Studying in Sheffield
The University
The University of Sheffield is one of Britain's leading civic universities. It is one of the country's leading institutions of higher education and celebrated its centenary in 2005. It has 950 academic staff, many with international reputations in their subject area. 2,500 postgraduates are registered with the University and it is one of the leading providers of opportunities for research students in the United Kingdom. Almost 400 PhDs were awarded last year. The University has over 2,500 international students in its undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes. Additionally, there are over 11,000 full-time undergraduate degree students registered with the University.
Graduate Research Office
The Graduate Research Office provides support to the University´s research students and to the academic staff responsible for research student matters.
Induction
In the first week of the session, a series of induction meetings and social events are held. These introduce you to staff, other postgraduates and University procedures and facilities.
Developing Teaching Skills
We are generally keen that our Doctoral students become involved in the School's teaching programmes and this involves a training requirement – we normally expect that such graduate teaching assistants will have passed through the University Teaching Skills for Research Students course.
It is expected that research students will not:
- be made responsible for delivery of a whole module,
- be asked to lead modules,
- be asked to give more than a few lectures on a given course, and
- be asked to teach for more than six hours in any given week.
Supervision
All supervisors are selected for their expertise and involvement in the appropriate field of study. As research degrees imply original work, students will inevitably be researching new areas.
Upon registration you will be assigned a main supervisor and a second supervisor. Your supervisory team will have expertise in your chosen area of research. In addition a limit is placed on the number of students a member of staff may supervise.
Throughout the programme, you will work closely with your main supervisor - especially during the early stages when you will be defining the nature and scope of the management issues you wish to study. Your supervisor will give you advice on methods, theoretical frameworks and writing up your thesis. Throughout, you will also receive guidance from the second supervisor through formal presentations and informal meetings. Student progress is monitored in a number of ways including regular supervisory meetings, informal feedback, and formally on an annual basis, through the School's Research Committee.