PGR Policy, Strategy and Support

Intellectual Property - Information for PGR Students

Intellectual property (IP) refers to creative work (e.g. the results of a program of research) which can be treated as an asset or physical property. Be careful to note the distinction between IP and intellectual property rights (IPRs). IPRs are legal forms of protection for IP and fall into four main areas: patent, copyright, trademark and design rights.  For more information, please review these IPFAQs.  There are also other places on the University's websites that offer guidance: Research Services and the Library's Research Data Management team.

Owning the Intellectual Property Rights for your research

The University’s policy is that PGR students who are not employed by the University own their IP unless this is governed by a third party agreement (e.g. funding or sponsorship) or other factors which confer an interest in the IP. Students may also choose to assign their IPR to the University. Any student who assigns any IPR created during their research degree to the University would then be granted the same rights as any employee inventor under the University’s Intellectual Property & Commercialisation Policy.

Please review the information in the links on the right for more information about University policies and services as well as external sites that help to might answer any queries you might have.  If you are looking for some support with an invention or idea, please review the information on Research Services IP Management pages.

Transferring Intellectual Property Rights to the University

FOR STAFF:  If you would like to ask a student to consider assigning their IPR to the University, please contact the Contracts Team in the Research Support Office who can provide you with guidance and a pro-forma that can be used as a starting point for your discussion with your student.