Take part in the Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES)

If you are a doctoral student, you can share your views on your time so far at the University.

The Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES) is a confidential survey run by Advance HE and is open to postgraduate research students across the UK. It asks them about their course experience so far.

Previous students gave their feedback in PRES which has shaped your experience at the University. You can do the same for future students by being honest about what is good and what could be improved.

When you can complete PRES

PRES is open in Semester 2 every two years.

You are eligible to complete PRES if you are a doctoral student and you:

did not enrol in January of the same year that PRES is running
are not in your first year of part-time study
are not studying a professional doctorate

PRES will next run in 2025.

Questions asked

PRES asks a variety of questions about your student experience so far.

You can see the questions asked in PRES 2023. They include:

supervision
resources
research culture and community
progress and assessment
responsibilities
support
research skills
professional development
two free-text comment questions

Giving constructive feedback

Giving constructive and detailed feedback in the open comments is most helpful for staff to make changes and improvements. You may recognise the characteristics of constructive feedback from the feedback you receive on your own work:

honest
specific
respectful
solution-focused
includes the good and the bad
how to do better next time

Your comments must be in line with the University's Dignity & Respect Policy and Procedure. Offensive or discriminatory comments will be investigated.

Prize draw

You can enter a prize draw for completing PRES.

You could win £250 cash if you enter the PRES prize draw by the survey closing date.

Read why last year's winner completed the PRES 2023.

How your responses are used and where to see the results

PRES results are discussed and used in several ways across the University.

Your responses are confidential to the Student Engagement Team but will be anonymised before being released to academic and professional services staff.

Results will be discussed and used in Staff / Student Liaison Committees (SSLCs), departmental action plans and committee meetings. Positive results may also be used for marketing purposes.

You can view PRES results for the University and the rest of the sector by:

contacting the Students' Union at su-voice@bath.ac.uk
contacting your Academic Rep
attending your course or department's SSLCs
downloading data from the PRES Student Data Wiki page, if you have access

Read about how the Doctoral College has used feedback from PRES 2023 to shape your research experience.

How to take part

When PRES is open, please click on the survey link. PRES will next run in 2025.

You will need to enter login credentials to access the survey. These are:

your University username (without @bath.ac.uk) as the Respondent ID
your 9-digit student number, which can be found on your library card and SAMIS profile, as the Password

You can complete PRES online or on a mobile device. It takes 10 to 15 minutes and is confidential.

Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES)

PRES asks doctoral students studying in the UK about their experience so far at university.

Have your say.

PRES 2023 sector results

Read the Advance HE PRES 2023 national report

Contact us

For enquires and questions, please contact the Student Engagement Team.