UCL DOCTORAL SCHOOL

DOCTORAL
SCHOOL
HANDBOOK
2020/21
THE ART OF RESEARCH
2

Contacts

General Enquiries Careers

UCL Email and Telephone Directory: UCL Careers:
Website: www.ucl.ac.uk/directory Website: www.ucl.ac.uk/careers
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7679 2000 Tel: +44 (0) 20 3549 5900
Email: careers@ucl.ac.uk
Doctoral School:
Website: www.ucl.ac.uk/docschool
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7679 1422 Support and Wellbeing Services
Email: docschool@ucl.ac.uk Student Support and Wellbeing Website:
www.ucl.ac.uk/students/student-support-and-wellbeing
Student Enquiries Centre: Tel: +44 (0) 20 7679 0100
Floor 1, Student Centre, 27-28 Gordon Street Email: student.wellbeing@ucl.ac.uk
www.ucl.ac.uk/students/life-ucl/student-enquiries-centre
Student Disability Services:
Departmental Graduate Tutors: Website: www.ucl.ac.uk/students/support-and-wellbeing/disability-
www.grad.ucl.ac.uk/essinfo/ddGradTuts.pht support
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7679 0100
Faculty Graduate Tutors:
Email: disability@ucl.ac.uk
www.grad.ucl.ac.uk/essinfo/facGradTuts.pht

Student Psychological Services Website:

Departmental PhD Administrators:
www.ucl.ac.uk/students/support-and-wellbeing/student-
www.grad.ucl.ac.uk/essinfo/ddAdmins.pht
psychological-services
3 Taviton Street, London WC1H OBT
International Tel: (0) 20 7679 1487
International Office:
Students’ Union UCL:
Website: www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/international
Website: www.uclu.org
Tel: +44 (0) 20 308 8520
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7679 2500 (Union Reception)
Email: international@ucl.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7679 2998
(Advice and Welfare)
Finance Tel: +44 (0) 20 7679 7862
Scholarships and Funding Office: (Volunteering Services Unit)
Website: www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/scholarships
Student Central:
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7679 0004
(formerly University of London Union)
Email: studentfunding@ucl.ac.uk
Website: www.studentcentral.london
Tuition Fees and Expenses: Tel: +44 (0) 20 7664 2000
Website: www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/graduate/research/ Email: general.studentcentral@london.ac.uk
fees-funding
Nightline – Confidential Listening Advice and Support
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7679 4125 or 4128
Service for Students:
Email: fees@ucl.ac.uk
Website: www.nightline.org.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7631 0101
Accommodation Email: listening@nightline.org.uk
Student Accommodation:
UCL Postal Address and Telephone:
Website: www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/accommodation
UCL, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7679 6322
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7679 2000
Email: residences@ucl.ac.uk

University of London Housing Services Website:

www.housing.lon.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7862 8880
Email: housing@london.ac.uk
 3

Contents

SECTION 1 SECTION 3 Cover image:

WELCOME AND KEY INFORMATION PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL A K M Saleh Ahmed Anik
DEVELOPMENT Bartlett School of Architecture
Welcome to UCL 5
Acknowledgements:
Research Student Log 18
What is Research? 6–7 A selection of entries from the Doctoral
Doctoral Skills Development Programme 19
Research Integrity 8 School ‘Research Images as Art’
Opportunities for International Research 20 Competition 2019/20.
Ethics and Research 9
UCL Innovation and Enterprise:
Communicating your research to the Other research images:
Entrepreneurship 21
outside world 10 Ander Biguri
Postgraduate Teaching Assistant Scheme Bruna Caridi
Open Science & Scholarship 11
and UCL Arena 22 Matthew Crowe
Key Documents and Tools for all Malgorzata Dawidek
UCL Careers 23
Research Students 12 Karolina Dziemidowicz
Ana Sofia Garcia
SECTION 2 SECTION 4 Dafni Gyftaki
SUPPORT AND ADVICE COMMUNITY AND CAMPUS Emilie Hayter
Roxana Ramirez Herrera
Support and Advice 14 Researcher Communities, Networks and Daniel Hewitt
Collaboration 25
Scholarships 15 Daniyal Jafree
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion 26 Rohit Pradeep Lahoti
Financial Support and the Doctoral
Vasilios Mavroudis
School Fellowship 16 Students’ Union 27
Ana Margarida Neves
Representation and Feedback 28 Louise Oates
Competitions 29 Jacob Reich
Martha Sainsbury
Spaces for Graduates 30
Malica Schmidt
Map rear cover Qiyu Wang

FAQs
What if I’m not getting on with What if I can’t find housing?
my supervisor?
I’m new to London. How can I meet
What is a thesis? people?

What is a PhD? What are the main How do I find a doctor (GP)?
Answers to all these queries
milestones? What do I have to do?
and more can be found on our Where can I find mental health support?
Doctoral School FAQs webpage. I don’t know what’s expected of me in
What if I get sick?
my programme.
What if I get pregnant?
I don’t have a desk. Where can I work
on campus? What if I need to pause my studies?
How do I open a bank account if I’m Where can I find career support,
not British? especially if I don’t want to stay in
How do I get paid my stipend? academia?

What if I run out of money?

4

SECTION 1:
WELCOME AND
KEY INFORMATION

“We want you to become ‘creative, critical, autonomous intellectual risk

takers’ through your research degree at UCL.”

Daniyal Jafree | Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health

 5

Welcome
Welcome to UCL and to the Doctoral School Handbook. The Handbook outlines the support available to you as a
research student on one of our PhD, professional doctorate, MD(Res) or MRes programmes at UCL. We at UCL are
committed to ensuring that the quality of your research training is of the highest level. We believe that a high quality
research environment informs high quality education and we are proud to have been judged to be one of the leading
research universities in the world.

The world has been changed by the The Doctoral School is here to ensure that I would like to wish you the best for your
Covid-19 pandemic. This has had an your time at UCL fulfils your needs and research at UCL and encourage you to
impact on research with some of the expectations, equips you for leadership make the most of the rich and diverse
changes proving beneficial and we will be roles in the research world and elsewhere, research training environment at UCL.
making these permanent. Our research and enables you to make the most of the
I look forward to meeting you at some of
and research training has continued during excitement of research. We look after your
our forthcoming events.
the crisis using on-line communications interests through a Code of Practice for
even when buildings, labs and archives Research Degrees which sets out clearly
were closed albeit with inevitable changes. the standards you can expect from UCL.
We are now working in different ways while
The Doctoral School online Research
maintaining the safety and well being of all
Student Log provides a means to manage
our community.
your project and to track your research
Currently UCL has around 6,000 research career at UCL. It gives a focus to help you
students and over 6,000 academic and develop skills which you can apply to both
research staff involved in your supervision the academic and non-academic worlds
spread across our 11 faculties. to set you up for your future career.
UCL academic staff have some of the
Through courses, inter-disciplinary
strongest backgrounds in their specialist
programmes and scholarships we
fields in the world. UCL is a centre of
encourage students to look beyond the
innovative cross-disciplinary research and
boundaries of their chosen discipline, as
across the College the research students
well as sharing and broadening knowledge
play a vital part in this stimulating research
across disciplines through societies and
environment. Welcome to this community.
competitions. Professor David Bogle FREng
We want you to become ‘creative, critical, Pro-Vice-Provost of the
In this Handbook you will find details of
autonomous intellectual risk takers’ through Doctoral School
activities and events to support you during
your research degree at UCL. These
your time here, and how you can benefit
characteristics are also sought in leadership
from them. More information and resources
roles in many areas beyond research and
can be found on our regularly updated
we hope to give you the opportunity to find
website – www.ucl.ac.uk/docschool
out more about these too during your time
here. Research is an international business The strategy for doctoral education at UCL
so it is important that you gain experience can also be found on the Doctoral School’s
communicating and defending your work website at: www.ucl.ac.uk/docschool/
nationally and internationally. strategy

As a member of UCL we expect you to We in the Doctoral School are here to give
strive for the highest standards of integrity advice particularly on issues you may wish
in your work and I encourage you to read to discuss outside your department that
the information, including UCL’s Statement may arise during your time at UCL – to
on Research Integrity, on UCL’s research help when things go wrong, as well as
integrity web pages: www.ucl.ac.uk/ to celebrate your successes.
research/integrity
6

What is Research?
You have just embarked on a transformative journey as a research degree student – congratulations! But what do
we mean by research in this ‘research- intensive’ environment? Research involves exploring fundamental questions
through rigorous investigation and analysis. These questions can be about almost anything: natural phenomena,
cultural understanding, the way people organise and operate, the ways we design new processes and procedures,
about our understanding of who and what we are and how this defines the human condition, and so on.

