Your Academic Experience - Research Students
General
All research students will be provided with high standards of supervision and access to appropriate research material, facilities and equipment as set out in the Code of Practice for Research Degree Programmes. The University recognizes that the establishment of a close working relationship and mutual understanding between the student and their supervisor(s) is of vital importance. Supervisors and the student's supervisory team provide academic guidance and confidential personal support to students, acting as a first point of contact and a gateway in to the wide range of student support services available.
Confidential information will not be passed on to any third party in accordance with the University´s Data Protection Policies unless a student gives their express consent.
Students are asked to read any published information carefully. It is also the responsibility of each student to check their registration details regularly and report any errors or discrepancies as soon as possible. Students must also maintain, and update where relevant, up-to-date contact details.
Any illness should be notified without delay to the relevant academic department and a medical certificate provided. Any periods of leave of absence to cover illness or other personal or academic reasons, must be applied for at the time and not retrospectively.
Academic departments should ensure that any research students with responsibility for teaching should receive appropriate guidance and advice prior to the commencement of their duties, as well as written specifications detailing their duties, and information on recommended pay scales.
Attendance Requirements
University Regulations require students to attend throughout each semester. Any absences must be notified to the relevant academic department in writing as soon as possible. Departments will regularly monitor student attendance using systems developed by the University to identify and support students who are having difficulty with their programmes of study.
Personal Support for Students
All postgraduate research students should be allocated two named supervisors, who will support them through their academic and development programme. Usually, the primary supervisor will be the academic lead and the second supervisor will support the student's development in line with the Doctoral Development Programme (DDP).
In addition to the two named supervisors, all postgraduate research students should have access to a personal tutor who is unconnected to the research project and who is available to provide advice and support on pastoral issues when required. The personal tutor should form part of a wider supervisory team.
Academic Skills Support
A range of IT and information skills training is available to students, taking into account the demands of particular research programmes and the general importance of transferable skills.
301 is a new student skills and development centre opening in 2012. Based in remodelled premises at 301 Glossop Road this flagship centre will offer a flexible, modern space open to all University of Sheffield students and will have a strong web presence, with online resources and support for both students and staff.
The Academic Skills Hub (TASH) is an online resource which provides guidance on essential academic skills and signposts learning resources that can help you to develop new skills, or improve on those you have already gained. The Hub was set up by a team of lecturers and support staff drawn from across the University, working collaboratively with students.
TASH includes materials provided by the Library to help you develop or improve your information literacy skills (information literacy encompasses how to find, evaluate and cite information, including avoiding plagiarism). You can also go directly to these library materials.
Maths & Statistics Help (MASH), based at 301 when it opens in 2012, is open to all students and offers bookable one-to-one advice and support sessions. In addition, the MASH website gives access to a range of online resources that you can work through at your own pace.
University of Sheffield Enterprise (USE) offers enterprise support to both academics and students. USE can help academic staff create an enterprising curriculum for students and USE can also help students develop their business ideas and enterprise skills.
Doctoral Development Programme (DDP)
All postgraduate research students will participate in the Doctoral Development Programme (DDP). The DDP provides research students with a range of skills and competency-based training opportunities orientated both towards their specific programme of study and towards future employment.
As an outcome of engaging with the DDP, during research studies, doctoral graduates will possess advanced skills in inquiry, communication and organisation. They should also be able to reflect critically and take a creative approach to issues in and beyond their field or research expertise.
The DDP is student-specific, designed to complement the individual research project, and is agreed between the student and their supervisory team. The agreed training programme will reflect on four skill areas, enabling the student to:-
- Acquire the necessary generic skills to become a high-level professional;
- Undertake subject-specific advanced training;
- Acquire subject-specific craft skills;
- Experience broad scholarship and wider engagement within the University and wider community of scholars.
The DDP is designed for all research programmes offered by the University; it will be accessed by those on conventional full-time degree programmes, as well as students on part-time and distance learning programmes. Students will take ownership of their development through the Training Needs Analysis (TNA), from which a development plan will be devised, and the e-portfolio, which is a reflective record of evidence of achievement that can be given to prospective employers.
The Assessment Process
Research students are required to submit their thesis within the time limits specified by the University and undertake a viva examination. Following the examination, a student may be permitted to undertake further minor or major amendments to the thesis and will be granted additional time in which to do so. A further viva examination may also sometimes be required. Students will be notified formally of the outcome of their viva examination and of any further work required in order to satisfy the examiners and fulfil the academic requirements of the degree. Students must undertake all specified amendments to the examiners' satisfaction and submit a final Library copy of the thesis in both print and electronic format and clear all outstanding debts, before they can be awarded the degree.
Under the University´s Academic Appeals Regulations a student may seek a review of the recommendation of the examiners on specified grounds. It should be noted that appeals against the academic judgement of the examiners will not be considered. Any appeal should be made within 28 working days of the student receiving formal notification of the award.
The Use of Unfair Means in the Assessment Process
Students must not use unfair means in the assessment process: plagiarism, collusion and submitting bought or commissioned work are regarded as particularly serious offences. Material submitted for assessment must be a student´s own original work. Where another person´s ideas, words or another student´s work has been incorporated, this must be properly referenced and acknowledged. The University may take action against any student who is found to have used unfair means in the assessment process.
Student Representation and Evaluation
Students are encouraged to become actively engaged in activities within and beyond the University. This could include taking advantage of opportunities to have your say about issues that affect your academic life by becoming a student representative and by taking part in learning and teaching development projects. For instance you could become a Student Ambassador for Learning and Teaching (SALT) or take part in the Sheffield Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE).
Each academic department has a group or committee representing the interests of the department's research students, for example a Staff-Student Committee, which will meet on a regular basis.
The University and its academic departments review the quality of provision for research students on an ongoing basis and each year research students have an opportunity to contribute to a review of the department's provision.
Complementing the arrangements for student representation in academic departments, research student-led Faculty Forums are being established. These provide an opportunity for research students to discuss issues and organise activities of benefit to the Faculty's research students, and also to contribute to the University's thinking and decision-making process regarding any proposed new developments for research student provision.
The Students' Union encourages students to take an active role in their Union by participating in the annual Sabbatical Officer elections. Students are also elected annually onto the Union Assembly and the wide range of Standing and Representative Committees.