1. Support for PhD Students
Andy Gravell
ECS Senior Tutor Team
September 2017

2. Welcome to Southampton
Inhabited by Romans & Saxons
King Cnut crowned here in 1016
Henry V sails to Agincourt (1415)
Pilgrim Fathers set sail (1620)
Home to Jane Austen (1806–9)
Titanic maiden voyage (1910)
Spitfires manufactured (1938)
Woolston factory destroyed 1940
Now the UK’s busiest cruise port
with ferries to the Isle of Wight

3. Welcome to the University of Southampton
1862 Hartley Institution
Henry Robinson Hartley bequest
grand High Street location
1896 becomes Hartley College &
1902 Hartley University College
awarding London degrees
1919 Highfield campus opens
1952 University of Southampton
established by Royal Charter
with degree awarding powers

4. Welcome to Electronics and Computer Science
A merger of four departments
Electronics, Telecommunications & Radio Engineering (1946)
first in the UK (or the world?)
Computer Studies (1987)
Electrical Engineering (1999)
Information Technology, New College (2006)
Optoelectronics separated in 1989
Professor Eric Zepler
Head of Electronics
Professor David Barron
Head of Computer Science

5. Quality & Standards Academic Discipline Supporting Systems PGR Office
Directors of Grad School
Code of Practice
Calendar Regulations
PhD Examiners
Special Considerations
Academic Discipline
Supervisors
Lab managers
Research group
Seminars
Conferences
Literature
Supporting Systems
Labs
Library
Training
Careers
iSolutions
Enabling Services
Security
Print Centre

6. Into Every Life a Little Rain Must Fall [Longfellow 1842]
PhD Stress Points
Pressure from supervisor
Lack of support from supervisor
Change of supervisor
Change of topic
Negative results
Time pressure
Change in funding situation
Preparation for viva …
Most Stressful Life Events
Death of a close relative / friend
Separation or divorce
Change in financial situation
Significant injury or illness
Marriage
Pregnancy
Moving house ….
[Holmes & Rahe, 1967]

7. Informal Support Systems
Fellow Students
Mentors
Senior Tutors

8. Some Case Studies
Student A struggles to find a topic and supervisor she gets along with. Fifteen months into her PhD she now has a third supervisor and a new project. She goes home at Christmas and discusses her situation with her family, then decides to withdraw.
Student B has a sympathetic employer and starts a PhD part- time, spending one day per week at the University. Her partner then finds a new job in a different city. She also finds work there, but she is only able to travel back to Southampton once every 8 weeks, so struggles to make progress. Her PhD takes seven years to complete.

9. More Case Studies
Student C starts as a full-time student, but runs out of funding. He gets a job and continues part-time. Just before his viva he splits up with his long-term girlfriend. He fails his viva, but appeals, and is allowed another opportunity. After one more year, six years after first register- ing, he passes his second viva and gets his PhD.
Student D makes a good start but struggles to generate results in years 2 & 3. At a progression review he is told he can only continue for MPhil. He suffers from depression and has to take medication. He is granted an extension by the Special Considerations Board. Five years after first registering, he submits and is awarded MPhil.

10. ? Some Questions for You Rate the outcome for
student A
student B
student C
student D
Positive, neutral, negative
Given a choice, which of these students would you rather be? ?

11. Conclusion
Most of you will succeed in getting your PhD within 3 to 4 years
There are lots of systems to help and support you doing your research
Enjoy your time in Southampton!