Research Students Handbook

RESEARCH STUDENTS HANDBOOK HUMANITIES 201213
Humanities
Research Students Handbook
Welcome
Welcome to Imperial College London. We hope you feel at home here and that your period of study with us will be successful and enjoyable. This handbook describes the support that will be available to you and explains some of the procedures governing research degrees. It should be read in conjunction with the College's own regulations and publications. The College supports humanities research in four distinct fields: the history of science, science communication, translation studies, and languages. As a research student at imperial, you will be working in a lively environment where you will make important contacts and friendships which will last into your future career. You will have access to an excellent network of support including supervisors, postgraduate tutors and administrators. You will also have opportunities to meet other researchers and hear about their work. Imperial College itself is a dynamic, hard-working institution that prides itself on the achievements of its postgraduate students. All postgraduate students are members of Imperial's thriving Graduate School which aims to support students in their studies and in their transition into subsequent employment. As well as being a world-class research institution, Imperial College enjoys its proximity to the South Kensington museums which offer useful resources and enrich the student experience. We hope you take advantage of these and the many other opportunities that London affords. Enjoy your time with us. I wish you the very best with your studies. Dr Felicity Mellor Director of Postgraduate Studies, Humanities
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CONTENTS 1. Humanities at Imperial ........................................

What we do Who we are 1
2.
Progressing through a PhD .............................................

Summary timeline for full-time PhD students Summary timeline for part-time PhD students Registration Research plan confirmation Assessment stages students registered before Jan 2011 Assessment stages students registered from Jan 2011 Entry to Examination Submission of thesis Viva
3.
Supervision and support ....................................................

Responsibilities of the principal supervisor Responsibilities of the second supervisor Responsibilities of the student Training Seminar programmes The research student administrator The postgraduate tutor The assessor The director of postgraduate studies The college tutors
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Facilities ...........................................................................................
Study rooms Resources Libraries Careers advice Student Counselling Service
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5.
Management of postgraduate research ...............

Postgraduate Studies Committee Graduate School
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The Graduate School .............................................................

Introduction from the Graduate School Director Transferable skills courses Other resources Graduate School events Contact
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Health and safety .....................................................................
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Further sources of information .....................................

College websites and online information Contacts
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1.
Humanities at Imperial
What we do
Humanities research is carried out in four units: The Centre for the History of Science, Technology and Medicine (CHoSTM) The Science Communication Unit Translation Studies Unit Languages Unit In addition to research, our staff are involved in teaching at both postgraduate and undergraduate levels. We offer five masters degrees: the History of Science, Medicine and Technology; Science, Technology, Medicine and Society; Science Communication; Science Media Production; and Scientific, Technical and Medical Translation with Translation Technology. Some PhD students may benefit from auditing modules on these courses. If you think this would be helpful to you, do discuss it with your supervisor and the relevant course tutor. We also offer College-wide credit courses to undergraduate students in languages and humanities, combined degree programmes in French, German or Spanish with Biology or Chemistry, non-credit evening courses for students and staff, a programme of stand-alone one day courses in translation technology, and summer courses on audiovisual translation.
Who we are
Director of Postgraduate Studies Dr Felicity Mellor Centre for the History of Science, Technology and Medicine (CHoSTM) Professor David Edgerton (Head and Postgraduate Tutor) Dr Jean-Baptiste Fressoz Dr Abigail Woods Science Communication Unit Dr Stephen Webster (Director and Postgraduate Tutor) Giskin Day Dr Felicity Mellor Gareth Mitchell Rachel Souhami Dr Robert Sternberg Translation Studies Unit Mark Shuttleworth (Director) Christophe Declercq Dr Jorge Diaz-Cintas (Postgraduate Tutor) Dr Juan Lalaguna Dr Roco Baos-Piero
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Languages Unit Professor Charmian Brinson (Director and Postgraduate Tutor) Professor Charles Drage Dr Ruth Herd Dr Juan Lalaguna Dr Sheila Lecoeur Administration Centre Managers Research students administrator CHoSTM administrator Languages administrator Science Communication administrator Translation administrator
Maggie Causley & Claire Stapley Liam Watson Anne-laure Vieille Jackie Twitchett Liam Watson Naomi Anderson-Eyles
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2.
Progressing through a PhD
A PhD is a significant piece of original research undertaken by an independent scholar. In the course of your doctoral studies, you will conduct an in-depth study of a specific topic, engaging in critical analyses of the relevant literature and providing original insights based on your own analysis of primary source material. In addition to becoming expert in your chosen topic, you will also develop a number of transferable skills such as organisational skills and communication skills. A doctoral thesis must form a distinct contribution to the knowledge of the subject and afford evidence of originality shown by the discovery of new facts and/or by the exercise of independent critical power. Although the minimum period of registration for completion of a PhD is two years, the College will normally expect a student to be enrolled full-time for three years of registration (or the equivalent in part-time studies) before presentation of the thesis. During this time you will need to be self-motivating and able to initiate your own research. You will have access to research training and you will be assigned two supervisors a principal supervisor and a second supervisor who will provide you with advice and guidance at regular meetings (see Section 3 below). However, as an independent piece of work, the planning and execution of your research will be your responsibility. To help structure your programme of study and to ensure that you are making adequate progress, you will pass through a number of assessment stages during the course of your PhD. This section describes these stages, together with some other administrative requirements, in the order in which they occur. In addition to the requirements set out here, your supervisors may ask you to produce essays, draft chapters and seminar or conference papers. All the work you submit during your studies must be your own and must be properly referenced. (See here for the College position on plagiarism.) In the vast majority of cases, students progress through their studies at an appropriate pace and are able to meet all the requirements outlined below within the set time limits. However, in some cases a student may be faced with a personal emergency which means they cannot continue with their studies for a time. In such circumstances, it is possible to apply to interrupt your studies using form IC/B. This allows you to suspend your registration for a time. No fees are payable during such a period. If you think you may need to interrupt your studies, you should discuss the situation with one of your supervisors or your postgraduate tutor first. The Student Counselling Service may also be able to offer support in such circumstances.
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Summary timeline for full-time PhD students

Month 1: Month 9: Month 9-15: Month 18: Month 18: Month 44: Month 48: Registration; Enrolment; Project proposal/research plan (if not already completed on application). First assessment for students registered from Jan 2011. MPhil/PhD transfer for students registered before Jan 2011. Second assessment for students registered from Jan 2011. Earliest date for submission of Entry to Examination form. Latest date for submission of Entry to Examination form. Latest date for submission of thesis.
Summary timeline for part-time PhD students

Month 1: Month 18: Month 30: Month 36: Month 42: Month 68: Month 72: Registration; Enrolment; Project proposal/research plan (if not already completed on application). Latest date for first assessment for students registered from Jan 2011. Latest date for MPhil/PhD transfer for students registered before Jan 2011. Latest date for second assessment for students registered from Jan 2011. Earliest date for submission of Entry to Examination form. Latest date for submission of Entry to Examination form. Latest date for submission of thesis.
Registration
When: Before, or immediately upon, arriving and at the start of each academic year thereafter. What: Online enrolment. You should enrol online via the Student e-Service facility as soon as possible after arriving if you have not done so already. Your log-on for Student e-Service is your College Identifier number (CID) which has been quoted in the correspondence you have received from Registry during the application process. You should also receive an email giving you a password. When you log on to enrol, you will be asked to select your area of interest; you should select the Science, Engineering and Medicine option. Enrolment with College Registry ensures that your student records are correct. It entitles you to access facilities such as accommodation, council tax exemption and other concessions, and allows those students paid from a studentship to receive their stipend. Within the Student e-Service facility you can also upload a recent photograph of yourself (conforming to passport standards) for your College Identity Card. You will need this card to gain access to some College buildings and it also serves as your library card and entitles you to discounts at some of the Campus shops and canteens.
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Continuing research students need to re-enrol online each academic year, prior to the start of term, to confirm your attendance. Once enrolment is completed, all overseas students, including EU students, must contact the English Language Support Programme (ELSP) either to take the Colleges internal Initial English Language Test or to complete an exemption form. Please note that this test is in addition to the PG1 test required for admission and enrolment. Depending on the result, you may be offered support classes by ELSP, and you may also need to take a second test at the time of your first and/or second year assessments. A score of 60 in the ELSP Initial Test is required in order that the further Transfer Test is not required. (See the ELSP website for further details about the tests and who may qualify for exemption.)
Research plan confirmation

When: Within 12 weeks of start of registration. What: Outline of intended project. Length: approximately 1000 words. As part of the admission process you will have submitted a project proposal which will have been approved by your supervisor and postgraduate tutor. A third member of staff will also assess your proposal. This research plan must be your own work and describe studies to cover the entire duration of the intended degree. It should set out the topic of your research, what research questions you hope to address, the methodological approach you expect to adopt, and the primary sources on which you will draw. Since you will refine your ideas about your project once you start your studies, your supervisor may ask you to submit a revised version of your proposal once your studies are under way. Your supervisor must confirm that an acceptable proposal has been submitted within 12 weeks of the start of your registration.
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Assessment stages students registered before Jan 2011

