Regulation changes 25/26

The regulations have gone through their annual revisions and the 25/26 regulations are uploaded here: Research Degree Regulations | Student Policies and Regulations | The Open University.

You can see a full list of changes in ‘Appendix 8 – August 2024’ of the new regulations, but we would particularly like to draw your attention to a few of the changes:

• Supervision
  Clarified rules for appointing Associate Lecturers, and when visiting academics and retired staff with associate status may supervise (RD 5.8, RDD 4.8, PD 4.8, PW 4.4)
• Supervisor training
  Minimum training requirements (RD 5.12, RDD 4.12, PD 4.12)
• Residency requirements
  Removed commuting distance and residency waiver requirements (RD 8.2)
• Post-submission employment
  Clarified rules on paid work after thesis submission (RD 8.7, RDD 7.7)
• Viva adjustments
  Students must request reasonable adjustments in advance (RD 15.3d, RD 15.6d, RDD 14.3d, RDD 14.6d; RD 19.7, RDD 18.7, PD 17.7)
• Examination timeline
  Removed six-week reference from regulations (RD 19.3, RDD 18.3, PD 17.3, PW 13.3); now in guidance
• Professional doctorates
  Full supervisory teams required from registration (PD 4.1)
• Conflict of interest
  Exam panel members must not be line-managed by supervisors (Appendix 4 k).

If you have any further questions about the regulations, please contact your Faculty or Research Degree Team leads: Contact us | Graduate School Network (open.ac.uk).