NEWS
DOCTORAL COLLEGE SPACE L280
If you’d like to book L280 in the de Havilland LRC, please email research-degrees@herts.ac.uk with your request. If you want to check whether it is free and available for you to just drop in, you can check the L280 timetable for that week on the PGR Community Teams site (‘Doctoral College Space’ channel).
DOCTORAL COLLEGE HANDBOOK 2024
The latest Doctoral College Handbook, including Researcher Development Programme information, is available on HertsHub.
PRES 2025
We have participated in the Advance HE Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES) biennially since its inception, providing all of our PGR students with an opportunity to share their thoughts and experiences about their research experience. This survey helps us understand how we compare to other institutions and identify areas for improvement, ensuring we continue to provide a top-quality research environment.
- Launch date: 17th March 2025
- Closing date: 16th May 2025
You can find out more about the PRES 2023 results, and details of some of the initiatives that have been introduced to improve the experience and development of PGR students, here: Postgraduate Research Experience
RDP: ENHANCEMENTS
We have received funding in respect of Enhancing Research Culture for a 2-phase project aimed at further enhancing and supporting our existing offerings on the Researcher Development Programme. The first phase of the project involves the collaborative creation of a Qualitative Methodology Resource Index, which will be available on the RDP Canvas site.
If you’re interested in learning more about this new resource or getting involved, please contact Dr. Jed Hopkins.
RDP: EVENTS
Main Programme:
Our Researcher Development Programme offers a wide variety of free events designed for both PGR students and research staff. These sessions, available both on-campus and online, cover a range of topics delivered by internal and external experts. You can browse and book sessions via RSMS.
Find out more about RDP events and how to book on the RDP HertsHub site.
Spring School 2025:
Get ready for the RDP Spring School 2025, taking place from Thursday, April 24 – Saturday, April 26 in Room L280, de Havilland Campus. The Spring School will feature a wide range of sessions, including:
- An introduction to research impact
- Developing precision and concision through microwriting
- Systematic literature reviews
- A transdisciplinary research exercise
Find out more on the RDP Spring & Summer Schools HertsHub site.
THE BRILLIANT CLUB
We recently formed a new partnership with The Brilliant Club, an award-winning charity focused on widening participation and improving access to higher education. Through this collaboration, selected PhD students can receive specialized training in areas such as research communication, teaching, and widening participation. Following the training, these students will then be paid to deliver academically rigorous programmes to pupils in state schools across the UK, helping to inspire the next generation of scholars.
Watch out for further communications on this! Contact research-degrees@herts.ac.uk if you would like to find out more.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. Can I have my assessment meeting or final examination viva online or face to face?
Assessment meetings and final examination vivas can take place online or face to face. For final examination vivas, arrangements will be made through the Doctoral College on MSTeams or face to face. Please contact doctoralcollegeexams@herts.ac.uk for information and queries. When organising a final viva online, please ensure Doctoral College support is available before finalising the date. For assessments, these will be organised by your supervision team.
2. How do I submit for final examination?
Please email a PDF of your final submission to doctoralcollegeexams@herts.ac.uk and complete your candidate declaration form on RSMS.
3. How can I arrange supervision?
Please contact your supervision team to arrange scheduled support. This can be by email, phone or online, such as having meetings on MSTeams, zoom, etc, if you're unable to meet face to face. Don't forget, you can make notes of meetings with agreed actions on RSMS.
4. Where do I go to get help?
The Doctoral College community are here to help - for example, your supervision team, Research Tutor, Director of the Doctoral College and her Associate Directors, as well as the Doctoral College central team. The University also has avenues of support:
Office of the Dean of Students
STUDENT REPS FORUM
Would you like to represent your fellow PGR students and take forward issues and comments to the Doctoral College senior management? Would you like to contact a student rep? Our AskHerts page is here. Whether you would like to be a rep or not, you are welcome to attend our meetings. Please contact us on research-degrees@herts.ac.uk with any queries. You can also contact your Reps on your PGR Community Microsoft Teams site, on the dedicated Student Forum channel!