Research involves learning the mechanics

of doing experimental or theoretical work,
but also in questioning the methods and
tools used, and in developing new ones.
Researchers work within a discipline
and a tradition, but are also engaged in
questioning its assumptions, re-conceiving
and re-drawing its boundaries with other
disciplines. Undertaking research is also
then a process of defining what constitutes
research itself, questioning and testing
orthodox views and approaches as you go.

Your research degree is a unique chance

to develop and lead your own project and
follow it through to a conclusion which you
can defend. You will have either proposed a
topic yourself or been given a broad scope
to explore but by the end it will definitely be
your project albeit with some ideas from
others who you discuss it with. There will
be successes and false starts along the
way: not all your ideas or investigations will
lead anywhere, but both the fruitful routes
and what turn out to be dead-end paths
form a critical part of the learning process
of research. Your project will be very much
yours to defend and promote, and at the
end you will have the skills to propose
and plan other research projects.

Dafni Gyftaki
Division of Medicine

Karolina Dziemidowicz
UCL School of Pharmacy
 7

What is research at UCL? What is research in my field? What is the outcome?

UCL has a proud tradition of thinking Research varies enormously across The main outcome of a research degree is
differently. Established in 1826 to open different fields of enquiry. At its most basic a trained researcher – the thesis documents
up education in England for the first time level there are differences in the research the evidence to support this. During your
to students of any race or religion, UCL’s methods, methodologies and materials research programme you will produce a
founding principles of academic excellence employed, and in the day to day activities. thesis which documents your original ideas
and research aimed at addressing real You will notice that even within your about your chosen focused topic, the
problems confronting the world and department there are researchers using methods you have chosen, the evidence
they continue to frame our approach very different approaches and working in to support your ideas, the discussion and
today. UCL’s commitment to disruptive quite different ways. conclusions that arise, and all presented
thinking remains profound, and we aim within the context of current and past
Exploring your field, learning about its
to encourage all our researchers to follow developments. You will develop the
territory and methods and how these
novel paths of enquiry that expand the research skills and experience for a range
interconnect with other disciplines is all
limits of knowledge and to cross disciplinary of careers, outside academia as well as
part of the excitement of research and a
and organisational boundaries. inside, where tasks require creativity,
formative part of becoming a researcher rigour, and depth.
UCL 2034, UCL’s highest level institutional as you develop your own approach.
strategy puts it like this: “London’s Global You will be given many opportunities to
Some research by its very nature sits
University: a diverse intellectual community, develop these skills through your research
across disciplines and UCL encourages
engaged with the wider world and work but also through activities within your
all researchers to think about cross
committed to changing it for the better; department or division, through attending
disciplinary approaches that are increasingly
recognised for our radical and critical and presenting at conferences, and
needed to address global challenges.
thinking and its widespread influence; through courses and opportunities available
with an outstanding ability to integrate through the Doctoral Skills Development
Your supervisory team is key to helping
our education, research, innovation and Programme.
you understand the expectations of
enterprise for the long-term benefit of research in your field of study, as well as You will find that undertaking a research
humanity”1. providing you with advice on selecting degree is a very different experience to
the practical methods and theoretical the taught undergraduate or postgraduate
frameworks that fit your project best. As courses with which you are familiar, or
you become more experienced they will from your recent professional environment
also assist you in becoming independent if that is where you have come from. It will
as researcher and thinker, one who is able be demanding certainly, but also we hope
to assess the merits of particular research rewarding. There are many people within
methods, question them and find new UCL to help you, within your Department
ones with confidence. They will also help or Division but also within Professional
you to understand the context in which Services as outlined in this handbook.
research takes place, the standards and In particular your supervisory team will
requirements of professionalism in research, assist, question, support and challenge
and the wider impact of research in society. you: they will help you develop as an
independent thinker and ultimately
someone who takes responsibility for
your own personal and professional
development.

1
www.ucl.ac.uk/2034

“Exploring your field, learning about its territory and methods and how
these interconnect with other disciplines is all part of the excitement of
research and a formative part of becoming a researcher as you develop
your own approach.”
8

Research Integrity
UCL is committed to ensuring the highest standards of integrity in all aspect of its research activities and expects
that all those involved with research at UCL maintain a similar commitment. As a researcher you are expected to
read and abide by the UCL Statement on Research Integrity, which sets out the standards expected of those involved
in research at UCL, including adherence to the UCL Principles of Integrity: honesty, rigour, transparency and open
communication, care and respect, and personal responsibility. www.ucl.ac.uk/research/integrity/integrity-at-ucl

As a researcher it is important to ensure It is your responsibility to be proactive in Further information on UCL’s Research
your research is conducted, and the seeking advice and support as well as Governance Framework and the Code of
results of your research disseminated, keeping up to date with the latest standards Conduct can be found at: www.ucl.ac.uk/
honestly, accurately and in accordance and changes in guidance and legislation srs/governance-and-committees/
with professional standards. Research relating to your discipline area/s throughout resgov
integrity extends to your personal behaviour your research career. These are not simple
Your supervisory team and other specialists
and how you conduct yourself in working issues, but such concerns are an essential
at UCL will help you to gain the knowledge
collaboratively with others, during peer part of the rigours of academic research.
and confidence you need for your particular
review, in declaring potential conflicts of
The Research Integrity website (www.ucl. project and staff across UCL are available
interest, and in showing care and respect
ac.uk/research/integrity) acts as UCL’s to advise and support you.
for other researchers and disciplines,
living Framework for Research Integrity,
research participants and their data, and Referring and adhering to the Research
and draws together information on all
the research record. Integrity Training Framework will assist you
elements of research integrity, including
in identifying and fulfilling your knowledge
Acting professionally in your research ethical funding, research ethics and the
and training needs in these areas:
covers a range of professional knowledge relevant policies and guidelines, such as
www.ucl.ac.uk/research/integrity/
and behaviours including awareness of: research data management, open access
research-integrity-training-framework
and conflicts of interest. It also provides
• methodology and analysis guidance on areas such as research You may also find this paper prepared by
• good data management; collaboration, overseas research, peer the American National Academies useful.
review, publication and authorship, and
• respect and confidentiality; Most of the discussion is relevant to
mentoring. There are also relevant training researchers in all disciplines even though
• research ethics and approval opportunities such the Introduction to the title is “On Being a Scientist”:
processes; Research Support and Integrity Workshop – www.nap.edu/read/12192/chapter/1
• legal requirements; conditions of an introductory session relevant for all those
funding; intending to undertake research at UCL
and applicable to all disciplines.
• health and safety;

• declaring conflicts of interest; as You should also read the UCL Code of
well as a thorough knowledge of the Conduct for Research which sets out
principles of professional conduct and the general principles of conduct as well
appropriate practice in your discipline; as signposting relevant associated UCL
policies, for example the student IPR Policy,
• appropriate attribution of credit and
and Guidance for the Storage and Disposal
authorship;
of Data and Samples. It is designed to
• citation/referencing and the avoidance be read in conjunction with the Research
of plagiarism; Councils UK Policy and Guidelines on
• IPR and copyright; Governance of Good Research Conduct
that sets out the expectations of our key
• respect for equality and diversity;
funders and partners on research integrity:
• public engagement and global www.ukri.org/about-us/policies-and- “Excellence and integrity
citizenship; standards/research-integrity
• principles of responsible innovation.
are inextricably linked.”
Foreword to the Concordat to support
research integrity 2012
 9

Ethics and Research

Research ethics forms an integral part of proper scientific conduct. UCL is therefore committed to:

