Support and Guidance for Postgraduate Researchers

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Support and Guidance for Postgraduate Researchers

Our university is dedicated to supporting our postgraduate researcher community throughout their time at Essex.

We will provide support and guidance to you throughout your time as a PGR student at Essex, and assist with key transitions and milestones throughout your PGR journey.

Our staff are here to support all students as they navigate their studies and research. Along with your supervisor and your wider department, you will also have access to the Student Wellbeing and Inclusivity Service and the Students' Union, who provide guidance and support for students of all backgrounds and study levels.

Policies

Our Policies and Regulations governing postgraduate research students ensure a structured, supportive, and enriching academic experience. PGR students at Essex are expected to adhere to a robust set of guidelines that cover the entirety of the research journey, from initial registration to final thesis submission.

Below you can find a list of all Policies related specifically to PGR students. In addition, the University also holds policies pertaining to all students, which aren’t included below list.

• General guidance and advice regarding PGR Regulations, Policies and Procedures, including Codes of Practice & Principle Regs for Research Degrees
• Advising and supporting supervisors with individual student cases.

Progress assessment guidance

• PGR student progression : milestones, advice on dealing with extenuating circumstances, Supervisory Panels and Research Student Progress Boards.
• PGR student appeals
• PGR student complaints (informal ‘early resolution’ complaints)

PGR examination and viva guidance

Many other PGR-specific policies are located within the Postgraduate research support section of the Student Directory.

• Thesis examination and viva: Thesis title approval , submission and examination guidance ; reasonable adjustments support; and post-viva support.
• PGR student appeals
• PGR student complaints (informal ‘early resolution’ complaints)

Guidance on the use of Generative AI

We recognise that Generative AI (Gen AI) tools are becoming an increasingly significant part of research and professional practice. While these tools offer powerful opportunities to support the research process—from literature review and data analysis to drafting and visualisation—it is essential that Postgraduate Researchers use them responsibly, ethically, and in line with disciplinary norms. This guidance outlines the University’s position on the use of Generative AI in postgraduate research, providing practical advice to ensure its use enhances, rather than compromises, the integrity, originality, and quality of your work. For detailed expectations, examples, and resources, please refer to the full University of Essex position statement and guidance on the use of AI in Postgraduate Research.

Milestone documents

Milestone documents are an important tool for postgraduate research students, serving as a roadmap for their academic journey. The document outlines specific goals and key achievements that students should aim for during their studies, often including various stages of research, such as the development of a proposal, the completion of literature reviews, and the submission of findings. By setting these milestones, students can monitor their progress and stay focused on what needs to be accomplished.

Milestone documents are used for progress monitoring purposes, allowing Supervisory Panels to evaluate a student's progress and provide feedback, and also to provide an opportunity to review and support students’ individual training needs and personal development.

Each department and level of study has their own dedicated milestone document. You can view your version on the Student Directory , choosing your academic year of entry.

Ethical approval

All research involving human participants, whether undertaken by the University's staff or students, must undergo an ethics review and ethical approval must be obtained before it commences. ‘Human participants’ are defined as including living human beings, human beings who have recently died (cadavers, human remains and body parts), embryos and foetuses, human tissue and bodily fluids, and personal data and records (such as, but not restricted to medical, genetic, financial, personnel, criminal or administrative records and test results including scholastic achievements).

All research involving animals other than humans where the animal is the subject of the research, whether undertaken by the University's staff or students, must undergo an ethics review and a favourable opinion must be obtained before it commences. For the purposes of ethics review of research, the University uses the broadest definition of animal.

Research must not commence until written approval has been received. This should be borne in mind when setting a start date for the project. Ethical approval cannot be granted retrospectively and failure to obtain ethical approval prior to data collection will mean that this data cannot be used.

Failure to obtain or follow the required regulatory procedures and/or to follow accepted procedures outlined within the ethics application could lead to an allegation of Research Misconduct .

