Welcome Dear Student, Welcome to King’s College London! Congratulations on your acceptance onto a research degree programme. Research is a key feature of the university and as a research student you will play an important role in contributing to the institution’s culture and reputation. The purpose of this booklet is to acquaint you with the support systems available within your faculty/school and in the wider university community. It identifies where you can find information about academic and administrative procedures that are essential to the successful completion of your research degree This handbook also contains an overview of the mandatory and optional training opportunities that are an important component of the research degree programme. We wish you every success in your research project and hope you have a productive and enjoyable time at King’s College London. Dr Linda Klavinskis Vice-Dean of Postgraduate Research Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine Professor Alistair Lax Director of Graduate Studies Dental Institute 1 Contents 1. You and the university 3 3.8 Student Visas 22 1.1 King’s College London 3 3.9 College policies 22 1.2 The Graduate School 3 1.3 The Faculty/School structure 3 4. Health and safety 24 1.4 Student Representatives 3 5. Library Services & IT 29 2. Your degree 4 5.1 About Library Services & IT at King’s 29 2.1 Typical structure of the three-year full-time 5.2 Introduction to Library Services 29 PhD programme 4 5.3 Key Links to Services, Resources, Hel 2.2 ‘New route’ PhD programmes 4 And Guidance 29 2.3 Typical structure of the part-time PhD course 5 5.4 Library Liaison Managers 29 2.4 MD (Res) Degree 5 5.5 Information Skills Training 29 2.5 Aims of your study programme 5 5.6 IT Training 29 2.6 The Researcher Development Programme 6 5.7 Training for Postgraduates 29 2.7 Getting started… your first weeks 7 5.8 Support, Advice & System Status Updates 29 2.8 How to carry out your research project – some hints 8 6. Your welfare 30 2.9 Research Governance & Ethics 8 6.1 The Compass 30 2.10 Joining a professional body or society as a 6.2 Student Advice Service 30 student member 9 6.3 Counselling Service 30 2.11 Role of the supervisors and student 9 6.4 International students 31 2.12 Assessment of progress 9 6.5 Student financial support 31 2.13 Attending lectures, seminars, conferences 6.6 English Language Centre 31 and presentations 13 6.7 Language Opportunities for Students 32 2.14 Travel Bursary Scheme 13 6.8 Disability Advisory Service 32 2.15 Giving lectures and presentations and taking 6.9 Health care 32 part in journal clubs 13 6.10 King’s Careers & Employability 32 2.16 Poster displays 13 6.11 Chaplaincy and the Dean’s Office 33 2.17 Participation in teaching 13 6.12 Security arrangements on campus 34 2.18 Writing papers 14 6.13 King’s College London Students’ Union 34 2.19 ‘Writing up’ registration 14 2.20 Writing the thesis 15 7. Facilities 36 2.21 Requirements of a thesis 15 7.1 Postgraduate Space 36 2.22 Entry to the PhD examination 16 7.2 Guy’s Campus 36 2.23 Submission of the thesis 16 7.3 Waterloo Campus 37 2.24 Extensions 16 7.4 Denmark Hill Campus 37 2.25 The viva voce 16 7.5 St Thomas’ Campus 37 2.26 Intellectual Property Rights 17 7.6 Keeping informed: email and notice boards 37 2.27 Behaviour, College regulations and 7.7 Social clubs and recreation facilities 38 disciplinary matters 17 7.8 The area around the Guy’s and Waterloo 2.28 Student complaints and grievance Campuses 38 procedures 17 2.29 Student Progress Regulations 18 8. Transport information 39 2.30 Providing Feedback 18 8.1 Getting around 39 2.31 Further Sources of Information 19 8.2 Travel routes between King’s campuses 39 3. Administrative matters, rules and regulations 20 9. Useful contacts 41 3.1 Academic Centre 20 3.2 Registration 20 Appendix: Academic Honesty & Integrity 43 3.3 Change of name or address 20 3.4 Fees 21 3.5 Studentship stipends 21 3.6 Attendance and interruption/withdrawal from College 21 3.7 Off-campus study arrangements 21 2 1. You and the university Our mission is to enhance the experience of postgraduate students at King’s. We bring together the postgraduate opportunities from academic centres 1.1 King’s College London throughout the College to provide a vibrant academic environment for our postgraduate community. King’s College London is one of England’s oldest and most prestigious university institutions: a multi-faculty 1.3 The Faculty/School structure research-led university based in the heart of London. The College offers an intellectually rigorous environment As a postgraduate research student, you will also be a supported by welcoming and caring traditions. King’s member of both an Academic Faculty of the College and has played a major role in many of the advances that a Research Division or Group, both of which have have