Tagged / Doctoral College

Researcher Development Opportunities for ECRs

Training

We are excited to introduce the new Researcher Development and Culture Team within the Doctoral College at BU

Our team – Enrica Conrotto, Beverley Allen, and Zoe Leonard support BU researchers at all career stages. We will work together to shape and deliver initiatives that strengthen researcher development and promote a positive research culture across BU.

As we are currently developing a more structured programme of support, specifically for Early Career Researchers, we are pleased to offer you immediate access to 10 core online workshops from the Researcher Development Programme

You can register for the following online workshops via Eventbrite, where you will also find an overview of each session.

Research data management: An introduction – Friday 10 October, 12-1pm

Ethics: Values, standards, and BU process Q&A – Monday 3 November, 12-1pm

Ethics: Clinical research governance – Monday 3 November, 2-3pm

Presentation skills for researchers – Friday 7 November, 10am-1pm

NVivo: Day 1 – Setting up your qualitative database – Thursday 13 November, 9am-5pm

NVivo: Day 2 – Analysing your data – Friday 14 November, 9am-5pm

Publishing your research: Mastering journal paper writing (SSH) – Wednesday 19 November, 2-4pm

Publishing your research: Mastering journal paper writing (STEM) – Thursday 27 November, 10am-12pm

Academic writing: Reduce anxiety – Friday 5 December, 10am-1pm

Integrating GenAI in our Research: A practical guide – Monday 17 November, 10am-12pm

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional opportunities are available via the British Academy Early Career Researcher Network

The British Academy Early Career Researcher Network is an inclusive, researcher-led membership body accessible to all UK-based early career researchers working in the humanities and social sciences.

Finding your Voice – Stream 2 Advancement – Wednesday 8 October, 10:30am-4:30pm

Early Career Researcher Network Welcome Session and Development Fund Drop In – Thursday 9 October, 11am-12:30pm

Mastering CV and Cover Letters for International Scholars in the UK – Friday 10 October, 10am-12pm

Being Strategic & Prioritising Your Time – Stream 2 Advancement – Wednesday 15 October, 9:30am-12:30pm

Empirical Research – Coding and Analysing interview data with Dr James Lovelock – Wednesday 15 October, 3-4:30pm

Curating Conversations: Setbacks, support and success – Thursday 16 October, 10am-4pm

Compass 1: Reframing Research Identity – Thursday 16 October, register to access

Finding your Voice – Stream 2 Advancement – Thursday 16 October, 10am-4pm

Compass 2: Pathways Beyond Academia -Thursday 6 November, register to access

Conference: Company Law and Sustainability – Friday 7 November, register to access

Compass 3: Strategic Action Planning – Thursday 27 November, register to access

Other useful resources for ECRs are available on the Elsevier Research Academy. The Elsevier Researcher Academy is a free e-learning platform designed to unlock the potential of early and mid-career researchers.

Finally, we are pleased to invite you to our 3C event, taking place on Talbot Campus, Wednesday 12 November 3-4pm

These regular social events provide an informal forum to connect with fellow researchers, exchange ideas, and develop new collaborations over refreshments. All members of the BU research community are invited to attend and contribute.

Find out more and register here

Please keep a look out for further announcements regarding the Early Career Researcher Network.

Should you have any questions, suggestions, or would like to discuss your development needs, please contact the team: researcherdevelopment@bournemouth.ac.uk

We are delighted to re-launch the 2025-26 Researcher Development Programme

PG research

We are delighted to re-launch the 2025-26 Researcher Development Programme.

Bookings for sessions until December are now open via the RDP Brightspace! There are more than 30 different workshops to choose from, with more opening in November!

The programme has been recently reviewed to align with the new Vitae Researcher Development Framework.

Have a look at the 2025-26 brochure (if you would like a printed version, just pop into the Doctoral College).

Not sure whether to attend an RDP session? Feedback across the programme in 2024-25 was again overwhelmingly positive with attendees reporting the following:

  • 96% would recommend a workshop
  • 97% found the workshops relevant and useful
  • 93% found the workshops interesting and engaging
  • 93% reported improved research/personal/professional skills and increased confidence in topics covered

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the exceptional academics and professional staff who facilitated workshops within the Researcher Development Programme. Their expertise and dedication have significantly contributed to the success of the programme, providing immense value to all participants. Their commitment to fostering an enriching learning environment greatly contributes to the academic and professional growth of our research community.

