New Supervisor Workshop

Graduate Research Office

Graduate ResearchOffice (GRO)

Research ExcellenceFunding Support

Research Office

The Research Office

New Supervisor Workshop

–What is a research degree and how much work is involved

–Who can be a supervisor– Student/supervisor expectations– Overview of research student journey– Complaints and appeals (case studies)

Facts and figures

• The University has ~ 500 research students• 65% are part-time• 80% are either self-funded or funded by

their governments or institutions• ~10% are externally funded by Research

Councils or EU• ~10% are staff members

What is a research degree?

• Number of different research awards offered and types of submission–MA / MSc by Research (Thesis)–MPhil (Thesis or portfolio)– PhD (Thesis, portfolio or publication)– Professional Doctorates

Masters versus Doctorate

• Level 7 rather than level 8• Shorter completion time (1-1.5yr, FT)• Shorter dissertation length– 25,000 words for Masters by Research– 40,000 words for PhD in Science,

Engineering and Design– 80,000 words for PhD in Arts and Social

Sciences• Less emphasis on originality

What do you need to demonstrate to pass?

• A doctoral degree (PhD or Professional Doctorate) shall be awarded to a candidate who has demonstrated the creation and interpretation of new knowledge, through original research or other advanced scholarship, of a quality to satisfy peer review, extend the forefront of the discipline, and merit publication. The candidate shall demonstrate a detailed understanding of appropriate research methods and their application to the chosen field and present and defend a thesis of appropriate literary standard (or alternative form of submission where appropriate), by oral examination to the satisfaction of examiners.

Extracts from external examiner preliminary reports...

• Theoretically sophisticated and innovative in its thinking…

• The research question and approach are clearly set out from the start...develops a critical contribution to the extant body of knowledge specifically via new insights offered by the research methods employed

• A unique focus...the thesis is well written, carefully referenced, critically argued and some very pertinent conclusions are drawn from the primary source material upon which the author has drawn

What do you need to demonstrate to pass?

• A research degree at Masters level shall be awarded to a candidate who has critically investigated and evaluated an approved topic and demonstrated originality in the application of knowledge. The candidate shall demonstrate a detailed understanding of appropriate research methods and their application to the chosen field, and present and defend a thesis of an appropriate literary standard (or alternative form of submission where appropriate), by oral examination to the satisfaction of examiners.

How not to get a PhD...• Not wanting a PhD• Not understanding the nature of a PhD by

overestimating what is required• Not understanding the nature of a PhD by

underestimating what is required• Not having a supervisor who know what a PhD

requires• Losing contact with your supervisor• Not having a thesis• Taking a new job before finishing

Phillips’ and Pugh’s ‘How to Get a PhD’

• A research student has one main supervisor (Director of Studies) who will be part of a supervisory team

• Supervisors must be research active and have relevant expertise

• The team will usually have a combined experience of supervising at least 2 candidates to successful completion and a significant research and publication record in the field

Who can be a supervisor?

The ideal supervisor

• Interested in their student’s research • Available to discuss their conclusions and ideas • Able to provide feedback on their progress • Able to provide feedback on their written work • Encourages them to participate in group

meetings, seminars and occasional conferences • Developing their professional research qualities

by example • Administrative responsibilities properly and

promptly addressed

Days work available to do a PhD within a 3-yr period

Days available• 1st Oct 2010 to 30th June 2014 1003• Less approx 150 weekends

719• Less 6 weeks holiday and visits home 634• Less 5% for illness and accidents 602• Less allowance for family events, religious

festivals, hospital and dentist 572• Less tutorial work/laboratory supervisions

(assuming 6 hours/weeks for 25 weeks plus prep and marking)497

• Less contingencies (5%) 472

So a full-time PhD student has less than 500 days to complete on time!

John Wakeford, Missenden Centre

Other academic demands...

• Planning and preparing taught modules• Teaching at UG/PG level• Marking coursework and exam questions• Carrying out own research• Writing research papers and grants• Attending conferences• Attending departmental meetings• Serving on University committees• Admin• Social life, home and family time and much

more...

