APG status, examination and success Hugh Busher School of Education

What this presentation covers What do we mean by the APG? What do you need to do to pass from APG status to PhD? Writing the APG report How it is examined? May 2010APG guidance to Doctoral students2

What do we mean APG? Every Postgraduate research student begins at the university as an Advanced Postgraduate Student This is a preparation stage for becoming a PhD student. [It is equivalent to the taught programme of six modules for EdD students] It is not automatically passed May 20103APG guidance to Doctoral students

Why examine APG student progress Transfer from APG to a named research degree is an important milestone for a student Your tutors (and the University) need to be convinced that you can implement your study successfully and ethically there must be an honest assessment of a student’s performance and potential that is fairly and rigorously reached It is vital for both the student’s individual guidance and the maintenance of good completion rates across the Graduate School May 2010APG guidance to Doctoral students4

What is expected of APG students? Pass your APG transfer – within 9-12 months of starting your studies if you are a full-time student, or months if a part-time student submit your thesis within the normal period of registration – For PhD students, this is 3 years full‐time and 6 years for part‐time. Requests for Extending the APG Period If the department is concerned that a student is not making satisfactory progress a recommendation can be made to extend the APG period. This should only be considered in exceptional circumstances and the extension should not usually exceed three months for full-time students and six months for part-time students. May 2010APG guidance to Doctoral students5

Being a responsible trainee researcher! Student responsibilities are set for all Research Students at Attendance is an essential requirement. Full‐time students must reside in Leicester or within easy commuting distance of the city for the duration of each term, and all students are normally required to attend specified lectures, seminars, and other formal classes Full‐time student are required to attend the research methods training classes and your supervision sessions with your main supervisor. Blackboard offers a provision for part-time students Full‐time students/ Term‐time employment: Full‐time students are expected to undertake a full week’s work of at least 40 hours on their studies or whatever is needed to complete their studies in 3 years. Paid employment during term‐time should not exceed 15 hours per week. May 2010APG guidance to Doctoral students6

The supervisory system In line with the University’s current policies, the School of Education has a ‘Thesis Committee’ for all APG/PhD students, This meets with the student twice a year, for full-time students, and includes the first and second supervisor and the PG(PhD) tutor or his/her nominee Main supervisor carries primary responsibility for supervision Second supervisor helps the main supervisor and may occasionally give academic advice to the student when requested by the main supervisor – [On the EdD second supervisors are also the first markers of students’ assignments on the taught part of the programme] PG Tutor (or nominee) is involved in monitoring progress but is independent of the supervisory team May 2010APG guidance to Doctoral students7

Your main supervisor’s functions: Full time Doctoral students normally have around 15 one hour tutorials per year (one every 2 to 3 weeks) face‐to‐face as well as / telephone contact with a student, This is to advise a student on planning, reading and general progress of their research. Supervisors also provide written feedback on partial drafts of preparatory papers for the APG Report and on draft chapters of your thesis Part‐time students receive pro rata support, assuming that part-time is equivalent to half‐time. They may expect to have contact with their first supervisors at least nine times a year by , telephone, as well as face‐to‐face May 2010APG guidance to Doctoral students8

What do you need to do to pass from APG status to PhD? To begin at the beginning: Registration It is important that you register as a student with the Graduate Office, the Library, and the Computer Centre as early as possible. Only once you have completed this will you have access to the computer and library facilities that you will need for your studies. There is some guidance registration at NOTE: students have to re-register each academic year if they wish to remain on the programme May 2010APG guidance to Doctoral students9

Taking control of the APG process Familiarise yourself with guidance relevant to your studies, e.g. the University’s Handbook and Regulations for Research Students. Discuss with your supervisor any issues you have, even if they seem trivial, the type of guidance and comments you find especially helpful. Keep notes of all your discussions in your research diary Agree a mutually convenient schedule of meetings with your supervisor and attend your supervision sessions punctually. Keep in regular contact with your supervisor and/ or the PhD office. Maintain and sustain the progress of work in accordance with the stages agreed with your supervisor, in particular the prompt presentation of draft material written in good, clear English. Expect to do a full week’s work of at least 40 hours on your studies or whatever it takes to complete your Doctoral studies in three years. May 2010APG guidance to Doctoral students10

