Postgraduate Research Solutions Centre
The Postgraduate Research Solutions Centre based in the Thomas J Moran Graduate School on the main site.
Established in March 2020 to encourage a more collaborative approach to Postgraduate Research across the University, the Centre provides practical solutions and implements actions that support the growth of a vibrant Postgraduate Research community.
Strategy 2030 sets out an ambitious vision for a university with a strong global reputation and we are building partnerships across the world to attract high calibre international staff and students. The Postgraduate Research Solutions Centre is heavily involved with supporting the growth in international funded postgraduate research students and managing cohorts with a Memorandum of Agreement in place.
Staff Information
The Postgraduate Research Solutions Centre (PGRSC) offers a range of services for PGR Directors and Administrators to support action at School level. This includes the provision of statistics, advice and support throughout the academic year and the identification of bottlenecks and processes for improving turnaround times on PGR applications and refining procedures related to international PGR recruitment.
The Centre promotes the use of Course Finder to advertise projects (funded and unfunded) for potential PhD applicants and manages academic staff profiles on the University’s ‘Find a PhD’ webpages.
The Centre is involved in the identification and Management of new International Distance Learning PhD Projects, enhancing the growth of PGR cohorts to meet current and future strategies.
-
PGR Directors Toolkit
LINK TO BE ADDED
- International PGR Targets
The Centre’s current key priority is ensuring that Schools meet the University’s annual international PGR targets. If you would like to know how your School is performing please contact pgrsc@qub.ac.uk for an update.
- International PGR Cohorts
The centre is responsible for managing certain international PhD cohorts studying under a Memorandum of Agreement or through recommendation from specific agents and sponsors.
University of Jeddah Distance Learning/Joint Supervision
Tezpur University
Higher Education Consortium UK (HEC-UK)
Saudi Arabia Pre-PhD Cohort
Students based
Jeddah
QUB 3 years - EPS / QUB 1 year and TEZPUR 2 years option for AHSS
Currently 1 MHLS student
Qatar/London
Saudi Arabia
Status
Full-time
Full-time
Part-time
6 months INTO + full-time PhD (3.5-4 years)
Sponsor
University of Jeddah
Tezpur University
Qatari Embassy via HEC
Saudi Arabia Sponsors
Finance covered
Fees
Fees and Accommodation
3 years - FT fees for first 3 years
6 months plus PhD (max 4 years)
Bench Fees
No
No
No
Unknown (new cohort)
Incidental Costs
Travel/Accommodation provided by UoJ
£750 training grant provided by Faculties for all students in Year 1
N/A
Unknown (new cohort)
No of Students
JS Recruitment on hold -
7 in Year 1/7 in Year 3
Ongoing recruitment
6-20
Pre-Assessment
Projects booklet provided by PGRSC / Referred to 'Find a PhD' if no projects suitable
Projects booklet provided by PGRSC / Pre-Selection at Tezpur / Teams Interview with QUB supervisor(s) for successful candidates
Proposal and qualifications submitted / Admissions qualifications check and Proposal check on Turnitin / PGRSC identify potential supervisor
6 Pre-PhD currently at INTO
(6 for AEL 2023)
INTO/QUB Selection – MHLS for 2023/24 involves interview and project selection prior to offer
External Supervisors
Yes - Joint Supervisor appointment - require External Supervisor approval through CPG
Yes - Joint Supervisor appointment - require External Supervisor approval through CPG
No
No
Accommodation
N/A
Student Accommodation
N/A
Required
Notes
Only female students eligible
No further cohorts imminent
May consider Projects booklet going forward
Often University staff upskilling
- Projects Booklets
The Centre is responsible for compiling project booklets which have been prepared for specific markets to allow potential international PGR candidates to select one that best meets their particular research interests. Project information indicates whether the project must be undertaken at Queen’s or whether it is able to be undertaken remotely.
