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Welcome to our postgraduate research students

Our school

The School of Politics and International Relations at the University of Nottingham has long been respected for the quality of its research and teaching. It has a diverse teaching staff and student body. The school has research and teaching links not only with other schools in the university but with leading institutions in the UK and overseas. It is located in the Law and Social Sciences building at the heart of University Park Campus.

As a postgraduate research (PGR) student, you will benefit from being part of a research-intensive school, spending time on a topic of your choice whilst enhancing your research skills and subject-specific expertise.

You are joining a diverse and energetic group of postgraduate students, who are working on a large range of inspiring projects.

You will join a vibrant community and at least two academic supervisors who are experts in their fields of study will guide you throughout your degree programme.

Preparing to start your degree

We are looking forward to you joining us when your research degree course starts in September. Wherever you are when you start your PhD or MRes degree, we will make sure that you receive the support, information and supervision that you need.

Our Student Services team are available to support you.

During Welcome Week, 23 to 27 September, a series of events will take place that will help you settle in. These will include:

• a welcome message from our Head of School, Professor Caitlin Milazzo
• an induction into our school
• a meeting with your supervisors
• IT induction (online)
• working in the Law and Social Sciences building
• information on welfare support
• a Students' Union welcome fair

Who are your supervisors and what are they for?

Your supervisors are all members of academic staff with significant research expertise. They will be your main point of regular contact in the school and will help you develop the academic skills you need to succeed through your research degree at Nottingham.

You will be allocated at least two supervisors with the balance of responsibility between supervisors varying according to your topic.

What are supervisions?

Much of your work will be planned around your supervision meetings which provide an important element of structure to your degree programme. Your supervisors will guide the development of your thesis topic as well as being involved in helping you to identify training needs and obtain the techniques and skills that you need to plan and undertake your research.

Regular supervision meetings provide the key point of contact between postgraduate research students and their supervisors. Supervision meetings must occur at a minimum of 10 times per year (six for a part-time student).

Find out more

The Director of Postgraduate Research in the School of Politics and International Relations is Jonathan Sullivan and you can also contact the Student Services PGR Team at ss-pgr-socsci@exmail.nottingham.ac.uk.

You can also access a directory of staff in the school.