• the promotion of excellent research research and pledging to conduct their It is the responsibility of the Head of
practice and to maintaining the highest research in an ethical way). This allows Department as outlined in the Academic
standards of rigour and integrity in all UCL to preserve the rights, health and Manual: Duties and Responsibilities of
aspects of our research; safety, and privacy of all involved. Heads Of Department to ensure that
staff and students of the Department
• developing our research staff and The aim of ethical review is to protect are apprised of UCL’s arrangements for
students to be ethical researchers; participants and/or their data. They are a research governance and the associated
• establishing a culture where integrity valuable part of the research process and procedures, the main components
underpins all our research activities. not merely a means of accessing data of which include UCL’s Statement for
and we need to treat them and all their Research Integrity and associated research
information with due respect. However,
All research raises ethical issues and integrity website as well as the UCL REC:
ethical review also helps to protect you as
these will vary across research areas constitution, terms of reference and
the researcher. In addition to and recognition
and discipline. It is very important guidelines.
by funding and publishing bodies, obtaining
that researchers consider the ethical
ethical approval demonstrates that you are Ethical approval must be obtained prior to
implications of their research ‘early’ in
undertaking a legitimate research study. commencement of a study; retrospective
the research planning process.
Careful consideration of research ethics approval will not be granted. You need to
principles and potential risks may help be certain if your research requires ethical
Stop and Think! inform your research methods or increase approvals prior to commencement as:
All research raises ethical issues. participant recruitment, and as a result,
Consider the ethical implications of • Funders often require this as part of
enhance the quality of your research.
your research ‘early’ in the research their conditions of award;
planning process. Research that does not involve human • Publishers may require proof of
participants and/or their data also has approval for publication;
Keep in Mind the potential to raise ethical issues i.e.
All research involving humans • Not obtaining the appropriate
environmental studies that have the
carries some degree of risk. permissions could be classed as
potential to impact on or change the
Sometimes the risk might be very potential research misconduct under
environment, archaeological excavations in
small or even negligible but you UCL’s Procedure for investigating and
disputed territories, studies involving access
always need to consider if the resolving allegations of misconduct in
to sacred sites or the analysis of sacred
research you are doing might raise academic research (2017) and may
cultural objects where access is restricted
issues related to privacy, equality, lead to disciplinary action;
or where there are particular modern
diversity, health and safety. sensitivities or issues. • Not receiving approval could impact on
a research participant’s settlement in
Protecting You
Ethical Approval ensures that you How do I know if I need to apply the event of a claim and could damage

and your participants are protected

for ethical approval? UCL’s insurance profile. The individual
researcher bears personal responsibility
if something goes wrong. All research proposals involving living human
for any claim.
participants and the collection and/or study
Why is ethics review important? of data (to include tissue) derived from living For further advice and guidance please visit
human participants undertaken by UCL the UCL REC website: ethics.grad.ucl.
Ethical review ensures that a research
students or staff (to include honorary staff, ac.uk/ or email: ethics@ucl.ac.uk
project adheres to accepted ethical
affiliate academics and visiting researchers)
principles and standards (ethics.grad.ucl.
on UCL premises and/or by UCL staff
ac.uk/accepted-ethical-standards.php) Remember – It is expected that
or students elsewhere requires ethical
and is conducted in such a way that any all studies that require ethical
approval, be that through the UCL Research
potential adverse impact is in proportion to approval have that approval in
Ethics Committee (REC), a REC operating
its expected benefit. place prior to the start of the
under the Health Research Authority (HRA),
research. Ethical approval will
It also ensures that researchers are an overseas REC or a combination, to
not be granted retrospectively.
accountable for their work (having thought ensure that the research conforms with
about the ethical implications of their general ethical principles and standards.
10

Communicating your research

to the outside world
Contributing to the advancement of your discipline and developing novel lines of enquiry are fundamental to doctoral
research, but all researchers at UCL are also expected to disseminate the results of their research through appropriate
channels, including publication, teaching, commercialisation and engagement with policymaking and the public.

Public Engagement: UCL has one of Public Policy: UCL Public Policy connects Impact: All doctoral theses at UCL now
the most established and largest Public UCL researchers, staff and students with include a requirement to write an impact
Engagement teams in the country. The policy professionals to inform policy with statement. This will allow you to gain some
UCL Public Engagement Unit is situated evidence. www.ucl.ac.uk/public-policy experience in writing about the potential
within UCL Culture and provides advice, impact of your work and convincing others
Volunteering: The Volunteering Services
training, funding, resources and activities of its importance – a vital skill in many areas
Unit is based in the Students’ Union UCL
to help UCL researchers listen to and of future work, not just academic careers.
and funded directly by UCL. It is one of the
engage with communities and to embed There is a course on how to write impact
biggest volunteering departments in the UK
public engagement within all stages of the statements available via the Doctoral Skills
and aims to help you get involved in exciting
research cycle: www.ucl.ac.uk/culture/ programme.
community volunteering opportunities
public-engagement
across London: studentsunionucl.org/
Innovation: UCL Innovation and Enterprise content/volunteering
is a team based at BaseKX in King’s Cross
who offer students training and support
to encourage creative and entrepreneurial
ideas and mindsets. www.ucl.ac.uk/
enterprise/

Bruna Caridi | Institute of Ophthalmology

Martha Sainsbury | Bartlett School of Planning

 11

Open Science & Scholarship

Open Science, Open Scholarship or Open Research – what name is used is less relevant than the grouping of
principles and practices which this term encompasses, these include:

Principles and Practices Key to making open science the norm Research Data Support
within the research environment is Advice and training on best practice in
Open Science is about increased
engagement with early career research, managing research data and optimising
transparency, re-use, participation, co-
as a result an active (and growing) for storage: including the creation of data
operation, accountability and reproducibility
programme of training and development management plans and advising on funder
for research. It aims to improve the quality
opportunities is delivered via the Doctoral requirements. For more information, visit
and reliability of research through principles
School Development Programme and UCL their website: www.ucl.ac.uk/library/
like inclusion, fairness, equity, and sharing,
Organisational Development. Alongside this research-support/research-data
which extend across all disciplines.
are a number of support services that are
Bibliometric Support
Open Science introduces different provided collaboratively by Library Services,
Guidance and support for UCL authors
approaches to the way research is done– Research IT Services, and the Office of
and colleagues on how to use and interpret
including opening access to research the Vice-Provost Research (OVPR); these
bibliometric measures effectively and
publications, data-sharing, open notebooks, offer support and advice and training to
responsibly. For more information, visit
transparency in research evaluation, researchers at all levels on aspects of
their website: www.ucl.ac.uk/library/
ensuring the reproducibility of research open science.
research-support/bibliometrics
(where possible), transparency in research
Services supporting researchers
methods, open source code, software and UCL Press
provided by UCL Library Services
infrastructure, citizen science and open UCL Press is the first fully open access
include:
educational resources. university press in the UK. It publishes high-
Open Access Support quality scholarly monographs, textbooks
A commitment to openness is a
Advice and assistance on all aspects and journals, and makes them freely
fundamental attribute of UCL’s culture
of making research publications openly available online through UCL Discovery
and much is done within the institution
available, including use of the UCL and other open access platforms.
to support open approaches to all
Research Publication Service (RPS) and For more information, visit their website:
academic endeavours. Within the research
UCL Discovery (our institutional repository), www.uclpress.co.uk
environment significant progress has
advice on funder requirements and APC
already been made to embed open Open Access Student Journals
(article processing charge) payments.
principles and practices in our research UCL Press also supports open access
For more information, visit their website:
culture, open access to research student journal publishing by providing an
www.ucl.ac.uk/library/open-access
publications being a prime example. online platform for students to set up, run,
Other areas such as open data, open UCL Research Data Repository and publish their own journals using Open
software, citizen science and open An online repository where you can deposit Journal Software: ojs.lib.ucl.ac.uk/ For
education are actively supported by data you collect in the course of your more information, about running a journal
the institution and are embedded in the research, as well as other research outputs on the platform, or to find out more about
research practices of numerous disciplines. like software or code. It also enables you what is involved in running a journal, visit
Recognizing the will to drive forward to find data resources published by others the website: www.uclpress.co.uk/pages/
the Open Science agenda, UCL’s Open at UCL. The repository supports open student-journals
Science Policy Platform (a senior grouping access and enables you to make your
of UCL academics, researchers and data formally citable by means of a Digital
support service owners) have oversight Object Identifier. For more information,
of and drive forward the innovations and visit their website: www.ucl.ac.uk/
developments necessary to foster a culture library/research-support/research-
of open science. data-management/ucl-research-data-
repository
Access the repository:
rdr.ucl.ac.uk
12

Key Documents and Tools

for all Research Students
Having a clear picture in your mind of the regulations and requirements of your research programme from the outset,
and of where to start in making the most of the huge range of opportunities open to you at UCL, is vital. Your plans
and goals will change as you grow and develop as a researcher, but clear short and long term aims and regular review
of progress is key to actively managing your research project and your time at UCL.

