Research and Professional Training
Postgraduate Training
Research students will be required to undertake research training modules as part of their study programme, as determined by the Department’s Postgraduate Committee, funding bodies, the supervisors and the student. Details of these courses will be provided at induction and can be found at the Graduate School web site (see the Researcher Development programme). All postgraduates registered for a PhD are required to take a minimum of 40 credits of institutionally-provided research training during the first year of their study, while those registered for an MPhil are required to take a minimum of 10 credits.
Where relevant to their research topic, students may ‘opt into’ (without being assessed) modules from the University Postgraduate Training Programme at any stage, as agreed with their supervisor. This too is described in the Graduate School website (Research Training and Development).
Further Training through Doctoral Workshops
AU provides further training opportunities for professional development via Annual Graduate Workshops. The topics of doctoral workshops are chosen to provide research students at all stages of their PhD with relevant training:
Year One Graduate Workshop: Professional Conduct
Year Two Graduate Workshop: Writing School
Year Three Graduate Workshop: Beyond the PhD
Students are also encouraged to attend workshops convened by UKGRAD. These are especially useful as a means of encouraging postgraduate students to enhance further their transferable skills.
Continuing Profession Development (CPD)
All PhD and MPhil students are encouraged to reflect upon and develop their research training and transferable skills through participation in the Continuing Professional Development programme. The programme will permit students to develop these skills throughout the course of their registration period, at points where it is most appropriate.
Teaching and Demonstrating
As part of their continuing professional development all of DGES’ research students are encouraged to contribute to undergraduate learning and teaching, ranging from tutorials, practical demonstrations and some lecturing. In order to provide training and support for postgraduate teaching, the University provides an introduction to teaching as part of its induction events at the end of September. DGES also runs appropriate sessions early in the academic year to support research students who are undertaking teaching.