Students whose registration began before January 2011 are assessed through sixmonthly reports and the MPhil/PhD transfer. Students whose registration began in January 2011 or later, please see the next section for how you will be assessed. Six monthly reports When: 31st October and 30th April each year. What: Completed progress report. Length: Three page form. Every six months, both you and your principal supervisor will receive a form by e-mail from the postgraduate administrator requesting details of progress. These forms are in two parts your supervisor completes Part A and you complete Part B. All forms must be completed and returned promptly to the postgraduate administrator before the appropriate deadline (31st October or 30th April). You may return your completed form in confidence whilst your supervisor must discuss their comments with you prior to return. All returns will be reviewed by the postgraduate tutor (or director of postgraduate studies where the postgraduate tutor is the supervisor) and placed on record. If any significant issues have been highlighted, these will be raised at the Postgraduate Studies Committee. Where the first report deadline falls within 3 months of your start date, there is no need to submit a report at this time. You will submit progress reports at every subsequent deadline until submission of your thesis. MPhil/PhD transfer When: normally 9 to 15 months after start date for full-time students; normally within 30 months after start date for part-time students. What: Literature review; outline of thesis or research plan; sample chapter or report on progress to date. Length: approximately 10,000 words. The transfer from MPhil to PhD is a particularly important assessment, which normally takes place at the end of the first year. Since the research cover includes several different disciplines, the precise documents required for the transfer assessment vary. However, in most cases you will be required to submit: 1) a comprehensive literature review; 2) a chapter outline of your proposed thesis and/or a detailed research plan; and 3) either a sample chapter or a report on your progress and findings to date. Your supervisor will inform you what precisely you should submit. You will be examined orally on your transfer documents by two members of staff other than your principal supervisor, one of whom will normally be the assessor who reviewed your initial project proposal. The assessor is selected by the postgraduate tutor and approved by the Postgraduate Studies Committee. If the decision is made that you are not yet ready to transfer your registration from MPhil to PhD, you will have three months to re-submit your report. Alternatively, you may choose to complete an MPhil degree rather than a PhD.
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Assessment stages students registered from Jan 2011

Students whose registration began in January 2011 or later are formally monitored through two assessments one after 9 months (18 months for part-time students) and one in after 18 months (36 months for part-time students). Students whose registration began before January 2011, please see the previous section for details of your assessment stages. The possible outcomes for both the early stage assessment and the late stage assessment are: progression; resubmission of the assessment; transfer of registration to MPhil; or withdrawal. Where an outcome other than progression is recommended as a result of an assessment, the final outcome will be decided in consultation with the supervisor(s) and the relevant Postgraduate Tutor and/or the Director of Postgraduate Studies. In addition to the assessment stages, you may at any time submit a report in confidence to the relevant Postgraduate Tutor and/or the Director of Postgraduate Studies if there are any aspects of your studies that concern you and that you would prefer not to raise directly with your supervisor. You do not need to fill in a special form for this; simply send your comments by email with the subject heading in confidence. Early stage assessment When: 9 months after start date for full-time students; within 18 months of start date for part-time students. What: Literature review; outline of thesis or research plan; sample chapter or report on progress to date. Length: approximately 10,000 words The early stage assessment considers your knowledge of your field of research and the viability of your planned research in order to determine whether you have the potential to complete a PhD. You will submit: 1) a comprehensive literature review; 2) a chapter outline of your proposed thesis and/or a detailed research plan; and 3) either a sample chapter or a report on your progress and findings to date. Your supervisor will inform you what precisely you should submit. You will be examined orally on your submission by two members of staff, at least one of whom is not one of your supervisors. This will normally be the assessor who reviewed your initial project proposal. The assessor is selected by the postgraduate tutor and approved by the Postgraduate Studies Committee. Where resubmission of the early stage is recommended, this must be completed within 11 months of the start of your registration. Late stage assessment When: normally 18 to 24 months after start date for full-time students; normally within 36 months of start date for part-time students. What: Either, a seminar or conference presentation, accompanied by a written version of the paper; or, an updated literature review and sample chapters. Length: at least 3,000 words for written version of presentation; approximately 10,000 words for updated literature review and sample chapters.
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The purpose of the late stage assessment is to review your understanding of the research problem and critical awareness of the literature on the subject, and to confirm that you have made sufficient progress to be able to complete the PhD within the remaining time. You should discuss and agree with your supervisor which of the two assessment options is most suitable for you. If you take the seminar or conference option, at least one member of academic staff from your unit must be among the audience. If you take the second option, at least one of the sample chapters submitted at this stage should not have been submitted for the early stage assessment. Your written submission will be examined by two members of staff, at least one of whom is not one of your supervisors. The assessor is selected by the postgraduate tutor and approved by the Postgraduate Studies Committee. For those giving a seminar or conference talk, at least one of the assessors must have been present at the presentation. Where resubmission of the late stage is recommended, this must be completed within three months of the first attempt.
Entry to Examination
When: Between six and four months before thesis submission; and, for full-time students, no later than 44 months after start date or, for part-time students, no later than 68 months after start date. What: Complete three forms giving candidate details, title and abstract of thesis. Length: Approximately 300 words for the abstract. When you are nearing completion of your thesis, you must complete three Examination Entry forms: Nomination of Examiners & Examination Entry Form; Description of Thesis Form; and Declaration Concerning Reproduction of Theses. On the Description of Thesis Form you will provide a one-page abstract of you thesis. You will also need to estimate the date you will submit the thesis. When you have completed the required parts of the forms, hand them to you supervisor who will nominate two examiners to conduct your viva. Your supervisor will then forward the forms to the director of postgraduate studies prior to submission to Registry for approval of the choice of examiners. If you have not yet completed your thesis at the end of your registration period, you may apply for Writing Up status. This allows you access to all College facilities for a small fee. An Examination Entry form must be submitted at, or before, the start of the Writing Up period and the Writing Up period cannot be extended beyond six months. You may continue to work on your thesis after this period but you will not have access to the library and other College facilities and you must submit your thesis before the expiry of the Examination Entry (18 months after submission of the form).
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Submission of the thesis

