Fieldwork permission

All doctoral researchers wishing to undertake overseas fieldwork must submit a completed Fieldwork Application form. Please note that students going on fieldwork must read the SOAS Overseas Travel Policy and check the country briefing documents on the Research Students' Common Room on Moodle as they are updated regularly.

Research integrity training

This is available online and all students beginning their PhD in 2017/18 and later are required to complete it.

Using personal data in research

Any PhD student who is collecting or using personal data as part of their PhD research must read and adhere to the School’s Code of Practice for Use of Personal Data in Research and data protection legislation (UK, EU and International) throughout their research and when submitting their thesis for examination and to the Library and SOAS Research Online. PhD students must ensure that personal data is anonymised before they submit their thesis unless they have received specific informed consent that it can be included.

Informed consent

PhD students must ensure that they carefully prepare for collecting informed consent from research participants used in their PhD research. The School’s Code of Practice for Use of Personal Data in Research includes a template consent form which includes all the information you need to provide to research participants. The form can be adapted to a particular research project and language context. Evidence of the consent you have collected should be kept as long as you keep and use the data for your PhD research and future publication and you should include a blank version of the consent form you used in your thesis when it is submitted.

Research data management and personal data

Before the collection of any personal data for research PhD students must ensure they are aware of the practical steps that need to be taken in order that personal data is collected, handled and shared in accordance with data protection legislation.

In addition to the Code of Practice for Using Personal Data in Research, there is a lot of essential practical advice and training about collecting and using and storing research data which PhD students must read before collecting research data:

  • SOAS Research Data Management pages includes dedicated information on working securely and safely with personal data and general good practice relating to research data management.

This above guidance will help you complete the rest of this form. If you need any further help or information you should contact:

Further notes regarding fieldwork

  • You must normally be transferred to PhD status before leaving for fieldwork/research.
  • Fieldwork can take place overseas or within the UK.
  • You may not be absent on fieldwork/research during the first three months or the last three months of your prescribed period of full-time or part-time study and not normally during the first year of a full-time programme of study (or first two years of a part-time programme of study). Fieldwork is normally undertaken in the second full-time year (or part-time equivalent) of a PhD programme and any variation would need the approval of the Associate Director of Research.
  • Normally only three terms of fieldwork/research are permitted as part of a three-year full-time programme (or equivalent part-time) and only three terms of fieldwork/research (or equivalent part-time fieldwork/research) may count towards the nine terms of full-time study normally prescribed for a PhD programme. Any variation from this pattern would need the approval of the Associate Director of Research.
  • Please note that the term length for Research students runs from the first day of term until the day preceding the start of the following term though fieldwork is calculated on a term by term basis.
  • Please note that a risk assessment should be made before research students travel into the field. It is the student’s responsibility to assess the risk and discuss it as necessary with the supervisor and others. The School advises all students to consult Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office guidance and NOT to travel to countries or areas contrary to FCO recommendations.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure that you are travelling on the correct visa for the country in which fieldwork is being conducted. SOAS, University of London bears no responsibility for visa arrangements. Where possible you should ensure that you are legally able to carry out your fieldwork in the countries specified.
  • Each fieldwork location (city and country), address and expected dates must be provided as part of your fieldwork application.
  • Remember to complete enrolment within one week of your return from fieldwork.
  • To watch a recording of the process please visit the PhD resource site on MySOAS Student (login required).

 

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