postgraduate support Archives - Enhancing Postgraduate Environments

Advice for prospective postgraduate students

PostGrad — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 12:45:38 +0000

Success with postgraduate studies requires pro-active planning and preparation even before you start with your studies. Prospective students can establish a solid foundation for their success by gathering sufficient information about the academic program they apply for, the institution and potential supervisors. In this video, a group of senior postgraduate students discuss strategies for effective adjustment and provide advice for a personally satisfying postgraduate experience. Links to additional resources offer valuable directives for the successful transition to advanced qualification levels. Video, 9.49 minutes

Developed by Dr Henriëtte van den Berg (Research fellow, University of Free State). Thanks to Katleho Nyaile, Kamogelo Dithebe, Lubabalo Saba and Pearl Mothale for their participation in the recorded discussion and Mr Brian Munro for the video recording and editing.

Who might find this useful?

Gather information from university websites about research niche areas and the supervisors working in these research fields. Use the information to write a motivation (250 words) why you want to apply to a specific university/academic department and motivate why you should be selected for the program.

Explore these additional resources

University of Michigan: Adjusting to graduate studies http://www.campusmindworks.org/students/preparing_for_college/grad_academicdemands.asp
Trent University : Transitioning to Graduate School https://www.trentu.ca/graduatestudies/pathways/documents/TransitiontoGraduateSchool.pdf
Stanford University Transitioning to Graduate Studies https://biosciences.stanford.edu/current/incoming/transitioning-to-graduate-school.html
Kearns, H. & Gardiner, M. (2011). The care and maintenance of your supervisor. Nature, 469, 570. https://www.nature.com/naturejobs/science/articles/10.1038/nj7331-570a
Kearns, H. & Gardiner, M. (2011). Waiting for the motivation fairy. Nature, 472, 127. https://www.ucc.ie/en/media/support/graduatestudiesoffice/documents/hugh-kearns-handout-nature-procrastination.pdf

The post Advice for prospective postgraduate students appeared first on Enhancing Postgraduate Environments.

A Research Degree Toolkit

PostGrad — Tue, 30 May 2017 13:03:04 +0000

Thinking about doing a research degree but don’t have a clear idea of what it entails? This toolkit was designed to guide postgraduate students through their postgraduate research journey. The toolkit covers five sections with information that can help get postgraduates started, as well as further readings and resources for those who want more. Please remember that this toolkit is intended as a general guide – you do need to always check with your supervisor and department whether the advice within this toolkit applies to you.

Go to interactive presentation

Developed by Stellenbosch University, Postgraduate Office. Thanks to Stellenbosch University, Postgraduate Skills Development team, with special thanks to Ronel Steyn, the original creator of this interactive version.

Explore these additional resources

a handout version of the toolkit (condensed handout and slides in .pdf format) is included with the interactive version. Links to webs and additional materials are included in these .pdf versions
the .ppt slides are also included should an institution wish to download them and adapt them specifically for their contexts
Memorandum of understanding
Initial meetings
Gantt chart

Who might find this useful?

This Research Degree Toolkit is potentially useful to prospective postgraduate students who are thinking about doing a Master’s or Doctoral degree. It gives prospective postgraduates a comprehensive idea of what embarking on a research degree entails and highlights areas that prospective students may not have considered, thus allowing them to make sound, informed decisions before applying.
This toolkit may also be useful for supervisors to illustrate the key research stages to their students.

The post A Research Degree Toolkit appeared first on Enhancing Postgraduate Environments.

How is good scientific writing like good cooking?

PostGrad — Mon, 24 Apr 2017 09:42:11 +0000

How can good scientific writing be compared to good cooking? This resource cleverly describes how good scientific writing can be likened to good cooking. It describes the way that researchers should draw on other authors’ work but at the same time bring in one’s own voice and argumentation. It emphasises why ethical scientific writing must always be honest, clear and accurate and give credit to the ideas or text that belong to another author.

This material consists of a PowerPoint slide presentation narrated with voice over. The duration of the presentation is 5.20 minutes. A Word text of the narration is included and supports the PowerPoint slide presentation material for universal access.

Developed and narrated by Ronel Steyn (SU). Thanks to Jennali Leysens (SU) and Alison Bucholz (SU).

Explore these additional resources

How is good scientific writing like good cooking?

Who might find this useful?

This material may be useful to supervisors, academic writing workshop presenters/ facilitators, etc. to include in their presentations to elicit or to encourage group discussion.

The post How is good scientific writing like good cooking? appeared first on Enhancing Postgraduate Environments.