination concerned.

(12)By replacing paragraphs (c)–(e) in the Schedule to the General Regulations for Examiners and Assessors (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 254) with the following:

(c)The examinations for the degrees of LL.M., M.C.L., M.B.A., M.Ed., M.Fin., M.B., B.Chir., Vet.M.B., Mus.B., M.Phil. by Advanced Study, M.Res. and M.St.

(d)Examinations for all Diplomas.

(e)The examinations for the Postgraduate Certificate in Education and the Certificate of Postgraduate Study.

(13)By replacing references to graduate students with references to postgraduate students in the following regulations:

Regulation 1(d) of the regulations for the Societies Syndicate (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 128).

Regulation 3(d) of the regulations for the Careers Service Syndicate (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 131).

Regulation 1(h) of the regulations for the Information Services Committee (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 134).

Paragraph (d) of the regulations for the Schools and Councils of the Schools (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 599).

Regulation 2 of the regulations for the Rose Book Collecting Prize (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 949).

Regulation 3(b) of the regulations for the Van Geest Foundation Fund for Brain Repair and Neuroscience (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 998).

Regulation 9 of the regulations for the Wright Studentship (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 1028)

Regulation 10(a) of the regulations for the Wright Rogers Scholarship Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 1029).

(14)By replacing references to graduate students or registered graduate students or those registered as graduate students or on the register of graduate students with references to postgraduate registered students in the following regulations:

Regulations 4 and 10 of the regulations for Residence and Precincts of the University (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 176).

Regulation 2(b) of the regulations for the Constitution of Faculty Boards (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 605).

Regulation 1(c) of the regulations for the University Centre (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 676).

Regulation 3(c) of the regulations for the University Information Services (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 677).

Regulations 3 and 5 of the regulations of Allen, Meek, and Read Fund for Research Scholarships (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 773).

Regulation 4 of the regulations for the Ashby Scholarship Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 777).

Regulation 2 of the regulations for the F. W. Aston Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 777).

Regulation 3 and 6 of the regulations for the Stanley Baldwin Fund (Statutes and Ordinances,p. 781).

Regulation 3(c) of the regulations for the Balfour-Browne Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 783).

Regulations 2 and 3 of the regulations for the Bendall Sanskrit Exhibition (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 786).

Regulation 3 of the regulations for the Isabelle Bouhon Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 792).

Regulations 4(c), 7 and 8 of the regulations for the E. G. Browne Memorial Research Studentship (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 796).

Regulation 3 of the regulations for the Raymond Burton Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 798).

Regulation 3 of the regulations for the Butterfield Studentship (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 800).

Regulation 6 of the regulations for the Countess Martinengo Cesaresco’s Bequest (Statutes and Ordinances, p803).

Regulation 5 of the regulations for the H. M. Chadwick Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 804).

Regulation 3(a) of the regulations for the John Chadwick Greek and Latin Research Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p805).

Regulation 8(b) of the regulations for the Corbett Fund and Prize (Statutes and Ordinances, p815).

Regulation 10(b) of the regulations for the Archbishop Cranmer Prize, Grants, and Studentships (Statutes and Ordinances, p818).

Regulation 3 of the Crausaz Wordsworth Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p819).

Regulation 4 of the regulations for the Craven Fund and Studentship (Statutes and Ordinances, p820).

Regulation 3 of the regulations for the David Crighton Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 821).

Regulation 4(b) of the regulations for the DeepMind Fund for Machine Learning (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 824).

Regulations 4 and 8 of the regulations for the Odette de Mourgues Fund and Studentship (Statutes and Ordinances, p825).

Regulation 4 of the regulations for the Harry Desai Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 826).

Regulation 2(c) of the regulations for the Ulick Richardson Evans Research Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 834).

Regulation 2 of the regulations for the Fitzpatrick Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 837).

Regulation 2 of the regulations for the Ford of Britain Trust Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 838).

Regulations 2 and 3 of the regulations for the Foster Prize Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 839).

Regulation 4 of the regulations for the Michael Foster Studentship in Physiology (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 839).

Regulation 6 of the regulations for the Isbel Fletcher Garden Fund and Scholarship (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 841).

Regulation 3(b) of the regulations for the Gedge Prize (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 844).

Regulation 6 of the regulations for the Gibson Spanish Scholarship (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 847).

Regulation 3 of the regulations for the Girdler Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 848).

Regulation 4 of the regulations for the Hamilton Prize (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 854).

Regulations 1 and 4 of the regulations for the Ibn Battutah Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 869).

Regulation 3 of the regulations for the Richard Kahn Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 875).

Regulation 2 of regulations for the Kaye Prize (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 876).

Regulations 1 and 4 of the regulations for the Kirby Laing Graduate Studentship Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 883).

Regulation 4 of the regulations for the Philip Lake Fund II (Statutes and Ordinances,p. 884).

Regulations 3 and 6 of the regulations for the Le Bas Research Studentships (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 886).

Regulation 4 of the regulations for the Dr Lightfoot’s Scholarships and Prize (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 890).

Regulation 3 of the regulations for the Manuel Lopez-Rey Studentship Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 893).

Regulation 4 of the regulations for the Lundgren Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 895).

Regulations 3 and 9(c) of the regulations for the Ellen McArthur Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 895).

Regulation 2(b) of the regulations for the McLatchie Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 897).

Regulation 3 of the regulations for the Peregrine Maitland Studentship (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 899).

Regulation 4 of the regulations for the MathWorks Studentship (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 902).

Regulation 2(c) of the regulations for the J. E. O. Mayne Fund (Statutes and Ordinances,p. 905).

Regulation 7 of the regulations for the Mellon Fellowship Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 906).

Regulation 6(a) of the regulations for the Members’ English Fund (Statutes and Ordinances,p. 908).

Regulation 6(a) of the regulations for the Members’ History Fund (Statutes and Ordinances,p. 909).

Regulation 3 of the regulations for the T. H. Middleton Fund (Statutes and Ordinances,p. 909).

Regulation 3(b) of the regulations for the Modern Jewish Studies Fund (Statutes and Ordinances,p. 911).

Regulations 3(a) and (b) of the regulations for the Mott Publication Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 914).