Trusted Research

Trusted Research refers to principles and policies that support the integrity of international research collaborations for UK research institutions. It is about ensuring that those collaborations can continue to be successful in today’s political climate, and that intellectual property, sensitive data and personal information are protected. The University has a Trusted Research Policy on the Staff Directory .

Black Researchers' Hub

The Black Researchers’ Hub is a pioneering learning platform, which aims to break down barriers and support the next generation of black researchers at Essex as well as developing your research skills whatever your career aspirations are.

Part of the Transitions and Transformations project , the Black Researchers’ Hub offers a ground-breaking new approach to supporting black students from undergraduate to postgraduate study – and onto academic careers.

The Black Researchers’ Hub is a bespoke digital platform that aims to ensure all our black students have access to the learning, training, advice and support they need to hone their research skills and/or to become successful researchers.

All you need to log onto the Black Researchers hub is your Essex email address and password. To get started, you will need to log into your Gradintelligence account .

The hub is part of Chart my Path on the Gradintelligence platform. Chart My Path is our careers platform that helps you find those crucial extracurricular opportunities that help support you to achieve your career goals.

The Black Researchers’ Hub offers an extra layer of help and guidance and includes everything from activities to help you hone your skills and understand your unique talents, to opportunities for further study, job opportunities, and training.

For more info or help getting started contact blackresearchershub@essex.ac.uk or brh@essex.ac.uk

Take a look around the Black Researchers’ Hub today and realise your academic potential.

Wellbeing

We know university life can throw up all kinds of concerns and questions. If you need some information, advice or support to succeed, stay healthy and happy, we've got it covered.

If you need practical advice, a confidential conversation or general information, no matter what the issue is, our Student Services Hub is the place to go. Ask about health and well-being, accommodation, funding, exam stress and much more. Your questions matter and you'll get answers from a team of experts. The Student Information Team, based in the Hub, may direct you to the Student Wellbeing and Inclusivity Service if you need some additional support.

Student Wellbeing and Inclusivity Service (SWIS)

Our University SWIS team want to ensure that you receive the appropriate emotional and mental wellbeing support. SWIS provides free, confidential help and guidance for any concerns that you might have during your time at Essex. SWIS can advise and signpost you to the support available for:

Guidance on the full range of support available can be found on the Student Directory .

• mental and emotional health,
• disability support,
• academic concerns,
• financial worries,
• accommodation issues.

Students Union Advice Centre

Independent from the University, the SU Advice Centre provides you with free, confidential, and impartial advice on lots of issues, including;

If you’re a current student and require urgent support, you can find details on our emergency and crisis page .

• academic matters,
• complaints,
• appeals,
• housing,
• health and wellbeing,
• immigration
• money.

Library

Our library provides a wealth of resources and support tailored specifically for postgraduate research students and is a key member of the Essex Doctoral and Postdoctoral College. At the heart of this support is the PG Study Room - a peaceful, distraction-free study space exclusively for doctoral and master's students to immerse themselves in their work.

The library also offers specialised research consultations, where PGRs can meet one-on-one with subject librarians to receive guidance on navigating databases, developing effective literature reviews, and managing references. Additionally, the library hosts regular PGR-focused workshops covering valuable skills like data management, open access publishing, and research impact measurement.

Beyond the physical space, the library's online resources provide remote access to e-books, databases, and other digital tools. With its multifaceted approach, the University of Essex library truly serves as an invaluable partner in the PGR journey, empowering students to achieve their full research potential.

Students' Union

The Essex Students' Union provides a variety of resources tailored to postgraduate research needs, from academic support and networking events to wellbeing initiatives and social spaces.

The SU actively encourages postgraduate representation through elected officers and forums, ensuring that the unique challenges faced by postgrad students—such as research pressures, funding concerns, and work-life balance—are addressed.

Whether you're looking to get involved in societies, attend workshops, or simply connect with like-minded peers, the SU creates a space where postgraduates can feel heard, supported, and engaged throughout their academic journey.

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