If you have any queries about the programme, please contact: pgrskillsdevelopment@bournemouth.ac.uk.

Events to celebrate National Postdoc Appreciation Week 2025

PG research

National Postdoc Appreciation Week is just around the corner, taking place 15-19 September 2025

UK National Postdoc Appreciation Week (UKNPAW) is an annual nationwide event celebrating the vital contributions postdocs make to research and academic life.

This year, from Monday 15 September to Friday 19 September 2025, events will take place to connect and support researchers. To celebrate, you can attend a special online flagship event: “From surviving to thriving: planning your future” designed to help you take control of your career path. Join to explore self-leadership and hear from those who have successfully navigated their own professional journeys.

The event will feature a screening of “Postdoc: The Musical,” an entertaining musical celebrating the lives and achievements of postdocs. Following the film, Dr Chris Russell will deliver a masterclass on resilience and self-leadership in an uncertain world. The event will conclude with a discussion featuring a diverse panel of academics who will share their career journeys and offer tips on navigating professional uncertainties.

Event Details:

  • Date: Monday 15 September 2025
  • Time: 10:30am – 12:30pm
  • Register here

For more information and to catch up on past events, visit the UKNPAW website

Postgraduate Research Summer Social – 1 week to go!

PG research

1 week to go till the Postgraduate Research Summer Social. We’re so excited to welcome you to the Branksome Dene Room for an afternoon of patio games, delicious food and sunshine by the beach! 

We’ve booked this stunning location for the exclusive use of PGRs and Supervisors for the afternoon to unwind and reconnect up with your fellow researchers and academics.

The Doctoral College PGR events at Branksome Dene Room are always a hit so we hope you can join us!

We are pleased to offer a Greek style lunch menu including a pita with your choice of filling (chicken souvlaki, vegetarian or vegan) served with chips, a salad bar, teas, coffees and soft drinks! You are also welcome to bring your own refreshments to enjoy.

Register here

Ticket: £5

Please note there are limited spaces available, so please book as soon as possible if you would like to attend. 

If you have any questions, please do get in touch: pgrskillsdevelopment@bournemouth.ac.uk

LinkedIn: Doctoral College – Bournemouth University

X: @BUDocCollege | #BUDoctoralCollege

World Wellbeing Week 2025 – free activities for PGRs

PG research

The international awareness event World Wellbeing Week takes place in June each year. To celebrate, the Doctoral College is pleased to share a variety of free activities available to PGRs to give you the opportunity to unwind and look after your mental, physical, and social wellbeing. 

Herbal tea and arts & crafts

Enjoy some arts and crafts in the sun whilst relaxing with herbal teas!

📅 When: Tuesday 24 June – Friday 27 June, 10:00-14:00
📍 Where: Doctoral College (DLG08) outside patio, Talbot Campus

Community Garden volunteering

Spend some time enjoying nature and volunteer in the garden to support the mission to grow food for each other and those in need.

📅 When: Wednesday 25 June, 12:00-14:00
📍 Where: BU Community Garden, Talbot Campus

Seed bombs & sweet treats

Join us for a fun, hands-on activity where you’ll make your own eco-friendly seed bombs using clay, soil, and seeds. Take these home with you and plant them in your garden or green up a forgotten public place! 🌱
There will also be some delicious sweet treats for you to enjoy!

📅 When: Wednesday 25 June, 15:00-16:00
📍 Where: BU Community Garden, Talbot Campus

Register here

Table tennis

Following last year’s successful table tennis wellbeing event, we have booked the SportBU studio again for more table tennis fun!

Socialise with other PGR students and get active in a relaxed environment. This will not be a competitive tournament, just simply come and have a friendly hit.

📅 When: Wednesday 25 June, 19:00-20:30
📍 Where: SportBU, Talbot Campus

Register here

Paint & Sip to Summer

Unwind and paint your own little summer inspired canvas to take home for decoration over tasty mocktails, laughter and summery bites!

