The viva is widely recognised as the final stage in a doctoral study where candidates are required to defend their research. But doctoral students are assessed much earlier in a similar fashion through the interim assessment. In some cases students who apply to do a PhD may be asked to register on a master’s research [...]

Postgraduate researchers rate supervision as the most important aspect of a doctoral research programme, according to a new survey by the Higher Education Academy (HEA). The Postgraduate Research Experience Survey 2011, now in its fourth year, gathers the views of current postgraduate research students across the UK. Supervision has always been ranked as the key [...]

I was fortunate enough to gain a PhD studentship that provides funding for three years, although I have four years in which to complete it. Right from the start my supervisor said that I should aim to complete all the work within three years. If you are a full-time PhD researcher like me that is [...]

At long last I have finally finished my literature review and 11,000 words later I can attest to the fact that patience is a virtue.  In fact it is also a necessity to undertake the degree of reflection, reviewing and revising that are all necessary skills needed to complete the job. During my first year [...]

My PhD supervisor asked me what the difference between methods and methodology was question several months ago and I did not know the answer.  All I could muster in a pathetic response was a look of bewilderment. Thankfully, she referred me to a book by Peter Clough and Cathy Nutbrown called A Student’s Guide to [...]

In the last teaching week of my first year at Salford I have been reflecting on how quickly an academic year passes and how so much, or so little can be achieved on a PhD research project. For me it has been a whirlwind year in terms of the ideological and theoretical foundations of my [...]