When: No later than 48 months after start date for full-time students; no later than 72 months after start date for part-time students. What: The thesis and two forms. Length: 100,000 words maximum including footnotes but excluding bibliography and appendices. The thesis is the culmination of your studies and stands as your original contribution to knowledge in your field. Your supervisor will advise you whether your thesis is ready for submission, but the decision to submit rests with you alone. If you have not submitted your thesis within 18 months of submission of the Entry for Examination forms, you entry will be cancelled. You should submit the thesis electronically (see http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/registry/exams/thesisandvivas for the link and for further information); you order the bound copies of your thesis on submission to this site. (See here for further instructions about the format and submission of theses.) You must also submit to Registry completed Abstract of Thesis and Declaration of Number of Words forms.
Viva
When: Normally within three months of submission of the thesis. What: Oral examination. Length: No fixed duration but typically about two hours. The viva is the oral examination in which you defend your thesis. PhD vivas are normally conducted by one internal examiner from within Imperial College and one external examiner from another university. However, because of the small size of our research units, it is possible that an internal examiner will need to be appointed who does not have expertise in your precise subject area. In such instances, two external examiners will be appointed to provide the necessary subject expertise. In addition, you may also ask your supervisor to attend but they will not be allowed to contribute to the proceedings unless invited to do so by the examiners.
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Supervision and support
Responsibilities of the principal supervisor

Your principal supervisor will be your main source of advice and support throughout your PhD. Supervisors are appointed on the basis of expertise by the postgraduate tutor, with the approval of the head of section (i.e., the director of the relevant unit). The member of the academic staff appointed as your principal supervisor will have the following responsibilities: a) Giving guidance about the nature of research and the standard expected, the planning of the research programme, relevant literature and sources, how to avoid plagiarism, attendance at taught classes, and requisite training (including for example, arranging for instruction in language or computing where necessary). Maintaining contact through regular supervision meetings. The timing of supervision meetings may vary during the course of your studies, but will normally take place once a month on average. Being accessible at other appropriate times when you may need advice. Giving detailed advice on the necessary completion dates of successive stages of your work so that the whole may be submitted within the scheduled time. Requesting written work as appropriate, and returning such work with constructive criticism and in reasonable time. Arranging as appropriate for you to talk about your research at graduate seminars, and to have practice in oral examinations. Ensuring that you are aware if your progress is inadequate or if standards of work are below that generally expected. Advising you on the need for and timing of any fieldwork, including visits overseas. Advising you on, and ensuring arrangements are in place for, the formal assessments you are required to take during the course of your studies. Providing pastoral support and advice when requested.
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Responsibilities of the second supervisor

In addition to a principal supervisor, you may also be assigned a second supervisor who will be able to provide additional advice about your research. The second supervisor will have the following responsibilities: a) Meeting with students as needed, including at least once in the first term. Being available for consultation about any aspect of your work.
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b)
Taking over the responsibilities of the supervisor when the supervisor is on leave or away from College.
Responsibilities of the student

Since a PhD consists of independent study, to a large extent you will need to manage your own time and establish those routines of work which you find most productive. Your responsibilities include: a) Discussing with your supervisor the type of guidance and comment you find most helpful, and agreeing a schedule of meetings. Taking the initiative in raising problems or difficulties, however elementary they may seem. Maintaining the progress of the work in accordance with the stage agreed with your supervisor, including in particular the presentation of written material as required in sufficient time to allow for comments and discussion before proceeding to the next stage. Ensuring that work is written and presented to an adequate standard. Ensuring that the paperwork for your assessment stages is submitted on time. Ensuring that the final draft of your thesis is in proper form and deciding when you wish to submit it, taking due account of University regulations and of your supervisors opinion, which is, however, advisory only. Participating in the postgraduate seminar programme and attending taught courses as advised by your supervisor. Consulting with your supervisor before accepting invitations to give external seminars, applying to attend conferences or publishing your work. Keeping your supervisor informed about any factors which may be affecting your ability to pursue your studies.
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Training
In addition to attending regular supervision meetings, you may be required, or choose, to attend research workshops, subject-specific taught modules, or transferable skills courses. What is appropriate for you will depend on your research field and your background. You should discuss your needs with your supervisors. All research students are welcome to attend the transferable skills programme run by the Graduate School (see Section 6 below). Students commencing study from October 2010 are required to attend a number of these courses.
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Seminar programmes
Research students are strongly encouraged to attend our seminar programmes, which include the Humanities Research Seminar series, the Science Communication Unit Seminars, the Translation Studies Research Seminars and the CHoSTM Seminar.
The research student administrator