📅 When: Thursday 26 June, 16:00-18:00
📍 Where: BU Community Garden, Talbot Campus

Register here

 

Click here for more information about World Wellbeing Week 2025

Best wishes,

The Doctoral College

Successful academic writing, publishing and collaboration workshop at BU

PG research, Publishing, Women's Academic Network, writing

Last week’s workshop on ‘Academic Writing, Publishing & Collaborating’ held at Talbot Campus organised by Mrs. Anjana Paudyal, Ph.D. student in FHSS (Faculty of Health & Social Sciences) was very engaging and very well attended.  This event was part of the Doctoral College’s Research Culture and Community workshop series.  The workshop was opened by Anjana, who spoke about publishing her first PhD paper in the first half year of her part-time PhD journey.

Key sessions in this interactive workshop included presentations from Ms. Jillian Ireland based at UHD (University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust) and academics based at BU.  Jillian spoke about her experience of publishing in practice journals as well as publishing papers about practice in academic journals.

Whilst Dr. Pramod Regmi, Principal Academic in International Health in FHSS stressed the importance of paying attention to publishing metrics and identifiers, including h-factors, impact factors, and social media use in academic publishing.

Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen, Research Culture Champion in FHSS outlined ideas for turning PhD chapters in papers and he also highlighted BU’s unique option of doing a so-called ‘Integrated thesis‘.  The integrated thesis format allows students to incorporate papers into their thesis.  These can be published papers, papers accepted for publication, papers submitted, prepared but not submitted papers and other unpublished papers or reports.

Dr. Orlanda Harvey is a senior lecturer in Social Work at BU, specialising in Developing Professional Relationships and Leadership, she presented replying to reviewers.   The Question & Answer session was lively and engaging.

Last, but not least, Anjana Paudyal, the organiser, and presenters would like to thank the Doctoral College for supporting this important event!

Congratulations to Dr Fiona Knight – UKCGE (UK Council for Graduate Education) status

We would like to congratulate Dr Fiona Knight, Head of Doctoral College, who has been awarded the UKCGE (UK Council for Graduate Education) status of Recognised Research Supervisor. Her submission was “Highly Commended” for the extensive experience, critical insights and deep personal and institutional engagements to her practice, and her application was considered to demonstrate an approach which is student-centred, ethical, and aligned with best practices.

The scheme is open to all supervisors, whether new to supervision or established within the role, to apply for national recognition of doctoral supervision from the UKCGE. Two levels of recognition are available, depending on the level of experience:

  • Recognised Supervisor (full award) — for those who have seen doctoral candidates through final examination and completion
  • Recognised Associate Supervisor – for those who have not seen doctoral candidates through final examination and completion and/​or are involved in research supervision ​‘informally’.

 

BU now has over 25 recognised research supervisors. In order to achieve this status you will be required to:

 

For further information, to register your interest or to have discuss an application, please email the Doctoral College (doctoralcollege@bournemouth.ac.uk). The Doctoral College will meet the cost of applications submitted by BU supervisors.

 

Next application deadline:

 

BU Window Closes UKCGE Window Closes Expected Outcome
 13 June 2025 20 June 2025 September 2025

 

Complete applications should be submitted to Dr Fiona Knight (fknight@bournemouth.ac.uk) by the above deadlines.

 

Best wishes,

The Doctoral College

Postgraduate Research Summer Social – 2 weeks to go!

PG research

2 weeks to go till the Postgraduate Research Summer Social. We’re so excited to welcome you to the Branksome Dene Room for an afternoon of patio games, delicious food and sunshine by the beach! 

We’ve booked this stunning location for the exclusive use of PGRs and Supervisors for the afternoon to unwind and reconnect up with your fellow researchers and academics.

The Doctoral College PGR events at Branksome Dene Room are always a hit so we hope you can join us!

We are pleased to offer a Greek style lunch menu including a pita with your choice of filling (chicken souvlaki, vegetarian or vegan) served with chips, a salad bar, teas, coffees and soft drinks! You are also welcome to bring your own refreshments to enjoy.

Register here

Ticket: £5

Please note there are limited spaces available, so please book as soon as possible if you would like to attend. 