shaped modern life, such as the discovery of the developed structures and networks that will support you structure of DNA, and it is now the largest centre for the during your time at King’s. A useful starting point for education of doctors, dentists and other healthcare information is the individual Faculty web page, which professionals in Europe and home to five Medical can be accessed at: www.kcl.ac.uk/schools. Research Council centres. This provides information on the management King’s College London owes its present structure to structure, including contact details for key individuals, mergers in recent years with the United Medical and details of how research and teaching is organised within Dental School of Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospitals and the the Faculty, and other key subject specific information Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience. The for students. College is now consolidated on five campuses at the Although there may be slight differences depending Strand, Waterloo, Guy’s, Denmark Hill and St Thomas’ on the Faculty that you are based in, the core support Hospital. structures are essentially the same. Each Faculty has a With some 23,000 students and 5,500 staff, the Postgraduate Research Students Committee that is College offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses chaired by a Director/Vice-Dean who has overall in nine academic faculties. These are the Faculties of Arts responsibility for research students. Each Committee is & Humanities; Life Sciences & Medicine; Natural & usually comprised of Divisional Postgraduate Mathematical Sciences, Nursing & Midwifery and Social Coordinators, who are responsible for the detailed Science & Public Policy; the Dickson Poon School of Law; support and progression of students within a single the Institute of Psychiatry Psychology & Neuroscience; Division or Faculty. Larger Divisions with a lot of the Dental Institute and the Global Institutes. students often have more than one Postgraduate You are studying at King’s during an exciting time in Coordinator and sometimes a formal committee of their the evolution and development of the College. Especially own to consider progress. important are the strengthened research initiatives that You will have an individual Postgraduate Coordinator create a stimulating and world-class environment for appointed to you at the start of your studies. You should postgraduate studies. have been informed of your Coordinator’s name in your offer letter but if you are unsure please contact the 1.2 The Graduate School Academic Centre. Contact details for all Postgraduate Coordinators can be found on the Virtual Campus or Graduate School Office Dental Institute Postgraduate Research KEATS space Floor 5, Franklin-Wilkins Building, Waterloo Campus (see section 3.3). Tel: 020 7848 4146, Email: [email protected] Web: www.kcl.ac.uk/study/pg/school/index.aspx 1.4 Student representatives Postgraduate study is at the heart of the College and Student representatives put the views of fellow students King’s is sensitive to the unique needs of the on their programme to Divisional student/staff liaison postgraduate community. The Graduate School, committees or the Faculty Postgraduate Research established in September 2005, provides a supportive Students Committee. Representatives are usually network across the College by sharing good practice. organised by individual Faculties and departments. If you The School strengthens our focus on postgraduate needs are interested in becoming a representative please and delivers a series of services to the postgraduate contact your Divisional Postgraduate Co-ordinator or community. Our Graduate School offers an exceptionally Secretary of the Faculty Postgraduate Research wide choice of subjects. The College boasts over 230 Students Committee via the Academic Centre (see taught postgraduate programmes and an extensive section 3.1). Details of the current Faculty PGR Reps can range of research opportunities pursued by over 8,600 be found on the Virtual Campus or the Dental Institute students. The College ethos fosters a sense of Postgraduate Research KEATS space. KCLSU provides community and friendship amongst an international and student representatives with training to assist with their multicultural student body. role. For more information: www.kclsu.org/studentreps/ 3 2. Your degree 2.1 Typical structure of the three-year full-time PhD programme First year Second year Third year Enrol and register for the degree of MPhil. Identify further skills development and training Attend training day in October*. Identify further needs. skills development and training needs. 1st month: Meet your Postgraduate Co- Throughout: regular meetings with your Throughout: regular meetings with your ordinator and student representative.