Regulation 2(b) of the regulations for the W. P. Napier Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 916).

Regulation 3(a) of the regulations for the Napier Shaw Fund (Statutes and Ordinances,p. 917).

Regulation 2 of the regulations for the Norrisian Prize (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 920).

Regulation 2 of the regulations for the Sara Norton Prizes (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 921).

Regulation 2 of the regulations for the Charles Oldham Scholarships (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 922).

Regulation 10 of the regulations for The Shakespeare Scholarship (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 923).

Regulation 3 of the regulations for the Suzy Paine Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 926).

Regulation 3 of the regulations for the Parke-Davis Exchange Fellowship in Biomedical Sciences (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 926).

Regulations 1 and 3 of the regulations for the Philosophy Graduate Students Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 930).

Regulation 2 of the regulations for the Alexander Pike Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 931).

Regulation 6 of the regulations for the Prendergast Fund and Studentship (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 936).

Regulations 7 and 15(b) and (c) of the regulations for the Prince Consort Prize and Thirlwall Prize (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 938).

Regulations 3(a) and (b) of the regulations for the J. Arthur Ramsay Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 943).

Regulation 2 of the regulations for the Rapson Fund and Scholarship (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 943).

Regulation 3(f) of the regulations for the Research Students Amenities Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 946).

Regulation 3 of the regulations for the Richards Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 947).

Regulation 6(b) of the regulations for the Ridgeway-Venn Travel Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 948).

Regulations 4(c) and 12 of the regulations for the Holland Rose Studentship (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 950).

Regulation 7 of the regulations for the Harold Samuel Studentship (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 954).

Regulation 4(b) of the regulations for the Sandys Fund and Studentship (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 955).

Regulation 3 of the regulations for the Dr F. Sanger Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 956).

Regulation 3(a) of the regulations for the A. W. Scott Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 959).

Regulation 14(c) of the regulations for the Sims Fund and Scholarship (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 965).

Regulation 3 of the regulations for the Morgan Sindall Prize (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 967).

Regulation 3(b) of the regulations for the Frank Smart Studentship in Botany (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 969).

Regulation 4 of the regulations for the Adam Smith Prize Endowment Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 970).

Regulation 4 of the regulations for the Herchel Smith Research Studentship and Research Fellowship Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 972).

Regulations 2(a) and (b) of the regulations for the Smith-Knight Prizes and Rayleigh-Knight Prizes (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 974).

Regulation 2 of the regulations for the Spencer Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 977).

Regulations 10, 11 and 14 of the regulations for the Squire Postgraduate Studentships in Law (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 978).

Regulations 1 and 6 of the regulations for the William Barclay Squire Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 978).

Regulation 11(b) of the regulations for The John Stewart of Rannoch Sacred Music Fund and Scholarships (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 983).

Regulation 4 of the regulations for the C. T. Taylor Fund and Studentships (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 985).

Regulations 9 and 23 of the regulations for the Henry Arthur Thomas Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 988).

Regulation 4 of the regulations for the Tiarks German Scholarship Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 990).

Regulations 1, 3 and 4 of the regulations for the J. B. Trend Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 991).

Regulation 3 of the regulations for the Tudor Studentships in Financial Econometrics (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 994).

Regulation 3 of the regulations for the UAC of Nigeria Travel Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 996).

Regulation 5 of the regulations for the Wakefield Fund and Scholarships (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 1001).

Regulation 3 of the regulations for the Walston Studentship (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 1005).

Regulation 2 of the regulations for the George Charles Winter Warr Scholarship (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 1007).

Regulation 2 of the regulations for the Tim Whitmore Geography Fund and Regulation 2 of the Tim Whitmore Zoology Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 1011).

Regulation 3(b) of the regulations for the H. B. and Dorothy A. Whittington Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 1011).

Regulations 5 and 9 of the regulations for the Whittle Lab Studentship Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 1012).

Regulation 3(b) of the regulations for the Professor Sir David Williams Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 1014).

Regulation 3 of the regulations for the Raymond and Edith Williamson Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 1016).

Regulation 4 of the regulations for the John Winbolt Prize (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 1019).

Regulation 2 of the regulations for the Neil Wiseman Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 1023).

Regulation 7 of the regulations for the Wrenbury Scholarship Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 1027).

Regulation 2 of the regulations for the Yorke Prizes (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 1030).

(15)By replacing references to the Board of Graduate Studies with references to the General Board in the following regulations:

Regulation 4 of the regulations for Residence and Precincts of the University (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 176).

Regulation 13 of the regulations for Use of the University Library (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 668).

Regulation 2 of the regulations for the Allen, Meek, and Read Fund for Research Scholarships (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 773).

Regulation 2 of the regulations for the Harry Desai Fund (Statutes and Ordinances,p. 826).

Regulation 2 of the regulations for the Le Bas Research Studentships (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 886).

Regulation 3 of the regulations for the Members' English Fund (Statutes and Ordinances,p. 908).

(16)By replacing ‘admission by the Board of Graduate Studies as a registered Graduate Student in the University’ with ‘admission to the University’ in Regulation 4 of the regulations for the 2009 Computer Laboratory Research Students Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 771).

(17)By deleting ‘by the Board of Graduate Studies’ and ‘under the regulations for Graduate Students’ in the following:

Regulation 3 of the regulations for the Danckwerts-Pergamon Prize (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 823).

Regulation 3 of the regulations for the H. E. Woodman Fund and Prize (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 1024).

(18)By deleting ‘by the Board of Graduate Studies’ in the following:

Regulation 3 of the regulations for the Hare Prize (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 855).

Regulation 2 of the regulations for the Sara Norton Prizes (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 921).

Regulation 3 of the regulations for the H. E. Woodman Fund and Prize (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 1024).

Regulation 2(a) of the regulations for the Yorke Prizes (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 1030).

(19)By replacing references to the Secretary of the Board of Graduate Studies with references to the Secretary of the General Board, or her or his nominee, in the following regulations:

Regulation 2(c) of the regulations for the Grace and Thomas C. H. Chan Scholarship Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 806).

Regulation 2(c) of the regulations for the Ibn Battutah Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 869).

Regulation 4 of the regulations for the Le Bas Research Studentships (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 886).

