Halfway review

The Board of the Faculty of Medicine has decided that all students admitted to postgraduate studies after 1 January 1996 must be subjected to a review after roughly half the period of their postgraduate studies. This is called the halfway review.

The aim of the halfway review is for the supervisor and the postgraduate student to evaluate the project in terms of what has been accomplished and to ensure that progress is being made in accordance with the individual study plan that was drawn up when the student was admitted to postgraduate studies.

When supervisor and student have agreed that half the postgraduate study period has elapsed, the supervisor initiates the halfway review. This review usually takes the form of a public seminar, announced within the department in an appropriate manner and in good time. Students admitted to postgraduate studies after 1 July 1998 must have completed and passed all the obligatory courses before the halfway review.

The supervisor and the holder of the relevant chair appoint two members of staff to act as examiners; these should be researchers who have already defended their theses within the Faculty, but are not involved in the project, in question.

The postgraduate student writes a brief report on the project. This report is sent to the examiners in advance and handed out to those attending the seminar. If a completed manuscript or reprint is available, the report should comprise about 1 page, to which the manuscript or reprint is attached. If no manuscript is available, the report should be rather more comprehensive and be in the form of a manuscript.

At the seminar, which all the postgraduate students at the department should attend, the student presents the work carried out so far and the plans for the continuation of the project up to the completion of his/her studies.

Question time then ensues, during which the examiners discuss the results and the continuation of the work up to the doctoral degree. The seminar is concluded with a general discussion between the postgraduate student, the supervisor, the examiners and the audience.

This is followed by a private discussion between the student, the supervisor and the examiners. In cases where the work presented at the halfway review does not meet with approval, it is the responsibility of the Departmental Chairperson to consult with the student and supervisor and discuss a revision of the study plan if required and, if so, a date for a new halfway review.

Upon the successful completion of the halfway review, a relevant form is used to notify the Faculty Office, where the approval is recorded in LADOK, the National Student Records Database.

The halfway review may be replaced by the degree of Licentiate of Medical Science.

A postgraduate student who is recieving a study grant can at the time of the halfway review apply for an postgraduate studentship for the remaining 2 years of study.

The supervisor should ensure that in the continuing research the student shows a sufficient degree of independence that student may stand as the first author of at least half of the articles intended to be included in the thesis.