Overview

The progress of postgraduate research students at UTT is systematically monitored each year of their registration. This annual review process is crucial for assessing the student's capabilities, the development of their work, and ensuring the necessary support for successful completion of the programme.

Timing of Annual Review

• The first annual review is conducted within 9-12 months of a student's enrolment in a PhD programme.
• Subsequent reviews occur around the same time each academic year.
• Students who start in September undergo reviews between May and July, while those starting in January are reviewed between October and November.

Objectives of Annual Review

• Capability Assessment: Evaluate whether the student demonstrates the capability to pursue a PhD or MPhil degree.
• Work Development: Assess whether the student's work is sufficiently developed and meets the required standards for continued registration.
• Progress Review: Evaluate progress against the previous year's plan, reflecting on any deviations and understanding the reasons.
• Future Planning: Agree on a sensible plan of work for the upcoming year, including setting targets such as a thesis/dissertation submission date.
• Supervisory Relationship: Review the effectiveness of the supervisory relationship, ensuring appropriate and adequate support, and addressing any areas for improvement.

Process and Implementation

• Formal Review: The annual review is a formal process designed to ensure that students proceed with their research only when they have acquired the necessary expertise.
• Support and Guidance: The review process facilitates support and timely completion of research by identifying areas that need attention and providing the necessary guidance.
• Hurdle Requirement: The annual review serves as a genuine hurdle, emphasising the importance of preparation provided by research training, coupled with guidance from supervisors and the Advisory Committee, to pass the review successfully.

The Annual Review is a critical component of the postgraduate research journey at UTT, ensuring that students receive the necessary support, have a clear understanding of their progress, and are well-equipped to meet the standards required for their research programmes.

MPhil and PhD Research Guidelines

• Research Proposal: Develop a well-defined research proposal that outlines the objectives, methodology, and expected contributions of your research. Seek approval from your academic supervisor and the Advisory Committee.
• Ethical Considerations: Prioritise ethical considerations in your research. Obtain necessary approvals from the Research Ethics Committee (REC) before commencing data collection.
• Literature Review: Conduct a thorough literature review to situate your research within the existing body of knowledge. Identify gaps in the literature that your research aims to address.
• Methodology, Data Collection, and Analysis: Clearly outline your methodology, research design, data collection methods, and analysis techniques. Ensure that your methodology aligns with your research questions and objectives.
• Progress Reporting: Regularly report your research progress to your academic supervisor and the Advisory Committee. Timely updates ensure that you receive guidance and feedback throughout the research process.

Thesis/Dissertation Preparation Guidelines

• Structure and Formatting: Adhere to the institutional guidelines for formatting your thesis/dissertation. Pay attention to margins, font type and size, line spacing, and citation style and format.
• Originality and Contribution: Ensure that your thesis/dissertation demonstrates originality and contributes significantly to the field. Clearly articulate the unique aspects of your research.
• Literature Review Integration: Integrate your literature review seamlessly into the thesis/dissertation. Provide a critical analysis of existing research and its relevance to your study.
• Methodology Section: Clearly present the methodology, research design, data collection methods, validation methods, and analysis procedures in the methodology section. Provide sufficient detail for replication.
• Results and Discussion: Present your results clearly and analyse them in the context of your research questions. Discuss the implications of your findings and relate them back to the literature.
• Conclusion and Future Directions: Summarise key findings in the conclusion and discuss their broader implications. Suggest potential avenues for future research in your field.
• Citation and Referencing: Maintain a consistent and accurate referencing style throughout your thesis/dissertation. Cite all sources, including data, images, and AI-generated data in any form, in accordance with academic standards.
• Submission and Examination: Follow the submission guidelines provided by UTT. Prepare for the examination process, including the defence of your thesis/dissertation.