Graduate Study at Kent Master’s Degree Students 2011 Diane Houston Dean of the Graduate School

Graduate Study at Kent Master’s Degree Students

2011Diane Houston

Dean of the Graduate School

The Graduate School

Who are you?

• A Kent graduate

• A student who is new to Kent but who previously studied in the UK

• A student who is new to the UK

• A ‘home’ student

• A ‘European’ student

• An ‘international’ student

• Doing a Master’s degree with the hope of going on to a PhD

• Doing a Master’s degree to improve your employment prospects

• Doing a Master’s degree only out of interest in the subject

• Are you newly graduated or a number of years from your first degree?

Postgraduate Education

• Over 500,000 PG students in the UK

• Only 10% of PG students are Doctoral students (doing research for a PhD)

• Majority of students are on taught courses leading to Master’s Degree, or post graduate diploma or certificate

• Education (18%) and business (22%) account for a significant enrolment in taught courses

• Non UK students account for 50% of masters students and 44% of doctoral students

Postgraduate Community at Kent

• Four locations

• Three Faculties

• A huge range of subjects

• Over 2000 postgraduates

• Green campus, fantastic views, beautiful city, great community

• Excellent teaching, training, support and facilities

• Individual focus

• Graduate School

Things you should have done and need to do !

• Enrol....get IT account… register for modules… pay fees!

• Find out who directs your programme of study

• Choose modules – if appropriate

• Find out when and where your lectures and seminars are

• Find out who the Director of Graduate Studies is for your School

• Acquaint yourself with your Schools support processes – tutor/student advisor etc

• Check deadlines and examination dates

Things you must also do..

• Walk down the hill and climb the Westgate towers

• Walk up the hill and explore Blean Woodland – one of the largest and most ancient woodlands in the South

• Rent/borrow a bike and cycle to Whitstable on the Crab and Winkle Way

• Buy a railcard and spend 55 minutes getting to London – some of the world’s best museums and galleries are on your doorstep and they are free!

• Book well in advance and travel to Brussels and Paris on the Eurostar

The Graduate School

Mission: to lead and champion the strategic development of provision for graduate education and research at the University of Kent.

Graduate School Strategy – Five Goals

• To increase numbers of taught and research postgraduate students at Kent.

• To enhance the academic experience and research environment for postgraduate students.

• To develop a strong postgraduate community within the University.

• To support the personal and career development of postgraduate students.

• To introduce a strong system of governance for the management of graduate studies.

SenateVice-Chancellor

Graduate School BoardDean of the Graduate School

Faculty BoardsDeans

Faculty Graduate Studies CommitteeFaculty Directors of Graduate Studies

School Graduate Studies CommitteeSchool Directors of Graduate Studies

Staff/Student Liaison Committees Course Directors and supervisors

Programme Approval Sub-Committee

Structure Diagram for Postgraduate Programmes

Student Involvement

Get involved…make your voice heard..

• Postgraduate Student Representatives

• Staff Student Liaison Committees (SSLCs)

• Postgraduate Student Surveys e.g. PRES

• Graduate Student Association

• The Graduate School www.kent.ac.uk/graduateschool

The GradPost

The GradPost Editorial Team

A newsletter created by Postgraduates for the Postgraduate community.

Contact: [email protected]

Information on specific roles and opportunities that will look great on your CV and enhance your postgraduate experience at Kent can be found on our website: [email protected]/gedroles

Postgraduate Experience Awards

• Do you have a great idea for a Postgraduate event at Kent?

• Apply for funding through the postgraduate experience awards and your idea could become a reality.

• Applications for up to £1,500 are invited for the Graduate School postgraduate experience awards 2011-12.

• Applications will be considered for funding to run events or projects with an interdisciplinary and/or external focus which will enhance the postgraduate experience at Kent.

• Application forms and more details at www.kent.ac.uk/graduateschool/

Global Skills Award

• Master’s degree students from all disciplines are invited to apply for a place on the Global Skills Award which can be taken alongside their Master’s degree programme.

• All postgraduates accepted onto the programme will complete an on-line career development and skills assessment.

• The programme will run from October 31st 2011 until March 2012.

• Students will attend a lecture series on national and global issues and be able to select from a programme of workshops.

• The Award programme is designed to enhance global awareness and employability in a competitive job market.

• All those who successfully complete the programme will receive a Global Skills Award Certificate.

• The programme is free of charge.

What do I need to do to complete the award?

Apply using the online booking system at https://bloom.kent.ac.uk closing date is 25th October 2011.

Attend the Introduction Evening on 31st October 2011 in Woolf Lecture Theatre.

Complete an Initial Skills assessment via the online system before 30 th November 2011.

Attend a minimum of 8 lectures from the lecture programme on offer – reflect on and provide feedback on all 8 lectures attended.

Attend at least 6 workshops from the workshop programme on offer (2 of the 6 must be a “Managing your career session” and an “Effective Team Working” session) – reflect on and provide feedback on a 6 workshops attended.

Complete a Final Skills Assessment via the online system before 18 th May 2012.

Previous students have said…

Thank you for the GSA experience which was interesting, thoughtful, enjoyable and gave me a lot of insight and knowledge into areas that I would not have been able to partake in from my postgraduate course. Jay Hinkley School of Computing

Doing the GSA awards definitely contributed significantly to my postgraduate experience in Kent. I got a chance to meet people from other disciplines and backgrounds I wouldn't have met otherwise. The GSA was an effortless way to go that extra mile, and made me really appreciate other schools of thought. I can honestly say that the GSA broadened my academic and personal horizon and I'm very glad to have had the chance to take part.

Manuel J Hohnekamp-BrüggemannSchool of Biosciences 

Additional sources of help and support

• Student Learning Advisory Service

• Careers Centre

• Student’s Union

• Graduate Student Association

The Student Learning Advisory Service (SLAS)

• Advice and guidance on study skills and learning development

• Typical topics: Extended essays, dissertation and reports The MPhil and PhD Effective reading and note-taking Time management and organisation The supervisory process Maths and stats

• Consult www.kent.ac.uk/uelt/learning

• Drop In …

• Email [email protected]

• Attend free workshops http://www.kent.ac.uk/student/skills/canterbury/index.html

University of Kent Careers Advisory Service

www.kent.ac.uk/careers

• quick queries (drop-in & email)

• one-to-one careers interviews

• careers library

• careers website

• job vacancy database

• free careers literature

• talks & presentations throughout the year

• help making job applications

• careers fair in November

Contact Details

Professor Diane Houston

Cornwallis South East rm19

[email protected]

Graduate School Staff

• Suzie Morris, Graduate School Administration Manager [email protected] ext: 3182

• Ros Beeching, Graduate School Coordinator [email protected] ext: 7838

• Rhiannon Binns, Transferable Skills Training Coordinator [email protected] ext: 4785