1. PhD Submission Rates

2.  Around 45 PhDs at any one time  About 85% full-time, 15% part-time  Roughly 60% home, 20% each EU and Overseas  Range of funding sources  Submission rate 92% since 2004 87% including withdrawals 5 yr average: 93%

3.  Strong secondary supervisor set-up. Two supervisors (at least one quite experienced) who consider it their responsibility to ensure timely submission.  Progress meetings (with both supervisors) twice a year. Regularly taking a step back to assess progress and schedule (and, e.g., adapting over-ambitious plans) Includes Confirmation meeting at 12 months.  Heavy supervisory involvement in the later stages (even though technically "writing up" year).  Overall monitoring by Director of Graduate Studies.

4.  Managing expectations from the start.  Supportive PG community  Encouraging students to take LOA if they hit problems preventing them from working (if only for a few weeks).  Sometimes encouraging students to go part-time if there are early indications of getting behind schedule. But retain twice yearly Progress meetings for part- time students.

5.  Quality of the students!  Heavy involvement of pair of supervisors.  Regular monitoring throughout PhD studies, with submission target always clearly in mind.  Support of department and fellow students and loyalty to it.