Regulation 2(d) of the regulations for the Pigott Fund for Graduate Studentships in Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 931).

(20)By deleting ‘to the Secretary of the Board of Graduate Studies’ in Regulation 6 of the regulations for the Robert Gardiner Memorial Scholarships (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 842).

(21)By replacing ‘graduate’ with ‘postgraduate’ in the following:

Regulation 1 in each of the regulations for the following:
School of Arts and Humanities (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 599).
School of the Biological Sciences (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 600).
School of Clinical Medicine (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 600).
School of the Humanities and Social Sciences (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 601).
School of the Physical Sciences (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 602).
School of Technology (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 602).

Regulations 2 and 5 of the regulations for the Alexander James Keith Fund and Studentships (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 877).

The title and Regulation 1 of the regulations for the Kirby Laing Graduate Studentship Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 883).

Regulations 4, 5 and 6 of the regulations for the Prince Philip Scholarships Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 929).

In the title and Regulation 1 of the regulations for the Philosophy Graduate Students Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 930).

In the title and Regulation 1 of the regulations for the Pigott Fund for Graduate Studentships in Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 931).

Regulation 4(c) of the regulations for the Raymond and Beverly Sackler Fund for the Physics of Medicine (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 953).

Regulation 4(b) of the regulations for the Sandys Fund and Studentship (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 955).

(22)By replacing ‘member of the University in statu pupillari or a registered Graduate Student’ with ‘registered student’ in Regulation 3 of the regulations for the Arnold Gerstenberg Fund and Studentship (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 846).

(23) By replacing ‘members of the University in statu pupillari and registered Graduate Students’ with ‘registered students’ in Regulation 5 of the Mark Gregson Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 851).

(24)By deleting ‘Graduate’ and ‘and other members of the University in statu pupillari’ in Regulation 3 of the regulations for the Martin Hinds Travel Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 864).

(25)By replacing ‘admitted as a Graduate Student by the Board of Graduate Studies’ with ‘admitted as a postgraduate registered student’ in Regulation 5 of the regulations for the Alexander James Keith Fund and Studentships (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 877).

(26)By deleting ‘general regulations for admission as a graduate student, and of’ in Regulation 5 of the regulations for the Le Bas Research Studentships (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 887).

(27)By replacing the references to the Board of Graduate Studies with references to the General Board in Regulation 2 of the regulations for the Lundgren Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 895) and amending the second sentence to read as follows:

The Managers may delegate any of their functions concerning the Fund to a Committee composed of members appointed by the General Board.

(28)By replacing ‘postgraduate students and Graduate Students’ with ‘postgraduate registered students’ in Regulation 3 of the regulations for the Rex Moir Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 911).

(29)By amending Regulation 7 of the regulations for The Shakespeare Scholarship (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 923) to read as follows:

7. The Scholarship shall be open to any registered student.

(30)By deleting ‘as a Graduate Student registered’ in Regulation 2 of the regulations for the Passingham Fund and Prize (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 927).

(31)By replacing ‘by the Board of Graduate Studies as a registered graduate Student’ with ‘a postgraduate registered student’ in Regulation 5 of the regulations for the Qualcomm European Research Studentship Fund in Technology (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 941).

(32)By replacing ‘registered as a Graduate Student in the University, or who has been or is about to be admitted to some other full-time postgraduate course’ with ‘a postgraduate registered student’ in Regulation 3 of the regulations for the Schiff Foundation (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 957).

(33)By amending Regulation 9 of the regulations for the Sims Fund and Scholarship (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 965) to read as follows:

9. The election to the Scholarship shall take place annually before the end of the Long Vacation period of residence.

(34)By replacing ‘graduate and postdoctoral students’ with ‘postgraduate students and postdoctoral researchers’ in Regulation 3(a) of the regulations for the H. B. and Dorothy A. Whittington Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 1011).

(35)By rescinding the regulations for the Research Maintenance Grants Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 1068).

(36)By replacing ‘graduate fee rate’ with ‘postgraduate fee rate’ in the regulations for College Accounts (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 1071).

Footnotes

  • 1For a student who completes the part-time course leading to a Ph.D. Degree in five years or an M.Litt. or M.Sc. Degree in ten terms the fee will be 60% of the full-time fee each term. For a student who completes the course leading to the M.Phil. Degree through Route C, the fee shall be determined at the date of admission and shall be payable in two annual instalments.

  • 2That is, an institution that is under the supervision of the Council or the General Board. A candidate must hold a contract of employment with the University to be eligible for payment of a reduced fee at the point of application. Such candidates will become liable to pay the full Composition Fee at the appropriate rate for the remainder of the course of research if they cease to be employed by the University before qualifying for the degree for which they are registered as a candidate. The Staff Fee is not currently available to employees of the Colleges, the University Press, or Cambridge Assessment.

Corrections

  • *4 July 2019: In accordance with the Notice published on 3 July 2019, some corrections, shown in bold, have been made (i) in Annex C (proposed new Regulation 3(a) for University Composition Fees; amended Regulation 6(d) and Schedule II for Degree Committees); and (ii) in Annex D (Regulation 12(d)(iii) of the proposed new General Regulations for Certain Postgraduate Degrees and Other Qualifications). Both the online and PDF versions of the Report have been updated.

ANNEX D: Other changes*

Changes that will be made by the Council and the General Board if the recommendations of this Report are approved.

(1)By replacing ‘graduate studies’ with ‘postgraduate studies’ in the following:

Equal Opportunities Policy (reproduced in Statutes and Ordinances, p. 145).

(2)By deleting ‘and the Board of Graduate Studies’ in the University-wide Statement of Plagiarism (reproduced in Statutes and Ordinances, p. 194).1

(3)By deletingfor Candidates for the degrees listed in the Schedule to this procedure, the trained member of academic staff will be a member of the Board of Graduate Studies’ in the Glossary of Key terms in 1.1 of the Regulations for Examination Review Procedure (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 213).

(4)In the General Board Regulations for the Examination Review Procedure (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 213).