The wealth of information and opportunities UCL Academic Manual The Doctoral School Website
can be somewhat overwhelming however, The UCL Academic Manual brings together www.ucl.ac.uk/docschool
particularly when you are just starting out. in one location the academic regulations,
This page lists the four key documents and The Doctoral School website is the place
policies and procedures for UCL research
tools for all UCL research students to assist to find out about all the support provided
students. It details the regulations for
you in the successful management and for you as doctoral students. It is updated
our research degrees from admission
completion of your programme. regularly.
to the final completion of the degree
together with the formal processes and • Essential Information
requirements at each stage. Here you will
Code of Practice for Graduate • Strategy, Governance and Policy
Research Degrees also find full details of the requirements of
your final thesis – its length, writing and • Support & Advice
The Code of Practice sets out what you presentational conventions, but also the • Funding & Scholarships
as a research student can expect from criteria by which it will be judged.
your supervisory team and from UCL, and • Events & Competitions
what your supervisors and others in UCL The Academic Manual is available online • Networks & Societies
can expect from you. The Code provides via the Doctoral School’s Essential
• Representation & Surveys
an invaluable and user-friendly map of the Information webpage: www.ucl.ac.uk/
landscape of your research degree, together docschool/essinfo • Postgraduate Teaching Assistants
with signposts to key policies, procedures • International Study
and the roles of key personnel such as
Supervisors, Departmental Graduate Research Student Log
Contact Details for the Doctoral School
Tutors and Faculty Graduate Tutors. The Research Student Log is an online
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7679 1422
project management tool designed to
It is important that you read this document Email: docschool@ucl.ac.uk
assist you throughout your degree
carefully at the outset of your time at programme at UCL. Its use is mandatory
UCL and keep it for reference. You will for all UCL research degree students and
receive a hard copy of the Code from it provides a framework for planning and
your department, and it is also available recording your research progress and
online on the Doctoral School’s Essential scheduled supervisory meetings, together
Information webpage: www.ucl.ac.uk/ with help in analysing, planning and
docschool/essinfo charting evidence of your academic and
generic skills development. See page 19
for further details on the Log.

“The Code of Practice sets out what you as a research student can expect
from your supervisory team and from UCL, and what your supervisors and
others in UCL can expect from you.”
 13

SECTION 2:
SUPPORT AND ADVICE

Roxana Ramirez Herrera | Computer Science

14

Support and Advice

There is a wealth of advice and support for doctoral students at UCL covering your academic and professional
development. There is also support in instances where you might need specialist help with more personal issues
that arise.

Supervisory Team Student Support and Wellbeing UCL Doctoral School

A team of expert wellbeing, disability and Provides advice to students and supervisors
Key to your academic and professional
mental health advisers provide a safe, on informal matters concerning the
development as a researcher, your
confidential and non-judgmental space, in supervisory relationship.
supervisors should be your first port of
which you can discuss any issues that may
call for advice and support on almost any Students’ Union UCL Advice Service
be affecting your ability to study. There is
matter: if they can’t help directly, they can Based in the UCL Students’ Union building
a range of services, including:
help you find out who can. on central campus, the Students’ Union
– Student Disability Services Advice Service provides information and
Departmental Administrators
Providing information and advice for advice on a wide range of issues including:
Have a wealth of experience to help you
all disabled UCL students. Organising immigration, housing and finance. You can
navigate successfully through your time
support services such as note-taking, also talk to them about any academic issues
at UCL. Some departments have named
communication support, mentoring and you are facing: as part of the Students’
PhD Administrators, but all will have
study skills tuition. They can also assist Union they are independent of UCL’s formal
administrators with detailed knowledge of
students in applications for Disabled structures.
your department and the administration of
Students Allowance and other funds,
your programme.
and can provide assessments of dyslexia
Departmental Graduate Tutors and other learning difficulties. UCL Cultural Consultation Service
Often referred to by the acronym DGT, each The UCL Cultural Consultation Service
– Student Psychological Services
department has an experienced member (CCS) aims to enhance learning and
They provide an accessible and effective
of academic staff from whom you can seek teaching outcomes for students and staff
professional resource for students who
independent advice on both academic facing cross-cultural and social conflicts.
are facing emotional and psychological
and pastoral care matters if you need to
problems. You can contact them online, via At present, the service is run by two
talk to someone beyond your immediate
phone, or visit 3–4 Taviton St on campus. members of academic staff who both
supervisory team.
have experience and expertise in this area.
Doctoral students can also access the
Faculty Graduate Tutors A team of consultants from across UCL
Employee Assistance Programme and
Each department sits within a faculty and teaching and student community is also
online CBT for issues such as stress and
each faculty also has an FGT, a senior and available for advice.
anxiety via Silvercloud.
experienced academic whom you can
The CCS can help people in a number of
contact if you wish to seek advice outside – Support for specific student groups ways, usually offering a one-hour initial
your department. Information and advice for a range of meeting during which the person seeking
communities, including LGBTQ+ students, advice will have the opportunity to discuss
mature students, student carers, BME
Student Enquiries Centre their situation in detail, in an informal and
students, distance learners, and students friendly atmosphere. You may be given
A central office for all student enquiries, of faith. a follow-up appointment and asked to
including: confirmation of registration/
complete a small exercise for ‘homework’
award, updating your student details,
before coming to the next meeting. All
enrolment, ID cards, Immigration and visas, UCL Student Mediator
meetings are confidential.
etc. If the Student Centre can’t assist Is responsible for advising and assisting
directly, they will signpost you to the correct UCL students with the resolution of
person to help you. You can also contact complaints, involving staff or other students
them online via askUCL, our new online or services of UCL which the student has
student enquiry system. been unable to resolve through informal
means.
 15

Scholarships
The UCL Graduate Scholarships Programme has been developed to support If granted, funding begins at the start of the
graduate students who can demonstrate the potential of their research. next academic session.

Other details/criteria: Scholarships

How many awards are available? How many awards are available?
are awarded on the basis of academic
There will be up to 35 awards available in There will be up to 30 awards available in
excellence and research potential. GRS
2020/21. 2020/21.
applicants from overseas will automatically
Other details/criteria: Scholarships be considered for an UCL Overseas
Graduate Research Scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic Research Scholarship (ORS) which consists
(GRS) excellence and research potential. GRS of fee funding to cover the difference
Who is eligible to apply? The Graduate applicants from overseas will automatically between overseas and UK/EU tuition fees.
Research Scholarships are open to be considered for a UCL Overseas
incoming and current research students Research Scholarship (ORS) which consists Graduate Research Scholarships
from any country. The scholarships are of tuition fee funding to cover the difference
for Cross-Disciplinary Training
offered across all UCL departments for between overseas and UK/EU tuition fees.
(One-Year)
students pursuing studies on either a Who is eligible to apply? These
full-time or part-time basis. UCL Overseas Research scholarships are open to current UCL
Scholarships MPhil/PhD and EngD students.
Online, Non-resident PhDs and Professional
Doctorate students are not currently Who is eligible to apply? The graduate They are awarded to students who want
eligible for this scholarship programme. Overseas Research Scholarships (ORS) to spend an extra year of their research
Successful candidates will normally hold, or are open to incoming and current research degree in a department other than the one
be expecting to achieve, at least an upper students with an overseas tuition fee status. in which they are registered. The duration
second-class Honours UK undergraduate The scholarships are offered across all UCL of the scholarship is one year which can
degree or equivalent qualification. departments for students pursuing studies be taken at any point during the research
on either a full-time or part-time basis. degree programme, although preference
What does it cover? The scholarships
will be given to students in their second
consist of tuition fees equivalent to the Online, Non-resident PhDs and Professional
or third year of study. The purpose of
standard postgraduate UK/EU rate plus a Doctorate students are not currently
eligible for this scholarship programme. this scholarship is to encourage cross-
maintenance stipend of £17,285 per annum disciplinary training, which provides the
Successful candidates will normally hold, or
(2020/21 rate) for full- time study (benefits student with relevant research skills and
be expecting to achieve, at least an upper
are calculated ‘pro rata’ for part-time knowledge to enhance their research.
second-class Honours UK undergraduate
students). The scholarship also includes
degree or equivalent qualification.
additional research costs of up to £1,200 Applicants should already be in receipt of
per year for the stated duration of the at least three-years’ funding to complete
What does it cover? The scholarships
programme. Awards are normally tenable their programme. Self-funding students will
consist of tuition fees equivalent to the
for years 1, 2, and 3 of a full time research need to provide evidence that they have full
standard postgraduate overseas rate.
degree programme (or years 1-5 of a part- funding for the remaining years of their PhD.
Awards are also considered where a
time programme), subject to annual review student has already secured partial funding What does it cover? The scholarships
and renewal. from a sponsor. Awards are normally consist of fees equivalent to the applicable
tenable for years 1, 2, and 3 of a full time
The maintenance stipend will normally be graduate rate (UK/EU or overseas) plus a
research degree programme (or years
subject to an annual inflationary increase. maintenance stipend of £17,285 per annum
1-5 of a part-time programme), subject to
Funding will be extended to a 4th year if (2020/21 rate) or – in the case of recipients
annual review and renewal.
students are on a 1+3 programme or if their who already hold a research council grant
programme is of 4 years duration (excluding a stipend that will match their current
Funding will be extended to a 4th year if
the writing-up year). Where awards are maintenance award. The scholarship also
students are on a 1+3 programme or if their
made to continuing students, they will includes an additional research allowance
programme is of 4 years duration (excluding
apply to the remainder of the programme of up to £1,200.
the writing-up year). Where awards are
only. Any extension to the period of study made to continuing students, they will How many awards are available? In
beyond the standard programme dates is apply to the remainder of the programme 2020/21, there will be up to 4 one-year
not included in the duration of the award. only. Any extension to the period of study scholarships available. Further information:
If granted, funding begins at the start of beyond the standard programme dates is www.ucl.ac.uk/scholarships
the next academic session. not included in the duration of the award.
16

