COVID-19: Information for PGRs

LJMU Guidance on Coronavirus (Covid-19) Practices related to Research Activities 

This document applies to all research activities conducted by all researchers (staff and students).

It provides guidance with respect to returning to, or starting new, research activities in light of the current Covid-19 pandemic. This guidance will evolve in light of available information and in response to the changing Covid-19 situation. The document includes specific guidance on practices and related issues to consider when completing an appropriate Covid-19 risk assessment for any research activity given the current conditions.

Exceptional Support for PhD Research Severely Affected by Covid-19

Exceptional support is open to applications from PGRs whose research has been severely affected by Covid-19. You may apply for financial support under this scheme if you have experienced exceptional and chronic disruptions to your research (i.e. beyond the 3 months recognised in the PGR support package of July 2020).

The exceptional support will be for a maximum of 3 months financial support only - it does NOT include an automatic extension to your registration period. If you require an extension to your registration period due to the impact of Covid-19 you should follow the standard application process (see foot of this section).

All applications will be considered on a case by case basis, using this form. All applicants should provide record of disruptions (eDoc supervisory logs, emails to supervisors, PGRAPTS, FRDSGC chairs etc.) which they should reference in the application. Records of disruption to your study cannot be completed retrospectively.  You must be able to demonstrate disruption to your research during the time period you are requesting the support for.  Your supervisors are also required to add a supporting statement in your application.

The following deadlines for Exceptional Support applications should be submitted to your FRDC Secretary by: 

Monday 4 July 2022

Monday 5 September 2022

Monday 7 November 2022

Self-funded PGRs can apply for additional support to the Thesis Pending fee (up to a maximum of an additional 3 months).  The application must be submitted 3 months (minimum) prior to re-enrolment into the Completion Year.

Funded PGRs can apply for extended stipend payments and support with the Thesis Pending fee (up to a maximum of an additional 3 months).  The application must be submitted 3 months (minimum) prior to the date your current funding/support is due to finish.

PGRs in receipt of UKRI funding are eligible to apply for Covid-19 Phase 2 extension fund using this form.  The criteria from UKRI require that:

1.  Your funding period started before 1 March 2020

2.  You have a funding end date from 1 April 2021 onwards

3.  You have not submitted your thesis for examination

4.  You have not already received a UKRI-funded extension under the initial UKRI policy.

You must meet all 4 criteria to be considered.

If you need to extend your registration period due to Covid-19, please complete the Extension of Thesis Pending via eDoc.

FAQs for PGRs about disruption related to Covid-19

FAQs about the PGR Support Scheme announced on the 17 June 2020

Please remember to keep a record of your supervisory meetings on eDoc. It is your responsibility, as the PGR, to log these meetings, and then your supervisor can endorse them. If you have experienced any disruption to your research due to the pandemic, these should be logged via a Supervisory Meeting on eDoc. You can then reference the log date should you need to apply for any support.

Quickstart guide for eDoc

If you would like any one-to-one training on using eDoc, please contact DoctoralAcademy@ljmu.ac.uk to arrange a time.

Vivas will continue to be held online until further notice. We will continue to review how we conduct vivas and make changes informed by Government guidance. All vivas held since lockdown have proceeded successfully online. Please see the documents below for guidance on preparing for and conducting online Vivas:

PGR Guide to online Vivas

Examiner’s and Supervisor’s Guide to online Vivas

To be eligible to attend one of the University Graduation Ceremonies you must have fully completed your award AND have registered to attend the graduation by the deadline set by the Awards Team. 

For information relating to graduation please visit the following sites:

https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/academic-registry/student/registry-services/awards (this site also provides information about the issuing of degree certificates)

https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/students/graduation

Our Researcher Development Programme workshops have now all moved online. You can find details of forthcoming events here and on the calendar within eDoc. We also have a Researcher Development Canvas site with a range of asynchronous workshop resources.

Resources that may be of interest to postgraduate researchers working during the pandemic.

JISC Call for Participants: if you are looking to recruit participants for your surveys, interviews or any other research studies, you can now make use of this JISC service. Join the Doctoral Academy group before creating a study page, which is visible to thousands of potential participants around the world.

Virtual not Viral: curated links to resources for doctoral researchers, with sections on doing research, working from home, wellbeing and writing. Also hosts weekly #VirtualnotViral tweetchats every Monday. 

Doing Fieldwork in a Pandemic, a crowd-sourced document edited by Deborah Lupton. 

Doing Arts Research in a Pandemic, The Culture Capital Exchange. A crowd-sourced collection of  reflections, research activities and methods that have emerged in the light of the Covid-19 pandemic.