Video playlist: Phd orientation, progress and examination process

PhD Orientation

Ladies and gentlemen, as we await the last of our passengers, I'd like to welcome you aboard RMIT Flight PhD. We'll be departing shortly, so please settle back and get comfortable while the cabin crew run through the services available on this flight. 

Hello, and welcome to Flight PhD. Here at RMIT our aim is to support our graduate researchers on their way to excellent research outcomes. Because this is a long haul flight, we have a dedicated and experienced research [00:00:30] support crew onboard. You will also find a huge range of professional development opportunities to explore during your journey. As we prepare for takeoff, please take this opportunity to study the preflight checklist. 

Get to know your supervisors. Discuss what you're hoping to achieve from your PhD and when and how often you will meet. 

Prepare for confirmation of candidature. This is your first progress milestone. Make sure you know what's required and [00:01:00] when it's due. 

Know your responsibilities. All researchers should foster responsible research practises. For example, will you need ethics approval? If you're an international student, you may have other reporting and Visa requirements. 

Now that Flight PhD is underway and you're free to move around the cabin, let's meet your research support crew. First, your supervisors. Having a good relationship with your supervisors [00:01:30] is essential. The research project is ultimately your own but the process of doing a research degree is collaborative. Your supervisors will be able to advise you on key areas such as research design, project management and professional development. Next, your peers. You're not alone on this journey. You can learn a lot from your peers, so whenever possible connect with them and get involved in research events.

Every school at RMIT has staff dedicated to supporting  graduate researchers, so it's a good idea to find out who they are and to introduce yourself. You never know when you might need them and if that's not enough, there's also a range of other services available, such as counselling, student union, the library and the study and learning centre. During the flight, please take time to check out our PhD Up programme. We offer a range of workshops and short courses to help you complete your degree successfully and prepare for your future career. 

 So far we've talked about the support crew and the many services and programmes on offer, but what happens if Flight PhD gets a bit bumpy? In case of turbulence, your research support crew are at hand to assist with life jackets, advice and direction. For further advise, always observe the safety signs. Talk to your supervisors, seek support from your school, speak to the student union. If on the other hand you're cruising along smoothly, why not check out the exclusive flight PhD entertainment package, which includes travel and publication grants, an industry engagement programme and the thesis writing boot camp. 

 For now, from all the research support crew onboard Flight PhD, thank you for choosing to fly with RMIT and we hope you have a great journey.

Progress: Flight PhD is Cleared for Take-Off

Flight PhD is cleared for take-off; the baggage is stowed and you’re about to embark on one of the most exciting adventures of your life. But along with the excitement and anticipation, it’s natural that you might also feel a little anxious: What will the outcomes be? Is your research really worthwhile? Are you putting all your eggs in one basket?

Right now, your destination seems a long way off, but completion date will come round faster than you think! Don’t worry, we’ll support you to make good progress and achieve timely and successful completion. You should aim:

• To be ready for examination in three and a half years
• To publish your research along the way, and
• To develop into an independent researcher.

You’ll know if you’re on the right track if you’re:

• meeting regularly with your supervisors and keeping records of the outcomes
• maintaining a research training plan and
• completing the required coursework and milestones on time.

Finally you should be attending PhD Up workshops and engaging with others in your research community.

There are three formal, panel-based milestone reviews on Flight PhD where you’ll get expert feedback and guidance.

At each milestone you’ll submit written documentation and give a presentation of your research to date.

Milestones are great opportunities – not only to share your research but to discover what other research is happening in your School.

You should aim to present around 3 months ahead of your milestone deadline so you have time to make changes if necessary.

You may experience some instability along the way. This could be due to technical issues, uncertainties about your research, or not maintaining a healthy work / life balance.

Don’t wait for the next milestone review to raise any concerns, raise them immediately with your supervisors or HDR staff.

You can also get confidential advice from:

• The RMIT Counselling Service, who can assist with stress and study issues,
• the Safer Community Unit if you are experiencing unwanted or threatening behaviour, and
• the Schoolof Graduate Research for advice on RMIT policies.

The School of Graduate Research also has a range of inflight services to keep you engaged throughout your journey. These include travel grants and research seminars, Thesis Boot Camp, internships, PhD Up, and Three Minute Thesis.

So, on behalf of Flight PhD and the School of Graduate Research, settle back, enjoy the rest of your flight and we look forward to supporting you all the way to your destination.

PhD examination process

So Flight PhD has finally landed, and you've submitted for examination. 

That means you've completed all milestones, finished compulsory course-work, met minimum enrolment criteria, and had your submission approved.

But before you can make your way to the Arrivals gate and complete your program, there are a few things you need to know about the examination process. 

School of Graduate Research staff manage the entire process, and are in regular contact with your examiners.

Delays are common. Don't judge the outcome of your examination on the time it takes, or on the speed of other people's.

And if you're feeling at all nervous don't worry! Failing an examination is rarer than you think! Overall, examiners aim to be positive and constructive. 

The School of Graduate Research will always notify you if changes are needed before your final submission. Once the final version of your thesis or project has been approved, it's lodged for online archiving. SGR will inform you when you have met all the requirements of the program. 

On behalf of the School of Graduate Research I'd like to thank you for flying aboard Flight PhD.