Ten top tips for new research students
- Discuss your expectations with your supervisor and discuss their expectations of you. Being a research student will be a very different experience to being a taught student, or working, and all supervisors work in different way.
- Undertake a Training Needs Analysis with your supervisor to ensure you choose the appropriate Doctoral Development Programme (DDP) modules to help you achieve your goals for the next 12 months. Have a positive attitude to this training and it can be worth its weight in gold.
- Agree with your supervisor the frequency of your formal supervisory progress meetings. Not the everyday chats, but the meetings at which you will discuss your progress, the problems you have faced, and set the objectives to have reached before the next meeting.
- Agree with your supervisor who will complete the record of your formal supervisory progress meetings, you or them. It is recommended that you do it and provide your supervisor with a copy. This will ensure no misunderstandings have occurred.
- Agree during your induction a target date for you to undertake your Confirmation Review and a target date for the submission of your thesis. If you ever feel like your deadlines are slipping, speak to your supervisor immediately. Timely submission of your thesis is very important.
- Expect the unexpected. It is very rare that research runs smoothly and produces the exact results expected. Have a flexible approach.
- Ask questions and ask for support when you need it. Never feel like you are on your own.
- Keep your publications to hand, especially the Code of Practice for Research Degree Programmes. This will provide you with vital information as you progress.
- Help us to keep spreading good practice and making improvements wherever possible. Tell us about your experiences, complete questionnaires and take part in focus groups.
- Enjoy the ride... it's a little like a roller coaster with highs and lows, but the achievement at the end is well worth the hard work.