ESRC Midlands Graduate School (MGS) Doctoral Training Partnership PhD

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The programme aims to:

• equip Doctoral Researchers with the skills to design and carry out a research project within the social sciences, resulting in a thesis which will provide a contribution to knowledge and contain original work worthy of publication in the chosen subject of inquiry.
• provide training in a range of research methods in the social sciences that are appropriate to the particular selected field of study and that will enable Doctoral Researchers to become well acquainted with the general field of knowledge to which their research project relates.
• provide professional experience through a placement related to the field of inquiry.

Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external and internal reference points used to inform programme outcomes:

• The Frameworks for Higher Education Qualifications of UK Degrees
• Doctoral Degree Characteristics Statement (QAA)
• Credit Level Descriptors for Higher Education (SEEC)
• 含羞草视频 Quality Reviews
• Research Council Annual Reviews

Lead on the creation, development and implementation of a significant programme of research that will lead to new original knowledge disseminated through the production of a PhD thesis;

Knowledge and Understanding

On completion of the PhD studies, students should be able to:

• have a thorough knowledge of the literature and a comprehensive understanding of relevant methods and techniques applicable to social scientific inquiry.
• demonstrate originality in the application of knowledge, together with a practical understanding of how research and inquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge in their field.
• Identify real world challenges and understand the ways in which social scientists can have impact to improve outcomes.

Skills and other attributes

Subject-specific cognitive skills:

• Creatively apply current research, research techniques and methodologies relevant to their project field.
• Critically analyse the effectiveness of methodological developments and appropriate datasets.
• Evaluate the various routes that are available to social scientists to have real world impact.

Subject-specific practical skills:

• Synthesise and apply appropriate methods used in their field.
• Analyse and manage complex research results relevant to their project.
• Interpret research outcomes in the context of applied research questions.

Key transferable skills:

• Communicate complex information clearly and effectively to different target audiences in an appropriate way.
• Act autonomously and with initiative in a professional capacity with responsibility for self and others where appropriate.
• Demonstrate reflective practice as independent and self-critical learner.

University Regulations for Postgraduate Research study are set out in Regulation XXVI (Higher Degrees by Research).

Please see the Terms and Conditions of Study for detailed information on your contract with the University.

Part R1

Students will complete the following:

• Conduct a Development Needs Analysis report alongside the supervisory team
• Attend MGS training events as identified by the Development Needs Analysis
• Submit a research poster or oral presentation at the annual School PGR seminar day (if requested by the School)

Progression assessment

Students with a 3.5-year award may have to complete one of the research training activities comprising the following core modules of the Masters in Social Research: Research Design and Research Practice (30 credits), Advanced Qualitative Methods (15 credits), or Advanced Quantitative Methods in social sciences (15 credits).

Students must successfully attain credits in order to pass any module undertaken.

Students with a 3.75-year award will complete two of the research training activities comprising the following core modules of the Masters in Social Research: Research Design and Research Practice (30 credits), Advanced Qualitative Methods (15 credits), and/or Advanced Quantitative Methods in social sciences (15 credits). Students must successfully attain credits in order to pass any module undertaken.

Students with a 4-year award will complete all of the following core modules of the Masters in Social Research: Research Design and Research Practice (30 credits), Advanced Qualitative Methods (15 credits), and Advanced Quantitative Methods in social sciences (15 credits). Students must successfully attain credits in order to pass any module undertaken.

In accordance with Regulation XXI, students who fail to gain credit in a module at the first attempt shall be eligible to take one further reassessment attempt in that module. Students who fail to attain required modular credit will not be eligible to progress on the programme. In exceptional circumstances, R1 modules may be completed in R2.

In addition to taught modules, students are expected to complete

• submission of a 1,000-word research report after 6 months (part-time students only)
• submission of a 2,000-word research report at the mid-way point of Part 1 and submission of a satisfactory 10,000-word research report (end of Part report) towards the end of Part 1 in accordance with the provisions of Regulation XXVI.

Typically, the timetable for reports in R1 will follow the schedule below.

Part R2

Doctoral Researchers will complete the following research training activities

• Review the Development Needs Analysis report alongside the supervisory team
• Attend non-credit bearing advanced training modules available from across the MGS DTP2 as identified by the Development Needs Analysis
• Submit a research results poster or oral presentation at the annual MGS conference (if not completed in R1)
• Submit a research poster or oral presentation at the annual School PGR seminar day (if requested by the School)

Doctoral Researchers are normally expected to complete

• 3-month placement

Progression assessment

Submission of a mid-part review for part time Doctoral Researchers, and a satisfactory 10,000-word research report (end of Part report) towards the end of Part R2 in accordance with the provisions of Regulation XXVI.

Typically, the timetable for reports in R2 will follow the schedule below.

Part R3

Doctoral Researchers will complete the following research training activities:

• Review the Development Needs Analysis report alongside the supervisory team
• Attend non-credit bearing advanced training modules available from across the MGS DTP2 as identified by the Development Needs Analysis
• submit a research results poster or oral presentation at the annual MGS conference (if not completed in R1 or R2)
• submit a research poster or oral presentation at the annual School PGR seminar day (if requested by the School).

Mid-part reviews

Submission of a written report detailing the plan for submission (mid-Part report, expected 12 months into R3 for full-time Doctoral Researchers, and at 12 months and 24 months into R3 for part-time Doctoral Researchers).

Submission

At the end of R3, submission of a formal PhD thesis for examination in accordance with the provisions of Regulation XXVI.

Typically, the timetable for reports in R3 will follow the schedule below.

Where the thesis is not ready for submission at the end of part R3, Doctoral Researchers must submit a written report detailing the plan for submission.

To progress from Part R1 to Part R2 and from Part R2 to Part R3, and to be eligible for an award, candidates must satisfy the assessment requirements set out in Regulation XXVI.

Candidates must complete all the requirements for each Part outlined above in order to progress to the next Part. If an end of part report does not meet the standards required for progression, candidates may undertake further work and resubmit the report on one occasion only in accordance with the provisions of Regulation XXVI.