If you have any questions, please do get in touch: pgrskillsdevelopment@bournemouth.ac.uk

LinkedIn: Doctoral College – Bournemouth University

X: @BUDocCollege | #BUDoctoralCollege

Enterprise and Innovation sessions for BU researchers

PG research

We are pleased to announce that Matt Desmier [Business Engagement and Knowledge Exchange Manager] will deliver two insightful sessions on Enterprise and Innovation. While these sessions have been specially arranged for the PGR community, all BU researchers are warmly invited to attend.

Communicating with Business and Personal Branding – REGISTER HERE

Tuesday 10 June 9.30-11.30 (Create LT, Fusion Building)

Whether you are planning an academic career, or a career in industry, you will be interacting with businesses and third sector organisations regularly. To do this successfully, it is vitally important to be able to communicate effectively and to build a personal brand. This session will teach you the crucial steps you need to communicate successfully with business: how to understand what their motivations are and align yours with theirs; recognise how you can add value; and know what language to use and when.

Alongside this, it’s vitally important to build credibility and relationships with business, to be visible in the spaces where they are. Predominately this means – but is by no way limited to – having an active presence on LinkedIn. Whilst the algorithm that powers this platform remains a closely guarded secret, this session will show you tried and tested ways to ensure it works in your favour and to create your personal brand.

Developing a Business Idea and Pitching – REGISTER HERE

Wednesday 11 June 9.30-11.30 (Create LT, Fusion Building)

The goal of the most of your interactions with industry will be to get them to do something for you. Whether that’s engage with your research, fund your new product idea, buy some of your consultancy or drop by to speak to your students.  Each ‘ask’ is a pitch and this needs careful crafting to get a positive response. Understanding how and when to pitch is a skill in and of itself. Thankfully it’s not as scary as it sounds. This session will give you the skills you need to pitch successfully.

To enable you to develop a business idea we’ll deliver training based on the two recognised frameworks: the Business Model Canvas and the Innovation Canvas. Both frameworks have been designed to enable individuals and teams to describe their ideas, identify areas that need more development, and understand what value will be delivered and to whom.

 

Best wishes,

The Doctoral College

Supervisory Lunchbite | ESRC South West Doctoral Training Partnership

PG research

ESRC South West Doctoral Training Partnership (SWDTP) Information Session

Are you involved in social science research?

Would you like to supervise of PhD student?

Are you interested in collaborating with the other universities, sharing best practice, resources and academic knowledge?

Would you like to find more?

 

We are pleased to announce a ‘lunchbite’ session oriented toward academic colleagues who are interested in future calls for the ESRC South West Doctoral Training Partnership (SWDTP).

This session is designed to provide more information about the SWDTP, the pathways which Bournemouth University belong to, the timelines for 2026 cohort applications, and aid supervisors with supporting potential applicants.

The SWDTP offers funding for research in eighteen different disciplinary and interdisciplinary pathways, spanning across the social sciences. BU is linked to 3 of those pathways:

To find out more, please join us at the following session:

  • Monday 2 June 2025 | 12-00 – 13:00 | Talbot Campus: Room F306

Register here

Best wishes,

The Doctoral College

Academic Writing, Publishing & Collaborating event sold out!

international, PG research, Publishing, student research, Women's Academic Network, writing

Bournemouth University’s (BU) Doctoral College aims to create a stimulating and motivating Research Culture and Community at the university.  As part of this goal, the Doctoral College has funded a proposal by Anjana Paudyal, Ph.D. student in the Faculty of Health & Social Sciences (FHSS) to organise a half-day workshop on ‘Academic Writing, Publishing & Collaborating’ on 28th May.

This event is part of BU’s Research Culture and Community workshop series.  The interactive workshop, facilitated by experienced BU with as guest contributor Jillian Ireland, Professional Midwifery Advocate at University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust.  Of all midwives working in the NHS (i.e. not in academic posts), Jillian is the most widely published midwife in the South of England; Jillian is also Visiting Faculty in FHSS.

Wednesday morning’s sessions will cover  academic writing, collaboration in writing, writing for practitioners’ journals, publishing identifiers and metrics, and responding to journal editors and reviewers. There will also be opportunities for Q&A and networking.

The event at Talbot Campus is now fully booked, but if you are a postgraduate student and you would like to be put on the waiting list: please email Anjana Paudyal at: apaudyal@bournemouth.ac.uk.

 

We would like to thank the Doctoral College for supporting this important event!

