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Teaching
The initial phase of the 2D Materials of Tomorrow PhD programme comprises a six-month full-time teaching programme based at the University of Manchester. Home applicants will have completed this programme by the time of their admission to °Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï. This programme will be assessed formatively.
After the training programme at Manchester, °Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï students will be entitled to attend most lecture courses within the Department of Engineering at °Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï. They should discuss with their supervisors which courses would be most beneficial to their research. They will also attend a project-specific workshop, the annual student-led CDT conference, and gain transferable skills training. This training will include training on artificial intelligence ethics, on innovation and entrepreneurship, and on environmental sustainability.
Students will be registered for the PhD if they are able to demonstrate adequate research potential. This determination will be dependent on the student producing an adequate first year report, in addition to demonstrating knowledge in the field of 2D-Materials.
| One to one supervision | From the beginning of the PhD project, PhD students can expect to attend at least eight one-hour-long individual meetings with their supervisor every calendar year. This is in addition to daily contact with the research group in which they are placed. The °Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï publishes an annual which sets out the University’s expectations regarding supervision. |
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| Seminars & classes | The initial phase of the training programme involves approximately four hours/week of classes for 22 weeks at the University of Manchester. Please see the University of Manchester CDT website or contact them directly for details of the initial six-month training programme. During the PhD phase, further training provided will be provided in the form of intensive 'advanced skills training workshops'. The exact nature of the workshop will depend on the student's PhD project. |
| Practicals | The training programme involves approximately ten hours/week of laboratory sessions. Please see the University of Manchester CDT website or contact them directly for details of the initial six-month training programme. |
| Literature Reviews | Conducting a literature review is a normal part of the PhD writing process. |
| Posters and Presentations | All students will be required to present their research as a poster in the first or second year, and as a talk in the third or fourth year. |
| Taught/Research Balance | Predominantly Research |
Placements
All students are required to spend at least two months working at an industrial partner site in the third year of the programme. Depending on the student's project, this may either involve continuing to work directly on the PhD project, or may be taken as a period of intermission.
Feedback
Throughout the PhD, students can expect to receive feedback from their supervisors, who they will meet for regular supervisions, as well as assistance from those working in the same research group. Principal supervisors will also submit termly reports on students' progress, which will be made available via an online system. Students also have an annual opportunity to submit a self-evaluation report, on which their principal supervisor may comment.
Every student is also allocated an adviser, who is available for consultation alongside the supervisor. Additionally, in the first year, students will receive feedback from the Researcher Development Course leaders, and will receive feedback on coursework assignments if relevant modules are chosen.
Assessment
Thesis / Dissertation
The doctoral thesis should be submitted by the end of the fourth year. The thesis will have to comply with the rules and regulations set out by the department in which the student is registered for their PhD. The typical length of the PhD thesis will be 60,000–65,000 words A compulsory viva voce examination will follow thesis submission.
Essays
The training component at Manchester will involve completing coursework. These will be formatively assessed and do not present a formal progression barrier.
Practical assessment
The training component at Manchester will involve completing laboratory reports. These will be formatively assessed and do not present a formal progression barrier.
Other
Towards the end of the first year of research at °Ç¸ç³Ô¹Ï (5th term of the CDT), students will be required to produce a written report in light of their initial research project. An oral examination will be held to discuss the contents of the report and the plans for the remainder of the project. The deadline will depend on the host Department. This report comprises an important part of the probationary exercise determining whether students will be able to continue in the PhD.