Each unit has an administrator who is responsible, among other things, for day-today administration relating to research students. In addition, there is a research student administrator who provides support for all humanities research students. The research student administrator will be able to help you if you need to liaise with Registry or a funding body and will inform you when your assessments are due.
The postgraduate tutor

Each unit has a member of academic staff who acts as the postgraduate tutor for that unit. In most cases, the postgraduate tutor is the unit director or head. The postgraduate tutor will be able to advise you about College procedures, give general advice about studying for a PhD, and provide pastoral support in addition to your supervisors. Your postgraduate tutor will review your six-monthly progress reports (where applicable) and has responsibility for ensuring that any concerns raised there are considered by the unit. The vast majority of students are happy with the supervision they receive. However, if you have any concerns about the quality of your supervision or your relationship with your supervisors, you should raise these with your postgraduate tutor or the director of postgraduate studies.
The assessor
An independent assessor will review key stages of your studies. The assessor is selected by the postgraduate tutor and approved by the Postgraduate Studies Committee. The assessor will be an academic who has the appropriate expertise to judge progress and offer advice on your project. The assessor will read and comment on your initial project proposal prior to your registration as a research student and on your formal assessments. On the basis of your project proposal, the assessor will decide whether: You have the potential to undertake such a project. A suitable supervisor has been identified. The necessary resources are available. Appropriate methodology is to be used. There are clear and focussed research questions. There is a realistic research plan.
Taking all the above into account the assessor will make a recommendation as to whether you may register for a PhD. This decision will normally be taken prior to making you an offer of a place.
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Similarly the assessor will assess your written submissions and oral presentation for your MPhil/PhD transfer (for students registered before Jan 2011) or your early stage and late stage assessments (for students registered from Jan 2011). In addition to the above points, the assessor will look at: Whether you have demonstrated the capability to conduct the research. Whether you have made sufficient progress. Whether you have an in depth understanding of your field of research and the associated literature. Whether you have a clear and realistic plan of future work. Given the plan of future work and your current rate of progress, whether you are likely to be able to submit a thesis for a PhD within the remaining time available. Taking all the above into account, the assessor will make a recommendation as to whether you may progress. The assessor may also be able to provide additional input into your project, with suggestions for specific methodologies or potential new directions for your research project.
The director of postgraduate studies

The director of postgraduate studies has overall responsibility for research students and is Chair of the Humanities Postgraduate Studies Committee and the Postgraduate Research Staff/Student Committee. You will normally meet the director of postgraduate studies during the induction session at the start of your first year and may make an appointment to see her during the course of your studies if you have any concerns or queries about your progress or the quality of your supervision. The director of postgraduate studies will be informed of any serious problems raised in the six-monthly reports.
The college tutors