Dr. Orlanda Harvey & Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen

(Anjana’s Ph.D. supervisors)

PhD supervision is good for you

BU Challenges, international, Publishing, REF Subjects, student research, writing

Some people in academia (and many outside it) don’t appreciate the importance of PhD supervision .  An academic supervising PhD students is not merely for the educational purposes, or in other words, for the benefits of the postgraduate student.  The value of postgraduate supervision lies in pushing the boundaries of knowledge, about testing new ideas, new approaches or even new methods.

Interestingly, enough it means that PhD supervision for an academic is also about developing their own ideas, expanding one’s CV, and developing one’s career.  Whilst for the university it is also for the wider benefit of research for the wider society.  The latter means that PhD students help improve the REF (Research Excellence Framework) scores for a university, through metrics such as number and proportion of PhD completions, but also through papers based on PhD research co-authored with staff.  It always amazes me how some outsider regard PhD supervision as simply more of the same, i.e. not that different from supervising an undergraduate student.

Looking at my ow CV, some of my best papers have been co-written with PhD students, including my most cited paper on SCOPUS [1]. Moreover, as the graph of my h-index [checked SCOPUS for May 19th 2025] shows four of my top eight highest cited papers were co-authored with postgraduate students [1-4].  Papers that would not have been written without the postgraduate student conducting knowledge-advancing research!

Not surprisingly, three of the four former PhD students who co-authored these highly-cited papers are now in academic positions across the UK (the fourth one has retired).  These four highlighted papers are not just looking good on my CV, they are also highly ranked within their respective journals.  The first paper [1] is the 28th most cited paper in the Journal of Advanced Nursing, an impressive 28th position out of 12,762 articles ever published by this international journal.  Similarly, the paper ‘Women’s autonomy in decision-making for health care: Demographic study in Nepal’ [2] is the 10th most cited paper in Reproductive Health, whilst ‘ To tell or not to tell: Barriers and facilitators in family communication about genetic risk’ [3] is the 20th most article in Clinical Genetics.  Last, but not least, ‘Risk, Theory, Social & Medical Models: critical analysis of the concept of risk in maternity care’ [4] is the 17th most cited article (out of 3,910) in the international journal Midwifery.

 

Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen

Centre for Midwifery & Women’s Health

 

 

References:

  1. Simkhada, B., van Teijlingen E., Porter, M., Simkhada, P. (2008) Factors affecting the utilisation of antenatal care in developing countries: a systematic review of the literature, Journal of Advanced Nursing 61(3): 244-260.
  2. Acharya, D.R., Bell, J., Simkhada, P., van Teijlingen, E, Regmi, P.R. (2010) Women’s autonomy in decision-making for health care: Demographic study in Nepal. Reproductive Health 9(15) reproductive-health-journal.com/content/pdf/1742-4755-7-15.pdf
  3. Forrest, K., Simpson, S., Wilson, B.J., van Teijlingen E, McKee L, Haites, N., Matthews E. (2003) To tell or not to tell: Barriers and facilitators in family communication about genetic risk,Clinical Genetics, 64: 317-26.
  4. MacKenzie Bryers H., van Teijlingen, E. (2010) Risk, Theory, Social & Medical Models: critical analysis of the concept of risk in maternity care, Midwifery 26(5): 488-496.

 

 

 

Upcoming 3C Event – Culture, Community & Canapés

PG research

The Doctoral College 3C event is approaching! All PGRs and Supervisors are invited.  

Following feedback we received at the PGR Engagement Champions meetings, we will be hosting this 3C event at the later time of 16:00-17:30.

For this 3C event, we have swapped out the usual cake for something a little fancier — canapés! Join us and enjoy delicious bites and mingle with colleagues in an informal setting.

Whether you are new to the university or a seasoned researcher, this is the perfect opportunity to:

✨ Catch up with peers

🤝 Meet new faces

🧠 Share ideas and experiences

🥂 Enjoy some tasty food and drinks!

Join us Tuesday 20 May 16:00-17:30 on the fifth floor in the Student Centre, Talbot Campus.

Register here

Let’s foster collaboration, support and networking!

Keep an eye on the Doctoral College Brightspace to stay up to date on all future 3C events.

