Professionalizing the PhD

Doctoral Seminars 

Introduction
 
At the School of English we have prided ourselves on the formal support mechanisms we have developed for postgraduate students ? particularly to MAs. We have a well developed induction programme, which emphasises research-based knowledge, and provides incoming students with a programme of training in the use of research tools, resources and methodologies; our approach has been commended by both subject reviewers and the wider community of English studies in the UK. In the PhD, the foremost formal support mechanism is provided through the working relationship between supervisor and supervisee. The School as a whole, however, is committed to preparing doctoral students for future careers ? either in academia, or in other fields. It is to address this important issue that this seminar series is conceived.
 
This is not intended to be a course in research training. Likewise it is not intended to supersede any element of the PhD supervisor?s responsibility. The series of developmental seminars detailed below is offered to students across their three (or four) years of full-time study (or the part-time equivalent), and is intended as training in career development, which has as its specific remit the preparation of doctoral candidates for the job market ? both within and without English studies. By conceiving a framework for professionalizing the PhD, it is hoped that doctoral students will emerge from the Queen?s experience well prepared for the challenges of the academic or non-academic workplace.


Year 1 Introductory seminar

  • For all new doctoral students, which maps out their various activities over their three years, and introduces them to the elements of this training programme
  • Patterns of employment following completion of the Ph.D. in English
    • Overview of the various dimensions of being a member of a professional community
  • Funding opportunities
    • Seminar on QUB & external funding (for travel to conferences, research trips, etc)

Year 2 TA training course

  • for those who have differentiated and are to become TAs in the School 
    • Skills development
    • Presentation skills
    • Confidence building
    • Powers of communication
  • Students will have as their goal participation in the School's research seminar in their second year. 
  • Conference culture
    • How to propose & present a paper
    • Conventions of an oral text
    • How to run a conference; how to get funding; how to edit proceedings & find a publisher
    • Networking
    • Using the conference to raise individual profile & serve as springboard for publications
  • Research culture & strategy
    • The nature of scholarship
    • Development of an individual research profile
    • Info. on the RAE (Research Assessment Exercise)
  • Publication
    • How to prepare and submit essays: the process and what to expect
    • Characteristics of work pitched at the scholarly community
    • Publication of PhD thesis
    • Moving from the conference presentation to the essay
    • Moving beyond the PhD; forward planning of research
    • What is a refereed journal and why does it matter? 
    • Submitting to journal vs. edited collection
    • Book reviews
    • 'Notes' and short articles
    • Reference entries

Year 3 

  • The first job
  • Duties, expectations & limitations
  • Salary scales & career prospects
  • Consideration of different shapes that career paths may take
  • The first job II
    • Where to look
    • How to apply
    • How to write a letter of application
    • Analysing selection criteria of selectors
    • Preparing a CV
  • Workshop on preparation & presentation of students' own CVs
  •   Teaching & learning development
    • Course design, delivery & evaluation
    • Quality assessment/assurance (QAA)
  •   Job interview I
    • Interview techniques
  •   Job interview II
    • Mock interviews