(a)by deleting ‘and/or the Board of Graduate Studies’ in the definition of ‘Examining Body’ in Regulation 1.1;

(b)by deleting ‘or nominated by the Chair of the Board of Graduate Studies’ in Regulation 4.7;

(c)by deleting sub-paragraph (a) and renumbering the remaining sub-paragraphs in Regulation 4.9;

(d)by replacing ‘Board of Graduate Studies under paragraph 4.9(a)’ with ‘Examining Body’ in Regulations 5.2(a) and 5.5(b);

(e)by deleting ‘the Board of Graduate Studies’ in Regulation 5.5(a);

(f)By amending the heading of the Schedule to read as follows:

Examinations to which paragraph 2.2(c) shall apply

Examinations, including progress examinations approved under the regulations for the degree or other award, leading only to the following qualifications:

(5)In the General Board Regulations for the Procedure for the Review of Decisions of University Bodies (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 216).

(a)by replacing Schedule B with the following:

SCHEDULE B

Postgraduate Committee

Decisions of the Postgraduate Committee taken in respect of individual students in the exercise of its powers, including those taken on behalf of the Committee that have subsequently been ratified by the Committee.

Degree Committees

Decisions of a Degree Committee taken in respect of individual students in the exercise of its powers, including those taken on behalf of the Committee that have subsequently been ratified by the Committee.

(b)by adding the following to Schedule X:

Postgraduate Admissions Committee
Decisions of the Committee to withdraw a student who has started a course of study but has not met the conditions of offer.

Study Away Risk Committee
Decisions of the Study Away Risk Committee in respect of student applications to work or study away, including decisions to require a student to return from overseas.

(6)By inserting the following new General Board Regulations at the beginning of the Chapter of General Board Regulations concerning degrees, diplomas, and other qualifications:

GENERAL REGULATIONS FOR CERTAIN POSTGRADUATE DEGREES AND OTHER QUALIFICATIONS

1. The following regulations shall apply to the postgraduate degrees or other qualifications as set out in the Schedule to these regulations.

2. Candidates shall submit applications for admission to the Registrary. Applications for admission shall include:

(a)a statement of the course of study or research which the applicant wishes to pursue and the date from which he or she wishes to begin the course;

(b)a completed application form together with such other statements and evidence as the General Board may require;

(c)such payment of a fee in respect of admission charges as the Council and the General Board may determine from time to time.

3. Exceptionally, a person who is not a graduate of a university or similar institution may be admitted if he or she submits evidence of general educational qualification satisfactory to the General Board.

4. Applications shall be considered by the Degree Committee for the Faculty concerned or other body approved by the General Board, subject to the approval of the General Board in cases coming under Regulation 3.

5. A decision by the Degree Committee or other approved body to decline the application shall be final.

6. If the Degree Committee or other approved body agrees to recommend approval of the application, and confirm that appropriate facilities are available for the applicant’s proposed course of research or study, the application shall be considered by the General Board. If the General Board decides to approve the application, an offer of admission will be made to the applicant.

7. The General Board shall determine the conditions of each applicant’s admission, the term from which he or she is admitted, and the conditions of her or his registration as a candidate for the degree or other qualification, if any, after considering recommendations by the Degree Committee or other approved body.

8. The General Board shall have power after considering a recommendation by the Degree Committee:

(a)to vary the conditions of a particular student’s admission and of her or his registration as a candidate for a degree or other qualification;

(b)to register a student for a course of study or research as a candidate for a particular degree or other qualification from the term of her or his admission or from any subsequent term;

(c)to determine that any particular term of a student’s course of study or research shall not count towards the requirements of the degree or other qualification;

provided that, before exercising any of the powers conferred by sub-paragraphs (a)–(c) above in a manner contrary to the recommendation of the Degree Committee, the Board shall give a representative appointed by the Degree Committee an opportunity to explain the reasons for that recommendation.

9. Admission as a postgraduate registered student shall not have effect in respect of any period before the term in which the student was admitted to a College and was matriculated.

10. While studying in the University a candidate shall pay the appropriate University Composition Fee in accordance with the University Composition Fees regulations.

11. A postgraduate registered student shall not be admitted as a candidate for any University Studentship, Scholarship, Exhibition, Prize, Medal, or other such emolument, which is open only to undergraduates. For the purpose of any regulation concerning the standing of candidates for any other emolument, a postgraduate registered student shall be considered in standing from the first term of registration as a postgraduate registered student. An allowance of terms made under these regulations shall count in calculating such a student’s standing for the purpose of this regulation. Any term during which a student had leave to intermit her or his course of research or study under these regulations shall not count unless the General Board has decided otherwise.

12. The General Board shall have the power to withdraw a student:

(a)who is no longer a member of a College;

(b)who has failed to pay the fees due;

(c)who has not met her or his conditions of admission;

(d)who has completed the necessary number of terms of study as a postgraduate registered student, where residence is required, which shall be

(i)twelve terms for the following degrees: Bus.D., Ed.D.;

(ii)twelve terms as a full-time student or a proportionately longer period if registered as a part-time student for the following degrees: Eng.D., Ph.D., M.Sc., M.Litt., M.Phil. by thesis, Certificate of Postgraduate Study;

(iii)three terms as a full-time student or a proportionately longer period if registered as a part-time student for the following degrees: M.Ed., M.Res., M.Phil. by advanced study, Advanced Diploma in Economics, Advanced Diploma in Hebrew Studies, the Advanced Diploma in Research Theory and Practice in English (Engineering or Business Management),* Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Studies, Postgraduate Diploma in International Law;

(e)if the Degree Committee is of the view that

(i)the student has not been working to its satisfaction; or

(ii)the student has not complied with the conditions laid down in her or his case; or

(iii)in its opinion, the student is not likely to reach the standard of any qualification for which he or she might be registered as a candidate.

13. The General Board shall also have the power to withdraw a student if in the opinion of the Degree Committee the report on a probationary or first-year progress examination is such as to show that the candidate is not qualified to continue on her or his course.

14. The Degree Committee shall appoint a Supervisor for each student undertaking a course of research and an Adviser for each student undertaking doctoral study. The General Board shall prescribe such duties of the Supervisor and Adviser as it deems necessary for the supervision of research students. All appointments of Supervisors and Advisers shall be communicated by the Degree Committee to the Registrary and to the Supervisor and Adviser. The General Board shall have the power to make representations to the Degree Committee about any particular appointment.

