Postgraduate Research Experience Survey

The Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES) enables us to gather information about the experience of any research student on a doctoral or research master’s course. It is delivered in partnership with AdvanceHE and JISC.

PRES has been developed in consultation with the sector and has been robustly tested across many disciplines, in several institutions and with students to ensure it produces valid results.

What will I be asked?

You’ll be asked to rate a series of questions with a score of 1 to 5, with 1 being “Definitely Agree”. When answering questions please consider all your experiences at University of Staffordshire, from the day you joined us right through to the present day.

Supervision 

• My supervisor/s have the skills and subject knowledge to support my research  

• I have regular contact with my supervisor/s, appropriate for my needs  

• My supervisor/s provide feedback that helps me direct my research activities  

• My supervisor/s help me to identify my training and development needs as a researcher  

On-campus resources  

• I have a suitable working space when I am on campus  

• There is appropriate access to physical library resources and facilities  

• There is appropriate access to IT resources and facilities when I am on campus  

• I have access to the specialist resources necessary for my research (for example, equipment, facilities, software, materials) when I am on campus  

 Online learning resources  

• I have a suitable working space when I am studying remotely  

• There is appropriate access to online library resources  

• I have access to the specialist resources necessary for my research (for example, course materials, software, virtual learning environment) when I am studying remotely  

Research Culture  

• I have access to a good range of seminars in my research area  

• I have frequent opportunities to discuss my research with other researchers including research students  

• The research community in my research area influences my work   

• I am aware of opportunities to become involved in the wider research community, beyond my department  

Community   

• I feel part of a community of postgraduate research students   

• I feel a sense of belonging at my institution  

• There are sufficient opportunities to interact with other postgraduate research students  

Progress and Assessment  

• I received an appropriate induction to my research degree programme  

• I understand the requirements and deadlines for formal monitoring of my progress  

• I understand the required standard for my thesis  

• The final assessment procedures for my degree are clear to me  

Responsibilities  

• My institution values and responds to feedback from research degree students  

• I understand my responsibilities as a research degree student  

• I am aware of my supervisors’ responsibilities towards me as a research degree student  

• Other than my supervisor/s, I know who to approach if I am concerned about any aspect of my degree programme  

Support  

• The support for academic skills meets my needs (for example, support for your writing, language, subject-specific skills)  

• The support for using IT and accessing resources meets my needs (for example, support with accessing online journals and e-books, using digital learning tools/apps)  

• The support for my health and wellbeing meets my needs (for example, personal tutor, student support and counselling services)  

Research Skills  

• My skills in applying appropriate research methodologies, tools and techniques have developed during my programme  

• My skills in critically analysing and evaluating findings and results have developed during my programme  

• My confidence to be creative or innovative has developed during my programme  

• My understanding of 'research integrity' (e.g. rigour, ethics, transparency, attributing the contribution of others) has developed during my programme  

Professional Development  

• My ability to manage projects has developed during my programme  

• My ability to communicate information effectively to diverse audiences has developed during my programme  

• I have developed contacts or professional networks during my programme  

• I have increasingly managed my own professional development during my programme  

Opportunities  

• Please indicate which of the following opportunities (including virtual and in-person opportunities) you have experienced during your research degree programme (select all that apply):  

• Agreeing a personal training or development plan  

• Receiving training to develop my research skills  

• Receiving training to develop my transferable skills  

• Receiving advice on career options  

• Taking part in a placement or internship  

• Attending an academic research conference  

• Presenting a paper or poster at an academic research conference  

• Submitting a paper for publication in an academic journal or book  

• Communicating your research to a non-academic audience  

• Engagement with non-academic partners – e.g.in industry or elsewhere  

• Coaching and/or mentoring 

Overall experience  

• Overall, I am satisfied with the experience of my research degree programme. 

• I am confident that I will complete my research degree programme within my institution’s expected timescale  

Institutional questions  

• To what extent do you agree or disagree that you understand your responsibilities in relation to the following University policies and procedures?  

• • Postgraduate Research Regulations  

• • The Code of Conduct for Research Integrity  

• • Ethical Review  

• • Research Data Management  

• • Export Control  

• • Open Access  

• • Equality, Diversity and Inclusion  

• Are you happy with the academic progress that you have made during the current academic year? 

*In addition to the questions above further questions will also be asked to help us to better enhance your experience at the University of Staffordshire.