ASTON GRADUATE SCHOOL

Aston's Research Programmes are offered through the Schools

• Aston Business School (PhD, DBA)
• Aston Medical School (PhD)
• School of Engineering and Applied Science (PhD, MSc by Research)
• School of Languages and Social Sciences (PhD)
• School of Life and Health Sciences (PhD, DOptom, DOphSc, MD, PharmD)

Are you thinking of doctoral research?

• A Vitae resource to help you decide whether a doctorate is for you. 

The UK doctorate: a guide for current and prospective doctoral candidates

• A Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) and National Union of Students (NUS) publication.

The Graduate School's main objective is to provide a supportive environment for all research students across the University, whatever their mode of study and wherever they are located, with a view to widening and enriching their experience during their research studies.The Graduate School is also responsible for maintaining the quality of research degree programmes and the development of training in core research and transferable skills, thus enabling all research students studying for an Aston degree to realise their full potential, whichever pathway they choose.

Subject-specific postgraduate training and development 

Your School is the main centre for the delivery of subject-specific postgraduate training and development. Complementing this, the Graduate School provides a focus for the sharing of ideas and best practice between the Schools.  The Graduate School supports and promotes cross-institutional work and studies and, together with the Aston Postgraduate Research Society (APRS), which is sponsored by Schools, promotes both academic and social events.  These will provide many research students with the opportunity to interact with other research students across the academic disciplines.

Your Journey

The journey from enrolment to graduation can be challenging at times, but it should also be enjoyable. Both the Graduate School team and your School are here to give you full support and advice whenever you need it. 

Information you will need during your study is contained in the Student Handbook or can be found in these Graduate School webpages which contain links to Support, Regulations, Training & Development and other opportunities which you may wish to embark upon. 

During your studies, you will also be supported by a Graduate Development Team, with experts in different areas (for example, Library Services, Career Development, Research & Knowledge Exchange) who collectively provide a range of training and development opportunities for research students and research staff.  Engagement in these opportunities provides an excellent forum for the exchange of ideas and information across discipline boundaries, and is an important part of your research development.

Graduate School Facilities

The Graduate School is located on the sixth floor of the Main Building (MB652).  In addition to the Graduate School Office and the Graduate School Training Room, there is the Postgraduate Student Common Room (MB652c), a space designated for you to meet, relax and socialise.     

In addition to the range of training and development opportunities provided by your School, the Graduate School draws on specific expertise and experience from across the University to deliver the Graduate School Training Programme. Course information can be found in CORE when booking onto courses. Guide on ‘How to Book onto Courses in CORE'.

The Departments that contribute to the Training Programme are collectively known as the Graduate Development Team, comprising: 

• Research and Knowledge Exchange
• Careers+Placements
• Learning Development Centre (LDC)
• Library Services

The Graduate School Training Programme is a comprehensive suite of personal and professional development opportunities for research students.  The collection of courses and workshops covers a broad range of generic skills that support your ability to succeed on your programme, and skills that will prepare you for future employment.  The course provision is mapped against the national Vitae Researcher Development Framework and in broad terms the courses cover:

• Research Methods
• Research Skills
• Personal Skills and Effectiveness
• Professional and Career Development Skills
• Working with Others
• Teaching
• Communication Skills
• Business Skills
• Academic Writing Skills
• IT Skills

Access to the Graduate School Training Programme is an inclusive part of your learning experience at Aston, and we encourage you to talk to your Supervisor about which courses you should do and how you can schedule them over your period of research. 

In addition to the courses, each Department in the Graduate Development Team offers other opportunities that are more personalised and often one-to-one - follow the links to their webpages above to find out more.  You may also be interested in opportunities offered by the following Departments:

• Centre for Learning Innovation and Professional Practice (CLIPP) - training in learning and teaching, for example: An Introduction to Learning and Teaching Practice (ILTP)
• Centre for English Language and Communication at Aston (CELCA) - English Language tuition for international students

There are also resources on the Blackboard Module Aston Graduate School: Postgraduate Research Students - Researcher Development, including training videos (for example, The Good Viva, The Good Presentation).   Also on Blackboard (and Aston YouTube) are some of the presentations from the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition.  This is a regular event organised by the Graduate School which students are encouraged to participate in, either as a competitor or attendee.

There are also 'Vitae' resources available to research students and staff, including:

Advice on doing a doctorate: This offers doctoral students general advice on various aspects of doing and doctorate and how to access further support and guidance.

Vitae booklets: These booklets give practical advice and tips tailored to researchers on topics chosen to support personal, professional and career development. There are seven booklets in the series and each booklet, which focuses on a specific topic, e.g. the Enterprising Researcher and the Informed Researcher, includes advice and suggested exercises to work through.

There is an active postgraduate research community at Aston and plenty of opportunity to get involved: 

• Aston Postgraduate Research Society (APRS)

International students

The International Student Support Unit provides help and advice to students from overseas, both before you join Aston and once you've arrived. The team organise social events, but can also give advice on practical issues, such as opening a bank account and visa applications. There are also several  international student societies.

Student societies

There are many societies at Aston and a full list is available on the Students' Union societies page. There are several faith societies and the Chaplaincy is a welcoming place for all students of any faith or background. 

Students' Union

As an Aston student you're also a member of the Students' Union, which gives you access to a range of benefits, support, entertainment and services. 

Committee Representation

There is a student member on each School Research Committee and these students usually also sit on the University's Graduate School Management Committee, which has a student member from each School.  Elections to these committees are notified to students by the School Research Office.  For further information, contact staff in the School Research Office or current student members:

• Yazan Qarout, Engineering & Applied Science - email Yazan
• to be elected, Languages & Social Sciences 
• Amara Ajaegbu, Aston Business School - email Amara
• Hoor Ayub, Life & Health Sciences  - email Hoor   

Volunteering opportunities

Help out at Aston and in the local community:

• Mentoring scheme - mentor an Aston undergraduate student 
  Postgraduate Mentoring Scheme for Research Students
• Tutoring scheme - help out at a local school, supporting teachers and being an ambassador for Higher Education
• Volunteering - help young people in the local community 

Your student handbook contains essential information you will need throughout your studies, including assessment and progression requirements. To access the handbooks please login.

 

• To access Supervisor Handbooks and other useful information for Supervisors, please login.

Login to view information about our Graduate School Management Committee.

PRES is a biennial survey of the research student experience

• About PRES
• PRES Results (login required)

Research Regulations, Procedures and Codes of Practice