Version number: 1.0 

Review date: 10 October 2023 

Owner: Academic Council Graduate Studies Commitee 

Approval Body: Academic Council Graduate Studies Committee 

Next Review: 2026 

Contents

• Purpose
• Scope 
• Roles and Responsibilities
• Policy Statement
  • Summary
  • Guiding Princples
• Contact for further information

Purpose

Guidance for students and staff on annual leave for research students.

Scope 

Applies to all research students.   

Roles and Responsibilities

The dates and duration of annual leave must be discussed and agreed upon in advance of the leave by the student and the Supervisory Team and recorded appropriately by the Unit of the Lead Supervisor.    

Policy Statement

Summary: 

Research students are encouraged to take a break from their programme of study, and UCC recommends a 20-day leave allowance per annum (full time, pro-rata part time). 

Guiding principles: 

20 working days per annum annual leave for full-time research students, in addition to public holidays, (pro-rata for part-time students), is recommended, unless otherwise specified by external funding bodies.  In UCC, the norm would be to include Christmas leave in the 20-day allowance, unless otherwise specified by external funding bodies. 

The dates and duration of annual leave must be discussed and agreed upon in advance of the leave with the Supervisory Team and recorded appropriately by the Unit of the Lead Supervisor.  

It is recommended that these discussions take place through the development and revision of the Research Learning Plan and in the context of annual progress reviews.   

Retrospective annual leave is not recommended as it may impact research progression. 

Approved: by Academic Council Graduate Studies Commitee 10 May 2023 and welcomed and noted by Academic Board 07 June 2023.   

Contact for Further Information

Chair of Academic Council Graduate Studies committee