Approaching your final years of research

Kate MarshFaculty Director of Postgraduate Research, Humanities & Social Sciences

Entering your final years of research• Where can key information be found?

• What are the key milestones ahead?

• Your supervisory team • Departmental leads for Postgraduate Research

Students (Level 1)• School Directors of Postgraduate Research (Level

2) and the School PGR Administration Teams • Faculty Director of Postgraduate Research and the

PGR Development Team (Level 3)• PGR Development: responsible for delivering

research training and development activities• Postgraduate Research Student Team: manages

student records and administration• The Guild of Students• Support and Advice Services

http://www.liv.ac.uk/student-administration/research/pgr-handbook/

Many of the key administrative contacts remain the same…

• Introduced in September 2015• The emphasis is on student choice: training is not

compulsory but PGRs are encouraged to select what they need in order to ensure successful completion of their doctoral project and to enhance their development as a researcher at doctoral level and beyond

• The LDC provides an institutional framework allowing PGRs to select what they need: https://www.liv.ac.uk/doctoral-college/

• A central tenet of the LDC is PGRs developing their own programme of training, development and activities (e.g. placements, public engagement events) through completion of the Development Needs Analysis Form

• The LDC offers the opportunity to develop new skills and enhance existing ones as part of your continuous development as a research professional

New for 2015: Liverpool Doctoral College (LDC)

• Progress with your research project and with developing your skills: would developing a new skill aid your research? would completion of a placement help?

• See the comprehensive list of training opportunities (including details of dates, venues and how to book) offered by the LDC at www.liv.ac.uk/intranet/doctoral-college

• As in previous years, University regulations require all full-time students to record a minimum of 12 formal meetings with their supervisor each year (6 if you are registered part time). These should be recorded via the PGR Toolbox and signed off throughout the year, and on average 1 per month. Students should also ensure that there is one meeting per semester with the WHOLE supervisory team (this is crucial during the final months).

Milestones for Year 3 (FT), Years 5/6 (PT)

Annual Review• Completion of Annual Progress Reports (APR) by 30

June.• Completion of the Annual Review procedures.

• The elements for assessment at the Annual Review are in accordance with arrangements currently in place in Schools and Departments, as approved by the Faculty. They will always include attendance at an Independent Progress Assessment Panel, comprising two members of academic staff who are not members of your supervisory team. They will often include the submission of written work or a report.

Monitoring your progress in Year 3 (FT), Years 5/6 (PT)

• After 3 years (FT) or 6 years (PT) you are allowed one further year to complete your PhD (independent of the length of your research grant)

• You transfer to Submission Pending using the In-Session Review form: http://www.liv.ac.uk/student-administration/research/pgr-code-of-practice/a-z-forms-procedures/

• NB All PGRs are required to record formal meetings in the PGR Toolbox and complete the APR until their research degree is awarded

Year 4 (FT), Year 7 (PT)

• Please consult Appendix 7 of the Postgraduate Research Code of Practice: Policy on Submission of a Research Degree Thesis for Examination

• http://www.liv.ac.uk/media/livacuk/student-administration/research/documents/PGR,Thesis,submission,Policy,,24.6.2015.pdf

Key regulations to bear in mind:• Normal minimum and maximum periods permitted

for submission of a research degree thesis.• You will be examined on the material that has been

submitted and the context within which the research is conducted. You may not submit further material after initial submission of the thesis.

Preparing your thesis for submission

• Make sure that you and your supervisors have agreed a clear timeline for the last twelve months before submission:• When do you expect to get final drafts of chapters

to your supervisors? When do you anticipate feedback?

• Ensure that you allow your supervisors adequate time to read and to comment on a complete version of your thesis (including paratexts — bibliography, abbreviations, acknowledgements, appendices, etc.).

• All your supervisory team should read the full thesis draft and provide comments and feedback.

• Allow one month before submission for ‘mechanical’ checks:

• Referencing: is this consistent and does it adhere with the conventions followed by your discipline?

• Have you eliminated typos (spelling and punctuation errors)?

• Does your argument flow sequentially across your thesis?

Preparing your thesis for submission

• You must submit an Intention to Submit form at least 2 months before submitting a thesis: http://www.liv.ac.uk/student-administration/research/pgr-code-of-practice/a-z-forms-procedures/

• You must also complete a Thesis Access Declaration form

• All PhD, MD and MPhil students have an oral examination [viva voce] as part of their degree

• The object of the viva examination is to allow students the opportunity to explore, clarify and defend their research in the presence of academic leaders in their chosen discipline. The viva examination will normally be attended by an external examiner, an internal examiner and you. It may also include an independent chair. If you are a member of university staff, two external examiners are appointed and both would attend the viva. Your supervisor will not be present at the viva examination. There is no way of telling in advance how long the examination will take place but normally it would be several hours in duration.

Intention to submit and examination

ANY QUESTIONS?