Download the 2026/7 sample terms and conditions

Page 1

Sample ARU PhD Scholarships Terms and Conditions 1 Sample Terms & Conditions for Anglia Ruskin University Vice Chancellor’s PhD Studentship, 2026-7

The Vice Chancellor’s PhD Scholarships will be subject to a studentship agreement with the match-funder, and these Terms & Conditions will form part of the contract.

Page 2

Sample ARU PhD Scholarships Terms and Conditions 2 Registration All students holding an ARU registered funded studentship must be registered as full-time. If a student’s registration ceases for any reason (other than an approved temporary suspension of study) the studentship must be terminated. It is ARU’s expectation that studentship holders will not transfer to another higher education institution during the term of their Studentship. In the event that a studentship holder does transfer they rescind the entire ARU award and will be responsible for repaying the entire funding paid by ARU in relation to the studentship, or otherwise a proportion of such funding as determined by ARU at its absolute discretion. A studentship holder is initially registered on the MPhil course. It is a condition of their studentship that they apply to upgrade their registration to PhD within 12 months of their initial registration for full-time students, and within 18 months of their initial registration for part -time students. If a student does not upgrade accordingly, the studentship will normally be terminated. Tenure of the studentship The length of a Studentship will be stated in the student’s offer letter and covers payment of a UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) equivalent minimum maintenance stipend and tuition fees. Funding will not exceed 42 months of study. The student must remain resident in the UK throughout the period of the studentship. During term time they must be resident within reasonable traveling distance from the campus of Anglia Ruskin where they are based. Anglia Ruskin expects studentship holders to maintain regular contact with their supervisors and other institutional authorities during the period of the award. A student may need to conduct fieldwork or arrange study visits that are an essential part of their study, attend conferences, or work with a collaborating organisation. If this is the case the student must make appropriate arrangements for maintaining regular contact with their supervisors during any extended period away from ARU. Continuation of all studentships is subject to the student’s satisfactory and timely completion of formal progression events as defined in the ARU Research Degree Regulations. Funding for a student will cease once they have reached the end of the stated studentship duration, or had their award conferred, whichever is sooner. Paid work The holder of a studentship may undertake a small amount of paid work (see below for maximums), either in term time or in the vacation, provided that it does not impede their studies.

Page 3

Sample ARU PhD Scholarships Terms and Conditions 3 Teaching and demonstrating ARU encourages PhD students to undertake a certain amount of paid teaching or demonstrating work during the period of a studentship, if the opportunity arises. Such work can provide invaluable experience and is a useful extension to research training. This may be undertaken provided that: • the total time, including contact time and a reasonable allowance for preparation and marking, does not exceed 180 hours in any one year • the total time does not exceed six hours in any week • the work is compatible with their programme of doctoral study Any teaching or demonstrating work undertaken at ARU will be paid for at the usual hourly rate applicable and must be preceded by appropriate training. The payment for any such teaching will be additional to the studentship. Employment at ARU If the holder of an ARU studentship takes up a salaried position at ARU they are no longer eligible for the award (although it may be possible to suspend the studentship to allow a short- term appointment). Other awards Students must inform the Doctoral School immediately via the inbox PhDScholarships@aru.ac.uk if they receive or are applying for a grant or an award from another body to support their postgraduate work. A student must not hold two awards for the same purpose concurrently. Research integrity and professional codes of practice All students are required to conduct their project with strict compliance to issues of research integrity and in accordance with ARU’s Public Statement on Research Integrity which can be found here: https://www.aru.ac.uk/research/why-research-at-aru/research-integrity All students are required to follow any relevant professional body codes of practice for research. Please speak to your supervisors for further guidance on this matter. Research Ethics The student and the Supervisors are jointly responsible for ensuring that any ethical issues relating to the research supported through an ARU studentship are identified and that the project complies with all relevant legislation and government regulation, including that introduced whilst work is in progress. This requirement includes approval or licence from any regulatory body that may be required before the research can commence. Ethical issues should be interpreted broadly and may encompass, among other things, relevant codes of practice, the involvement of human participants, tissue or data in research, the use of animals, research that may result in damage to the environment and the use of sensitive economic, social or personal data.

Page 4

Sample ARU PhD Scholarships Terms and Conditions 4 Publication and Dissemination of Research It is ARU policy that the results of the research it supports should be disseminated as widely as possible, for the benefit of other researchers and of the wider community (however, also see our statement regarding intellectual property rights below). ARU has established arrangements for ensuring that theses are deposited in our on-line repository and made available to other researchers. Students should consult their supervisors about those arrangements. Doctoral students should ensure that their thesis (or any other output such as an exhibition or performance) includes an acknowledgement of the support they have received from ARU. Publication of any aspect of the research resulting from an ARU-funded studentship, through publications and other forms of media communication, including media appearances, press releases and conferences, must acknowledge the support received from ARU. Guidelines on ARU branding for publications, publishing and marketing materials are available by contacting design@aru.ac.uk Students should discuss with their supervisors whether any or all of the results of their work should be published. If a student, or anybody else, publishes any aspect of the research resulting from an ARU funded studentship, through publications and other forms of printed or electronic media communication, including media appearances, websites, press releases and conferences, they must acknowledge the support received from ARU. Please note that ARU may not provide funding for the purpose of publishing, presenting or displaying the results of the work. Exploitation and Intellectual Property Rights Arising Intellectual Property from research funded through a Studentship shall be owned by ARU and/or any third party funder subject to Clause 4 of this Studentship Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt the student agrees that he or she shall not own any IP arising from research under the Studentship. A student should not enter into any agreement that may affect rights to exploit the IP arising from their work without first consulting the Director of the Research, Innovation and Development Office (RIDO). ARU encourages students and supervisors to identify and exploit opportunities for wider promotion of their research activities including media activities, public engagement, or knowledge transfer activities where this might be desirable or appropriate and to demonstrate excellence and impact. For further guidance on ARU’s IP policy please contact phdscholarships@aru.ac.uk Suspension of a studentship Studentships should be held on a continuous basis, without a break. However, a student may interrupt their programme of study for one of the following reasons:

