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Progression reviews

What to do for your Progression Review

Step 1. Take note of the deadline for your Review & how to use your Box folder.

Please note this system does not apply for PGRs that started in 2025/2026 - a new system will be launched soon.

Each Doctoral Researcher has a Box folder for their Progression Reviews.

The School Office sets up the folder and will send you an invitation link by email. If you have not received an invitation, contact FoSEM-PGR@sussex.ac.uk

You can access your Box folder using a web browser and your ITS login credentials at

Or you can use Box Drive in your file manager: http://www.sussex.ac.uk/its/help/faq?faqid=2889.

How to use your Box folder

Use your Box folder to accumulate the documents needed for your Review. Your Reviewers have access to your Box folder, as does the Director for Postgraduate Researchers, the research admin team but not your Supervisors.

When your Review is completed, you 'submit' it to the Director by sending an email to the Research team at FoSEM-PGR@sussex.ac.uk saying that your box folder now contains the final documents of your Review. This must be done by your deadline date.

Please note : there is no longer any in-person or email hand-in of the Review documents.

Year 1 researchers

You will have completed your starter review 3/4 months after starting your PhD. You will find a Timetable for your Reviews in your Box folder. Both Reviewers take part in your Year 1 review.

Year 2 researchers

You will find a Timetable for your Reviews in your Box folder. Both Reviewers should take part in the meeting if you are a Year 1 researcher. For later years, only the main Reviewer needs to be present. The Timetable tells you the deadline by which your Progression Review must be completed as well as a recommended start date. If you cannot find the Timetable, contact FoSEM-PGR@sussex.ac.uk.

All other doctoral researchers

You will find your individual timetables in your Box folder.

Step 2. Book your Review meeting soon, with your Reviewers

All Doctoral Researchers

Arrange your meeting with your Reviewers for any date before your Review deadline (allowing time for finalising the documents).

Please arrange the meeting as early as practical. Send an email to the Research office when you have booked your Reviewers for your meeting (FoSEM-PGR@sussex.ac.uk), giving the date of the meeting.

Arrange to meet your Reviewer.

A meeting of at least 60 minutes will be needed. The meeting date should allow you and your supervisor time to prepare the documents (see Step 3.).

Year 1 researchers

You will have completed your starter review 3/4 months start starting your PhD. You will find a Timetable for your Reviews in your Box folder. Both Reviewers take part in your Year 1 review.

Year 2 researchers

Your Reviewers and their email addresses are shown in your Timetable which is in your Box folder.

For year 2 researchers, only the main Reviewer needs be present.

Year 3 & 4 doctoral researchers only

As for year 2, for year 3 researchers, only your main reviewer needs to be present.

Year 4 doctoral researchers only

You will have a Thesis Readiness Review, please check your individual timetable. This review is a smaller review with your main reviewer.

Step 3. Download and prepare the documents you need

Forms needed for your Progression Review:

1) Supervisor Form Progression review - supervisor report [DOCX 42.54KB]

2) Full training record

3) PGRs research plan/report

4) Supervisor contact record (to be downloaded from Sussex Direct)

5) Training needs analysis form PGR Training Needs Analysis [DOCX 19.98KB]

6) Reviewer form Progression review - Reviewer form [DOCX 43.46KB]

PGR wellbeing and the supervisory relationship has [from 2024/25] been decoupled from the official academic progression review process. The School of MPS would like to hear from all PGRs regarding these issues. We encourage PGRs to complete this form and upload to your BOX folder - all feedback given here is completely seperate and will not be taken into account as a part of your progression review.

PGR Wellbeing form [DOCX 39.99KB]

Please see guidance on how to write your report here:

Doctoral Researcher's Written Report - Mathematics [PDF 107.50KB]

Doctoral Researcher's Written Report - Physics & Astronomy [PDF 118.80KB]

Step 4. After the Review meeting - Your Plans and Feedback

After your Reviewers have completed the Reviewer's form please upload this form, and all of the other forms listed above to your individual BOX folder. One you have done this, please let the Research Team know that your review is complete on FoSEM-PGR@sussex.ac.uk.

When the review is over

- The Head of PGR will make a decision on your continued registration. There may be conditions such as a provisional registration with an second attempt at passing your review.
- Once a decision has been made, you will be informed via email.
- Providing the Head of PGR approves your continued registration, you will be eligible to re-register online from early September.
- Any problems you have raised with facilities, supervision etc will be dealt with by the Head of PGR when the Review is over

Reference Information