Departmental Postgraduate Training
In addition to the training offered within the Research Training & Development Programme and Postgraduate Skills Training Programme at Aberystwyth, some individual departments run their own specialised courses which may be open to Postgradutes from any department.
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Art
There are no specific courses for research students, however a research seminar group is arranged where they gain may gain experience of giving presentations.
MA Fine Art students are offered a ‘Vocational Practice’ training module
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Biological, Environmental & Rural Sciences
There are two core modules that all students are required to attend, Professional Skills - compulsory for all postgraduate students - and Statistics for Research Students - compulsory for all PhD and MPhil students. These provide students with a range of essential skills to heighten and project their performance.
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Computer Science
No information available at present.
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Education and Lifelong Learning
There are no specific courses for Postgraduates, however they are advised to attend any university RT modules which may be useful to them.
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English & Creative Writing
Research Postgraduates are supported so they can attend further training appropriate to their specialist area (e.g. British Library National English Literature Training Day for Research Postgraduates; palaeography classes and appropriate conferences and workshops).
It is also recommended that they take PGM0120 plus either PGM0410 or PGM0210 from the RT programme.
MA Literary Studies students should attend modules
- ENM0520 - Research Skills in English Studies (1): Methods and Materials
- ENM0620 - Research Skills in English Studies (2): Tackling Textuality
MA Creative Writing students should attend modules
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European LanguagesThere are no specific courses for Postgraduates, however they are advised to attend suitable modules within the Research Training & Development Programme and Postgraduate Skills Training Programme.
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Geography and Earth Sciences
The annual University of Wales Council for Geography’s ‘Colloquium for postgraduate research students’ (usually in May), brings together students and staff in human geography from Aberystwyth, Cardiff and Swansea. The Colloquium is a vital component of the training and development of postgraduate students from all three institutions. Students attend the colloquium in all three years of their PhD and they are required to give presentations in the first and third years of their PhD. The colloquium provides an invaluable opportunity for postgraduate students to receive presentation experience and expert feedback from their peers and colleagues across the University of Wales. Applications for this event are available via the department. A Gregynog Colloquia Support Fund is available – for details contact Dr Peter Merriman.
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History & Welsh History
No information available at present.
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Information StudiesThe department provides support/training for the part-time students through modules taken from research preparation/training Masters schemes. (DL. Modules are delivered as an open learning pack of workbook + resource Pack.)
The main modules used are listed below however training is tailored to the student.
- DSM0220 - Information Needs Analysis
- DSM0420 - Exploiting Research Information
- DSM0720 - Research and Evaluation Methods in Information Systems
General Continuing Professional Development is usually covered in the workplace unless, the student is visiting the department and it coincides with a session being organised there.
Information may be found in the departmental code of practice on possible training options.
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International Politics
Postgraduate Research Training for students working in the social sciences in the department is provided jointly by the Office of Postgraduate Studies and the Department. Students taking a Research Training Master's degree or PhD in the social sciences who have not completed an ESRC-recognised RT Master’s are required to take a 60 credit programme comprising;
- PGM0210 Principles of Research Design
- PGM0330 Data Analysis and Collection
- IPM2120 - Political Research: Philosophy, Methods and Application
The PGM modules are provided under the auspices of the Office of Postgraduate Studies though these are convened and taught by members of Interpol. IPM2120 is taught within the department.
The other principal element of postgraduate training is the Doctoral Workshop which has two main aims: to help the student complete their PhD in a timely fashion, and helping equip them for academic and non-academic career paths.
It should also help provide some of the Roberts' ('SETT for Success') professional and personal skills development required for PhD students during the second, third and fourth years of a 1 + 3 doctoral programme. The Workshop is intended to complement the generic Postgraduate Skills Training Programme provided by the Office of Postgraduate Studies.'
The department also has an in-house programme of training and supporting PhD students how to teach and supplies other training e.g. vivas concentrating on knowledge of practices more relevant to IP students.
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Management and BusinessAll SMB postgraduates attend Endnote training which is run by the Library – Contact Joy Cadwallader at jrc@aber.ac.ukor extension 2474.
MBA students have MBA specific career development sessions, they also attend a weekend in Aberdovey Outward Bound for team development skills sessions.
All International students are encouraged to attend the Language and Learning sessions which run each Wednesday afternoon these cover: Academic Writing Development Seminars, Revision and Exam Skills, Effective Communication in Management and Business, Individual Writing Consultations.
All SMB PhD and Research Training Masters students must attend specific PGM modules.
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Mathematics & Physics
No information available at present.
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Psychology
No information available at present.
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Sport and Exercise ScienceThere are two aspects to SES postgraduate training provision: that which is intended for students enrolled on PhD programmes and that which forms part of taught postgraduate study.
The department does not currently run any formal modular based training scheme for its postgraduate research students. A new taught Masters course is in the process of being validated and will contain subject-specific and generic training (research methods and statistical data analysis) for science Masters students.
Students are encouraged to enrol on relevant research training modules offered by the University. The uptake is relatively low, because SES degrees already have strong research methods components within them. The department requires those students who teach as part of their studentship enrol on the Introduction to Teaching for Postgraduate Research Students course.
The specific training run by the department is assessed according to individual student needs. The department funds students to attend subject-specific workshops run by the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences and the British Psychological Society, as well as external training courses for equipment and software crucial to specific studies (e.g., Biodex and Amos training days). In addition, research students are trained by members of staff to safely operate laboratory equipment (if necessary) and take fingertip blood samples if relevant to their studies. Phlebotomy training is also conducted within the department in association with qualified external medical personnel.
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Theatre, Film and Television StudiesThe department runs methodology seminars each semester for research students who will be contacted by email directly. Some research students also attend an MA research training module:
TFM0830: Audience And Reception Research Practices
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WelshThe department runs an annual internal programme for MPhil students and for those also embarking on a PhD course. The sessions directed by Marged Haycock are different from those prepared by the Department the previous year and will continue to benefit PhD students. Students from other departments are welcome to join the programme.