Postgraduate Research Summer Social – tickets on sale

PG research

Tickets are now on sale for the Doctoral College Summer Social for the Postgraduate Research community at the delightful Branksome Dene Room. Situated in a stunning location that overlooks the beach, with amazing views of the sea to Old Harry Rocks.

We’ve booked this unique location for the exclusive use of PGRs and Supervisors for the afternoon to unwind and catch up with your fellow researchers and academics.

The Doctoral College PGR events at Branksome Dene Room are always a hit so we hope you can join us!

We are pleased to offer a Greek style lunch menu including a pita with your choice of filling (chicken souvlaki, vegetarian or vegan) served with chips, a salad bar, teas, coffees and soft drinks! You are also welcome to bring your own refreshments to enjoy.

Booking and event details can be found here.

Ticket: £5

Please note there are limited spaces available, so please book as soon as possible if you would like to attend. 

If you have any questions, please do get in touch: pgrskillsdevelopment@bournemouth.ac.uk

LinkedIn: Doctoral College – Bournemouth University

X: @BUDocCollege | #BUDoctoralCollege

Free lunch voucher & prize draw for all PGRs – please complete the Postgraduate Research Experience Survey 2025

PG research

Free lunch voucher & prize draw for all PGRs – please complete the Postgraduate Research Experience Survey 2025! 

Check your email to access your link to complete the survey. 

 

Did you know you can get a FREE lunch voucher if you complete the Advance HE Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES) 2025. This is worth £3.95 which covers the cost of a meal from the Savour menu but can be used to purchase any items from Chartwells outlets. Please come to the Doctoral College (DLG08, Talbot Campus) to collect your voucher. If you are based in Lansdowne Campus, you can collect your vouchers from Tina Ikin in BG507.

The voucher can be used at the following outlets on Talbot and Lansdowne Campus:

On completion of the survey, you will also be entered into a free prize draw, with the opportunity to win one of four £50 shopping vouchers. As a thank you for your time, we will be making a £1 donation on your behalf to the student mental health charity, Student Mind.

So far 35% of PGRs at BU have taken part in this survey. If you have not already completed it, we would really appreciate if you could find a few minutes to respond and tell us about your experience this year. The survey helps us improve the student experience at BU and compare ourselves with other institutions across the country.

To do this we would like to know what you think works well and what as a university we could do better.

How do I take part?

PGRs have now received an email containing a unique link which will allow you to access and complete the survey. If you can’t find this email, contact PRES@bournemouth.ac.uk and we’ll help you to get access.

What will I be asked?

The survey will take around 15 minutes to complete. Your response is confidential, and any reporting will be entirely anonymous. The survey is your chance to tell us about your experience as a PGR at BU. It will ask you to share your views on supervision, resources, research community, progress and assessment, skills and professional development and wellbeing.

Why should I take part?

Your feedback is important. The Postgraduate Research Experience Survey is the only national survey of PGRs and so is the only way for us to compare how we are doing with other institutions and to make changes that will improve your experience in the future.

More information

If you would like to know more about the survey, please visit: PRES 2025.

If you would like to know more about the surveys at Bournemouth University, please visit: Your feedback | Bournemouth University.

Please click here to see actions that we have taken based on feedback from previous surveys.

 

We hope you take the opportunity to get involved this year and help us make improvements to your experience.

Best wishes,

The Doctoral College

For any PRES related queries, please email: PRES@bournemouth.ac.uk

Unique PhD processes – why they are important.………..

Centre for Excellence in Learning, PG research, Publishing, REF Subjects, student research, Training, writing

Most people only really think about the processes involved doing a PhD study when they are doing their own unique research project at one specific university. It is often only when talking to other PhD students at a conference or listening to their supervisors reminiscing about doing theirs at a different university and in a different time, that they realise there are important differences in processes between universities, and even across disciplines within universities. This is true both nationally and globally.  These differences can exist at many different stages of the PhD and Bournemouth University academics have written about several of these differences within a national context (1-6).

PhD aspects can differ from the start, e.g. the expected format of a PhD proposal (5) to the very end, e.g. possible outcomes of a viva (4), or whether the PhD includes clinical or practice components to help bridge the gap between academia and practice (2).  Variations across universities also occur in the expected layout and format of the theses (1), or the way supervisors are expected to supervise by different universities (3), or the format or timing of transfer or progress viva(6).