In addition to the support offered within the department, all students have access, all students also have confidential access to the College Tutors regarding academic issues and all aspects of pastoral care and discipline within the College. The College Tutors can be contacted through the web page: http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/students/collegetutors.
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4.
Facilities
Study rooms
Research students have use of three study rooms. Rooms S219 and S220 are both rooms located within the Centre for the History of Science, Technology and Medicine on Level 2 of the Central Library. Keys are available from the CHoSTM Administrator. There is a charge if keys get lost or stolen and have to be replaced. Both rooms have computing facilities. Room S312E is a smaller room located on level 3 of the Sherfield Building. A small kitchen is available for use by all research students in room S219 and research students may also use the kitchen facilities in the main humanities area on level 3 of Sherfield. When there is no class taking place there, translation students also have access to the Translation Lab (room S309) and Language Lab 2, both in the main humanities area on level 3 of the Sherfield Building. These labs are equipped with computers with the latest translation software.
Resources
In addition to computers, each study room has a telephone which you may use for calls related to your research. Likewise, we will cover reasonable research-related postal costs. When sending external mail by post, you need to write a code on the envelope. Your administrator will tell you the code for your unit. Your unit administrator will also provide you with stationery on request. Photocopiers are available in CHoSTM and in the main humanities area. Your administrator will inform you of the code for operating the photocopiers. Please remember that we have to pay for all such resources. Only reasonable use necessary to your research will be supported.
Libraries
As a research student you will make extensive use of a number of libraries. The Central Library has a small collection of Humanities books, mostly shelved on level 5, and access to a number of journals and databases. The Humanities Librarian is Heather Lincoln. Heather will be happy to help with any queries you may have about library resources. Your Imperial College library card also gives you access to the Science Museum Library which is housed on level 3 of the Central Library. The Science Museum Library has an extensive collection of texts on the history of science, science communication and other areas of science and technology studies. It also has a number of archival resources. The Imperial College Library catalogue covers the Science Museum Library as well as the collections of all the College libraries. Some of the Science Museum Librarys collection is housed off-site and needs to be ordered in advance.
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The Central Library also provides online advice on topics such as avoiding plagiarism and offers training courses in reference management software packages such as Endnote and Refworks. In addition to making use of the campus libraries, it is likely that you will need to make regular visits to the British Library at St Pancras. As a copyright library, the British Library holds most modern books and journals published in English and it is also home to considerable archival resources. It is, however, not a lending library, so texts have to be consulted on site. On your first visit to the British Library you will need to register for a Reader Pass. You will find instructions on how to register on the British Library website. Imperial College students have access to Senate House Library on Malet Street in Bloomsbury, including borrowing rights and onsite access to all the Librarys online resources. You may need to get the Imperial Library to sign off an application form before you can register at Senate House. As a research student you are also able to apply for access to a number of other libraries. Conditions for access vary from place to place and will usually be explained on the librarys website. For access to all university libraries and national libraries in the UK, you should register for a SCONUL Access card (see here for details). For books or journal articles not available through other means, the Central Library operates an Interlibrary Loan system. Interlibrary Loans should only be used for materials not available in London libraries. Please note that we are charged for each loan request. In most cases, the texts you require will be available at the British Library and should be consulted there.
Careers advice
For those of you hoping to stay in academia after the completion of your degree, your supervisors will be able to offer some advice on where to look for jobs and how to build up your CV. For those of you intending to leave academia, the Imperial College Careers Advisory Service can offer advice on possible career paths. The Careers Advisory Service is also able to help with CV writing, job applications and interview technique. The service is available whilst you are a student and for three years after you graduate. The Careers Advisory Service is based on level 5 of the Sherfield Building and can be contacted at careers@imperial.ac.uk.
Student Counselling Service

Counsellors are available to any student who would like to talk confidentially about any personal issue, such as study difficulties, loneliness, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, bereavement, or sexuality. There are both male and female counsellors. Telephone 020 7594 9637 or email counselling@imperial.ac.uk to arrange an appointment.
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Management of postgraduate research
Postgraduate Studies Committee

The Postgraduate Studies Committee oversees the delivery of humanities postgraduate programmes, including: the general progress of research students; PhD admissions; and the selection of independent assessors. Membership consists of the postgraduate tutor for each section, two student representatives, and the director of postgraduate studies. The committee meets at least twice a year, normally in December and June, and is chaired by the director of postgraduate studies.
Graduate School
At the College level, our higher degree programmes are overseen by the Graduate School. The Graduate School monitors internal standards and procedures for research degrees and disseminates best practice across the College.
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The Graduate School
As a research student you are a member of the Colleges Graduate School. One of the functions of the Graduate School is to provide postgraduate training in interdisciplinary and transferable skills. The training offered is designed to enhance graduates job prospects as well as supporting students through their studies. The Graduate School also organises a number of events of general interest and provides an important means for you to meet students from different departments.
Introduction from the Graduate School Director

Welcome to the Graduate School. At Imperial we aim for our doctoral students not only to have an excellent research experience, and to make contributions to their scientific field, but also to develop other skills that will enhance their effectiveness as scientists. The Graduate School therefore provides a large number of courses to develop your transferable skills. These range from short workshops to the Research Skills Development course, which is a residential course that encompasses team building, research planning, communication and creativity, and also offers a great opportunity to meet fellow students from other parts of the College and establish contacts and friends that will remain with you throughout your time here. The skills developed during these courses are highly valued in the job market. We also run a number of events during the year which are an opportunity to broaden your knowledge and to meet other students. We will be hosting a number of lectures, as well as organising social events. I would encourage you to take part in these there are times when it can feel lonely as a research student and these events are an opportunity to be part of the wider community of doctoral students. In addition, many of the advances in science and engineering happen at the boundaries between disciplines, and meeting students from other departments and faculties offers opportunities to enrich your research. The Graduate School also ensures the quality of the doctoral programmes at Imperial, and makes sure that you are appropriately supported to maximise the chance of success. Most of this important work happens behind the scenes, but there are opportunities for you to get involved, through the Graduate Students Association (GSA) who not only provide representation for the student body but also run their own programme of social events. I hope that you will enjoy your postgraduate research here at Imperial, and I wish you well in your time with us.
Professor Andrew George Director of the Graduate School
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Transferable skills courses

