Guidance from the University
Our Coronavirus page contains information and guidance for our community, including what to do if you or someone you know has symptoms of Covid-19.
Be Safe on campus and in Bath provides key information on how the University is operating following the lifting of Covid legal restrictions in England by the UK Government. The health and safety of all members of our community remains of the utmost importance in the University’s operations.
You can also read information on international travel and quarantine.
The Student Support team has advice and resources on looking after your mental health and wellbeing.
If you have any further questions please contact your departmental Director of Studies (Doctoral) or email the Doctoral College and please keep your supervisory team informed of any concerns.
Guidance from the Doctoral College
Incoming students
If you're an incoming student and have any concerns about starting your research or about travel to the UK, please speak to your supervisor or contact the Doctoral Admissions team. You can also read our pre-arrival email for more information.
Record the impact on your studies
Continue to record your progress in your six-month progress review meetings. Our previous guide to working with your supervisor, monitoring performance and recording the effects of the pandemic on your research may be useful if you still have to adapt your project.
You should also read University COVID-19: Additional guidance for our research community and UKRIO Recommended Checklist for Research Communities During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Financial support options
Our page Covid-19 funding support for doctoral students provides guidance on the many sources of financial support for doctoral students, recognising that everyone's circumstances are different.
Tier 4 visa holders
If you have any questions about visas, please contact the University's Student Immigration Services.
Your research progression
We have guidance on your Doctoral academic milestones during Covid-19 that covers the changes in the standard academic process due to the current circumstances. This includes the taught phase of your studies (if you have one), and your research phase, including advice on carrying out interviews and focus groups online.
Resources and IT
Working from home
The expectation is that most people will revert to working on campus. However, we recognise that a few students may still need to work from a distance.
You should carry out a workstation self-assessment and get advice from either the Computer Workstation Assessor or your Departmental Coordinator if an issue is identified.
You may be able to borrow unused departmental equipment for you to work from home. If you're planning to borrow an office-based PC, please submit a request for repurposing to IT before you take it away from campus. You'll need the Hostname/Asset Tag for the particular machine you want to use.
You can purchase equipment if your department does not have the equipment to borrow and you have funds such as Bench Fees or Research Training Grants. This is subject to the funder’s requirements and future research-specific needs from the same grant.
Find out about buying for remote working, including some reasonably-priced chairs and desks. If you wish to use this approach, please check in advance by emailing procurement@bath.ac.uk.
The University has guidance on working from home as well as resources on Safe use of computers at home and Flexible working with laptops. There is also guidance on accessing systems remotely. If you need more guidance after following these documents you can contact shew@bath.ac.uk for further advice.
Further IT guidance can be found at Top Desk (Working from Home).
You can access your files through UniApps and files.bath.ac.uk via VPN. There is a significant amount of software available remotely.
If you need to access specific research software installed on your campus PC you will need Remote Access to your PC, which must be switched on in your office. Contact the IT Service Desk to set this up. Most of the lab PCs (with specific licensed software) have been set up for students to use remotely; see Wake up my computer.
Campus facilities
Most departments will have office space allocated to full-time doctoral students, where you can work. Alternatively you can book your study space on campus - including space reserved for specifically for doctoral students.
If you're preparing for your online viva, 10W includes a number of small rooms that are available for private use. You can book one of these for your viva meeting where you won't be disturbed; you'll need to use your own IT equipment and laptop.
Your professional development
DoctoralSkills
Recognising the benefits of increased online resources during the pandemic, we now offer a mix of in-person and online training courses and workshops.
Visit our Professional Development programme on Moodle to browse what's coming up. Make sure you register in good time, so we can send you the joining instructions for your course.
In addition, our DoctoralSkills: Extra resource on Moodle, signposts online training from external providers, in communication, IT and digital skills, personal effectiveness, research methods, entrepreneurship and more.
Doctoral College events
We will be offering a mix of face-to-face and online events. Find out details on our Doctoral College page.
Support and wellbeing
In-person meetings between students and DC programmes administrators
Doctoral College staff work on a hybrid model, each working from home on some days and on campus other days. The move to virtual meetings with students during the pandemic has worked well, and we continue to connect with students via Teams to help answer their queries or to provide advice. However, we realise that there may be some situations where an in-person meeting would be more beneficial, and we are now able to arrange a booked in-person meeting with a student if that is required. The meetings can take place on campus in 10 West.
If you would like to have an in-person meeting with a member of staff from the Doctoral College Programmes team, please contact your administrator to arrange a suitable date and time. It may not be possible to meet with the specific person you would like to talk to, but you will be able to meet someone from the team.
You can find details of all our support for doctoral students, including the Talk Now service, The SU Advice & Support Centre, Wellbeing Advisers, and Student Services' Counselling and Mental Health team.
Your wellbeing
It's important to look after your mental health and wellbeing, and Student Support encourages you to seek support early. Please call 01225 383838 or email studentservices@bath.ac.uk to make an appointment.
If you, or someone you care about, are feeling overwhelmed with emotions like sadness, depression, or anxiety there are a number of places you can turn to for support:
- The Samaritans: call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org.
- The Mind support services.