Target Audience: Early stage postgraduate research students.

The course is designed to help students consider and explore the nature and expectations of doctoral study. The course is aimed at research students in the early stages of their doctorate, although students further on in their studies can also attend if they wish. It will help you to gain a clearer understanding of the UK doctorate and the supervision process.

Description:

Students will discuss what counts as a doctorate, consider common problems encountered by research students and reflect on simple guidelines for managing their supervisory relationships. They will also consider a number of case study scenarios to identify potential solutions to some of the common challenges and issues experienced by research students.

Aims/ Objectives:

The aim of this course is to familiarise postgraduate research students with the expectations of doctoral study and qualifications at the University of Nottingham.

To help postgraduate research students identify how they start to effectively plan and manage their supervisory sessions and relationships with their supervisor.

By the end of this workshop, you will:

• understand the purpose and nature of doctoral research and training
• be aware of the knowledge and skills you will have to acquire and demonstrate in order to be awarded a doctorate
• be able to identify the responsibilities of both students and supervisors
• be able to list a realistic set of expectations for building a good relationship with your supervisors
• be able to present solutions to challenges and issues commonly faced by students during their doctoral research

Process: Interactive workshop

Related courses:

Understanding your Research Degree is a stand-alone course providing the opportunity for students to explore the core skills and knowledge required to plan and manage a doctoral research project, and to manage time effectively

Planning your Research - classroom based course. Please note that due to the COVID-19 crisis, the Researcher Academy will not be offering face to face courses in semester 1 of 2020.

Research Integrity - stand-alone online course designed to strengthen your awareness of your own responsibilities and accountability when planning and conducting research and provides guidance on what to do should things go wrong. 


Course Accessibility

The following table shows a summary of what is needed to participate in the course. 

If you feel you will experience any difficulties participating, please let us know via the ‘special requirements’ tab, providing as much information as possible. The special requirements tab can be completed when you book your place. Alternatively, you can contact us directly at ra-training@nottingham.ac.uk.

Print off pre-requisite paperwork/ resources & bring them to the course (optional)
Bring your own laptop/ PC to the course
Access seminar room on campus
Attend the course at the specified date and time
Watch and listen to the course tutor(s) and/or other attendees
Follow presentation slides during the course
Take part in group activities/ discussions

Booking Conditions

Latecomer policy

Researchers should plan to arrive prior to the advertised course start time. Except for exceptional reasons, there will be no admittance to a Researcher Academy or Faculty Training Programme (FTP) course 15 minutes after the advertised course start time.

Importance of booking commitment

When booking on to a Researcher Academy short course you are entering into a commitment to attend. If you find that you are no longer available to attend you MUST cancel your place (on the system if more than three days before the course) or if at short notice by emailing ra-training@nottingham.ac.uk. This will ensure that your place can be offered to another researcher on the waiting list. Failure to cancel a place results in other researchers missing out on places through the waiting list process.

It is unacceptable for researchers to just not attend when booked onto a course. The Researcher Academy maintains records of those who repeatedly do not attend courses they have booked. This may affect future eligibility to book onto further Researcher Academy courses and will affect considerations for Researcher Academy funded opportunities.

Pre-Requisites Please note that Saturday courses running in the Engineering & Science Learning Building requires a swipe card for access to the building.