The Loughborough Doctoral Experience
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LOUGHBOROUGH DOCTORAL COLLEGE The Loughborough Doctoral Experience An introduction to postgraduate research at Loughborough University a LOUGHBOROUGH DOCTORAL COLLEGE WELCOME Welcome from Loughborough Doctoral College Loughborough University’s research contributes to new knowledge and understanding at the very highest levels. We help businesses and industry to compete more effectively, shape public policy and ultimately, help to improve the quality of people’s lives. All doctoral researchers at Loughborough University are welcomed into the Doctoral College, where the vitality, visibility and value of our students is at the heart of our doctoral experience. You will benefit from our extensive doctoral training programme, alongside our suite of activities designed to provide practical and pastoral support at every stage of the research process. We also link with other specialist support services across the University, such as our Careers Network, to enable you to access help and advice in order to realise your ambitions. This booklet has been designed to tell you more about the Doctoral College and Contents how we aim to support your doctoral experience. An introduction to Loughborough Doctoral College 01 Professor Elizabeth Peel Our research degrees 02 Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Doctoral College) Why do a doctorate? 03 The PhD process 04 Why Loughborough? 06 Our research strengths 08 Our doctoral community 12 Development opportunities 14 Accommodation 15 Fees and funding 16 Next steps 18 To find out more about Loughborough University’s research opportunities, the benefits of doctoral study and what you can expect as a student at Loughborough, please visit: lboro.ac.uk/pg-research-degrees For a list of our current research opportunities, please see: lboro.ac.uk/phd-opportunities b 01 OUR RESEARCH DEGREES WHY DO A DOCTORATE? Our research degrees Our PhDs and EngDs give you the flexibility and freedom to carry out original quality research, whilst supporting you to solve real world problems. “What I enjoy most about studying for a PhD is the amount you get to learn each day. Whether teaching undergraduate students, learning to use new software, Degree Duration Key fact running experiments or speaking with experts in your field at conferences or PhD 3 years full-time The highest academic qualification you can attain. meetings with industry – almost every (6 years part-time) Your research must make a significant original day you stumble across new information contribution to, and show a critical appreciation of, which answers questions you previously existing knowledge in the subject. hadn’t thought to ask.” Available in some areas of engineering or Andy EngD 4 years full-time PhD Aeronautical and Automotive applied science. An EngD involves collaboration Engineering with industry and combines formally assessed taught modules with innovative research related to real industrial problems. PhD by 3 years full-time* Available in the areas of Architecture, Design Practice (6 years part-time) and Creative Arts, and Social Sciences and Humanities, a PhD by Practice accommodates the Why do a doctorate? communication of knowledge that may not be best represented and communicated in written form, At Loughborough, we are looking for doctoral researchers who have active, allowing innovative practices of research enquiring minds and are enthusiastic about becoming a world expert in and representation. their chosen field to solve vital real world issues. Studying for a doctorate PhD in 3 years full-time The PhD in Creative Writing addresses an offers a unique opportunity for self-discovery and personal growth but you Creative (6 years part-time) overarching research question through will need to be flexible, resilient, tenacious and hard-working. Writing academic research and a creative component. This could be a cycle of poems, a novel, a section In return, you will develop expert Studies to promote an outstanding, of a novel, a novella, a play script, or a collection knowledge in your chosen area and gain a interdisciplinary research environment to of short stories. wide range of invaluable skills to enhance ensure your work is informed by the latest your employability and advance your developments, insights and discoveries. *Not available in all areas career, whether this be within academia, industry or elsewhere. With strong industry As part of our vibrant research community, links, we regularly host careers events you will have the support of the Doctoral and offer networking and placement College who will help you every step of the “Loughborough University to me is the epitome of hard opportunities across a range of sectors. In way to achieving your goals, so that one work. From the department staff and researchers to the addition, we invite pioneering international day you can inspire others to follow in students – everyone strives to be the best. It felt inspiring scholars to our Institute of Advanced your steps. to be a part of such a machine making waves throughout the research community.” Chris PhD Physics lboro.ac.uk/why-study-phd 02 03 THE PHD PROCESS