1. What arrangements will be put in place for supervising your work?

 You will have a named supervisor or supervisors, normally as indicated in your offer letter, who will have overall responsibility for the direction of your work on behalf of your department. Your supervisor may appoint a senior member of his/her laboratory as your day-to-day supervisor. You will also have a Graduate Advisor, who is usually another experienced group leader in the Department. Your supervisors, Graduate Advisor, and the Director of Graduate Studies constitute your supervisory team. Most supervisors will meet with their students at least once a week at lab meetings. You should expect to have a one to one formal meeting with your primary supervisor at least twice a term where your research and progress will be reviewed and the contents of the termly submitted supervision report discussed and agreed.  You should also have more frequent meetings with a member of your supervisory team. Students should meet with their supervisors and Graduate Advisor within the first month of their starting to discuss and agree on a project proposal, and thereafter at no more than 6 monthly intervals to discuss progress and future work.

2. What induction arrangements will be made?

 For students starting in October, the main induction to the department is provided at the start of their first term. You will be notified about the Departmental induction arrangements by email. Other arrangements will be made for students starting at other times of the year. Your supervisor(s) will arrange more specialised induction subsequently.

3. What workspace will be provided?

Workspace will be related to individual circumstances. If undertaking experimental work, you will be provided with bench space in a laboratory. If undertaking theoretical research, you will have shared office space.

4. What IT support/ library facilities/ experimental facilities will be available?

You will have access to the Department’s IT support, the Departmental Library, University Library services such as the Radcliffe Science Library and the Cairns Library, and experimental facilities are available as appropriate to the research topic.  The provision of other resources specific to your project should be agreed with your supervisor as a part of the planning stages of the agreed project.  There are a number of shared Department research facilities. These will be introduced during the Induction and details are available on the departmental web-site. Your research group and supervisor will be able to advise you as to which facilities you will need to use and how to gain access to them. Training is available for use of these services.

5. Which research seminars will be available?

You will have access to the seminars that individual research groups or groups with common areas of interest organise for their own members and others. You will also have access to the other seminars and colloquia in this and other Departments. During term-time is a weekly Departmental seminar at 4 pm on Thursdays which all graduate students are expected to attend. Your research group will be able to advise you as to which seminar series you should attend. Seminars are advertised in advance by email and details can also be found on the Departmental website.

6. What access to research funds will be available?

The main source of funding for your research will be your research group and your supervisor is responsible for providing these funds. There may also be some funding available as part of your studentship. The amounts available will depend on the funding that you have been awarded. Holders of Departmental studentships have up to £1000 per annum available for research training support and a further £300 per annum available for travel expenses.

7. What formal graduate skills training will be provided?

You will have the opportunity and are strongly advised to attend a variety of skills training sessions offered by the Department, the Medical Sciences Division and the University as appropriate to different stages of your graduate career.

Details of the courses available and the Departmental expectations regarding skills training can be found on the Departmental graduate studies website.

The Medical Sciences Division also organises courses and career planning events, details of which are emailed to students via their departments.  Information about transferable skills training is provided in the Division’s Skills Portal.

Information about divisional training and other courses offered across the University is also available through the University Skills Portal.

This site provides information about transferable skills development for research students and research staff at Oxford University, and includes a searchable database of skills training opportunities, links to articles on subjects such as project management, teaching and career planning, and message boards for asking questions and discussing issues with other researchers.  An online Personal Development Planning System is being launched by the University and will be made available through the Skills Portal.

The Department runs regular research skills workshops and has an annual Research Skills Training Day. Students are notified of these events by email.

8. What opportunities will be available for developing and practising teaching skills (for second and third year graduates)?

The University has established a Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL), which will support the development of research students who wish to follow an academic career, including training in teaching skills. Information about the Division’s CETL activities can be found here.

A number of teaching opportunities is available for students after their first year. This includes demonstrating and small group tutorial teaching. You will be able to undertake training for laboratory demonstrating and tutorial teaching.  There may also be opportunities to undertake tutorial teaching in colleges.

9. What arrangements for accommodation, meals and social facilities, will be made, on a year round basis?

Department: Research students can use the Bridge Café and the nearby combination room. This encourages interaction between research groups in the department. Departmental seminars and colloquia bring research students together with academic and other research staff in the department to hear about on-going research, and provide an opportunity for networking and socialising.

College: Many colleges will be able to provide you with at least one year’s accommodation.  Generally speaking your college will provide meals throughout the year, but provision will vary from college to college, especially during vacations, and you will need to familiarise yourself with your college’s detailed arrangements. In addition there are usually self-catering facilities available in graduate accommodation.  You will be a member of the Middle Common Room, or equivalent, of your college, which is the main social centre for graduates.  The MCR provides a common room and usually organises a programme of social events throughout the year. The college will also provide a bar, some computing facilities and a library, and may often have dedicated funds for research (conference and field grants). It also represents the interests of its members to the college through an elected Committee or through elected representatives to College Committees.  Again, details will vary from college to college.  Graduates are also welcome to participate in all other social and sporting activities of the college.  Please see individual college websites for further details about all aspects of college provision.

Central: Graduate Research Students may become members of the University Club in Mansfield Road, and participate in the range of sporting activities provided by the University.

10. What arrangements are in place for pastoral and welfare support?

Department: Within the Department, your supervisor, Director of Graduate Studies and Graduate Advisor are all available to offer support. Student views and concerns can be communicated to the Departmental [eg. Graduate committee]. In addition you may report your views and concerns to the Divisional Graduate Joint Consultative Committee.

College: There is an extensive framework of support for graduates within each college.  Your college will allocate to you a College Advisor from among its Senior Members, usually in a cognate subject, who will arrange to see you from time to time and whom you may contact for additional advice and support on academic and other matters.  In college you may also approach the Tutor for Graduates and/or the Senior Tutor for advice.  The Tutor for Graduates is a fellow of the college with particular responsibility for the interests and welfare of graduate students.  In some colleges, the Senior Tutor will also have the role of Tutor for Graduates.  Each college will also have other named individuals who can offer individual advice.  The University also has a professionally staffed confidential Student Counselling Service which offers assistance with personal, emotional, social and academic problems.

Central: The University provides a Student Counselling Service and Careers Service.