University of Divinity fully funds six-month extension for all HDR students

Professor Peter Sherlock (Vice-Chancellor) and
Dr Liz Boase (Dean, School of Graduate Research)

The University’s response to the COVID-19 crisis is guided by two priorities: to safeguard the health of our members and the general public, and to ensure continuity of our mission of education and research, especially for students.

The COVID-19 crisis will impact research training activities conducted by higher degree by research students (HDR) and their supervisors throughout 2020. This may include significant reduction in access to print holdings in the University’s associated libraries, opportunity to conduct field work, and consistency of supervisory meetings. There is also the potential for students or supervisors to fall ill or to experience disruption to income.

The University therefore announces the following measures to support HDR students:

1. An extraordinary extension of 6 months for all HDR students enrolled as at 1 April 2020, regardless of award, stage of candidature or of whether the student is part-time or full-time.
2. A Research Fee Scholarship of 6 months for all HDR students who receive the extraordinary extension, to cover HDR student tuition fees for the period 1 July to 31 December 2020.

Students will need to register with the Dean of the School of Graduate Research to access the extension and to have their completion date updated. Students who are due for a confirmation panel may also request deferral of the panel by up to six months. Students may continue to submit theses on time or earlier in accordance with the University’s Regulations. Students also remain eligible to take leave of absence in accordance with the University’s Enrolment Policy.

Students whose completion date falls between 1 April and 30 June 2020 should contact the Dean of the School of the Graduate Research to discuss their needs.

Admissions, scholarship funding rounds, confirmation panels and examinations will continue.

This extension will be at no cost to students through the award of a six-month one-off Research Fee Scholarship to all students who register for the extension. Students who already held a Research Fee Scholarship will have that scholarship extended by six months.

Details on how to register for the extraordinary extension are being circulated by the School of Graduate Research to all currently enrolled HDR students. Eligible students must register by 30 April 2020.

Through these measures, the University hopes to demonstrate the strength of its commitment to its HDR students, in a time of great need in the global human community.