Managing PhD Problems

Claire Povah – Postgraduate Administrator, Postgraduate Studies Office

Outline

‘Normal’ PhD progress

Potential difficulties and problems

Sources of help and support

‘Normal’ PhD progress Registration as MPhil/PhD student Year 1

Research training Literature review Development of proposal Clarification of methodology Initial research/pilot study Progress review panel – submission of

written work

‘Normal’ PhD progress

Year 2 Moving into/continuing research Continued research training Progress review panel – submission of

written work

‘Normal’ PhD progress

Transfer panel MPhil/PhD to PhD Usually occurs between 12 and 24

months into registration period Meeting with upgrade panel,

consisting of at least three academics Submission of written work Timetable for submission of thesis

‘Normal’ PhD progress Year 3

Complete research Complete writing up of research Presentation of seminar/conference

papers Submission of thesis?

Year 4 Complete writing up of research Submission of thesis

Potential PhD problems

What type of problems might occur during your PhD studies?

Sources of support and advice

Department Supervisory team Departmental director of doctoral

studies/director of postgraduate studies

Head of department Postgraduate secretary

Sources of support and advice

Postgraduate Studies Office Extensions Intercalations (suspending your

studies) Changes of registration status Fee issues First point of contact

Sources of support and advice Professional support services

Student Support Services: University House; http://www.lancs.ac.uk/depts/studentsupport/

Student Learning Development Centre: Furness College http://www.lancs.ac.uk/depts/celt/sldc/

Counselling Service: B105, Furness College; http://www.lancs.ac.uk/users/counsel/