Good practice guides

About the project

The Doctoral and Researcher College has developed several good practice guides for staff, which are designed to complement the University's formal policies.

They are also intended to be considered in conjunction with the training sessions organised jointly by the University's Centre for Quality Support and Development (CSTD) and the Doctoral and Researcher College. They focus primarily on practice at Reading.

Please note that, if you are looking to advertise for, or appoint to, a research studentship, please see our studentship guidance for staff .

Further guides will be uploaded to this page as they are developed. If you have a suggestion for a future good practice guide, please email DoctoralandResearcherCollege@reading.ac.uk .

PhD examiners

This guide is for academics involved in the examination process and it sets out what is involved, how it might best be approached, exactly where responsibilities lie (as either internal or external examiner) and the standards you should be looking for.

It is designed to complement (and reference) the University's formal policy covering this area, enshrined in the Guide for Examiners for Higher Degrees by Research.

Download the PhD examiners good practice guide (PDF, 0.28 MB)

PhD supervision

This guide is designed for the benefit of those supervising doctoral students and it aims to supplement different levels of hands-on experience.

It takes you through the process and provides further pointers as to the good practice that should be adopted.

Download the PhD supervision good practice guide (PDF, 0.45 MB)

Interviewing research students for research degree programmes

This guide is designed to promote consistent and fair practice in interviewing applicants for research degree programmes. It sets out a number of things that can be done to prepare for interviews and the structure that interviews should take.

Download the interviewing research students for research degree programmes good practice guide (PDF, 0.13 MB)

Monitoring and assessing the progress of postgraduate research students

This guide is to provide additional, detailed information and suggestions for good practice, where relevant, on the monitoring and assessment of the progress of PhD students; parts of it will also be relevant for those studying for MPhil degrees. It is designed to complement the University's formal policy covering this area, which is enshrined in the University's Code of Practice on Research Students.

Download the monitoring and assessing the progress of postgraduate research students good practice guide (PDF, 0.31 MB)

Information on studentship funding

This short guide aims to provide an overview of key information about studentship funding administered by the University of Reading. It includes important information about the different elements of studentship funding, how these are administered, the responsibilities of students in managing their awards, and the uses of research training support grants (RTSG).

Download the guidance for students with studentship funding good practice guide (PDF, 0.2 MB)

Postgraduate research wellbeing: a guide for supervisors and directors of postgraduate research studies

The purpose of this brief guide is to help supervisors and directors of postgraduate research studies to recognise when their students might be suffering from mental wellbeing related issues, to provide appropriate support, and to refer them on to other services when appropriate.

Download "Postgraduate research wellbeing: a guide for supervisors and directors of postgraduate research studies" (PDF, 0.25 MB)

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