The Graduate School offers a comprehensive training programme for MRes and doctoral students to enhance your research, professional and personal development skills. Our workshops run throughout the year and are designed to support you throughout your studies. They can also show you how to communicate your work to a variety of audiences and consider the wider application of your work. The courses are also a social opportunity to interact with students from other parts of the College. Transferable skills requirement In order to ensure that you develop generic research, personal and professional skills in addition to the subject-specific training you receive within your research groups, all students are required to complete a minimum number of graduate school courses. The programme is divided into several different skills categories. For students starting on or after 1st October 2012, the minimum attendance requirement is four individual workshops from four different skills categories OR the Research Skills Development residential course plus one other workshop. The requisite number of courses must be completed by the time of the Early Stage Assessment (9 months for full time students, 18 months for part time students). For students registering between 1st January 2011 and 1st October 2012, the requisite number of courses must be completed by the time of the Late Stage Assessment (18 months for full time students, 36 months for part time students).
The courses we offer Our courses are divided into skill categories, grouping related courses together and making it easier for you to find courses relevant to your skill-base. Residential Courses including the Research Skills Development (RSD) course Personal Effectiveness Presentation Skills Research Effectiveness Information Skills Ethics Statistics Writing Skills Business, Enterprise & Commercialisation Mini MBA courses Information Skills Completing the Research Degree Careers Science in Context The full programme can be viewed at:
http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/graduateschool/transferableskillsprogramme/transferableskillscourses
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To best plan your development, we recommend that you discuss your choice of workshops with your supervisor. When choosing courses, always read the full course description on the Graduate School website as this will tell you the course content and guide you to the most appropriate time to attend the course. You should apply only for the workshops recommended for your current stage of study. Where to find information on the courses Course information can be found on the Graduate School website at www.imperial.ac.uk/graduateschool/transferableskillsprogramme You should follow the Humanities, Life Sciences and Medicine [HLSM] route for appropriate courses. Dates of workshops are given on each of the course description pages. The majority of courses will run on the South Kensington and the Hammersmith Campuses. How to book In order to book your place on a course, please complete the appropriate on-line booking form. Details can be found on the Graduate School website as above. Places are allocated on a first come first served basis and the course venue will be sent in a confirmation email. Cancellation charges There is a charge for late cancellations and non-attendance of courses. For our short courses, we ask for at least three working days notice of cancellation. Cancellation periods for residential and longer courses can vary. Please see the Graduate School website for full details of the cancellation policy and charges. Credit for prior learning We acknowledge the diversity of experience amongst our students and this is why we offer a mechanism for recognising external training or experience. If you have attended a course you think may be equivalent to a Graduate School workshop, or if you have significant work experience, we recommend that you discuss this with your Director of Postgraduate Studies. They can make an application to the Graduate School on your behalf, to recognise your previous training. Normally a maximum of two courses can be claimed as equivalent, to encourage all students to engage with the programme during their time at Imperial. There are also a number of courses offered in Departments that are already recognised as equivalent to the Graduate School programme. Full details of equivalent courses and how to apply for exemption can be found at www.imperial.ac.uk/graduateschool/transferableskillsprogramme
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Other resources
Help sheets The Graduate School has a number of help sheets which provide guidance and tips. These include advice on literature reviews, poster presentations and career planning. All of these can be found on the Graduate School website as above. Mathematics Advisory Service The Mathematics Advisory Service, funded by the Graduate School, is free for all research students and offers technical help to overcome mathematical problems you may encounter in your research. The Service is informal, friendly and effective. For details, follow the link to the Mathematics Advisory Service from: www.imperial.ac.uk/graduateschool/transferableskillsprogramme Online Courses The Graduate School provides a number of online courses and resources. The following courses are available to all research students: Attending Conferences, Presenting and Networking Career Planning in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Career Planning in the Sciences Getting Published in the Arts Getting Published in the Sciences Intellectual Property in the Research Context IT and Statistics Basics Project Management in the Research Context Research Ethics: Good Ethics Practice Research Ethics: Working with Human Subjects
Online courses are hosted on the Graduate School Blackboard VLE : http://learn.imperial.ac.uk
Graduate School events