THE PHD PROCESS The PhD process A research degree programme can take on a variety of forms but a typical PhD might look like this: 2 3 1 REVIEW EXISTING CONDUCT RESEARCH YOUR RESEARCH Different research projects will require different Undertaking a review of the existing DEVELOP YOUR research activities. You will use primary and research and literature in your field is secondary sources and may undertake fieldwork, RESEARCH a key step in the PhD process. interviews, surveys, observations etc. QUESTION In critiquing existing knowledge, you will You will need to establish what information you develop a deeper understanding of the Your question guides your research want to collect, how you will collect it, how you topic and identify how your research will and keeps you on track. Ensure it is in will analyse the data and ultimately, how you will contribute to the subject. a subject that you are really interested present the data in your thesis. in and are enthusiastic about. When you have an idea, do some preliminary research to see what information is already available; this may generate some more questions in 5 your mind, which you can develop into your research question. The question 4 6 should have clarity and be neither too broad nor too narrow. THE VIVA GRADUATE! It is key to speak with your WRITE UP The viva voce is an oral examination supervisors about your idea, so that which requires you to discuss your Once you have passed your viva and A PhD thesis is a document you you can establish early on whether research with your examiners, who will submitted a final, corrected version will write, in the region of 80,000 it has potential to form the basis of have reviewed your thesis. The examiners of your thesis, you can graduate as a words (or the equivalent). Your your research project. will ask a series of questions and develop Doctor of Philosophy. Not only does this thesis presents your analysis of a discussion to test your knowledge and allow you to put the title “Dr” at the start the research you have undertaken ability to defend your research. of your name, it also opens up a world and how this answers your of opportunities in research, academia, original research question. industry and many other sectors. 04 05 WHY LOUGHBOROUGH? WHY LOUGHBOROUGH? Each of our locations offers something very different. Loughborough is a bustling Why Loughborough? market town in the East Midlands, where you LEEDS can explore fantastic countryside and local BRADFORD YORK heritage. London is one of the world’s busiest Our world-class research and passion for AIRPORT LEEDS cities and a hub of industry, innovation and student experience have enabled us to create creativity, famous for its cosmopolitan culture something truly special. and fast pace of life. MANCHESTER Whether you decide to study at our Loughborough or Whether you are located at our Loughborough MANCHESTER or our London campus, you will be within easy London campus, you will join a doctoral researcher LIVERPOOL AIRPORT community from around 100 different countries. reach of thousands of popular destinations This ambitious community of students and staff are across the UK, Europe and beyond, thanks to LIVERPOOL our excellent transport links. committed to helping each other reach their full AIRPORT potential academically, professionally and socially. DERBY NOTTINGHAM We offer: EAST • a minimum of two supervisors for every PhD student MIDLANDS AIRPORT • opportunities to work alongside leading academics LOUGHBOROUGH • dedicated training programmes to hone your CAMPUS research skills LEICESTER • a real community spirit amongst our doctoral NORWICH researchers, supported by the Doctoral College • opportunities for collaboration with other universities BIRMINGHAM and industries to maximise the impact of our research AIRPORT • careers advice specially designed to support the specific skills and experience of research graduates, CAMBRIDGE whatever your career aspirations • state-of-the-art facilities for research LONDON and sport. LUTON LONDON AIRPORT STANSTED AIRPORT OXFORD LONDON AMSTERDAM CARDIFF CAMPUS LONDON HEATHROW AIRPORT* POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH BRISTOL EXPERIENCE SURVEY 2019 IN THE TOP 25% OF UK INSTITUTIONS BRUSSELS FOR RESOURCES FOR DOCTORAL GATWICK RESEARCHERS AIRPORT PARIS POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH EXPERIENCE SURVEY 2019 SOUTHAMPTON BRIGHTON IN THE TOP 25% OF UK INSTITUTIONS FOR THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF DOCTORAL RESEARCHERS lboro.ac.uk/pg-locations *We offer a free coach service from Heathrow to our Loughborough (East Midlands) campus for new international students at the start of the academic year. 06 07 OUR RESEARCH STRENGTHS OUR RESEARCH STRENGTHS School of Architecture, Building and School of Science Civil Engineering Loughborough scientists are actively engaged in As a leading centre for transdisciplinary research cutting edge theoretical and applied research, in the built environment, many of our research shaping the future and transforming the world outputs are created for, and in partnership with, through technological advances and scientific industrial collaborators to ensure demonstrable discovery.