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
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Introductory session for graduate research students of the Maths,
Physical and Life Sciences & Medical Sciences Divisions of the
University

University structure and nomenclature
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The administrative framework of a graduate degree
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Some of the potential opportunities
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Some of the potential problems of a graduate course in Oxford
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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
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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?
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Becoming a registered student with the University:
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Complete a self-service online registration form
 Attend a matriculation ceremony
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How long are you on the register as a graduate student:
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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
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4 year programmes in the Doctoral Training Centre :
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>4 terms as PRS before transfer, 12 terms total
The University residence requirement; minimum amount of time to
complete a DPhil/MRes:
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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?
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Department:

Supervisor / University Lecturer / Principal Investigator / Group Leader
 Co-supervisor?
 Director of Graduate Studies (DGS)

College:
Advisor – more pastoral care
 Tutor for Graduates
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Division:
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Graduate Studies Assistants
 Graduate Joint Consultative Committee (GJCC)
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Administrative changes to your:
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course / supervisor / thesis title / status (transfer/suspension/confirmation) /
appointment of examiners
Academic Essentials MPLS & MSD
What to do when you are here?
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Study?
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Gain professional and transferrable skills
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Things to avoid......
Academic Essentials MPLS & MSD
Undergraduate vs Graduate Study
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Undergraduate study is often externally driven & highly structured
9 – 5 timetable
 Different courses
 Examinations and assignments
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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
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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
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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
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publish
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Academic Essentials MPLS & MSD
What to expect day-to-day
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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
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Divisional Courses (face-to-face)
 University of Oxford (online)
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Professional development, training and skills
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Communication/Presentation Skills
 Writing Skills
 Plagiarism
 Ethics
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University Online Courses
Each online course takes between 60 and 90 mins to complete
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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........
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Plagiarism

Understand what this means to your study
 Take the online course
 http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/rso/integrity/
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Procrastination
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Leaving things to the last minute
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Stress, panic and late nights in the lab
Isolation
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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
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Funding issues
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College Hardship Funding
 http://www.ox.ac.uk/feesandfunding/graduates/sources/
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Scientific problems
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Supervisors, DGS, departmental graduate studies committee
 University Occupational Health Service
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Personal issues
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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/
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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
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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