Training requirements for a Physics/Astronomy PhD
- About your PhD training
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Your PhD is examined solely on your thesis and viva examination.
However, the Department of Physics & Astronomy expects all PhD students to undertake additional training. It is intended to broaden your subject knowledge at an advanced level and enhance your career opportunities. We hope you agree it is beneficial to you, especially as it can be tailored to your career needs.
You are expected to keep a continuous record of your training, which you provide as a document at your main Progression reviews held at intervals of one year.
Your completed and proposed training will be reviewed as part of the regular Progression Review.
- Your Training Requirement
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- You should discuss your additional training requirements with your supervisor. It is your supervisor’s responsibility to identify any areas which require additional training, and to monitor your progress with your additional training.
- What to do next
- Discuss your training needs
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Firstly, discuss your training needs with your main supervisor and second supervisor within a wider discussion of your broad career objectives. You should have this discussion when you first arrive at Sussex. Fill in a Training Needs Analysis (TNA) form [ .pdf ] [ .doc ] based on the outcome of this discussion and retain it as a document to be handed in at your main Progression Review.
You should conduct a further Training Needs Analysis once a year as part of your Progression Review.
- Training suppliers
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- You can go to any recognised supplier for your training.
- We encourage you to make use of the Researcher Development Framework offered by Vitae via the Doctoral School. These courses are oriented to PhD research methodologies (all subject areas) and on the skills needed by early career researchers.
- MPS is a member Department of SEPnet. You may take courses offered by other SEPnet Departments via GRADnet. Obtain a GRADnet login to the VRE (via the OU pages) to see the available courses.
- You can take courses offered over the internet by other UK or European universities.
- Arrange your own training event ! You can request funding to support it from the Sussex Researcher Led Initiative Fund.
- The School recommends all researchers take the Research Integrity course by Epigeum.
- MPS modules at Masters level are available to you in Mathematics or Physics & Astronomy.
UPDATE: Physics researchers can now take courses from the Mathematics MAGIC programme.
- Arranging and paying for your training
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- If you are taking Sussex modules, use the Module Choice form [ .doc ] and hand it in at the School office who will book you on the module. You will see your module timetable on Sussex Direct.
- For all other courses, book the training yourself, directly with the training supplier.
- If your training course runs over the internet, you will need to check lecture times and access. If you need to use the facilities of the SEPnet room, book them with the Research Support Team in the School office (mps-pgrsupport@sussex.ac.uk).
- If there is a course fee, see the "Travel and attending conferences and events" section of the Research Student webpage for how to find funding and reclaim your expenses.
- Update your Training Record
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Keep your own record of Training. Please use this form. Supply the full record with your other documents when you do your main Progression Review each year of your study.