PhD students' checklist
There are several steps you must complete before and during your studies.
Before arriving
As soon as you have been accepted as a student you must complete the University's application form through EUCLID.
If you do not do this well in advance, you will not be able to matriculate on time, and will not receive information about accommodation and other important matters
On arrival
When you arrive at the laboratory, you must first make contact with your supervisor or the person designated to look after you.
You will also need to:
- find your desk and bench space
- matriculate
- undergo local safety induction courses
- obtain a University email address
- book a place on the relevant "Good Practice for PhD Research" course
- find your Research Centre or Division's information for postgraduate students
- understand the assessment requirements for your PhD
- meet any co-supervisors
- know about any seminar programmes you should be attending
- know who your local postgraduate organiser is
Progress
There are several steps you must complete as you work towards your PhD. If you are in any doubt about the requirements, contact your supervisor and/or your local postgraduate organiser.
You should aim to have meetings with your supervisor every month. It is your responsibility to organise these meetings.
Some of these meetings will be formal review meetings to go over progress. After these, you should e-mail your supervisor a minute of the discussion, including any agreed workplan and attendance at relevant Transkills courses or scientific meetings. This minute should then be edited if necessary and agreed by both the student and supervisor
Other steps include:
- project outline after 10 weeks
- end of first year report and formal assessment to determine whether you can progress
- end of second year assessment
- thesis plan discussed with your supervisor and/or thesis committee at start of third year
- thesis chapters submitted to your supervisor in good time
- thesis submission
- viva examination
- graduation
This article was published on Dec 14, 2009