Current booklets
- Saudi Arabia
- Jordan
- Qatar
- Generic
Blank project proforma
(Insert link to document)
Country specific guides for Jeddah and Tezpur are available on request from pgrsc@qub.ac.uk
- Find a PhD supervisor
The Centre monitors completion of the Find a PhD Supervisor Profile. All staff who are eligible to Supervisor PhD students – Teaching & Research staff and eligible Teaching Only staff, must complete the following proforma: Open PhD Supervisor Template
Anyone wishing to update their Find a PhD Supervisor profile urgently may also do so using this template.
-
PGR Opportunities
PGR opportunities should be uploaded onto Course Finder and information updated regularly by deleting or ‘unticking’ any that are out of date. In the current climate this is an extremely useful way to continue to attract international PGR applicants. Opportunities for your School appear on A-Z of Research Opportunities.
- Reporting
Situation reports are available by request from the Centre on the following areas:
- No Decisions and Waitlist
- DEIN/MATR
- Offer No Decision
- Formal Meetings
- Supervisor Percentages (for Academic CV)
- Targeted ‘Health’ Checks
- Covid Reporting
The following codes were used during the pandemic and while all should by now have been updated you may find these in the student record:
- IMPC - PGR Studies Impacted Covid 19
- IMPO - PGR Studies no longer impacted Covid 19
- NIMP - PGR Studies not impacted Covid 19
- Unsuccessful Applications
The Centre reviews international funded waitlisted applications from Schools where there has been ‘no supervisor’ or ‘no suitable project’ identified but where the application is viable with a view to seeking support from other Schools where appropriate. A number of candidates have been supported in this way, receiving guidance on submitting a new proposal or an alternative project in another School.
- Initiatives
- New Supervisor Codes and Percentages: New codes were introduced into QSIS which help to accurately reflect supervision loads on academic CVs.
- Principal (Co) Supervisor
- Secondary (Co) Supervisor
Percentage options for Supervisor Roles on each PGR student record within:
Option 1
Principal Supervisor
75%
Secondary Supervisor
25%
Option 2
Principal Supervisor
70%
Secondary Supervisory
20%
Tertiary Supervisor (Internal)
10%
Option 3
Principal Supervisor
75%
Secondary Supervisor
25%
External Supervisor
0%
Option 4
Principal-Co Supervisor
50%
Secondary-Co Supervisor
50%
These percentages do not appear on the Academic CV but HESA require the accurate supervisor relationship (and percentage) as it is used to determine how the student is linked to the REF Unit of Assessment as it is returned in the Research Excellence Framework. Collection of this information will allow better monitoring of funding allocations by units of assessment. Changes within the Supervisory team should be reflected in the student history.
Supervision must always add up to 100% for the reporting period. External Supervisors currently must always be 0% and cannot be recorded as Primary, Secondary or Tertiary. The splits provided are an effort to standardise records across all Schools and ensure that each School’s contribution is accounted for and acknowledged in an equitable manner according to the Supervisory role. This process will also allow for future strategic planning in helping to identify where there may be capacity for additional PhD Students.
- Bench Fees/Research Costs
The Centre has introduced a process to encourage standardising Bench Fees/Research Costs to tie down commitments from Sponsors at an early stage in the process so that these will be paid in a timely manner. Identification of this fee at an early stage also allows inclusion in the offer letter and CAS which means that any queries might be raised early ensuring there are no delays in a student beginning their research.
From the start of academic year 2023/24, students will be required to accept liability for bench fees in addition to accepting liability for their tuition fees. Work is ongoing to make it easier for primary supervisors to access these monies and allow an overview of spend.
- Reduction in Application Turnaround Times (new WAITLIST codes)
- Formal Meetings Reports
- Management of International Cohorts
- Multiple Applications
For further information please contact the Project Manager, Lynne Spence, at the Postgraduate Research Solutions Centre for further information: pgrsc@qub.ac.uk.