for Research Students in

Academic Essentials for Research Students in Maths, Physical and Life Sciences Division & Medical Sciences Division Dr Sarah Norman Director of Skills Medical Sciences Division

Welcome



Introductory session for graduate research students of the Maths, Physical and Life Sciences & Medical Sciences Divisions of the University



University structure and nomenclature



The administrative framework of a graduate degree



Some of the potential opportunities



Some of the potential problems of a graduate course in Oxford



Sources of advice and support available for graduate students

Academic Essentials MPLS & MSD

Where are you studying?

Academic Essentials MPLS & MSD

When are you studying? Michaelmas Term: October – December  Hilary Term: January – April  Trinity Term: May – September 



Weeks: Fresher’s week (0th week), Term weeks 1 – 8 (possible 9/10) 1st year

MT 2011

HT 2012

TT 2012

2nd year

MT 2012

HT 2013

TT 2014

3rd year

MT 2013

HT 2014

TT 2014

4th year

MT 2014

HT 2015

TT 2015

Academic Essentials MPLS & MSD

What do you need to do now and later? 

Becoming a registered student with the University: 

Complete a self-service online registration form  Attend a matriculation ceremony



How long are you on the register as a graduate student: 

Initially on the register as a PRS (Probationary Research Student)  Transfer to DPhil status (in 4th term) 12 terms total  Transfers to MSc (by Research - MRes) status (in 3rd to 4th term) 6 terms total



4 year programmes in the Doctoral Training Centre : 



>4 terms as PRS before transfer, 12 terms total

The University residence requirement; minimum amount of time to complete a DPhil/MRes: 

DPhil is minimum six terms (for MRes three)

Academic Essentials MPLS & MSD

We like forms: GSO forms ttp://www.ox.ac.uk/students/ course_guidance_supervision/ graduates/forms/

Academic Essentials MPLS & MSD

Who’s who in the Department/College? 

Department: 

Supervisor / University Lecturer / Principal Investigator / Group Leader  Co-supervisor?  Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) 

College: Advisor – more pastoral care  Tutor for Graduates 



Division: 

Graduate Studies Assistants  Graduate Joint Consultative Committee (GJCC) 

Administrative changes to your: 

course / supervisor / thesis title / status (transfer/suspension/confirmation) / appointment of examiners

Academic Essentials MPLS & MSD

What to do when you are here? 

Study?



Gain professional and transferrable skills



Things to avoid......

Academic Essentials MPLS & MSD

Undergraduate vs Graduate Study 

Undergraduate study is often externally driven & highly structured 9 – 5 timetable  Different courses  Examinations and assignments 



Graduate study is self driven and often unstructured 

Work the hours required  No defined start and end points to experiments  No set short-term deadlines  Easy to feel overwhelmed by the task ahead

Academic Essentials MPLS & MSD

Page 9

Interaction with your supervisor  

 



Establish the main framework for your work as soon as possible during the first term Have meetings to discuss progress Review work plans and establish how much time & help you should expect from your supervisor Establish who else will be involved in your supervision (post-doc, co-supervisor, external supervisor) and what their role is

Supervisors should: 

plan your research and set your milestones  discuss your training needs  report on your progress via GSS

Academic Essentials MPLS & MSD

Graduate student’s role   

training in scientific methods undertake novel research create a thesis containing an original contribution to the literature



take part in the life of the department present your research



publish



Academic Essentials MPLS & MSD

What to expect day-to-day   



working full-time take holidays, the MSD policy is up to 38 days of holiday leave per annum sufficient free time to benefit from the wider University and College resources ten days per annum for transferable skills training

Academic Essentials MPLS & MSD

Graduate Skills Training 

As a research student, you may well be pursuing your studies as an essential step towards realising your career goals



‘the student must accept his or her obligation to act as a responsible member of the University’s academic community’



‘he or she should make appropriate use of the teaching and learning facilities available within the University’



The Research Councils issued a Joint Statement on what skills a graduate research student should acquire

Academic Essentials MPLS & MSD

Page 13

University & Divisional Skills Training Programme 

Free to all Graduate Research Students and Postgraduate and Postdoctoral Research Assistants 

more effective in your work  to develop and move towards your future aspirations 

There are two sources of training available to you 

Divisional Courses (face-to-face)  University of Oxford (online) 

Professional development, training and skills 

Communication/Presentation Skills  Writing Skills  Plagiarism  Ethics

Academic Essentials MPLS & MSD

Page 14

University Online Courses Each online course takes between 60 and 90 mins to complete       

     



Publishing in Arts Publishing in Sciences Project Management in the Research Context Good Practice in Citation and the Avoidance of Plagiarism Intellectual Property in the Research Context Ethics 1 - Good Research Practice Ethics 2 - Working with Human Subjects Career Planning in the Sciences Career Planning in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Managing Your Research Supervisor / Principal Investigator Selecting a Conference, Presenting & Networking Entrepreneurship 1: Are you an Entrepreneur? Entrepreneurship 2: Opportunity Recognition, Creation and Evaluation Entrepreneurship 3: Resources (People, Teams, Finance)

Academic Essentials MPLS & MSD

• Searchable database of skills training opportunities • Articles on subjects such as project management, teaching and career planning • News of national events and competitions • Careers Case Studies – see what other researchers have gone on to do

www.skillsportal.ox.ac.uk

Things to avoid........ 

Plagiarism 

Understand what this means to your study  Take the online course  http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/rso/integrity/ 

Procrastination 



Leaving things to the last minute 



Stress, panic and late nights in the lab

Isolation 



Facebook

Please talk to your lab mates and others

Defeat 

Research is a long slog, it can be repetitive and unrewarding for long periods  The successes make up for all of the pain

Academic Essentials MPLS & MSD

Many Sources of Support 

Funding issues 

College Hardship Funding  http://www.ox.ac.uk/feesandfunding/graduates/sources/ 

Scientific problems 

Supervisors, DGS, departmental graduate studies committee  University Occupational Health Service



Personal issues 

Childcare Services, Counselling Service, Disability Advisory Service, Equality and Diversity, Harassment, Health and Welfare, OUSU Student Advice Service, Nightline  http://www.ox.ac.uk/students/new/welfaresupport/



Careers guidance 

http://www.careers.ox.ac.uk/

Academic Essentials MPLS & MSD

Enjoy your time in Oxford Make the most of the opportunities it can provide

Page 19

http://www.medsci.ox.ac.uk/skillstraining Recommended Courses: 

for 1st years  for 2nd years  for 3rd years  for Graduate and Postdoctoral research assistants

Courses for First Year Courses relevant to first year DPhil students:  Communication/Presentation Skills  Writing Skills  Ethics

Academic Essentials MPLS & MSD

Page 20

Transferrable skills University regulations state:  ‘the student must accept his or her obligation to act as a responsible member of the University’s academic community’  ‘he or she should make appropriate use of the teaching and learning facilities available within the University’ 

take up the teaching opportunities available 



take up the skills training opportunities available 



http://www.medsci.ox.ac.uk/portal/skillstraining/wanttoteach2/ http://www.medsci.ox.ac.uk/portal/skillstraining

practise your English (if your spoken or written English is poor) 

http://www.lang.ox.ac.uk

Academic Essentials MPLS & MSD