Apply for a period of Submission Pending
The submission pending period gives you additional time to complete the writing up of your thesis.
You can apply for a period of submission pending if you have completed all research and laboratory activity but are unable to submit your thesis within the final year of your programme and by the original submission deadline.
Four-year doctoral degrees do not allow a period of submission pending and the thesis must be submitted within the fourth year of the degree. Please refer to your offer letter and the Submission Pending Procedure for Postgraduate Research Students to determine your eligibility to enter submission pending.
Applying for a period of submission can affect your finances, and in most cases stipends are not paid during this time, with the exception of some external sponsors. For further information, please contact our FSE Funding Team.
Completing the form
What you'll need to complete the form
To complete your application for a submission pending period, you will need to upload any relevant supporting evidence and a completion plan approved by your supervisor. Without the approved completion plan, your application will not be considered.
You will need to show that you have completed all research activity by the end of your programme. This includes all primary research and laboratory work.
In your completion plan, you should also be able to provide a timeline for submission of your thesis or dissertation within the proposed submission pending period.
Download a template of the completion plan.
Before completing the form, you should have:
- checked if there are any implications for your visa or ATAS status (if you are an international student). Further guidance is available from the Student Immigration Team;
- read and understood the implications for your tuition fees. All postgraduate researchers granted the Submission Pending period must pay the appropriate fee;
- read and understood the University’s Change of Circumstances Policy for Postgraduate Research Students and the Submission Pending Procedure for Postgraduate Research Students;
- discussed the application with the Doctoral Academy and with your supervisor(s);
- discussed the application with your sponsor if you are on a funded studentship.
| Registered period of programme | Maximum allowable Submission Pending period |
|---|---|
|
One year full-time (12 months) and no more than two years part-time (e.g. Master of Philosophy (MPhil) and Master of Science (MSc) by Research*). *MScR students should note that if they apply for Submission Pending this will affect their overall degree classification. For more information, please view Regulations: Degree of Master of Science by Research. |
6 months |
|
Two years full-time (24 months) and no more than four years part-time (e.g. Doctor of Medicine (MD). |
12 months |
|
Three year full-time (36 months) doctoral degree programmes (or 5-6 year part-time). |
12 months |
|
Three and a half year (42 months) doctoral degree programmes (or 7 year part-time). |
6 months |
|
Four year (48 months) doctoral degree programmes (or 8 year part-time). |
Submission Pending not permitted |
Next steps
Your application will be reviewed by your department and then by the FSE Degrees Panel. It can take up to four weeks for a decision on your application to be reached.
If the application was submitted without the required supporting documentation, it will be considered incomplete and it will not be processed.
If you require any additional support regarding your application, please email the FSE Progression and Support team.