Page 5

Sample ARU PhD Scholarships Terms and Conditions 5 Temporary periods of suspension The Doctoral School may support a suspension of a studentship for reasons of illness, personal circumstances, or if a student gains temporary employment. In the case of international students the Doctoral School may support a suspension of a studentship for student route VISA related reasons and in such circumstances UKVI compliance rules will apply and will prevail against any conflicting terms of this Agreement. During any period of suspension students are not entitled to receive ARU funding. The end date of a student’s ARU funding will normally be extended by the length of the suspension. Short -term illness If a student is prevented by sudden illness or accident from following their studies for a period of more than two weeks, they must inform their First Supervisor immediately and provide a medical certificate. Payment of a studentship can continue for absences covered by a medical certificate for up to thirteen weeks within any 12-month period (but will not be extended by the period of absence). For the avoidance of doubt, if the illness lasts, or is expected to last, for more than thirteen weeks, ARU will suspend the studentship. Parental / adoptive leave (as main carer) ARU-funded students who become pregnant, with an expected date of childbirth that occurs during the period of the studentship or becomes the main carer to their biological / adopted child to their child born or adopted during the duration of the studentship, is entitled to a six -month period of parental / adoptive (main carer) leave during which the stipend can continue. The studentship funding may also be extended by up to six months. After this six -month period of paid leave a student may have a suspension of the studentship for a further six months, during which no maintenance grant is payable. In the case of international students holding a student route VISA, the UKVI compliance rules will apply and will prevail against any conflicting terms of this Agreement. A student is therefore entitled to a total of 12 months’ leave of absence, of which six months are paid and up to six months are unpaid. The paid period of absence and the suspension must be taken consecutively. If the student does not return to their studies after the period of paid leave and the maintenance grant has been overpaid, the student may be required to repay the maintenance grant from the beginning of the agreed leave period. Periods of parental / adoptive leave taken as main carer will be taken into account when calculating the date by which ARU expects the student’s thesis to be submitted. There is no limit to the number of periods of parental / adoptive leave that a main carer can take during a studentship.

Page 6

Sample ARU PhD Scholarships Terms and Conditions 6 Parental leave (not as main carer) Students are entitled to a total of 10 consecutive working days paternity / leave if not the main carer, to be taken at any time during their partner’s pregnancy / adoption period or within three months following a birth / adoption. Funding will continue during this period. This period is regarded as additional leave of absence from their studies and studentships will not be extended. If further time is needed the studentship should be suspended. Adoption Leave If a student is adopting a child during the period of their studentship they are entitled to a six-month period of adoption leave during which funding can continue. The studentship will also be extended by up to six months. After this six-month period of paid adoption leave a student may have a suspension of the studentship for a further six months, during which no maintenance grant is payable. In the case of international students holding a student route VISA, the UKBA compliance rules will apply and will prevail against any conflicting terms of this Agreement. A student is therefore entitled to a total of 12 months’ leave of absence, of which six months are paid and up to six months are unpaid. The paid period of absence and the suspension should be taken consecutively. If the student does not return to their studies after the period of paid adoption leave and the maintenance grant has been overpaid, the student may be required to repay the maintenance grant from the beginning of the paid adoption leave. Periods of adoption leave will be taken into account when calculating the date by which ARU expects the student’s thesis to be submitted. The value of a studentship ARU Studentship rates are reviewed each year in line with UK Research and Innovation guidance. Income tax and National Insurance Payments made under an ARU Studentship are not regarded as income for tax purposes and ARU is not deemed to be the employer of any funded student. ARU will not make any payment for students’ National Insurance contributions. Students should check with their tax office regarding any income tax liability resulting from any employment. Thesis submission In making studentship awards for doctoral research, ARU assumes that doctoral students will complete a piece of work (the ‘thesis’) that (a) exhibits substantial evidence of original scholarship and contains material that can be prepared for publication, and (b) is produced by a capable, well- qualified, well-trained and diligent research student, properly supervised and supported by their supervisors.

Page 7

Sample ARU PhD Scholarships Terms and Conditions 7 On accepting a studentship a student also accepts a commitment to complete their research by the end of the period of funding. The Research Degrees Regulations make provision for a writing –up period but the Studentship does not cover the cost of this additional time. Students should not take up employment until after they have submitted their thesis. Extensions to the deadline for thesis submission will not be approved where a student has taken up employment of any kind during their writing-up period.

Research areas