PGR Student Induction

If you haven't seen our Directory of Services, please  visit the page.

Communication

The Doctoral College will contact you via email, MSTeams (PGR Community) and Twitter (@UHDoctoral).  Please ensure the email address you wish us to use is kept up to date on your student record.  You can amend your contact details here: www.studentrecord.herts.ac.uk.

Introduction

All research students belong to the Doctoral College and a School.  The support for you during your research degree programme is provided through your supervisory team in the first instance. However, there is also a structure of support outside of that team. This structure centres on the Research Tutor who will delegate responsibility to tutors within research centres and departments as appropriate. Along with your supervisory team, your local Doctoral College Administrator can help with queries about your research degree programme and any issues you may face. 

Health and Safety

You are jointly responsible for your health and safety while conducting your research at the University.  You are required to ensure you are aware of the health and safety risks associated with your research programme.  You must read the information on this link (part of the Directory of Services).

Responsibilities and Expectations

Details of responsibilities and expectations, yours and those of the University, are set out in Codes of Practice (one for students and one for supervisors) covering both the research process and administrative procedures. These Codes of Practice are available in your Doctoral College Handbook.

It is your research degree but the University shares some responsibilities with you:

• You have to take ownership of the research degree process and we have to support and advise you
• You have to adhere to University regulations and we have to adhere to quality thresholds
• You have to question and query and raise concerns with us when they arise and we have to seek to address them with you.

What do we expect of you?

• To work hard
• To work independently and think for yourself
• To listen to advice...and decide for yourself how to follow it
• To take responsibility for dealing with difficulties and challenges
• To decide when you are ready to defend your thesis.

And you can expect us to support you in all of this.

Key Stages

There are six key stages:

1. Enrolment
2. Induction
3. Registration
4. Monitoring
5. Progression
6. Examination

Supervisor Relationships

The relationship between the supervisors and the students is individual – there is no set format on the best way to work together.

The message to go away with today is that you need to establish and manage expectations.  Sit down and talk at the start of your degree and decide how you will manage this relationship.

Some key points to remember:

• Communicate, Communicate, Communicate!
• Timetable meetings for appropriate times throughout the year - don't just turn up and expect the supervisor to be free!
• Be prepared for all meetings; set times and keep them punctually.
• Take notes of the meeting and record them on RSMS – this confirms the messages and actions that you need to take.
• Establish how feedback will be received and how often.
• If you are still unsure about something, don’t keep it to yourself. Make sure your supervisory team know if you are confused or unsure. They are here to help.
• And use your whole supervisory team, keep them in the email loop of your plans, timelines etc
• Use the support network the University provides; for example, School Research Tutors, local Administrators, the central Doctoral College Team.

Regulations

The University has Policies and Regulations that set out the legal requirements which you and the University must follow. They are known as University Policies and Regulations (UPRs) and cover issues from academic quality to car parking, there is even a UPR about UPRs!

In your Doctoral College Handbook you will find a copy of UPR AS10 Research Degrees – Generic Institutional Regulations.  This is the one that covers all Research Degrees.  It gives information about registration, supervision and assessment, for example.  The regulations are ‘enablers’ if you want to appeal or complain.  They ensure consistency in the awards we offer.

The criteria for these awards are also important information – this is the standard you have to reach in order to be awarded the degree you are aiming for.   These details are set out in your Doctoral College Handbook.

There are differences in the nature of the awards so, as well as the Regulations, there are Schedules that set out the individual criteria and processes. All Schedules are available in your handbook.  To check which Schedule you are enrolled on, please see your record on RSMS, under 'student details'.

It is important that you read these documents and understand what you need to do and when.  Regulations can look like daunting documents but there are Notes of Guidance and other supplementary information available to help just ask your supervisory team, your Doctoral College Administrator or email research-degrees@herts.ac.uk for advice and assistance.

Researcher Development Programme (RDP)