Changes to policy and curriculum

Research Degrees Handbook: Professional Doctorates

In August 2021, The Open University published its new Research Degrees Handbook: Professional Doctorates for the first time.

The changes made:

There have been several significant changes to this policy:

1. Section 1.4 - Administrative arrangements: The PD Programme Administrator has been replaced by the PD Programme Assistant A
2. Section 1.4 - Administrative arrangements: Clarification that Oyster cards are only eligible for transport in London
3. Section 2.1.2 - Changing your personal details: Students are now able to change their name, address, phone number or email address through electronic media rather than in writing
4. Section 2.1.4 - Access to data: This section has been written to clarify the process of students being provided an Open University computer username (OUCU). It also now stresses the importance of keeping a password secure and confidential and signposts students to the Computing Helpdesk if their password has been compromised
5. Section 2.2 - How The Open University will communicate: Clarification that forms are submitted electronically on the PGR Manager system
6. Section 2.2 - How The Open University will communicate: Students will receive communications via the forums on the PD website, which is why it is important that you subscribe to the programme forums in order to receive programme alerts
7. Section 2.2 - If students are unable to find the correct change request on the PGR Manager system, they should contact the Research Degrees Team
8. Section 2.2 - Clarification that a student's @open.ac.uk is the only way to access the PGR Manager system
9. Section 2.9.7 - Study Break: Reference to the 'Graduate School Network' and 'PGR Manager system'
10. Section 2.9.7 - Study Break: Study Break requests should now be completed online rather than by paper
11. Section 2.9.7 - Study Break: Reference to maximum months study break for full-time students
12. Section 2.9.8 - Maternity, paternity and adoption leave: 'Study break forms' are now referred to as 'study break change requests'
13. Section 2.9.8 - Maternity, paternity and adoption leave: Study break change requests must be uploaded onto the PGR Manager system for approval
14. Section 2.9.10 - Withdrawal: Students are now able to submit a withdrawal request through the PGR Manager system, which will then be reviewed by the Graduate School Director for approval
15. Section 2.9.10 - Withdrawal: For students in receipt of a grant, further payments will be stopped once appropriate notification has been received from the faculty
16. Section 2.9.13 - Copyrighted material owned by a third party: relevant has been linked to the article 'Copyright and your thesis'
17. Section 2.10.1 - Fees: This section has been mostly removed and students are signposted to the Fee Rules (Postgraduate Research) 21/22 where this information is held
18. Section 2.10.1 - Fees: Information on the UK government loans for study of doctoral programmes added
19. Section 2.11.2 - Cancellation of registration for non-payment of fees: This section has been mostly removed and students are signposted to the Fee Rules (Postgraduate Research) 21/22 where this information is held
20. Section 2.11.2 - Cancellation of registration for non-payment of fees: Information on the UK government loans for study of doctoral programmes added
21. Section 2.12.7 - Research Training Support Grants: Clarification that students on staff-fee waivers are not included in this grant has been added
22. Section 4.1.1 - Eligibility: Clarified that summative assignments are assessed by two independent assessors
23. Section 5.6.1 - Appointment of supervisors: Section has been greatly shortened and students are signposted to the Professional Doctorates Regulations for further information about the appointment of supervisors

For more help or information

Please talk to your Student Support Team if you need any further information. You can find out how to contact them on Contact the OU.