Support For Postgraduate Research Students

Darren Lunn

Information Management Group

Doing a PhD Is…

• Difficult

• Lonely

• Can Make You a Mental Wreck

• Depressing

All Students Feel The Same

Role Of The Mentors

Cognitio, Sapientia, HumanitasCognitio, Sapientia, HumanitasKnowledge, Wisdom, HumanityKnowledge, Wisdom, HumanityStudent, Supervisor, MentorStudent, Supervisor, Mentor

What The Mentors Do

• Link Incoming 1st Year Students With 2nd and 3rd Year Students

• Offer Help and Advice– Settling Into Manchester

– Undertaking Postgraduate Study

• Interface Between the Academic body and the Student Body

The Mentors

Aman Grace

Darren Chenchen

Tianyi

Mentor Calendar

• Mentors are Available All Year

• Also Have Scheduled Events– Formal Talks

– Informal Social Events

September - Welcome Talk

• All New Students Attend a Welcome Talk

• Mentors Attend– I Give This Presentation

– Get To Meet Us During Lunch

October - Welcome Dinner

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April - Easter Social

June - End Of Year Report

• Every First Year Student Must Submit:– Long Report (80 ~ 100 pages)

– Short Report (2 ~ 4 pages)

– Interview (20 ~ 30 minutes)

• Mentors Seminar– Advice on Report Writing

– How to Pass the Interview

School Committee Members

• Health and Safety Committee

• Staff-Student Consultative Committee

• School Board

• Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences Postgraduate Research Steering Group for the Graduate Development Scheme

Conclusions

• Doing a PhD is Difficult

• The School and University Recognise This

• Mentors Provide Support and Advice

• A PhD Can Be Very Rewarding

Questions and Lunch

http://www.cs.manchester.ac.uk/mentors/

mentors@cs.manchester.ac.uk