Financial support and the

Doctoral School Fellowship
The aim of the Doctoral School Fellowship is to support research students who, due to unforeseen circumstances,
have their funding interrupted or completely withdrawn.

Who is eligible to apply?

• Current UCL research students only

(excluding students on CRS), from any
country/UCL department

• Must demonstrate circumstances have

changed since registration such that,
due to unforeseen difficulties, they are
unable to complete their programme
without financial assistance

• Must be progressing well academically

and demonstrate that without financial
assistance they would not be able to
complete their studies/research.

What does it cover?

Up to a full year’s maintenance stipend
(at UCL standard stipend rate), depending
on need. Any outstanding tuition fees
need to be covered by departments.

How many awards are available?

Award numbers are not fixed, although
funding is limited.

Other details/criteria:
Candidates cannot apply directly for a
fellowship. They must be nominated for
support by their Head of Department.
Full details are available via: www.ucl.
ac.uk/students/funding/financial-
support/doctoral-school-fellowship Other sources of support: Student funding advice and guidance
UCL also offers help with living costs is also available via: www.ucl.ac.uk/
through its Financial Assistance Fund: students/funding/financial-support/
www.ucl.ac.uk/students/funding/ welfare-adviser
financial-support/financial-assistance-
Further funding opportunities for research
fund
students, including information on ‘doctoral
Funded students may also be entitled loans’, can be found here: www.ucl.ac.uk/
to parental or sick leave. See further scholarships/
information on the Research Services
webpage: www.ucl.ac.uk/research-
services/research-studentships/
studentship-interruptions
Rohit Pradeep Lahoti
Bartlett Development Planning Unit
 17

SECTION 3:
PERSONAL AND
PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT

Louise Oates | Slade School of Fine Art

18

Research student log

The Research Student Log is UCL’s online project management and development tool specifically designed for
our research students.

The Log provides a framework for students

to reflect on and record their progress
and development, both personal and
professional, throughout their research
project. The Research Log includes more
review points at the beginning of your
journey to ensure you are on track, and
then has 6-monthly check-ins thereafter.
It also helps you time and plan your two
research milestones: the upgrade and the
thesis submission. It does not record the
more frequent ‘informal’ meetings that often
occur several times per week/month, but
it ensures that objectives are set, recorded
and monitored at key points.

At each of these points, you will use the

Log to record:
helps researchers identify the knowledge, Research Integrity training is the only
1. Progress since your last review behaviours and attributes of successful training which is currently mandatory
You and your supervisory team will review researchers, allowing them to plan their for all research students. UCL seeks to
the progress against the objectives you set development activities in order to suit their ensure that all of its academic research
at your last review point. Have these been individual needs. You will be asked to reflect is underpinned by the highest standards
achieved? Was it necessary to change any upon and assess your skill levels across a of rigour and integrity. This training can
and if so how? Do any of your objectives range of areas throughout your research. be achieved through either a local course
have to be continued into the next period? This self-assessment will help you to identify offered by your department or the ethics/
courses and development opportunities integrity courses run centrally via the
2. Objectives for the next period
which will assist with your current project Doctoral Skills programme.
You and your supervisors will agree and
and future plans and careers, both within
record objectives for the coming period.
and outside academia.
Research is uncertain so it may be How to use the Research Log
necessary to modify objectives as you The Log also provides a record of the skills Use of the Log is mandatory for all MPhil/
proceed, but it is important nonetheless to courses and development opportunities PhD, Professional Doctorates, EngD and
have a plan that everyone is clear about. that you have undertaken either via MRes programmes. It is intended to be
the Doctoral Skills programme (which used in a flexible manner to allow for
3. Skills required to complete objectives
are recorded automatically) or other different research processes between
The skills you need will change over time.
training which can be recorded manually. different disciplines. It is the responsibility of
This section allows you actively to consider
Increasingly, employers both within and the students to maintain their Logs for their
the skills you do not currently possess and
outside the academic sector are expecting own long-term benefit. The Departmental
those you need to further develop as you
and asking for evidence of development at Graduate Tutor will confirm that the UCL
move through your programme.
sophisticated levels from their recruits. Log has been satisfactorily completed
4. Personal training and development at the upgrade and thesis submission
The Log will provide this evidence and
planning milestones. Further training is offered at 3
forms an important part of your portfolio as
This section helps in identifying areas times during the year on how to use and
a professional researcher, in addition to the
in which you need to develop. The Log get the most of your Research Log.
significant contribution to knowledge in the
provides a facility for students, together with
shape of your thesis and the evidence that
their supervisors, to devise a training and
it provides of your skills.
development plan against the Researcher Jacob Reich
Development Framework (RDF). The RDF MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology
 19

Doctoral Skills Development Programme

(UCL Doc Skills)
UCL Doctoral Skills (UCL Doc Skills) is a comprehensive researcher development programme for all postgraduate
research students at UCL. The purpose of the programme is to give research students the opportunity to expand their
research and personal transferable skills in order to support research, professional development and future careers.
We offer a wide range of opportunities including face-to-face training, e-learning, competitions and internships. Courses
are designed and taught using the expertise and specialist knowledge of the UCL community, complemented by input
from employers and external consultants.

UCL research students also have the Training Requirements Each training activity is assigned a number
opportunity to take skills development of points: a point is worth approximately
All research students at UCL are expected
courses at other institutions in the ½ day of training. Ten days of training is
to take full advantage of the training on
Bloomsbury area as part of the Bloomsbury therefore equivalent to 20 points per year.
offer and should be aiming to complete a
Postgraduate Research Network (BPSN). minimum of 10 days per year for full time Research students are expected to identify
students, or 6 days per year for part-time
UCL Doc Skills is mapped to Vitae’s their training needs in discussion with their
students.
Researcher Development Framework supervisors.
(RDF), the national professional All Research Council funded research Figure below: Vitae’s Researcher
development framework that describes students are required by their funding Development Framework (RDF)
the knowledge, behaviours and attributes bodies to participate in skills development
of successful researchers. training to a degree equivalent to two
weeks per year of their funded studentship
UCL Doc Skills offers comprehensive
(i.e. 3 years for 3-year MPhil/PhDs and 4
coverage of the RDF and each offering is
years for 4-year PhDs, EngDs etc).
mapped to the individual domains of the
framework.

The UCL DocSkills programme offers

courses in a range of areas including
Academic Writing, presentations, critical
thinking, and research ethics. You can
find the complete list of courses offered
on our website (www.ucl.ac.uk/human-
resources/learning-development/
learning-and-development-portfolio/
researcher-development/doctoral-
skills) or via the Inkpath app.

