Resources for PhD Research Students

A list of resources of potential use to current PhD research students is included below. Please pass on requests or updates to this page to the Director of Graduate Studies.

Essential reading

• The Departmental Research Postgraduate Handbook contains information about administrative processes relevant to PhD students, as well as general guidance.
• In the College's Postgraduate Research Students page you can find a wide range of useful material for postgraduate research students, such as regulations, training opportunities, funding, information about advice and support for students, careers, etc (note in particular the Support for Research Students, which links to a very useful booklet on where to obtain advice and support). Make sure you visit this page from time to time to keep yourself informed.
• The Generic Skills Programme page, with information about the generic skills training programme offered by the College. 
• The  Research Degrees Regulations.
• The  Code of Practice for the Academic Welfare of Postgraduate Research Students.
• The Online Student Handbook.

Forms for Students

• Forms for Withdrawals, Interruptions, Change of Degree, and Change of Mode are all available here.
• Information about Annual Reviews and Upgrading of PGR students (including forms) can be found here.
• Information about and forms needed for your examination can be obtained here. Please email researchdegrees@oyalholloway.ac.uk with any queries relating to the MPhil/PhD examination process.
• Page explaining Training Requirements for PGR students. You can also find the Research Student Training Log.
• Quarterly Review Meeting Form.

Research training resources and advice

• Royal Holloway’s Generic Skills Programme is recommended to all students.
• The Language Centre run in-sessional courses to develop reading and writing skills in English.
• inSTIL is Royal Holloway’s Postgraduate Certificate for PhD students involved in teaching.
• Chris Mitchell’s training session on Preparing for your Oral Examination.
• Vitae Researchers' Portal is a set of resources for research students and supervisors.
• Pat Cryer’s  Resources for Research Students.
• Some advice on how to write a research paper.

General Resources

• The London Taught Course Centre runs specialist courses for PhD researchers in the mathematical sciences.
• Stephen Galbraith’s PhD Information Pack contains some good advice and links for all PhD students.
• PhD Comics is the place to go if you want assurance that you are not alone!