The transfer viva should take place by month 21 for full-time students (month 30 for part-time).

The aim of this viva is to prove that a student is ready for their registration to be transferred from MPhil to PhD.  However, before this can take place the viva assessors must agree that research is valid and timely and that the work will produce a contribution that is sufficient for a PhD thesis (in terms of scope and quality).

By this point a student should be able to show substantial progress of research and present a fairly concrete draft contents page for the thesis.  They should have a plan for the writing of the thesis: most of the actual research work may be complete but there will be tidying up needed and perhaps the odd extra piece of work to confirm (or deny) issues to be addressed in the thesis.  Examiners should also be identified.

This form should accompany your MPhil/PhD Transfer report:

Transfer VIVA Report Form (Word)

Transfer VIVA Report Form (ASCII)

The form and report should be sent to your assessor, second supervisor, the Graduate Tutor (anthony.hunter@ucl.ac.uk) and the Research Student Administrator (melanie.johnson@ucl.ac.uk) at least several weeks before the viva has been scheduled in order to allow your supervisors and assessor a decent amount of time to review it.

You should receive feedback within 5 days after the viva.

IMPORTANT - If you pass your transfer viva, make sure your supervisor completes an upgrade form, which can be found on Registry's website and gives it to the Research Student Administrator. 

Your registration will only be transferred to PhD once this form has been signed off by the Graduate Tutor and submitted to Registry and Academic Services.