We also offer opportunities such as the

Researcher-led Initiative Awards and with
affiliations outside of UCL such as the
Brilliant Club and BioNews.
20

Opportunities for International Research

Research is global – international journals and conferences are key for effective knowledge transfer and for career
progression. It is important that you gain experience and confidence in communicating and defending your work
nationally and internationally. Meeting people and building international networks will help in your future career.
This is, of course, all part of the excitement of research.

At UCL there are a number of opportunities Yale UCL Collaborative Student Here is what a couple of our previous
for students to develop their research Exchange Programme exchange participants have said:
internationally. This includes support for Yale and UCL have entered into a “I am extremely grateful for the help of
attendance at conferences, as well as unique partnership called the Yale UCL UCL in making the most of an opportunity
opportunities to study/research abroad, Collaborative. to study at Yale for a term and I cannot
allowing you to spend time at a laboratory,
recommend it highly enough to anybody
archive or site off campus. While funding is This is an exchange scheme for doctoral
else who might be interested. Everybody at
always an issue, there are sources available students giving you the chance to apply for
Yale was very friendly and helpful and they
within UCL and outside, which could help the opportunity to have a period of research
provided the perfect environment for me to
you develop an aspect of your research at study at Yale under the supervision of an
do some excellent work.”
another location. You could really gain a identified Yale Supervisor.
stimulating new outlook on your research “My exchange at Yale University was a
Places are limited and offered on a
and the world of research in another culture. great experience I would not have wanted
competitive basis: as ambassadors
to miss. I gained new knowledge, was
You should enquire with your local for UCL, exchange participants will be
able to be a part of another academic
administrators or supervisors as to what expected to make the most of their time at
environment, meet new people and get new
conference funds are available to you. Yale by engaging as fully as possible with
ideas for my project and my future career.
Some examples are: Yale’s research community. Exchanges will
I am very thankful that I have been given
normally be for a period of three months,
• Bartlett Conference Fund this opportunity.”
and it is hoped that the experience will allow
• SLMS Graduate Conference Fund: UCL’s doctoral students to forge enduring
for all research students who are in a links between the two institutions and
department within SLMS within their research areas.

• History Research Funds

• SELCS Conference Fund

• IoE Conference Fund

UCL’s Global Engagement Office –

can offer advice on region/ country-specific
concerns regarding international study
visits.

Bogue Fellowships
Generous fellowships to support
postgraduate research students and post-
doctoral researchers working in the Life
and Biomedical Sciences to visit North
America.

Vasilios Mavroudis
Computer Science
 21

UCL Innovation and Enterprise:

Entrepreneurship
Some of the most innovative and transformative ideas from UCL come from our community of doctoral students and
research postgraduates – who have gone on to establish highly successful companies and social enterprises. At UCL
Innovation & Enterprise we help to fulfil the potential of these ideas, but also assist you in developing entrepreneurial
skills and ways of using your research to develop a career outside of traditional academic pathways.

We believe that to solve some of the Should doctoral students then want to take raised £1.3 million in investment in a seed
most pressing scientific, societal and their entrepreneurial journey further, we funding round led by European venture
technological challenges requires offer our 8-week ‘Explore’ and ‘Launch’ capital firm Balderton Capital.
researchers at all levels to explore the programmes, open to all UCL students.
potential of their ideas. That’s why UCL Over eight evening sessions, participants While studying for her PhD in Neuroscience,
Innovation & Enterprise offers a wide either ‘Explore’ a business idea, or get Rebecca McKelvey had an idea to
range of interactive programmes designed ready to ‘Launch’ their enterprise. The combine her prior experience as a
to enrich your time at UCL and prepare programmes culminate with the opportunity secondary school science teacher, and her
you for the world beyond. These include to pitch for substantial cash prizes. role as a research scientist, to give young
dedicated doctoral workshops, challenges people from low income backgrounds
Find out more at ucl.ac.uk/enterprise opportunities in STEM. Rebecca entered
and competitions, networking events,
Follow us on twitter: @UCLEnterprise the UCL Bright Ideas Award competition
boot camps, one-to-one business advice
Like us on Facebook: @UCLEnterprise (now the ‘Launch a business startup
and the opportunity to join our free startup
Connect with us on LinkedIn: programme’) and won a £10,000 prize.
incubator space at BaseKX, our thriving
entrepreneurial community in the heart of UCL Innovation & Enterprise Gaining space at UCL’s business incubator
the Knowledge Quarter. for startups and new enterprises – and
with other support from UCL Innovation
We run entrepreneurship training specifically Doctoral Entrepreneurs & Enterprise, she was able to turn her
for doctoral students in order to help you Two very different ventures founded by ideas into reality by launching a non-profit
think like an entrepreneur and develop skills doctoral students at UCL – a technology organisation, in2scienceUK.
such as spotting opportunities, maximising startup and transformative social enterprise
resources, generating ideas and improving – have benefitted from the support received In2ScienceUK provides mentors from
universities, arranging science placements,
personal effectiveness. You can also learn from UCL Innovation & Enterprise.
and giving careers guidance to more
how to set up your own business.
As a PhD student in UCL’s Department of than 1000 young people. In October
The training courses tend to run in three
Computing, Leo Wossnig was exposed 2019, In2ScienceUK launched a
stages, from introductory to advanced,
to a range of different technologies and partnership with the Royal Society to pilot a
with workshops over one or two days.
techniques – including quantum computing work placement scheme for disadvantaged
In the introductory workshop the aim is to algorithms. Leo was inspired to come and underrepresented groups.
help you better develop projects and ideas up with a new approach to quantum
“UCL’s support and guidance has
using a new “enterprising lens”, highlighting computing, by incorporating machine
enabled me to create something that has
how this approach can be beneficial both learning. He saw the potential of this
a transformative effect on young lives.”
within, and outside of, academia. The skills, approach in solving problems in industry
Rebecca says.
attributes and behaviours engendered from such as the design of future batteries,
this training contribute to your overarching advanced materials and therapeutic
development and employability as a UCL drugs. He created the startup, Rahko,
doctoral student. which was officially incorporated in 2018
at UCL’s startup incubator space – where
More advanced workshops meanwhile, they received advice and mentoring on
delve deeper into business language and everything from recruitment to contracts.
entrepreneurial thinking. You’ll learn about
key concepts for early-stage enterprise Since then, the company has attracted
creation, including ideation, prototyping, significant interest and has partnered with
testing, building networks, sales, marketing some major players in the field including
and raising finance. Microsoft, Nvidia and IBM. In 2019 Rahko
22

Postgraduate Teaching Assistant Scheme

and UCL Arena
You may be asked by your department to contribute to undergraduate or Master’s level teaching as a Postgraduate
Teaching Assistant (PGTA). The tasks you will be asked to undertake vary between department and discipline, but
typically can include demonstrating in laboratory classes, leading tutorial groups and marking essays. This can be
a very valuable experience: it can contribute to your intellectual development and grasp of the subject, and can
also provide an additional source of income to help support your studies. The skills you acquire from teaching,
demonstrating and facilitating can readily be applied to future careers in many fields, including academia,
education, industrial research, or management.

