In this course student will develop their own research project, working closely with their academic supervisor and with the support of other postgraduate students, postdoctoral researchers and staff in their research group. At the end of the second year, students are required to prepare a dissertation on their research topic. If this, and the assessment on the graduate courses, is satisfactory, the student's PhD enrolment status is confirmed. The expectation of the University is that the thesis should be completed and submitted within three years, but students have an additional period of up to twelve months if required (the 'continuation period') to complete and submit their thesis.