PhD Road Map
Milestones for PhD students in Literatures, Languages and Cultures.
These milestones follow the structure for a library-based doctoral PhD degree programme, for a full time student starting in September. Part-time students will follow a structure that is twice this length and field-based research students should consult with their supervisors about milestones that are appropriate to their own programme. Students starting their studies in January should adjust the dates accordingly.
Year One
Work should be submitted and reviewed as follows:
September–October: Students who did not do their Masters degree in LLC will attend the week 1 Research Skills and Methods lectures; all students will do the bibliographic assignment set as part of the research methods course, but submit this to their principal supervisor, not the person running the course. This assignment may then provide the basis for the assignment submitted in December.
December: Students will submit an initial assignment of approximately 5,000 words, such as a review of literature in their field of study. Deadline to be decided by subject areas/supervisors. This will be read by both supervisors: feedback session with both supervisors.
Second Semester: Discipline- or period-specific research methods training.
Spring: Eight months after registration the student receives the online Annual Review form and has one month to complete this with a view to the Annual Review meeting taking place as close to 9 months after registration as possible.
Professional Development Programme
Throughout the year, PhD students in year one are expected to attend the professional development sessions :
Professional Development Programme
Supervision Meetings
The expectation is that the supervisor and the student will normally be meeting on average once per month but that one or two meetings might be missed over the summer. Meetings may take place more frequently in the first semester of year one. Supervisors will add notes of the meetings to the "Engagement" section of the student's record in Euclid, these notes are visible to the student and should be agreed between the student and supervisor that they are an accurate note of the meeting.
Year Two
Spring: Eight months after registration the student receives the online Annual Review form and has one month to complete this with a view to the Annual Review meeting taking place as close to 9 months after registration as possible.
In those subject areas where PhD students are able to teach pre-honours undergraduates in their third year, passing this review may mean that the student is eligible to apply for teaching opportunities. Any student required to resubmit will not be allowed to teach in the following academic year.
Fieldwork-based PhDs may hold a panel at this stage which consists of the student submitting their assembled data and explaining their proposed methodology, rather than a completed draft chapter.
Supervision Meetings
The expectation continues to be that the supervisor and the student will be meeting on average once per month but that one or two meetings may be missed over the summer. Supervisors will add notes of the meetings to the "Engagement" section of the student's record in Euclid, these notes are visible to the student and should be agreed between the student and supervisor that they are an accurate note of the meeting.
Year Three
Spring: Eight months after registration the student receives the online Annual Review form and has one month to complete this with a view to the Annual Review meeting taking place as close to 9 months after registration as possible.
The panel could at this stage usefully take the form of a practice viva.
End of Year Three:
Submission of the Notice of Intention to Submit form, two months prior to submission of the thesis.
Thesis Submission Guidance
Supervision Meetings
The expectation continues to be that the supervisor and the student will be meeting on average once per month but that one or two meetings may be missed over the summer. Supervisors will add notes of the meetings to the "Engagement" section of the student's record in Euclid, these notes are visible to the student and should be agreed between the student and supervisor that they are an accurate note of the meeting.
After Year Three
If the thesis has not been submitted at the end of year three, students are expected to submit it as early as possible and students should keep a close eye on their maximum end date on their MyEd record. Supervision meetings and annual review meetings will continue to be held until the thesis is submitted.
Code of Practice for Supervisors and Research Students