Both the assessor and the adviser will contribute to the examination process and outcome of the Year 1 assessment. Please note that supervisors are not responsible for these appointments - the Graduate School PG Co-ordinator will allocate assessors and advisers to students.
Role of the Adviser
- The adviser should be someone who is not directly involved in the research project.
- They should know enough about the topic area to be able to follow the progress of the PhD.
- The adviser should meet the student at about six-monthly intervals minimum (more often if wished).
- The adviser is required to sign the student's assessment forms and liaise with the supervisor and, if necessary, the Graduate School Co-ordinator.
- The adviser should take responsibility for arranging the oral examination for the Year 1 assessment and liaise with the examiner as necessary. Both the examiner and the adviser should contribute to the examination process and outcome of the assessment. The supervisor is likely to be the best person to suggest an examiner but the adviser, not the supervisor, takes responsibility for this milestone assessment.
- They are there to ensure ‘fair play' in assessments; offer general academic advice; intervene if the student requests in cases of conflict between, for example, student and supervisors or between supervisors.
- The adviser is not a supervisor and is there to provide confidential academic and other guidance.
Note to Advisers:
- Do not direct the research or the student.
- Are there to help/advise/support.
- Should treat all conversations with students as confidential.
Role of the Assessor in the Year 1 Assessment
- The assessor is selected by the Graduate School.
- They will not be directly involved in the project but will be familiar with the subject area and will have knowledge of what is expected of PhD students.
- The assessor will be expected to attend the student's presentation.
- The assessor will be provided with a written report.
- The student's adviser will arrange the student's oral exam with the assessor. The oral exam should be a 30-60 minute assessment of both the written report and the content of the presentation. It should explore the student's understanding of their project and their defence of the report.
- The assessor should also explore any areas of difficulty limiting progress.
- The students are also asked to bring their PDP (to demonstrate training undertaken), and their research notebook to the exam.
- The assessor and adviser will be asked to complete a Year 1 assessment report based on the presentation, the written report and the oral exam.