15. Each Supervisor shall submit a written report on the work of each student under her or his charge. Such a report shall be sent

(a)once each term,

(b)at any time when in the Supervisor’s opinion a student is not making satisfactory progress in her or his work, is otherwise not fulfilling the conditions that have been laid down in her or his case, or appears unlikely to reach the standard of the degree or other qualification for which he or she is registered as a candidate.

16. Fees shall be payable to Supervisors as follows:

(a)No fee shall be payable to the holder of a University office specified in the Schedule to Special Ordinance C (i) 1. No fee shall be payable to the holder of an office in an institution which maintains a formal University Partner Institute agreement with the University for any supervision undertaken during the duration of that agreement.2

(b)Subject to the provisions of sub-paragraph (a),

(i)a fee of not less than £55 a term shall be paid to a Supervisor for each student under her or his supervision on receipt by the Degree Committee of the report specified in Regulation 15;

(ii)at the request of the Degree Committee concerned, the Board may pay a fee of not less than £55 a term to the Supervisor of a student who has leave to work outside the University;

(iii)when a remission or reduction is made under the University Composition Fees regulations to a student who has not completed the requirements for the degree or other qualification for which he or she is registered or has applied to become registered, the Supervisor shall be paid a fee of not less than £55 a term;

(iv)when a remission or reduction is made as a student has completed the number of terms of research or study and residence required for the degree or other qualification for which he or she is registered, the School in which the student is registered shall decide whether the Supervisor is to be paid a fee in respect of that student.

17. A student may seek a review of a decision made by the Degree Committee or the General Board. The request for review shall be made under the Procedure for the Review of Decisions of University Bodies established by the General Board.

18. If the Tutor of a candidate for the M.Phil. Degree by advanced study, M.Res., M.Ed., M.St., C.P.G.S., Advanced Diploma in Economics or Hebrew Studies, or Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Studies or International Law supplies the General Board with satisfactory evidence that the student has been hindered by illness or other grave cause in preparing for or taking the examination or any part of the examination for the degree, and such representations are received by the Registrary not more than three months after the date on which the result of the examination was communicated, the General Board shall have the power either

(a)to approve the candidate for the degree without further examination, provided that no candidate shall be so approved unless the Degree Committee concerned judges that candidate to have performed with credit in a substantial part of the examination; or

(b)to allow the candidate to be examined or re-examined under such conditions and at such time as may be determined by the General Board after consultation with the Degree Committee concerned;

provided that the candidate may reject the offer of an allowance by writing to the Registrary within one month of the date on which the allowance was offered. Representations made after the prescribed time limit shall not be considered.

19. A student who wishes to be a candidate for a degree or other qualification at some other university or similar institution, shall receive, on application to the Registrary, for any period of study in the University of not less than two terms, a certificate that he or she has pursued her or his studies during that period with regularity and industry, if, in the opinion of the Supervisor concerned, a course record statement can properly be given.

SCHEDULE

Ph.D., Bus.D., Eng.D., Ed.D., M.Sc., M.Litt., M.Res., M.Phil. by thesis, M.Phil. by advanced study, M.Ed., Advanced Diploma in Economics, Advanced Diploma in Hebrew Studies, Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Studies, Postgraduate Diploma in International Law, Certificate of Postgraduate Study.

(7)By inserting a footnote attached to the general regulations or regulations for the following degrees: Ph.D., Bus.D., Eng.D., Ed.D., M.Sc., M.Litt., M.Res., M.Phil. by thesis, M.Phil. by advanced study, M.Ed., Advanced Diploma in Economics, Advanced Diploma in Hebrew Studies, Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Studies, Postgraduate Diploma in International Law, Certificate of Postgraduate Study:

These regulations are to be read in conjunction with the general regulations for certain postgraduate degrees and other qualifications (p. 000).

(8)In the Regulations for the degree of Master of Education (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 462):

(a)by replacing the words ‘, who shall assign to each candidate a date of commencement of candidature’ with ‘. The Degree Committee shall assign to each candidate a date of commencement of candidature’.

(b)by deleting Regulations 2 and 3, moving Regulation 13 to appear after Regulation 11 and updating the numbering of the regulations and cross-references.

(9)In the Regulations for the degrees of Doctor of Philosophy, Master of Science, Master of Letters and Master of Philosophy by thesis (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 499):

(a)by amending the first part of Regulation 1(e) to read as follows:

(e)On the recommendation of the Degree Committee concerned, the General Board may allow a postgraduate student to count towards her or his course of research as a candidate for the Ph.D., M.Litt., or M.Sc. Degree a period during which he or she was a candidate for the M.Phil. or M.Res. Degree for another qualification or for the following Diplomas or Certificates:

(b)by replacing ‘Regulation 8 of the general regulations for admission as a Graduate Student’ with ‘Regulation 15 of the regulations for certain postgraduate degrees and other qualifications’ in Regulation 3.

(c)by replacing ‘and Regulation 4 of the general regulations for admission as a Graduate Student’ with ‘the general regulations for certain postgraduate degrees and other qualifications’ in Regulation 5.

(d)by replacing ‘and M.Litt.’ with ‘M.Litt. and M.Phil. by thesis’ in Regulation 7.

(e)by inserting the following as the third sentence in Regulation 14:

Each Examiner for the Degree of Master of Philosophy by thesis shall receive a fee of £110 if the Examiner takes part in the oral or other examination specified in Regulation 7(b), or £50 if the Examiner does not so take part, either because the Degree Committee has dispensed with the oral or other examination or for any other reason.

(f)by deleting Regulations 8 and 15 and renumbering the remaining regulations and cross-references.

(10)In the General Regulations for Certificates of Postgraduate Study (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 583):

(a)by replacing the words ‘on the Register of Graduate Students’ with ‘a registered student’, ‘name has been removed from the Register of Graduate Students’ with ‘registration has been withdrawn’, and ‘restored to that register’ with ‘reinstated’ in Regulation 12.

(b)by deleting Regulation 14 and renumbering the remaining regulations and cross-references.

