1 Post Graduate Research Admissions Dr T. Stallard School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering Research Away Day – 15 Jan 2014

PGR Completion Rates 2 Pre-arrival:Better Quality Control at ‘Recruitment & Entry? Is the loading of supervisors appropriate? Post-arrival: Supervision?, Progression?, Research Culture?

Quality Capacity Marketing / Application Process Funding 3

High Quality Applicants e.g. Presidents Doctoral Scholarship Students –Top grades and ranking in undergraduate degree –Top grades and ranking in MSc –From a world leading University and… –Awards providing evidence of capability – national / uni –Demonstrated research competence Conference papers from MSc Journal papers from MSc Industry and / or research References 4

Resource Groups 5 PGROffersProbation Structures, Buildings and Geotechnics65254 Solids, Dynamics and Materials70164 Fluids62275 Manufacturing5045 Project Management and Sustainability4659 Structures Management & Sustainability Solids etc Fluids Manufacturing

Data per RG for PGR Admissions 6 Capacity for supervision – PGR admissions advised by RG lead Informed by data on: -Data on current load, -Completing, -Offers

Marketing – Themes and Web 7 Funding sourcesFunding sources – Pages updated Application process – Currently list ‘projects available’ but some staff / themes blank – Currently we request full application at Step 1… Instead: -Areas to grow and with capacity: -Advertise project titles and outlines -Offer to (and do) develop proposal with applicant, explain how -Interview and prepare research proposal -Newsletters / s to draw attention to these pages -Areas to maintain and / or at capacity -A statement to encourage high quality applicants only. -Staff to only consider high quality complete research proposals.

Application Process 8 Enquiry to staff  Staff responds and copies PGR admissions Speculative application  Received by PGR admissions Info to applicant on process depending on topic of interest Academic information (standard / CV) Evidence of potential (e.g.) -Project report -Conference paper -Draft research proposal IF good quality  Identify Supervisor via RG Interview applicant (< 2 weeks) Develop proposal (< 1 month) Confirm supervisors to admissions Academic transcripts IELTS or TOEFL Full research proposal Referees statements IF good quality  Send to supervisor Interview applicant  DECIDE / OFFER / CAS Confirm funding split  REGISTER Applicant Admissions Applicant GrowMaintain Admissions Staff

Funding for > 20 H + 35 O/S ? Fees change:£8.4k Home/EU£18.0k O/S + Stipend:£13.8k standard + Top-ups:Presidents (£1k x 3)… industry… other. Sources -DTP (EPSRC): 3 – 4 -Faculty: Presidents: 1 – 2, Deans: 1? (not technically fees) -School: a few -External sources – various scholarships, some stipend onlyvarious scholarships -Industry: full studentships?, CASE contributions, top-ups? 9

Competitive Rounds Presidents Scholarship – Nov-Dec for Sep start - OVERSEAS –10-15 applicants, nominate 3-4… get 1-2?... –4-5 quality O/S to fund so … –Line up other funding sources – school, industry, scholarships? Latin American Partnership Programme – OVERSEAS Deans Award – Mar-Apr for Sep start – HOME / EU –Nominate 2-3… get 1? … –3-4 quality Home (1-2 EU?) to fund so … –Fund some of these from DTP and some CASE conversion –Presidents top-up (£1k) at same time & Alumni (stipend) soon after Maddocks Award – Apr or Jul Start – full funding – UK only Doctoral Training Centres – Home / EU 10

PGR discussion 11 -Quality Control at ‘Recruitment’? -Is loading appropriate? -Increase of external funding? -Stricter at 1 st Year Progression? -Are there issues with supervision? -PRES results show “Research Culture” is perceived as not good: How do we ensure our students interact within a productive research environment?