The University of Northampton: Graduate School Ian Livingstone Professor of Physical Geography and Head of the Graduate School

What research degree routes are there at Northampton? Traditional PhD/MPhil – submitted thesis and viva PhD by Publication – candidates who have already written published research outputs Practice-based PhD – combination of thesis and performance or artefact Professional Doctorate – directed learning and thesis (generally mid-career)

Administration “One-stop shop” Admissions: enquiries and applications Research degrees gateways –Enrolment; Registration; Transfer Examination (thesis submission and oral exam)

Committee Structure Senate (the university’s highest level academic committee) Research Degrees Committee Research Degrees Boards (four subject-based committees) Research Ethics Committee

Student Representation Research Student Committee Reps on all RDBs, REC and RDC Membership of Student Union Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES)

How long does it take? We have minimum and maximum time limits (guided by the QAA Code of Practice) MinimumMaximum Full time PhD2 years4 years Part time PhD3 years6 years Full time MPhil18 months3 years Part time MPhil30 months5 years PhD by publication1 year2 years

How big is a thesis? We have maximum word counts Word limit PhD ~ Arts & Social Sciences PhD ~ Science MPhil ~ Arts & Social Sciences MPhil ~ Science20 000

Who supports the student? Supervisors (Director of Studies; First supervisor; Second supervisor; External supervisor; Advisor) The Graduate School –Postgraduate Research Manager, Co-ordinator, Administrator –Research Training Co-ordinator – Research Degree Board members Vitae –

Student support and monitoring Logging sheets for meetings with supervisors Annual review meeting Pastoral role of RDB members

Levels of research training Generic –Induction (compulsory 4 days) –Programme of workshops Discipline-based –Masters research methods modules –School-based conferences –Seminar programmes Project-specific

The RDF Framework of the knowledge, behaviour and attributes of successful researchers Enables self-assessment of strengths and areas for further development Universal language for communicating researcher capabilities

RDF 4 domains 12 sub-domains 63 descriptors RDF planner

Supervisor Development Masters level modules for new supervisors leading to Postgraduate Certificate in Research Degree Supervision (and Masters in Academic Practice) Supervisor Forum Programme of workshops

Graduate School Events Annual Postgraduate Student Conference Annual poster competition ‘Images of Research’ competition Graduate School Update Day