(11)By replacing references to graduate students with references to postgraduate students in the following:

Regulations 2–5 of the Regulations for the degree of Doctor of Education (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 464).

Regulations 2–6, 10, 13–16 and 18 of the Regulations for the degree of Doctor of Engineering (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 467).

Regulation 3(k) of the Curriculum Regulations for the degrees of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 475).

Regulation 6(f) of the Regulations for the degree of Doctor of Medicine (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 484).

Regulations 1, 2, 4–6, 10–12, 14, 16, 17, 20 and 21 (renumbered 1, 2, 4–6, 9–11, 13–15, 18 and 19) of the Regulations for the degrees of Doctor of Philosophy, Master of Science, Master of Letters and Master of Philosophy by thesis (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 499).

Regulations 8 and 18 of the General Regulations for the degree of Master of Philosophy by Advanced Study (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 509).

Regulations 3 and 14 of the General Regulations for the degree of Master of Research (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 546).

Regulation 2 of the Regulations for the Advanced Diploma in Economics (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 577).

Regulation 2 of the Regulations for the Advanced Diploma in Hebrew Studies (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 579).

Regulation 2 of the Regulations for the Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Studies and Postgraduate Diploma in International Law (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 580).

Regulations 3 and 12 of the General Regulations for Certificates of Postgraduate Study (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 583).

Regulation 3 of the Special Regulations for Certificates of Postgraduate Study in each of the following subjects: Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic; English; History; Legal Studies; Music; Theology and Religious Studies (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 585).

(12)By replacing references to graduate students with references to postgraduate registered students in the following:

Regulations 2–4 and 17 of the Regulations for the degree of Doctor of Business (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 450).

Regulations 5 and 14 (renumbered 2 and 11) of the Regulations for the degree of Master of Education (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 462).

Regulation 3 of the Regulations for the degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (Revised Regulations) (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 574).

Paragraph 2(b) of the General Board’s Notice concerning Leave of Absence under Special Ordinance C (i) 1 (sabbatical leave) (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 685).

(13)By replacing references to the Secretary of the Board of Graduate Studies with references to the Registrary in the following:

Regulations 2, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 17 of the Regulations for the degree of Doctor of Business (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 450).

Regulations 3–6 and 9 of the Regulations for the degree of Bachelor of Divinity (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 460).

Regulations 3, 4 and 9 of the Regulations for the degree of Doctor of Divinity (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 461).

Regulations 10, 11, 13, 15 and 17 of the Regulations for the degree of Doctor of Education (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 464).

Regulations 2, 10, 11, 13, 15, 17 and 18 of the Regulations for the degree of Doctor of Engineering (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 467).

Regulations 3–5 and 8 of the Regulations for the degree of Doctor of Law (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 474).

Regulations 13, 14 and 16 of the Regulations for the degree of Doctor of Medicine (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 484).

Regulations 5 and 10 of the Regulations for the degree of Doctor of Medical Science (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 490).

Regulations 3, 7 and 8 of the Regulations for the degree of Doctor of Music (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 497).

Regulations 1, 3, 5, 11, 13, 17, 18 and 20–22 (renumbered 1, 3, 5, 10, 12, 15, 16 and 18–20) of the Regulations for the degrees of Doctor of Philosophy, Master of Science, Master of Letters and Master of Philosophy by thesis (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 499).

Regulations 5, 7, 9 and 14 of the Special Regulations for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 503).

Regulations 10, 13, 16 and 17 of the General Regulations for the degree of Master of Philosophy by Advanced Study (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 509).

Regulations 5, 6 and 9–12 of the General Regulations for the degree of Master of Research (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 546).

Regulations 3–5, 8 and 9 of the Regulations for the degrees of Doctor of Science and Doctor of Letters (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 552).

Regulations 13–15 of the General Regulations for the degree of Master of Studies (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 553).

Regulations 10 and 11 of the Regulations for the degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (Revised Regulations) (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 574).

Regulations 3, 9 and 10 of the Regulations for the Advanced Diploma in Economics (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 577).

Regulations 3 and 8 of the Regulations for the Advanced Diploma in Hebrew Studies (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 579).

Regulation 9 of the Regulations for the Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Studies and Postgraduate Diploma in International Law (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 580).

Regulations 4, 6 and 11 of the General Regulations for Certificates of Postgraduate Study (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 583).

(14)By replacing references to the Chair of the Board of Graduate Studies with references to the General Board in the following regulations:

Regulation 7 of the Regulations for the Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Studies and Postgraduate Diploma in International Law (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 580).

Regulation 9 of the General Regulations for Certificates of Postgraduate Study (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 583).

(15)By replacing references to the Board of Graduate Studies with references to the General Board in the following:

Regulations 2, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 17 of the Regulations for the degree of Doctor of Business (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 450).

Regulations 3, 8, 9, 10 and 13 of the Regulations for the degree of Bachelor of Divinity (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 460).

Regulations 3, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the Regulations for the degree of Doctor of Divinity (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 461).

Regulations 1, 5, 6, 8 and 15 (the latter renumbered 2, 3, 5 and 12) of the Regulations for the degree of Master of Education (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 462).

Regulations 2, 3, 5, 6, 13–15 and 18 of the Regulations for the degree of Doctor of Education (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 464).

Regulations 2–8, 10 and 13–18 of the Regulations for the degree of Doctor of Engineering (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 467).

Regulations 3 and 7–11 of the Regulations for the degree of Doctor of Law (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 474).

Regulations 6, 11, 12, 14, 15 and 16 of the Regulations for the degree of Doctor of Medicine (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 484).

Regulations 8, 9 and 11 of the Regulations for the degree of Doctor of Medical Science (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 490).

Regulations 6–9 of the Regulations for the degree of Doctor of Music (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 497).

Regulations 1, 4–7, 9–12, 14, 16, 20 and 21 (renumbered 1, 4–7, 8–11, 13, 14, 18 and 19) of the Regulations for the degrees of Doctor of Philosophy, Master of Science, Master of Letters and Master of Philosophy by thesis (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 499).

Regulations 5, 8, 11–13 and 18 of the Special Regulations for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 503).

