INFORMATION FOR PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS

The UCL Code of Practice for Graduate Research Degrees outlines what you can expect from your supervisor and department, as well as your responsibilities as a research student. For details visit www.grad.ucl.ac.uk/codes.

Research Projects and Conference Funds are awarded by the Graduate School to enable students to take up special opportunities to enhance their research. These have included, for example, presenting research at international conferences, and visiting archives or laboratories elsewhere. Research Scholarships are offered to outstanding research students.

This is an online resource provided to all research students. It enables you and your supervisor to document your academic progress and skills development training. The Research Student Log is intended to be used in a flexible manner, to allow for appropriate research processes for different disciplines. Induction in its use is provided.

The purpose of the Skills Development Programme, which is open to all research students at UCL, is to give you the opportunity to expand your generic research skills and personal transferable skills.

These skills are intended to help in your research and also to enhance your employability. The courses are offered free-of-charge and are in addition to specific training offered by academic units and faculties.

The areas covered in the skills programme have been informed by the Researcher Development Framework (RDF) which sets out the knowledge, behaviours and attitudes of effective and highly skilled researchers appropriate for a wide range of careers. The skills programme provides courses from all areas of the RDF:

Knowledge and intellectual abilities

• Knowledge base
• Cognitive abilities
• Creativity
  

Personal effectiveness

• Personal qualities
• Self-management
• Professional and career development
  

Research organisation and governance

• Professional conduct
• Research management
• Finance, funding and resources
  

Communication, influence and impact

• Working with others
• Communication and dissemination
• Engagement and impact.
  

The training programme is regularly reviewed and updated to meet changing needs and new developments.

Full details can be found on the Graduate School’s website at www.grad.ucl.ac.uk/skills.

The Research Poster Competition, Review Competition and Research Images Competition enable graduate students to exercise their skills by presenting their work to panels of academic judges, their peers and the public, as well as offering the chance to win generous prizes.

The Graduate School plays an important role in providing intellectual and social contacts between graduate students, enabling you to meet fellow students from different disciplines, countries and backgrounds. One element of this is provision of a dedicated Graduate Computer Cluster Area and a separate Graduate Common Room. You may also join one of the supported academic societies, which organise graduate seminars and social events. Welcome events for new graduate students provide an excellent introduction to the services and facilities on offer, and to the activities of the Postgraduate Association of the UCL Students’ Union.