Graduate School

As a postgraduate research degree student or Professional Doctorate student you will have studied at university before, however, starting a new course can still be a bit daunting, especially if you are new to the university. Your friends and family can be a valuable source of support as can other students in your department.

However, sometimes you may need more support. Your First Supervisor is there to provide you with pastoral care as well as academic support. You can also approach the postgraduate tutor for your department.

The University has other support available to you, including:

Vitae also provide links to a number of useful websites that provide support and information to PGRD students.

Academic support

Studying as a Postgraduate Research Degree (PGRD) student or Professional Doctorate student is a great challenge requiring you to use and develop many of your existing skills and learn new skills to enable you to become a competent and confident researcher. The University is committed to providing the resources to help students to achieve this.

What does the University offer?

Once you have identified your needs, the University offers a range of resources to PGRD student and Professional Doctorate students to help you develop as a researcher.

You can use this section to find out more about postgraduate research courses, how the Academic Skills Unit can help you, find out more about EPIGEUM and teaching as a postgraduate.

Why is this important?

It is important for you to be thinking about the skills you will need to develop to complete your studies and planning how you might do so. These might be specific to your topic, for example learning to use a particular piece of equipment or learning a new technique, or more general, for example, developing your time management or critical appraisal skills.

You should also be thinking about the transferable skills that you will need to continue your career after your studies. 

How can I develop my skills?

There are many ways in which you can start to plan your personal development, including talking with your First Supervisor. You will also have an Annual Appraisal with your First Supervisor to evaluate your progress in the previous year and identify new areas of development for the year ahead.

Developing other skills

Why is it important to develop other skills?

Studying for a postgraduate research degree provides you with lots of opportunities to develop both your academic and transferable skills. However, you may also wish to explore the world outside of research.

It is also important that you look after yourself while you are studying and developing other skills can provide you with a chance to have some time away from your studies.

What can I do?

You could learn a new language or perhaps get involved in volunteering. You might also wish to get involved with the Researchers in Residence scheme; a nationwide programme which aims to facilitate relationships between secondary schools and postgraduate research students. This gives PGRDS an opportunity to develop skills and to share their enthusiasm for their subject.

Epigeum

The University offers its PGRD students and Professional Doctorate students access to a resource called Epigeum, which offers a range of online training courses designed especially for postgraduate researchers. These courses can be completed online and are interactive so you can either complete the whole course in one go or dip in and out when you have time.

The courses currently on offer cover a range of topics including:

  • Career planning
  • Ethics in research
  • Getting your work published
  • Intellectual property in research
  • Managing your supervisor
  • Managing a research project
  • Conference presentation and networking

The Epigeum resources can be found in the Academic Skills section on Victory.

You should already be registered for skills@portsmouth. Log in to victory and select Research and then Epigeum resources.

If you are not already registered follow these steps to self-register:

1) Go to www.port.ac.uk/victory 
2) Click on Course List
3) Click on Central Services
4) Click on Academic Skills
5) Click on Academic Skills
6) Expand Skills@Portsmouth 
7) Click the small person icon
8) Enter your username and password and click on Register

If you have any problems accessing the resources, please contact elearn@port.ac.uk.

Postgraduates who teach

Why get involved in teaching?

As a postgraduate research student you may have the chance to teach at the University. Teaching is a great opportunity to develop your transferable skills - to pass on what you have learnt and to work on your communication skills. It also helps to build your confidence in what you know and in answering questions which is great preparation for your viva!

How can I get involved?

If you are keen to get involved in teaching talk with your First Supervisor to see if they are happy for you to do so. Remember that your studies should be your main priority.

Training for postgraduates who teach

The Department for Curriculum and Quality Enhancement (DCQE) run a number of staff development workshops which PGRD students and Professional Doctorate students who teach may wish to attend and also provide resources to help you develop your teaching skills.

Graduate Students Professional Development Programme

The University is keen to support all postgraduate students who are involved in teaching. The aim of GPROF (Graduate Students Professional Development Programme) is to support your professional development if you will be, or wish to be, involved in teaching. This programme has been designed to support you in the development of discipline and role appropriate teaching skills, and to fit in around your studies.

It is important to note that if you are going to be involved in teaching you must either enrol on, or have completed, the GPROF before you start to teach. If you have previously completed the PATS programme (which the GPROF is replacing) then you do not need to complete the GPROF.

Disability Support

The Additional Support and Disability Advice Centre

If you have a specific learning difficulty, chronic illness, mental health difficulty or physical or sensory impairment that may adversly impact upon your learning experience at Portsmouth, it is extremely helpful if you tell us about it when you apply.

We will then send you our application pack which outlines the nature and range of support available to disabled students at Portsmouth and, more critically, ensure that any necessary support can be provided in a timely manner.

 

We will also provide you with the opportunity to contact one of our disability officers to discuss your specific needs in confidence, and can provide advice on your eligibility for the Disabled Students Allowance and how to claim it.

On joining the University you will be invited for further interview to ensure that all necessary arrangements are in place (including all appropriate and reasonable adjustments to process), that they accurately reflect your needs from the outset, and that they continue to do so throughout your time with us.

For further information, please visit the ASDAC website.