You might ask why this uniqueness of the postgraduate research journey matters? We argue that academics need to celebrate the diversity of the PhD process and of our postgraduate research students and recognise that excellent research can be achieved in different ways. A personalised process can ensure that postgraduate students are successful in achieving their goals.

 

Dr. Orlanda Harvey, Prof. Vanora Hundley, Dr. Vincent Marmion, Dr. Pramod Regmi, Prof. Edwin van Teijlingen

 

 

 

References:

  1. van Teijlingen E (2007) PhD theses: the pros and cons (letter), Times Higher Education Suppl. Issue 1808 (August 24th): 15.
  2. Way S, Hundley V, van Teijlingen E, Walton G, and Westwood G. (2016) Dr Know. RCM Midwives Spring 64-65.
  3. Regmi, P., Poobalan, A., Simkhada, P., van Teijlingen, E. (2021) PhD supervision in Public Health, Health Prospect: Journal of Public Health 20(1):1-4. https://www.nepjol.info/index.php/HPROSPECT/article/view/32735/28111
  4. van Teijlingen, E., Simkhada, B., Regmi, P., Simkhada, P., Hundley, V., Poudel, K.C. (2022) Reflections on variations in PhD viva regulations: “And the options are….”, Journal of Education and Research 12(2),61-74. https://doi.org/10.51474/jer.v12i2.624
  5. Wasti, S.P. Regmi, P.R., Simkhada, P., van Teijlingen, E., Hundley, V. (2022) Writing a PhD Proposal, In: Wasti, S.P., et al. (Eds.) Academic Writing and Publishing in Health & Social Sciences, Kathmandu, Nepal: Himal Books: 176-183.
  6. van Teijlingen, A., Marmion, V., Harvey, O., Regmi, P., van Teijlingen, E. (2024) PhD Progress and Transfer Vivas at Universities in the United Kingdom, Journal of Education and Research, 14(1): 104-116, https://doi.org/10.51474/jer/16196

 

The Postgraduate Research Experience Survey 2025 – now open

PG research

The Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES) 2025 has launched! 

Check your email to access your link to complete the survey. 

We’re keen to make sure our postgraduate research students (PGRs) have the best possible experience while studying with us. To do this, we need to know what you think works well and what we could do better.

The Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES 2025) is your chance to tell us about your experience as a PGR at Bournemouth University. The more specific your feedback is, the more targeted and effective our actions can be. This includes both positive feedback and what we as a university could do better. Your voice truly makes a difference and helps shape your experience.

This year the survey opened on Monday 17 March 2025 and will close on Wednesday 30 April 2025. Upon completing the survey, PGRs will automatically be entered into a free prize draw. Four winners will be able to claim a £50 shopping voucher. Terms and conditions apply.

In addition, we will be making a £1 donation for every survey completed to the student mental health wellbeing charity, Student Minds.

Once you have completed the survey, you are entitled to claim a Chartwells voucher with a value of £3.95. This covers the cost of a meal from the “Savour menu” but can be used to purchase any items from Chartwells outlets. Please come to the Doctoral College (DLG08, Talbot Campus) to collect your voucher.

How do I take part?

PGRs have now received an email containing a unique link which will allow you to access and complete the survey. If you can’t find this email, contact PRES@bournemouth.ac.uk and we’ll help you to get access.

What will I be asked?

The survey will take around 15 minutes to complete. Your response is confidential, and any reporting will be entirely anonymous. The survey is your chance to tell us about your experience as a PGR at BU. It will ask you to share your views on supervision, resources, research community, progress and assessment, skills and professional development and wellbeing.

Why should I take part?

Your feedback is important. The Postgraduate Research Experience Survey is the only national survey of PGRs and so is the only way for us to compare how we are doing with other institutions and to make changes that will improve your experience in the future.

More information

If you would like to know more about the survey, please visit: PRES 2025.

If you would like to know more about the surveys at Bournemouth University, please visit: Your feedback | Bournemouth University.

Please click here to see actions that we have taken based on feedback from previous surveys.

 

We hope you take the opportunity to get involved this year and help us make improvements to your experience.

Best wishes,

The Doctoral College

For any PRES related queries, please email: PRES@bournemouth.ac.uk