Frequently Asked Questions
You may have many questions about the PhD process and the resources and support available to help you along the way. The FAQs are organised into 4 main areas - Registration and Progression Requiements, Research Training, MyPGR and Postgraduate Queries, Problems and Policies.
Registration and Progression Requirements
Research Training
- Why should I do research training activities?
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Can I attend research training courses offered in the other faculties?
MyPGR
Postgraduate Queries, Problems and Policies
- Supervision - what can I expect of my Supervisor(s) and what is expected of me?
- Where can I find out the rules and regulations of undertaking a PhD here at Lancaster?
- Where do I find out the details of how to submit my thesis?
Registration and Progression Requirements
What is my registration?
When you start your PhD, you will have been admitted to the University as a 'Probationary PhD' candidate.
What does this mean?
This means that you are on probation. By the end of your first year (2 years for part-time students) you have to fulfil a series of progression requirements. There will be a confirmation panel at this time to review the progress you have made in your PhD. The panel will decide whether to confirm your PhD registration status, ask you to do more work before confirming your PhD registration, transfer you onto MPhil registration or recommend exclusion. Your department is responsible for making preparations for the panel.
What are the progression requirements and where can I find them?
Throughout your PhD registration you are expected to meet, on an annual basis, the specific University requirements for progression. You can find this information in the Postgraduate Handbook (http://www.lancs.ac.uk/depts/studreg/postgrads/index.htm).
Year 1 Progression requirements Years 2, 3 and 4 Progression requirements All research students within their first year (first 2 years for part time), must: Continued registration for research students in years 2, 3 and 4 is conditional upon: *Where students fail to meet the criteria for continued registration they will be excluded.
Your department is required to complete an annual appraisal report that assesses your progress as linked to the above requirements. The report consists of separate sections for completion by you and your supervisor. You will be asked to sign both sections to confirm that you have seen the report in its entirety. The appraisal form will be issued annually throughout your registration until you submit your thesis.
What is the Development Needs Analysis (DNA)? Where can I find it?
The Development Needs Analysis (DNA) is a self audit tool that allows you to decide how good you are at a set of research skills and competencies. It can be used to inform discussions with your supervisor(s) on the training activities you would like to undertake in your first year of your PhD. At the start of each subsequent year of your PhD you should repeat your DNA. This will help you appreciate the progress you have made during the previous year as well as help you decide the further training and development activities you would like to undertake.
You can find the Development Needs Analysis within the MyPGR online progress file. Further information can be found here http://www.lancs.ac.uk/celt/celtweb/postgraduate_MyPGR
Research Training
What is research training?
Research training is a term used to describe a variety of activities which develop and enhance your research skills. The PhD is often described as an apprenticeship to becoming a proficient and effective researcher and so you need to learn ‘how' to research. Training and development come in a variety of forms - it could be attending research training courses in your department or faculty, attending University events such as the Supporting Learning Programme, learning a specific analytical technique/piece of software/methodology, attending and presenting at conferences or seminars, attending a recognised methods course organised by a learned society, organising your own student seminar series, creating a forum for discussion of research or writing a paper. There are a variety of opportunities open to you across campus and beyond that will help you develop and hone your research skills. You will find many resources available to you on these webpages and don't forget to take a look at PGR Resources.
Why should I do research training activities?
Research training is one of the ways in which you develop and enhance your research skills to help you carry out the research for your PhD. Research training courses may be a required component of your funding depending on your sponsor (e.g. research councils). However, as with any job, you need to learn the skills in order to carry out the work and research training is exactly that - courses, events and activities that teach you how to do the research and enable you to become a researcher.
There are courses offered in my Department, Faculty and by the University - which ones should I attend?
You can attend any of the courses offered by the University, your Faculty and your Department. You may also be able to attend RTP courses in the other faculties. Follow the links to the Faculty RTP pages via the PGR Resources page to find out what's available.
As part of your research degree, there may be core courses offered by your Department and Faculty that you will be expected to attend. These events tend to be subject specific and may introduce you to new methodologies, techniques and analysis that you will need for your research. Univesity wide events such as the Supporting Learning Programme and the Creativity & Change Conference allow you to expand your skill set, support you through the process, giving you the chance to discuss with students from around campus and beyond how to undertake and cope with the PhD and its associated responsibilties.
Can I attend research training courses offered in the other faculties?
Yes, under agreement with your own faculty and the faculty offering the research training you are interested in. Sometimes departments in different faculties have similar research approaches and methodologies and you may find a course in another faculty that would be very useful for your research. Speak to your Supervisor regarding relevance and contact the course convener for further information.
Who can I contact with further questions about research training?
If you have any questions regarding courses and events provided by your Faculty contact the appropriate Research Training Officer. If you have any questions regarding the Supporting Learning Programme, please contact Organisation and Education Development via this site.
MyPGR
What is MyPGR?
MyPGR is the University purpose-built online tool for research students to record training activities, audit your research and transferable skills development, keep a record of supervisory meetings and your reflections on your personal development. Have a look at the dedicated MyPGR pages in this website for further information.
Why should I use it?
MyPGR will be invaluable record of your development further on in the PhD process when drafting CVs, seeking jobs or any situation where you need to describe and evidence your personal development and competencies.
Who can I contact if I have problems using MyPGR?
Within MyPGR there are 'help' menus for technical support and guidance. There is also a guide to MyPGR housed on the MyPGR webpages in this site and within MyPGR itself. For queries regarding correct Supervisor details, contact the Postgraduate Studies Office on pgso@lancaster.ac.uk. For technical queries regarding the system, please contact the ISS help desk .
Postgraduate Queries, Problems and Policies
Supervision - what can I expect of my Supervisor(s) and what is expected of me?
As a research student you are expected to tackle the research positively and take advantage of all resources, faciltities and opportunities that are offered to you. Your Supervisor(s) should give guidance on the nature of research, subject expertise and monitor your progress. The Code of Practice for Research Students will give you an idea of what to expect from Supervisors and what is expected from you. A detailed list of the roles and responsibilities of both research students and Supervisors can be found here in the Guidance Notes for Supervisors, or take at look at the roles & responsibilities page.
Where can I find out the rules and regulations of undertaking a PhD here at Lancaster?
The Postgraduate Handbook provides an overview of the rules and regulations as a postgraduate researcher here at Lancaster.
Where do I find out the details of how to submit my thesis?
Click on the link and it will take you to the official University information you need on formatting, length, style and presentation. https://gap.lancs.ac.uk/ASQ/QAE/MARP/Pages/default.aspx
The relevant section of MARP is F5.
Don't forget to take a look at previously submitted theses in your Department. They will give you an idea of what is normal for your field of study.