The ideal postgraduate researcher

• Contacts their supervisor and updates them on progress regularly

• Produces ideas for discussion• Participates in group meetings, seminars

and occasional conferences • Meets agreed deadlines for research

targets• Is committed to gaining their PhD

Overview of research student journey

• Registration• Progress monitoring• Re-enrolment• Transferring from MPhil to PhD• The examination system

– Appointment of examiners– Submission and examination of thesis– Oral defence of thesis at viva– Outcome of the examination

• Award of research degree

Registration

• Masters by Research– 12-18 months FT / 2-3 yrs PT

• MPhil– 2 yrs FT / 3-4 yrs PT

• PhD– 3 yrs FT / 4-6 yrs PT

• Applications for changes to registration should be submitted to the Graduate Research Office using form R5

Progress monitoring

• Regular meetings with students at least once a month

• Progress monitored at faculty level annually and graded A-D where A = Excellent and D = Unsatisfactory

Attendance & engagement monitoring (Tier 4 students)

• Copies of passport & visa at enrolment

• Attendance monitoring weekly (scanning of ID card)

• Engagement monitoring monthly via Director of Studies

Overview of research student journey

• Registration• Progress monitoring• Re-enrolment• Transferring from MPhil to PhD*• The examination system– Appointment of examiners– Submission and examination of thesis– Oral defence of thesis at viva– Outcome of the examination

• Award of research degree

* Should occur around 12 months FT or 15-21 months PT

Transfer from MPhil to PhD

• Transfer from MPhil to PhD is part of the research process

• Regulations state that this is normally undertaken 9-15 months into the registration period (FT) or 12-18 months (PT); timetable may vary according to discipline.

• Transfer is a 3-part process:– a form (R6)– a report (normally 3,000 – 6,000 words)– a transfer viva

• Overseen by FRPC

Transfer from MPhil to PhD

• Nomination of 3 independent specialists • A member of FRPC will oversee process,

read transfer document and nominate a specialist (who may not be one of the 3 originally nominated!)

• Independent specialist may be internal or external and will be asked to comment on the report

• The viva is usually conducted by the independent specialist in the presence of your supervisor

Examination System

• Examination arrangements must be approved by the University

• The application for approval of examiners form (R7) should be submitted to RPSG at least 4 months prior to submission of the thesis

• There are usually 2 examiners – at least 1 external examiner!*

* For members of staff there are 3 examiners (2 external)

Who can be an examiner?

• Examination experience• Subject expertise• Independence• Demonstrably research active

Who can be a chair?

• Research degree examination experience

• Knowledge of the regulations• Independence

Role of the Chair

…The candidate was most disappointed with the result and began to engage examiners in a discussion on his past/future supervision arrangements, which was unfortunately outside of the examination team’s remit. The Chair handled this very professionally and was able to explain correct procedures on how to revise and resubmit.

Examination

• Thesis submitted to Graduate Research Office and sent out to examiners

• Before viva, each examiner submits preliminary report on thesis (R8)

• After viva, joint final report completed (R9)

Plagiarism and research degrees

Supervisor’s role in the viva

• Conduct a mock viva to help students prepare for the real thing

• Arrange the time and place• Inform the candidate, examiners, chair

and GRO in advance• Can be present at the viva (if the student

wishes)• May be helpful to take some extra notes

for the student but should not interject

The examination outcomeThe examiners have 5 options:

1.The candidate be awarded the degree2.The candidate be awarded the degree subject

to amendments3.The candidate be allowed to resubmit and be

re-examined (with or without a viva)4.The candidate is not awarded the degree and

is not permitted to be re-examined5.In the case of a PhD examination, that the

candidate be offered the degree of MPhil

What happens next?

Round table discussion

Complaints and appeals – you decide!

Case study 1• Sylvia was enrolled as a full-time PhD student.• Her Director of Studies left the University to

take up another position and Sylvia was allocated a new Director of Studies.

• Sylvia lacked direction and persevered with little or no supervision until she eventually submitted her thesis.

• Sylvia’s examiners felt that her thesis lacked original contribution to knowledge and jointly recommended that she be offered an MPhil.

• Sylvia appealed against the decision of examiners on the basis that she received poor supervision and support in the Faculty.

• Should Sylvia’s appeal be upheld?

According to the regulations:

Complaints regarding supervision cannot form the basis of an appeal against an

examination decision

Case study 2• Margaret was a full-time PhD student. • Following her viva, the examiners jointly

recommended that Margaret resubmit her thesis for re-examination which she did six months later.

• Following her second viva, the examiners could not reach an agreement and the Research Programmes Sub Group upheld the decision of the external examiner not to award the PhD and to offer an MPhil.

• Margaret appealed against the examination decision querying the decision of the RPSG.

• Should Margaret’s appeal be upheld?

According to the regulations:

A candidate may not challenge academic judgement unless there is evidence of unfair or

improper assessment

According to the regulationsWhere examiners

recommendations are not unanimous, RPSG may:

Accept a majority recommendationAccept the recommendation of the

external examinerRequire appointment of a new

examiner

Graduate Research Office Support

• Advice on regulations and procedures• Support from application through to award• Engage with academic staff to deliver

calendar of events• Training for supervisors, examiners and

viva chairs

http://gro.glam.ac.uk

Questions?