Some departments offer Teaching Arena One begins with an introductory PGTAs with a substantive teaching role are
Assistantships, whose holders are paid Gateway Workshop, which is designed strongly encouraged to attend TAP.
a stipend and have a responsibility to to prepare you as a new teacher for your
Further information can be found on the
undertake a limited amount of teaching teaching responsibilities, introduce you to
UCL Arena website: www.ucl.ac.uk/
as well as research for a PhD. Other methods in and approaches to teaching
arena/one and through the Doctoral Skills
departments will employ you to undertake and learning, and provide an opportunity to
Development Programme.
some paid teaching work as and when meet Arena Centre staff and fellow PGTAs
necessary. Your related duties (including as you enter the postgraduate teaching Here is what some of our previous TAP
teaching, preparation and training) must community at UCL. Attendance at this participants have said about the course:
not compromise the time you can commit session is required for all postgraduates
to your core research activities. Your with responsibility for any teaching and / “It has been nice to see I am not the only
department will provide guidance on what or assessment at UCL. If you have already one with certain worries when teaching, like
is expected from you in your particular attended a similar introductory training, not knowing the answer to some questions
teaching activities and clear workload please contact us at arena.one@ucl.ac.uk or giving proper feedback to the student.”
allocation to ensure you are not overloaded. to find out whether you still need to attend
“It was insightful to hear about different
a Gateway Workshop.
All PGTAs must undertake appropriate styles of teaching and has challenged me to
development activities to support their PGTAs also have the option of attending think about my own future teaching.”
teaching practice. an extended course, the UCL Arena One
“It has helped me to reflect about the
Teaching Associate Programme (TAP),
UCL’s Arena Centre for Research-based teaching I have done so far but mostly I feel
and then submitting an application for the
Education offers a scheme for such training more confident in planning and assessing
nationally recognised Associate Fellowship
and development of PGTAs, called UCL future teaching.”
of the Higher Education Academy /
Arena One. Advance HE. Daniel Hewitt | Chemistry
 23

UCL Careers – Find Your Future

An important part of the development of a skilled researcher is the ability to manage their own professional and
career development (as specified in the national Researcher Development Framework). The UCL Doctoral School
actively supports research students to become career self-managing through a collaborative programme with UCL
Careers. At UCL Careers, we provide an extensive, bespoke menu of personal support, careers information and
employer engagement opportunities which can be accessed via our researcher – dedicated webpages at:
www.ucl.ac.uk/careers/researchers.

Specialist Support Engagement with External Information & Vacancy Provision

Organisations We believe that an essential part of
A cornerstone of this programme is the
effective career management is to learn
work of our specialist Careers Consultants. We have a long running and extensive
how others have managed their careers
The Consultants work closely with employer programme of employer engagement
successfully. We provide researchers with
engagement professionals, employers, designed for, and open only to, research
the opportunity to learn about the post –
academics and other staff training and students and research staff which stands
PhD career paths of people within
development professionals to design and UCL apart from most other universities in
academia and beyond, not only through our
deliver a careers programme that is relevant the UK. This is in addition to our annual
previously described events programme but
to, and meets the needs of, UCL’s research ‘mainstream’ events programme that we
also through our online collection of career
student community. They are ideally placed provide for all UCL students.
case studies of UCL doctoral graduates
to provide impartial advice and guidance
The Researcher Employer Programme and doctoral graduates of other institutions.
for individuals wishing to discuss their long
aims to provide research students with Research students also have access to
term thoughts and plans for an academic
comprehensive knowledge of the wide our online databases of internships, and
career. They are also well placed to support
range of organisations and occupations part time and full time job opportunities
students who wish to move beyond the
where both the subject specific and from employers targeting UCL students,
academic environment. The work of the
more ‘transferable’ skills gained through including opportunities where research
consultants is conducted through both
a research degree can be applied. This skills and experience may be essential
one to one consultations and a programme
takes the form of a series of sector-specific or desirable.
of workshops.
forum, more general Q&A’s and networking
opportunities, alongside employer-led skills
Click here to book an Click here to book an internship
appointment with a career sessions and career tasters. Apart from opportunity with a career
consultant >> the events, employers contribute to blogs consultant >>
and interviews to offer a range of different
engagement options.

Qiyu Wang | Bartlett School of Architecture Ana Sofia Garcia | Biochemical Engineering
24

SECTION 4:
COMMUNITY AND CAMPUS

Emilie Hayter | Institute of Archaeology

 25

Researcher Communities,
Networks and Collaboration
As a researcher, you will be a member of a number of communities beyond your supervisory team or immediate
working environment: a research group, a department, a seminar group or journal club, a professional society
perhaps (many of which are headquartered or hold meetings in London), and international communities. Researcher
Communities and Networks are in essence groups of people that interact with each other. They can involve a rich
menu of support, advice, events, projects, collaboration, outputs and publications – and are constituted and operate
in many different ways both face-to-face and/or online.

Conferences, meetings, fairs, journals and UCL Research Domains and their UCL Academic Research
books are still central to the dissemination Early Career Networks Networks, Societies and Groups
of research results and for engaging UCL’s Research Domains are large, cross- There is a wide range of academic and
with others, but the development of disciplinary research communities (staff research networks, from the small to the
information technology and social media is and students) that span UCL and our large at UCL, reflecting the breadth of our
changing the way research is conducted partner organisations, fostering interaction research. A small number are listed below,
and communicated, and the way we and collaboration. Each Research Domain the majority student-led, to give you a flavour
interact with others. Established scholarly includes a number of more specific of some of the exciting groups out there.
networks and societies have created research Themes which are of strategic
virtual communities for their members, Your department, Supervisor and fellow
importance to the Domain and UCL.
and new academic virtual communities are students will have detailed information on
now important vehicles for researchers to In general, the Domains and Themes aim what is organised within your department/
interact. Engagement with research and to bring together researchers from across faculty and particularly useful in your field.
with researchers is increasingly through UCL to share experience and perspectives,
There is a wide range of academic and
educational and research email discussion increase the impact of their research and
research networks and societies at UCL,
lists (for example JISCMail), and academic explore the exciting range of opportunities
reflecting the breadth of our research
oriented social networks (like Mendeley, available within and beyond UCL. They
community. The majority are student-led.
Research Gate, Academia.edu) but also provide much vital information on events
See a list of our networks and societies on
blogs, vlogs, tweets etc. You will need to and seminars, and key mailing lists and
the Doc School pages: www.grad.ucl.
explore what tools are appropriate for your newsletters to get plugged into the latest
ac.uk/societies/
aims and in what way you might use even developments.
familiar tools such as Facebook, WhatsApp,
The current UCL Research Domains are
Linkedin or Twitter in a research context.
listed below, and additional Domains will UCL Public Engagement Networks
We’ve gathered together on these pages be coming in the future: A combination of regular meetings and
only a small selection of what is available monthly newsletter, the UCL Public
• Neuroscience
to you at UCL as a starting point: your Engagement Network brings together
colleagues and peers are the best way • Personalised Medicine UCL staff and students interested in public
to find out more, particularly of what is engagement whether they are an old hand
• Populations & Lifelong Health
available in your department and in your of a complete novice: www.ucl.ac.uk/
• Cancer
field. Get in contact with the existing culture/projects/public-engagement-
areas that interest you, explore your own • Environment network
discipline and other cognate ones. If there • eResearch Organised by the UCL Public Engagement
is no group or network in an area that
• Collaborative Social Science Unit, Volunteering Services and one or
interests you, then think about setting it
more partner organisations, Creating
up yourself. This is part of you forging the • Food, Metabolism and Society
Connections is a regular networking
future of your discipline and your career, • Space event that brings UCL staff and postgrads
and of finding the right support for you and
• Microbiology together with social enterprises, residents’
your work.
groups, charities and other community
For more information, please see:
There may even be some funding available organisations. The aim is very simple –
www.ucl.ac.uk/research/domains
from the Doctoral School, OVPR, your to explore ways of working together with
Name | Department
Department/s, or the Students’ Union to mutual benefit: www.ucl.ac.uk/culture/
help you do so. projects/creating-connection
26

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

UCL is proud to celebrate the cultural diversity of its community. Key to UCL’s success are the talents and experiences
of our diverse population.

UCL is considered a sector-leader on We take great efforts to ensure that UCL RaceMatters@UCL is a forum on race
equality, diversity and inclusion, as provides a welcoming environment for all equality at UCL.
evidenced by the number of external who study, work and socialise here. We are
GEN is a UCL virtual network that allows
charter marks we have gained such as the putting in place an ambitious new Equality,
any member of our community who is
Race Equality Charter (bronze), Athena Diversity and Inclusion plan in time for the
interested in gender equality to find out
SWAN (silver), and the Stonewall Workplace academic year 2020-21.
more.
Index (Top 100, 2018). We are proud to
Key objectives are focused on ensuring
celebrate the diversity of our community. Out@UCL has developed network to give
all students feel a sense of belonging at
Key to UCL’s success are the talents, LGBTQ+ staff, students and visitors an
UCL, that we develop inclusive curricula
experiences and contributions of our inclusive environment.
that better speaks to the diversity of our
diverse population.
community and that our academic and
Six percent of UCL postgraduate research staff profile is more representative
students identify as disabled and those of the diverse profile of our student body.
studying at the University are drawn
UCL has a number of staff and student
from 150 Countries, representing a rich
networks, both face-to-face and virtual,
and widespread international heritage.
offering opportunities for those with
The University Council has agreed to
shared identities to socialise and work
take positive action measures, where
collaboratively. For more information
appropriate, to redress historic patterns
about these please visit www.ucl.ac.uk/
of discrimination in tackling barriers
equality-diversity-inclusion/equality-
experienced by women, the LGBTQ+,
diversity-inclusion-committees-and-
disabled, Black, Asian and minority ethnic
networks
(BAME) communities.