Regulations 8, 9 and 11 of the General Regulations for the degree of Master of Philosophy by Advanced Study (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 509).

Regulations 4, 5, 7 and 10 of the General Regulations for the degree of Master of Research (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 546).

Regulations 3 and 7–11 of the Regulations for the degrees of Doctor of Science and Doctor of Letters (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 552).

Regulations 6, 12, 15 and 16 of the General Regulations for the degree of Master of Studies (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 553).

Regulations 10 and 12–14 of the Regulations for the degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (Old Regulations) (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 571).

Regulations 3, 9, 11 and 12 of the Regulations for the degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (Revised Regulations) (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 574).

Regulations 2, 4 and 9 of the Regulations for the Advanced Diploma in Economics (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 577).

Regulation 2 of the Regulations for the Advanced Diploma in Hebrew Studies (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 579).

Regulations 2–4, 7, 8 and 12 of the General Regulations for Certificates of Postgraduate Study (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 583).

(16)By deleting the words ‘by the Board of Graduate Studies’ in Regulation 3(k) of the Curriculum Regulations for the degrees of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 475).

(17)By deleting the words ‘at a meeting at which not less than five members are present’ from the following:

Regulations 12, 13 and 14 of the Regulations for the degree of Doctor of Business (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 450).

Regulations 13, 14 and 15 of the Regulations for the degree of Doctor of Education (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 464).

Regulations 13, 14 and 15 of the Regulations for the degree of Doctor of Engineering (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 467).

Regulations 17 and 20 of the Regulations for the degrees of Doctor of Philosophy, Master of Science, Master of Letters and Master of Philosophy by thesis (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 499).

Regulation 13 of the Special Regulations for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 503).

Regulation 12 of the Regulations for the degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (Old Regulations) (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 571).

Regulation 11 of the Regulations for the degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (Revised Regulations) (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 574).

(18)By deleting the sentence ‘Such a resolution shall not be valid unless passed with the concurrence of the votes, cast at a meeting, of five members of the Board.’ from the following:

Regulation 9 of the Regulations for the degree of Doctor of Business (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 450).

Regulation 8 of the Regulations for the degree of Doctor of Law (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 474).

Regulation 9 of the Regulations for the degree of Doctor of Medical Science (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 490).

Regulation 7 of the Regulations for the degree of Doctor of Music (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 497).

Regulation 8 of the Regulations for the degrees of Doctor of Science and Doctor of Letters (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 552).

(19)By replacing the references to Regulation 11 of the general regulations for admission as a graduate student with references to the University Composition Fees regulations, or adding a reference to the latter regulations, in the following:

Regulation 3 of the Regulations for the degree of Doctor of Business (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 450).

Regulation 12 (renumbered 10) of the Regulations for the degree of Master of Education (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 462).

Regulation 4 of the Regulations for the degree of Doctor of Education (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 464).

Regulation 4 of the Regulations for the degree of Doctor of Engineering (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 467).

Regulation 4 of the Regulations for the degrees of Doctor of Philosophy, Master of Science, Master of Letters and Master of Philosophy by thesis (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 499).

Regulation 15 (renumbered 14) of the General Regulations for Certificates of Postgraduate Study (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 583).

(20)By replacing the references to Regulation 7 of the general regulations for admission as a graduate student with references to Regulation 11 of the general regulations for certain postgraduate degrees and other qualifications in the following:

Regulation 2 of the Regulations for the degree of Doctor of Business (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 450).

Regulation 2(b) of the Regulations for the degree of Doctor of Education (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 464).

Regulation 2(b) of the Regulations for the degree of Doctor of Engineering (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 467).

Regulation 1(c) of the Regulations for the degrees of Doctor of Philosophy, Master of Science, Master of Letters and Master of Philosophy by thesis (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 499).

Regulation 9 of the General Regulations for the degree of Master of Philosophy by Advanced Study (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 509).3

Regulation 5(b) of the General Regulations for the degree of Master of Research (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 546).

Regulation 4 of the Regulations for the Advanced Diploma in Economics (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 577).3

(21)By replacing the reference to Regulation 8 of the general regulations for admission as a Graduate Student with a reference to Regulation 15 of the general regulations for certain postgraduate degrees and other qualifications in the following:

Regulation 13 of the General Regulations for the degree of Master of Philosophy by Advanced Study (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 509).

Regulation 9 of the General Regulations for the degree of Master of Research (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 546).

Regulation 3 of the Regulations for the Advanced Diploma in Economics (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 577).

Regulation 3 of the Regulations for the Advanced Diploma in Hebrew Studies (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 579).

Regulation 4 of the General Regulations for Certificates of Postgraduate Study (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 583).

(22)By deleting the following sentence from Regulation 6 of the Regulations for the degree of Doctor of Medicine (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 484):

If the Degree Committee and the Board of Graduate Studies approve an applicant for admission to the programme, the applicant’s name shall be entered on the Register of Graduate Students.

(23)By deleting the line for entries to be submitted by the Board of Graduate Studies to the Registrary in Regulation 14 of the General Regulations for the degree of Master of Research (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 546).

(24)By deleting Regulation 4 and numbering as Regulation 4 the last sentence of Regulation 3 in the Regulations for the degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (Revised Regulations) (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 574).

 

Footnotes

  • 1This statement will be rescinded if the recommendations of the Joint Report of the Council and the General Board on a revised student disciplinary framework are approved.

  • 2Institutions that currently hold a formal University Partner Institution agreement are Animal Health Trust, BBSRC Babraham Institute, British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge Crystallography Data Centre, European Bioinformatics Institute, MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute for Agricultural Botany, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute.

  • 3This regulation incorrectly references Regulation 11 instead of Regulation 7.

Corrections

  • *4 July 2019: In accordance with the Notice published on 3 July 2019, some corrections, shown in bold, have been made (i) in Annex C (proposed new Regulation 3(a) for University Composition Fees; amended Regulation 6(d) and Schedule II for Degree Committees); and (ii) in Annex D (Regulation 12(d)(iii) of the proposed new General Regulations for Certain Postgraduate Degrees and Other Qualifications). Both the online and PDF versions of the Report have been updated.