All postgraduate students at Imperial, whether following taught or research programmes, belong to the Graduate School. Membership means you immediately become part of a wider postgraduate community, broadening and enriching your academic and social experience whilst at Imperial. The Graduate School provides a focus for opportunities to meet each other and exchange ideas across disciplines through attendance at guest lectures and other similar academic (combined with social) activities. Attending the different activities and events will give you the opportunity to meet other postgraduates in your field and from other parts of the College, and have the chance to share knowledge and experience. An important part of these events are the receptions afterwards, which provide an opportunity for you to meet with the speaker(s) and presenter(s) and with each other. This enables you to make
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rewarding contacts outside of your laboratory or department, bringing you into contact with graduates from different backgrounds to your own. There are a number of social and academic events throughout the year, including distinguished guest lectures, at which you will be able to hear top national and international speakers. Other regular events include the extremely popular Ig Nobel Awards Tour Show in March and the exhibition chemistry show in May. The Graduate School Research Symposium in July includes the opportunity to view posters presented by research students across the College, a keynote lecture and reception. In addition to the many events which are now well established in the Graduate School calendar, you are encouraged you to contact the Graduate School with your suggestions for popular speakers, issues for debates and ideas for other interdisciplinary events. See the website for our events programme www.imperial.ac.uk/graduateschool/events
Contact
By email at graduate.school@imperial.ac.uk. Follow us on Twitter follow @ImperialGradSch for news, events and highlights Find us on Facebook at Imperial College Graduate School. Visit the Graduate School website: www.imperial.ac.uk/graduateschool. We are based in the Registry, Level 3, Sherfield Building, South Kensington Campus accessible via the Student Hub.
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7.
Health and safety
As a humanities student it is unlikely that you will be operating dangerous machinery or undertaking procedures that require risk assessments. However, you should still pay attention to health and safety issues. In particular, make sure that you are know where the nearest emergency exit is for your study room and that you aware of the correct procedures in case of fire. Wherever possible, try to mix work using computer screens with other work, to minimise the risk of eye strain, headache, or aches and pains in your hands, wrists, arms, neck, shoulders or back. If long periods of screen-based work are unavoidable: Take regular, short breaks. Change your posture as often as possible. Look away from the screen frequently to allow your eyes to relax. Ensure that when working at a computer you do the following things: Adjust the chair so that your arms are approximately horizontal and your eyes at the same height as the top of the monitor casing. Ensure that your legs can move freely under the work surface; remove any boxes or equipment that may be in the way. Dont bend your hands at the wrists while typing. Try to keep a soft touch on the keys and dont overstretch your fingers. Make sure you have enough space for the documents you need.
If you experience any health problems which you believe may result from working with computer screens, the College Occupational Health Service will be able to offer advice in the first instance. Further details about safety issues can be found here. The College has a 24-hour emergency phone line: 020 7589 1000. The extension number for College security on the South Kensington Campus is 4444.
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8. Further sources of information

College websites and online information
Languages Unit, Science Communication Unit and Translation Unit http://www.imperial.ac.uk/humanities Centre for the History of Science, Technology and Medicine http://www.imperial.ac.uk/historyofscience Careers Advisory Service http://www.imperial.ac.uk/careers Graduate School http://www.imperial.ac.uk/graduateschool Graduate School, Learning to Research Guide http://workspace.imperial.ac.uk/communications/public/learningtoresearch.pdf Imperial College Student Charter http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/students/ourprinciples Library Catalogue http://www.imperial.ac.uk/library/resources/cataccess.htm Library, Support for Students http://www.imperial.ac.uk/library/learningandsupport Registry, Information for Research Students http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/registry/researchdegrees Registry, Regulations for the Award of MPhil and PhD http://www.imperial.ac.uk/registry/proceduresandregulations/regulations Registry, Thesis Submission and Vivas http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/registry/exams/thesisandvivas Student Counselling Service http://www.imperial.ac.uk/counselling
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Contacts
Liam Watson ........................................................... liam.watson@imperial.ac.uk (Research Student Administrator and Science Communication Unit administrator) Naomi Anderson-Eyles ............................................ n.andersoneyles@imperial.ac.uk (Translation Unit Administrator) 020 7594 8757 Jackie Twitchett......................................................... languages@imperial.ac.uk (Languages Unit Administrator) 020 7594 8753 Anne-laure Vieille ..................................................... chostmadmin@imperial.ac.uk (CHoSTM Administrator) 020 7594 5220
Dr Felicity Mellor ....................................................... f.mellor@imperial.ac.uk (Director of Postgraduate Studies) Professor Charmian Brinson .................................... c.brinson@imperial.ac.uk (Postgraduate Tutor for Languages) Dr Jorge Diaz-Cintas ................................................ j.diaz-cintas@imperial.ac.uk (Postgraduate Tutor for Translation) Professor David Edgerton ........................................ d.edgerton@imperial.ac.uk (Postgraduate Tutor for CHoSTM) Dr Stephen Webster ................................................. stephen.webster@imperial.ac.uk (Postgraduate Tutor for Science Communication)
Heather Lincoln ........................................................ h.lincoln@imperial.ac.uk (Humanities Librarian) Science Museum Library .......................................... SMLinfo@sciencemuseum.org.uk
Careers Advisory Service ......................................... careers@imperial.ac.uk Graduate School ....................................................... graduate.school@imperial.ac.uk Registry General Enquiries ....................................... registry.advice@imperial.ac.uk Student Records ....................................................... records@imperial.ac.uk Student Counselling Service ..................................... counselling@imperial.ac.uk 020 7594 9637
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RESEARCH STUDENTS HANDBOOK HUMANITIES 201213