Postgraduate opportunities
Over £6,000,000 available for new research studentsYour research
Supervision
Dr Nick Waterfield and Dr Maria Sanchez-Contreras with Tobacco Hawk Moth caterpillars.
We provide you with structured academic support and access to personal and professional development alongside your research studies.
You will have regular meetings with your supervisor, who advises on the directions your research should take and gives guidance on aspects of writing your thesis. The ultimate responsibility for deciding when the thesis is ready for submission is yours.
Your progress throughout your time as a research student will be monitored. This includes reports produced jointly by you and your supervisor which are submitted to the Faculty or School Board of Studies.
The University Research Students Committee monitors your progression regularly. Its remit is to set and monitor standards of postgraduate education within the University.
Training
Students' self-powered submarine. Photo taken by Tim Gander.
During a research degree, you will acquire lots of transferable skills as well as learning how to do research in your discipline. You will be required to undertake training and development in skills that can be applied to any field of work. For example, you may take courses on communication skills, project management and writing skills.
Courses may be offered by your Department, School, Faculty or by the Staff Development Unit. There are also external programmes run by the Research Councils and other bodies. Your supervisor can help you decide which areas you need to work on and help you choose the right training options.
If you are involved in teaching, we provide appropriate training, some of which is credit-bearing.
Details of many of the courses currently on offer can be accessed from Staff Development and PGSkills websites.
Timescales
Depending on whether you are full-time or part-time, the amount of time allowed for the different research degrees can vary.
| Degree | Minimum time allowed | Maximum time allowed | |
|---|---|---|---|
| MPhil | full-time | 1 year | 3 years |
| MPhil | part-time | 2 years | 4 years |
| PhD | full-time | 2 years | 4 years |
| PhD | part-time | 3 years | 6 years |
| EdD/DBA | full-time | 2 years | 5 years |
| EdD/DBA | part-time | 3 years | 8 years |
| Integrated PhD | full-time | 3 years | 5 years |
| Integrated PhD | part-time | 4 years | 8 years |
| EngD | full-time | 2 years | 5 years |
Once you have completed the necessary research you may, subject to the approval of the Board of Studies, transfer to one of two 'writing-up' statuses.
If you continue to require minimum supervision and access to library and computing facilities, you pay the Continuation Fee (£530 pa in 2008/9).
If you do not require further supervision and access to the library and other facilities, you pay an Administration Fee (£84 pa in 2008/9).
