Each IPAB PhD student will be expected to have a general background in the topics of relevance to IPAB. This can be obtained by previous coursework; otherwise, the students are expected to attend the appropriate taught MSc modules (on a non-assessed basis). Additional coursework may be required by the supervisor. IPAB students are required to attend at least 1 module out of at least 3 of these groups:
except by agreement between the supervisor, student and IPAB director. The timing of attendence at these modules is by agreement between the supervisor and student.
All incoming PhD students will attend research skill development courses as specified by the Graduate School.
Each PhD/MPhil student will have a 3 person Research committee: a first and second supervisor as normal, and a third senior academic from another institute. The role of the 3rd person is to help encourage proper research methodology and see the "big picture" rather than technical supervision, but may also provide minor subject area expertise. The 3rd person should not be a likely internal examiner.
The responsibilities of the committee are:
PhD/MPhil students should normally submit a polished draft of his/her research proposal by May 15. This proposal is read by the research committee. About June 1, the student then gives a 1/2 hour presentation on his/her proposal as an IPAB seminar, which the thesis committee attends. After the seminar, the committee questions the student in private for 1/2 hour. The committee gives the student recommendations on the proposal and proposed work orally after the questioning. Recommendations are to be investigated by the student and incorporated if appropriate into the proposal. When the first and second supervisors are satisfied with the proposal, then the student can proceed to the project. The student should send a copy of the proposal to the Graduate School.
Each PhD/MPhil student must give a 1/2 hour (or longer) IPAB seminar each year. The first year research proposal seminar is the first of these. The student's research committee is expected to attend these. All students and first supervisors submit an annual report to IPAB, which are reviewed in committee by the IPAB staff in June/July.
These students do not have committees and their research proposals are agreed solely with their research supervisor within 2 months of arrival. They do participate in the summer progress review with the other research students. These students should give a 1/2 hour or longer IPAB seminar in late summer.
All research students are reviewed annually (June/July) by a meeting of the academic staff of IPAB and a representative from the graduate school. The procedure is:
