PHD Journey

Completed in your first week 

There are a number of courses that new PGR students must attend. These are outlined below. At the start of your research you need to discuss the safety issues associated with your project with your supervisor as there may be additional courses you need to attend. Below is information to help you identify the courses you need to attend and information on the mandatory courses:

Primary Induction
This provides a brief introduction to safety procedures at Imperial, essential security information and a
brief session on fire safety.

Lab Safety Training
The lab safety sessions covers several areas of basic lab safety, including biological safety, good lab
practice, chemicals, gases and cryogenics and other hazards within the lab environment. At the end
of the course a series of questions using the PRS clickers and software are used to identify if the
learning outcomes have been met.

Risk Assessment Foundation Training (RAFT)
A online version of RAFT needs to be completed by all students. The course is based in Blackboard
and provides training on the basic principles of risk assessment, significant risk and College forms,
procedures and guidance. The learning objectives for the course are tested in a online test. All
research students will be enrolled and receive links and information at beginning of October.

Fire Prevention and Fire Safety at Work

All PhD students need to attend this course. You are required to enrol onto the next available course
via the course entry on the Learning and Development webpages.

Completed within 2 weeks of your start date

All students have 2 advisors appointed as members of their PRP. Advisors must be permanent members of the academic staff or Senior Research fellows and at least one must be from a different Division or outside the “broad research group”. One of the Advisors must be familiar with the area of research. The review panel should be viewed as a friendly body rather than a threat - it is there to help not hinder your progress from registration to PhD submission.

The general roles for advisors are to:
1. Keep a helpful eye on the student - in the absence of the supervisor.
2. Provide informal advice on the progress of your research and your academic performance.
3. Be someone the student can go to discuss issues, which, for whatever reason, they are not
able to discuss with their supervisor.
4. Be a member of the student’s PRP to monitor their progress through the PhD.

Every 6 months throughout your degree 

A progress report is required at this stage and at every subsequent 6 month interval. The report takes the form of a short self assessment questionnaire (see Appendix) to be completed by the student and
signed by both student and supervisor. Please note that you may, if you wish, submit a confidential report directly to the Director of Postgraduate Studies without consultation with your supervisor. This will NOT be discussed with your supervisor at any stage and will be treated as “strictly confidential”.