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The case for equity-minded doctoral recruitment and selection

In this blog, Professor Paul Wakeling and Dr Bukola Oyinloye (University of York) set out the challenges to racial equity in UK doctoral admissions. They argue that how and who we select for entry to PhD degrees is a critical part of achieving a more racially just and successful research sector and outline what the Yorkshire Consortium for Equity in …

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Meet the Team: Yara Alagha

I am a Research Development Assistant at the University of Sheffield Research Services Department. I am also a YCEDE project administrator working with YCEDE colleagues on developing and supporting projects that improve the on-course experiences of postgraduate students in academia. Formerly a parliamentary researcher for a group of independent Senators in the Irish Senate (Seanad Éireann). I worked on the …

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Strength in numbers: overcoming challenges in sharing data across universities

by Lucy Clague, Senior Research Fellow, Sheffield Hallam University The five YCEDE partners are committed to sharing data for evaluative purposes in order to evidence programme impact. Data sharing across multiple institutions can be a complex process, particularly in relation to PGR data, which historically has not been collected by institutions in the same way as data from undergraduates. During …

My PhD Interview experience

by Anita Chonzi, PhD Researcher at Sheffield Hallam University Not any one PhD experience is the same. I remember when I went for the interview at a certain university. Of course, I had been asked to send my research proposal first, then invited for an interview. Professionals including the potential supervisors were sat around a horseshoe kind of table. I …

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My PhD Interview

My PhD Interview by Zenab Eman Sabahat, PhD Researcher, University of Bradford If you’ve ever considered applying for a PhD, you may have had the anxiety-ridden thought of what to expect in the interview if you’re fortunate enough to receive an offer. So, you’ve submitted your application, crossed every ‘T’, and dotted every ‘I’- “but what now?”- I hear you …

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My PhD Interview Experience

By Frederick Kandala, PhD Researcher, University of Bradford How long did it take between the application and the interview?  My application process was 5 to 6 months long. I sent my first application form via the portal on the 6th of February 2020 before the Lockdown. By the 24th of February 2020, they sent me a provisional ID and login …

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Working with your Supervisor to Manage your Project

By Beverley Thomas, PhD Researcher, School of English. A definition of a supervisor according to the University of Sheffield’s portal is a ‘subject expert who will guide you through your PhD studies.’ When starting doctoral studies, we may have this idea in mind, but not necessarily understand the culture of academia from the perspective of the institution. Also, we may …

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Funding your PhD, by Nausheen Hoosein

About me Hello, my name is Nausheen and I am a second year PhD student in History of Art. I research spolia and the reuse of architectural material in Islamic Iberia. In this blog, I will share my experiences with funding a self-funded PhD. But before getting into the funding, a bit about why I chose to do postgraduate research …