Identify your research training needs Analyse what research training you need in the light of the focus of your proposed thesis – discuss this with your supervisor Attend appropriate research methods training courses and programmes provided for you To pass your APG examination you will need to show: a)your student’s training needs analysis (training passport etc.) as agreed by the thesis committee (or equivalent) upon the commencement of studies. b)that your training has now been completed successfully, as agreed. [On the EdD students have to pass the thesis proposal at at least Grade B to progress to the thes is May 2010APG guidance to Doctoral students11

Construct an APG report This is a written report that, in the School of Education, is 6000 – 8000 words long. It should include a discussion of: The purposes of your proposed research and its importance the relevant literature (properly referenced) to construct a conceptual framework the Key Research Questions the research design and methodology (properly referenced) including any ethical issues And also: A Reference Section The feasibility of your proposed research – access to necessary sites; time /resources needed for the study a realistic timetable for completing the study in the normal period of registration May 2010APG guidance to Doctoral students12

Developing your APG report (1) Write a series of draft papers to construct the different sections of your APG report Show each of these in turn to your supervisor and get feedback on them Listen carefully to the views of your supervisor. He/she has been appointed to supervise you as an expert in your field 0‐3 months: Complete your research methods audit form to help you plan your research methods training and share it with your supervisor. Write a brief paper stating why you have chosen the thesis topic you have, why it is important and what they hope to achieve by it (its purposes/ objectives) (max 3000 words). Write a literature search that explains clearly how they have searched a recent and relevant range of bibliographic sources, and what they have found. (discussion of max 1500 words plus appropriate reading list) May 2010APG guidance to Doctoral students13

Developing your APG report (2) 3‐6 months: Write a literature review that begins to construct the main conceptual framework of their thesis and clarify the main research questions of the thesis. Use the objectives of the thesis to structure this (max 5000 words). 6‐9 months: An outline discussion of the proposed methodology of the thesis, that reflects a student’s choice of ontology and epistemology to meet the purposes of the study and guide the selection of appropriate methods of data collection and analysis (max 5000 words). 9‐12 months: write the APG report of 6000‐8000 words, as a distillation of what you have constructed already. May 2010APG guidance to Doctoral students14

Structuring your APG report three main sections: Introduction Literature Review Research Method followed by: Feasibility Timetable References May 2010APG guidance to Doctoral students15

Introduction Background information – What is the context of the study? – What is your role in/ knowledge of the context? – What is it that has prompted you to choose the topic? – Why are you setting the study in this specific context? Topic of your research Purpose – Why do you wish to conduct the research? – What do you hope to achieve? Importance of the research Objectives or provisional Research Questions – What, exactly, are you trying to find answers to? Outline of the rest of the report May 2010APG guidance to Doctoral students16

Literature Review Concepts and terms explained/defined – What are the key constructs in your study? – What precisely do you mean by them, and how does that relate to what – other researchers mean? Conceptual Framework – What other research is there on your topic or related topics? – Are there differences or controversies in the field? – Are there trends (e.g. towards a constructivist approach…)? – What is your own position? – How do research questions and findings of previous research relate to – your own study (e.g. are you filling a gap, conducting parallel research, – expanding or improving on prior research…)? Main themes emerging on which the thesis will focus May 201APG guidance to Doctoral students17

Research Methods Main Research Questions Paradigm Research Design Methodology Ethical considerations For more detail: School of Education PhD Student handbook Appendix 2 May 2010APG guidance to Doctoral students18

the APG transfer process The Graduate Office will contact your department about your transfer from APG status 9 months after a Fulltime student begins her/ his studies or 21 months after a part‐time student begins her / his. Your department will require you to produce a progress report which is examined by at least two members of the academic staff including your supervisor. You will also attend an oral examination or present a departmental seminar on your report. The assessment of your report will form the basis of the formal recommendation to the Board of Graduate Studies on your transfer to a named research degree (MPhil or PhD). This must be made before a full‐time student begins her / his second year of studies, or the third year for part‐time students. Once the Board of Graduate Studies has approved the recommendation you will receive confirmation from the Graduate Office.” May 2010APG guidance to Doctoral students19

oral examination: you will be examined by interview with your supervisor and at least one other member of the academic staff Usually you will be asked to make a presentation to the examiners about the main aspects of your thesis shown in your APG report The questions asked will relate mainly to the written progress report previously submitted and read by both examiners. The examination will not normally exceed 45‐60 minutes. You will be judged on the quality of your answers to the questions in terms of clarity, relevance, subject/topic knowledge and critical insight. May 2010APG guidance to Doctoral students20