Meet the Team
This handbook supplements the information provided by the Doctoral College in relation to policies and procedures.
You will have already met with your supervisors and understand that their primary role is to offer you guidance and support in your studies.
Your PhD Researcher Representatives are Kathlyn Haskins and Anna Schmid. They will represent your School on University level committees to ensure that your voice is heard, and any concerns raised.
Your Postgraduate Tutor (Conor), Research Director (Karl) and research area administrator (Carol) are also available for you, should you require any additional support.
Working Environment
Each researcher is supervised by a panel of two (or sometimes more) staff members. One of these is designated as ‘Chair’ and has overall responsibility for effective and adequate supervision.
The general practice in the unit is ‘co-supervision’, i.e. all supervisors play a significant role in the supervision, albeit the exact nature of this may vary.
If a supervisor is on research leave, the normal expectation is that the supervisor remains on the supervision panel as an active supervisor, though there may be a degree of flexibility about attending all meetings.
If a supervisor is on leave for some other reason, e.g. health or caring responsibilities, for an extended period of time, then the University will need to consider appointing a replacement supervisor. The supervisor will not carry out normal supervision duties during such a period of leave. Before the leave begins the supervisors should discuss the supervision needs with the PhD researcher and then discuss with the Research Director what needs to be put in place during the leave period.
In terms of formal supervision meetings, as a minimum PhD researchers would expect to meet with their supervisors at least once per month if registered full-time and once every two months if registered part-time. However, more frequent meetings would be expected at times (for example, during the first year of study).
Following each formal supervision meeting the PhD researcher should write up a note of the meeting and record it on PhD Manager.
There is a shared space in the Belfast BC block, Fourth Floor.
From time to time PhD researchers may request a desk on the Derry~Londonderry campus and if so the Research Director will endeavour to facilitate that request.
PhD researchers may want to suggest specific books that the Library should purchase if these are helpful generally for research and teaching. Researchers should ask their supervisors to contact the Librarian if they wish to do this.
Under the Sconul Access scheme, PhD researchers can also request access to QUB Library and other libraries in the UK and Ireland.
Social Work and Social Policy Research
Ulster University's Social Work and Social Policy Research excels in multiple topic areas, ranging methodologically from the highly abstract to empirical studies and doctrinal analysis.
Social Work and Social Policy
Ulster University's Social Work and Social Policy Research excels in multiple topic areas, ranging methodologically from the highly abstract to...
