Special circumstances
This section of the IRP system allows you to record the details of any special circumstances which have significantly impacted on your capacity to carry out your research. These should only be recorded if they are of a substantial and non trivial nature and this is the only section of the portfolio that is not compulsory. For each special circumstance, you will need to indicate the timeframe and whether the effect was low, medium or high.
The special circumstance categories can be selected from the drop down box and include:
- significant parenting and/or carer responsibilities
- significant illness or other significant misfortune
- time employed outside the higher education sector (eg in business, industry or the community)