Report of the Council on distributions from the Cambridge University Endowment Fund

The Council begs leave to report to the University as follows:

1. The Council, on the recommendation of the Finance Committee, proposes that the total return distribution policy under which distributions from the Cambridge University Endowment Fund (CUEF) are made should be updated.

2. Under total return investment, trustees invest for maximum gain through capital appreciation and income, without regard to their respective contributions. They distribute from total return, again without regard to the respective contributions of capital appreciation and income (thus abandoning the distinction between income and capital). The determinant of a distribution policy under total return is therefore not the income received during the year, but a consistently applied distribution formula with the characteristics of sustainability, appropriateness to the purposes of the fund, and even-handedness between present and future beneficiaries.

3. The current level of elevated asset valuations combined with high levels of global debt, a tightening of liquidity, continued overvaluation of US stocks, uncertainties from Brexit and an economic slowdown in Europe suggest that a cautious approach to future asset return expectations should be adopted. Taking those factors into account, CUEF performance is unlikely to be as high in the next decade as it has been over its first ten years. The Finance Committee therefore recommends a pre-emptive move to protect the long-term real value (and hence distribution ability) of the CUEF through a modest reduction in the distribution formula.

4. To be clear, the investment objective for the CUEF will continue to be to generate equity-like returns with broader diversification; none of the changes proposed should be interpreted as implying a change to the fundamental investment approach, risk attitude or asset allocation of the CUEF.

5. As stated in the CUEF Information Memorandum, the current overall objective of the CUEF is to achieve a return to investors where both the amount of the periodic distributions and the value of a unit in the CUEF increase by at least 1% above the annual percentage change in the Retail Price Index (RPI), measured over the long term.

6. The related current investment objective is to achieve or exceed a long-run average annual rate of total return equal to the percentage change in the RPI over the same period plus 5.25%, net of investment management costs. The Investment Manager is to manage risk judiciously through regular review, utilising diversification of investment strategies, investment asset classes and investment managers.

7. The distribution formula ties these objectives together whilst also seeking to smooth distributions. The sum distributed to each unit for the financial year is currently calculated according to the formula:

(PYD × 0.7) + (0.0425 × BMV × 0.3)

where PYD is the previous year’s distribution per unit in the Fund adjusted by the percentage change in the retail prices index over the twelve-month period to June preceding the financial year plus one per cent; and BMV is the value of one unit in the Fund calculated as the mean of the unit values of the most recent six half-years (i.e. the closing value of the Fund on the three December and June month-end dates preceding the financial year).

8. Recent meetings of the Investment Board and the Finance Committee have considered whether some of the parameters should be adjusted, in particular: whether the RPI inflation rate used remains the most appropriate; whether a target return of RPI + 5.25% is still appropriate; and whether the target distribution rate of 4.25% should be adjusted.

9. The proposal is to change the parameters as follows:

change the inflation rate used in the overall objective, investment objective and distribution formula from RPI to CPI;

change the investment objective from RPI + 5.25% to CPI + 5%;

change the target rate used in the distribution formula from 4.25% to 4%.

10. These changes reflect a judgement on what are currently the most realistic and appropriate parameters to use given the goal of the CUEF. Judgement is required given the many uncertainties inherent in such forecasts. It is not anticipated that these parameters will change frequently, although they may continue to be reviewed from time to time in light of new relevant information.

11. At a consultation with the CUEF investors on Wednesday, 17 April 2019, these proposals were fully supported.

12. RPI as a measure has received criticism in recent years and is no longer viewed by external commentators as a good measure of inflation. RPI has been higher than CPI over recent years, partly as a result of an inherent calculation bias, and it is not possible to be precise about the extent of any future upward bias. It is also worth noting that UK peers use CPI in their target returns, while many US peers use the Higher Education Price Index, which is not currently available in the UK.

13. As noted earlier, the CUEF seeks to generate equity-like returns with broader diversification. Accurately forecasting what equity returns will be in the future is difficult. Some forecasters argue that markets may significantly underperform historic equity returns if mean reversion to historic valuations and corporate profit margins occurs over the next seven years, although this may be an overly pessimistic assessment. Cambridge Associates estimates a potential 10-year real return for CUEF of 4.3% under mean reversion versus 5.9% using a random 25-year period. A real return consistent with historic equity returns over the extended period from 1900–2018 would be circa CPI + 5%.1

14. The current target distribution rate is 4.25% although a smoothing formula is applied as described earlier. The resulting distribution rate at 31 December 2018 was 3.84%. Given the overall objective of a distribution rate increasing by 1% over inflation, and the proposed change in the investment objective to CPI + 5%, it is proposed to change the distribution target to 4% with a change from RPI to CPI in the PYD calculation.

15. The Council accordingly recommends that, with effect from 1 August 2019, Regulation 2 of the regulations for Distribution from the Amalgamated Fund (Statutes and Ordinances, p. 1065) be amended to read as follows:

2. The sum distributed to each unit shall be calculated according to the following formula:

(PYD × 0.7) + (0.04 × BMV × 0.3)

where:

(i)PYD is the previous year’s distribution per unit in the Fund uplifted by an inflation factor taken as the consumer price index plus one per cent or such other inflation factor as the Council may from time to time determine; and

(ii)BMV is the capital value of one unit in the Fund taken as the mean of the starting capital values of the most recent six half-years, including the first half-year of the current financial year (i.e. the closing value of the Fund on 30 June of that year, plus the two previous 30 June closing values and three previous 31 December closing values).

17 June 2019

Stephen Toope, Vice-Chancellor

David Greenaway

Michael Proctor

Sam Ainsworth

Jennifer Hirst

Sofia Ropek-Hewson

Evie Aspinall

Nicholas Holmes

Jason Scott-Warren

R. Charles

Fiona Karet

Sara Weller

Stephen J. Cowley

Christopher Kelly

Mark Wormald

Sharon Flood

Mark Lewisohn

Jocelyn Wyburd

Anthony Freeling

Jeremy Morris

Nicholas Gay

Richard Penty

Footnote

  • 1Dimson, Marsh and Staunton, Credit Suisse Global Investment Returns Yearbook 2019, February 2019.