Ander Biguri | Division of Medicine Malica Schmidt | Chemical Engineering

 27

Students’ Union UCL

Students’ Union UCL exists to make more happen at UCL, and they’ve been doing it for 125 years. UCL is a majority
postgraduate university and the Union has more than 20,000 postgraduate members. They know that postgrad life is
different and are set up to support you throughout your time here.

While everything we do at the Union is As a Union of more than 40,000 students, facebook.com/studentsunionucl
open to all students, we do understand we give you the power to shape the facebook.com/UCL.Postgrads/
that the needs of postgraduate students elements of the university that affect you. Instagram.com/studentsunionucl
are different to other students and therefore We believe that having your voice heard Twitter.com/theunionucl
require more specific representation, within your faculty and department is the
which is why we have a dedicated elected key to improving the quality of education
Postgraduate Students’ Officer, Jim and research at UCL. You can have a
Onyemenam, and a Faculty Representative say in the decisions that will affect your
in each faculty specifically representing the time here by becoming research student
interests of research students. representative.

Many students, particularly those focusing It’s not just the university you can change.
on research, say it can be difficult to The Union is for students and led by
meet their peers and feel a part of the students and you can get involved with
UCL community. We work hard to bridge making it as good as it can possibly be.
the gap between your academic and Twice a year we elect the students who will
non-academic life. Conferences, events, run the organisation, and you will always
sports, arts and society activities, and have the chance to stand to be one of
volunteering opportunities in London are those leaders or vote for the students you
all organised by us. We also find ways for want to do the job for you. The first round is
you to share your work with your peers in October, so keep an eye out for it.
from a range of disciplines; look out for
There’s more to the Union that we can
the 3 Minute Thesis competition. We also
cover here, so keep in touch with us via our
have a strand of activities under our Project
fortnightly PG email (you’re automatically
Active programme which are specifically for
signed up) or any of our social media
postgraduate students, check these out
channels.
on our website to stay active during your Ana Margarida Neves
time at UCL. Cancer Institute
28

Representation and Feedback

Being part of UCL’s doctoral community means being engaged in a dialogue with us about your experience at UCL –
letting us know what you particularly value and things that you would like to see improved. Research students have
different needs to other communities of students, in some ways much closer to early career research staff.

It’s important that your voices help shape Postgraduate Research actions. The Doctoral School uses the
and influence the work of departments, Experience Survey (PRES) information gained to consider how to
faculties, and UCL as a whole. make improvements at UCL, and also to
Every two years UCL takes part in
inform our work for the wider research
the national Postgraduate Research
There are many ways of letting us know student community through national bodies
Experience Survey (PRES) usually from
your views, for example by speaking to like Vitae, or LERU (the League of European
early March until May. PRES is a national
your supervisory team and members of Research Universities).
survey, co-ordinated by the national body
your department and faculty staff, for
for improving teaching and learning in
example your local Administrators or The next PRES will be held in 2021. You will
Universities, Advance HE. The survey is a
Departmental Graduate Tutors. There are be emailed a link directly so that you can
crucial opportunity for our research student
also structured and formal ways of feeding participate and let us know what you think.
community to tell us about their experience;
in your views to the way UCL works and
it asks questions about key areas such as: Please see the Doctoral School survey
supports research students.
supervision; resources; research skills and pages for the results and action plans.
professional development.
Research Student Academic
Representatives The results are published on the Doctoral
School’s website and discussed by the
Student academic representation at UCL is key UCL committee looking after the
conducted in partnership with our Students’ standards of research degree provision,
Union. Each department and faculty Research Degrees Committee, and with
appoints Research Student Representatives the various stakeholders (for example
to ensure all views across the research UCL’s faculties, the UCL Student Union)
student community are represented. to make sure we identify and implement Matthew Crowe | Mathematics

Staff-Student Consultative Committees

(SSCCs) are local meetings between
students and academics where students
have an opportunity to share feedback
with staff, to develop solutions to students’
concerns, and to prioritise areas for
improvement.

You should find out from your local

administrators how your local SSCC
operates and who the rep is for your area
so you can feedback or volunteer to be
a rep yourself!

You can find further information on

Academic Student Representatives,
including contact information for the
Research Student Representatives in your
area, more on what the reps do, and how
to get involved yourself, on the Students’
Union website.

Click here for the

Students’ Union website >>
 29

Competitions
The Doctoral School runs competitions each year, offering you the chance to share your research and win some
generous prizes. These include: the Research Images as Art/Art Images as Research Competition, the Research
Poster Competition and the UCL Three Minute Thesis.

Research Images As Art/Art Research Poster Competition UCL Three Minute Thesis (3MT®)
Images As Research Competition
The Doctoral School organises an annual Your PhD thesis will be tens of thousands of
The Doctoral School runs a competition Research Poster Competition for all UCL words long when you submit it. Could you
for researchers and artists, both students research students. explain it in three minutes?
and staff, who are invited to submit images
Students are invited to display their posters The Doctoral School and Students’ Union
associated with their work, which have an
centrally in College and these are then UCL run a Three Minute Thesis competition
aesthetic appeal. Selected images are used
judged by a panel of UCL academics. at UCL in the summer term, the winner of
to illustrate this handbook and other UCL
Prizes are awarded for the best posters. which is eligible to enter the national semi-
publications.
finals, and hopefully the finals.
The posters exhibited should convey the
An exhibition of the images is held centrally
essence of a student’s research to an Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) celebrates
in College and assessed by a panel of
audience of both colleagues and non- the exciting research conducted by
judges. Pictures are selected by the panel
specialists. research students. Originally developed
on the basis of their aesthetic appeal, the
by the University of Queensland, the
nature of their subject matter and technical The exhibition attracts interest among UCL competition focuses on students’ academic,
quality. The panel is particularly interested staff, students and visitors. The competing presentation, and research communication
in images that effect a transformation students have in the past found it a valuable skills. The competition supports students’
in the eye of the viewer in translating or way of focusing on their own research, and capacity to effectively explain their research in
communicating the subject that they learning about the research of others. three minutes, in a language appropriate to a
portray and which have the potential to alter
non-specialist audience – it is also great fun.
the way that we view the world. Prizes are
awarded for the best images and all the Further information on all our events and
images are presented in an online gallery competitions can be found on our website
on the Doctoral School website. at: www.ucl.ac.uk/docschool/events

A selection of images from the 2019/20

Research Images as Art competition is
featured throughout this handbook.

Malgorzata Dawidek
Slade School of Fine Art
30

Spaces for Graduates

All UCL learning spaces are available to graduate students. The following study spaces are available for use by
graduate students only.

Student Centre (A) Research Grid in the Science Senate House Hub
The new Student Centre is designed from
Library (C) The Hub includes 160 quiet and social
the ground up with student needs and the This study suite located on the 4th spaces, PCs, Print@UCL and four student
student experience at its heart. The Student floor of the Science Library provides a bookable meeting/training rooms.
Enquiries Centre is located on floor 1 and contemporary 74-seat space to study
Please see our Library Study Spaces
has 1,000 new study spaces, radically either collaboratively or in private.
page for full information on availability of
improving the way you move and learn
these spaces throughout the coronavirus
on campus.
Graduate Hub emergency. You can also book study
spaces here: www.ucl.ac.uk/library/
A space for graduates to meet on central
Science Library Postgraduate campus, comprising a seminar room for libraries-and-study-spaces
Cluster Room (B) group discussion and presentations, a
A PC cluster exclusively for graduates breakout space with integrated kitchenette,
situated in the Science Library (DMS 9 individual study carrels and a common
Watson Building) alongside other clusters. room with Desktop PCs and comfortable
seating. The room is located in the South
Wing basement opposite the Print
Room Café.

A (top), B (below) C
LONDON’S GLOBAL UNIVERSITY

31

We need your help to

say Full Stop to bullying,
harassment and sexual
misconduct.
Help to create a supportive and
inclusive environment at UCL.

report-support.ucl.ac.uk
32

Doctoral
School,
2 Taviton
Street

www.ucl.ac.uk/docschool