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Postgraduate researchers
The School of Education and Social Work is united by a common aim to provide essential knowledge and skills relevant for the complexities of the 21st century. Collaboration across disciplinary areas is an important aspect of the doctoral experience and there are opportunities to engage with a range of research active faculty and postgraduate researchers in both the Department of Education and the Department of Social Work and Social Care. There are also opportunities to meet with other postgraduate researchers in the Faculty of Social Sciences and engage with a range of support and events.
The provides a wealth of information to support your studies.
Sussex Researcher School provides practical information, guidance and resources for PGRs, following each stage of your research journey.
- The PGR Team
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Postgraduate researchers in the School of Education and Social Work work with, and are supported by, a dedicated team in addition to their supervisors:
Doctoral Course Convenor for Education:
E N.A.Marshall@sussex.ac.uk
Doctoral Course Convenor for Social Work & Social Care: E D.Orr@sussex.ac.ukResearch Coordinators: Adriana Davies & Martin Galinsky-Johnson
Room 109, Essex House
E: SocSciPGR@sussex.ac.uk - Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI)
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The School of Education and Social Work is fully committed to supporting an inclusive culture for all doctoral researchers. Its aim is to embed equality, diversity and inclusion into the core of what we do ensuring our commitment to building a motivated and diverse doctoral research community.
Through offering a wide range of workshops, support groups and administrative processes, we ensure that each student has a voice and is valued. Based on regular feedback and suggestions, we strive to provide a supportive environment. All doctoral researchers are encouraged to suggest ways in which we can improve our learning and working environment.
The School also ensures that we implement the policies of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion from the institution.
- Researchers' Perspectives
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"I am a first year postgraduate researcher carrying out a distance PhD from South Sudan in the area of international development and education. To date I have spent one month in Sussex at the beginning of the course and the rest of my interaction has been remote. I would say that the learning environment is supportive with people in the School of Education and Social Work and in the Sussex Library always ready to help with academic resources and constructive ideas. The online training provided is excellent with relevant inputs on essential areas of study, such as interviewing techniques, ethics, and using technology like Nvivo. The ability to join and interact with classes remotely works well for me given my location and time constraints.
My advice to new researchers would be to avail yourself of all the training opportunities that are relevant to your work, and to form a small group of fellow researchers with whom you can share insights and experiences."
Alan Neville, International Education & Development PhD (September 2023)
"I began my Education PhD full-time in September 2019, just months before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the UK. Despite the numerous challenges my work has faced since, I have received excellent support from the convenors, my supervisors, and my PhD colleagues. Participating in the online events during lockdowns - such as ESW Connect- helped me to remain connected to the university without being physically present. In ESW, you are never 'on your own'. The ESW PhD community is like a family; we lift each other up during times of uncertainty and celebrate the 'small wins'. The convenors also consider your goals outside of the PhD, which led me to become a facilitator for the New Researcher Support Group for two years running. You learn how to become an early academic during a PhD in ESW, but you also develop as a person. My confidence has grown exponentially since I began my doctoral journey. My advice to new Doctoral Researchers is to embrace the 'messiness' of the PhD; it is part and parcel of the experience and it builds your resilience."
Hayley Preston-Smith, Education PhD (January 2022)
"I began my PhD in September. Induction sessions from the Doctoral School and ESW, along with events such as the Hive’s ‘Meet and Greet’, really gave me a sense of academic support and belonging. ESW’s New Student Support Group, run by students who could share their own PhD experiences, created opportunities for us to work together and discuss challenging theoretical aspects. My advice to new students would be to take and make opportunities to engage with others, work closely with your supervisors and trust that things will evolve; the ideas you arrive with will develop and clarity will come to you in waves."
Gill Emerson, Education PhD (February 2020)
"As a third year doctoral researcher in Social Work and Social Care, my experience has been a very positive one. Ever since I embarked on my research journey, the School of Education and Social Work has always been like a second home to me. It’s where I gathered with my research cohort, my colleagues and our supportive academic staff, and also where I learned and ‘unlearned’ the few and the many skills which I consider core in my research journey . ESW has always had an inclusive and welcoming culture, where you feel that every single student, regardless of their background or experience, is embraced and supported. Academically, ESW has always provided essential trainings for doctoral researchers, and has always been responsive to our constant needs in relation to academic support, training and professional development."
May Nasrawy, Social Work and Social Care PhD (February 2020)
- Induction
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Sussex Researcher School will arrange an induction to introduce you to some of the key services that support PGRs at Sussex, offer a chance to meet other new PGRs and get to know the research community, and provide a space to ask questions of experienced PGRs and staff who support researchers within Schools.
In addition you will have the opportunity to take part in an induction with both the Faculty of Social Sciences and the School of Education and Social Work. These sessions are designed to help you integrate with your school and Faculty. Essentially a 'light touch' welcome session to inform, you will also meet new researchers and more experienced ones, as well as doctoral supervisors and other support staff.
- Events, Activities & Training
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Throughout the year, postgraduate researchers are given the opportunity to attend training workshops on a wide range of topics, including preparing for fieldwork, applying for ethical clearance, Progression Review, and what to expect from a Viva.
Check Sussex Researcher School as well as the for the latest events and training. You will also be put on the Sussex Researcher School and Social Science PGR mailing list and be notified of new opportunities.
- Progression Review
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Progression Review takes place between May and July each year and is the formal mechanism by which the University assesses the progress of all postgraduate researchers and for which the Director of Doctoral Studies makes a recommendation regarding progression and re-registration for the next academic year. The Progress Review is also a point at which doctoral researchers can provide feedback on their doctoral support - within the School and more widely.
See the for more information.
- Supervision and Attendance Monitoring
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PGR supervision is central to the PhD so it is important to fully understand the procedures associated with it and how to maximise its value. The Â鶹´«Ã½ÉçÇøÈë¿Ú has approved guidelines for research supervision, an official code of good practice and a complaints and appeals procedures. Key points are on the Sussex Researcher School webpages.
Online logging of supervision meetings
Logging supervision meetings within Sussex Direct is part of the University’s attendance monitoring process and is of particular importance to PGRs on Tier 4 visas. It also provides an opportunity for you to keep a record of key issues discussed within supervision meetings and next steps. See Sussex Researcher School for more information.All full-time doctoral researchers are required to log at least one contact a month with their supervisor(s) on Sussex Direct.
- The Viva
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A doctoral thesis is examined through a viva voce (oral examination) at which the researcher orally defends their thesis. The examination is normally held two to three months after submission of the final thesis. As well as information and support provided via Sussex Researcher School, ESW offers each researcher support in preparation for their viva (for example, suggesting participation at a suitable workshop, offering a mock viva, or referring the individual to relevant written guidance materials).
- Awards and Recognition
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Marcela Gola Boutros: International Education and Development PhD (2023)"I received a People's Choice Award for my participation at the SeNSS Summer Conference Research Poster Competition. The event exhibited the work of SeNSS Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) masters and first-year PhD students. Scholars from all DTP fields submitted posters summarising their research, which were displayed at the SeNSS Summer Conference from July 12-14, 2023. The posters were voted on by event attendees, and those with the most votes received the award."
My poster's title was: Exploring the Experiences of Forcibly Displaced People in Higher Education: A Case Study of Brazil. It focused on the contextual elements and key concepts that supported the creation of my research framework."
Lucy Roberts: Social Work & Social Care PhD (2022)
"I am delighted to have been awarded the Mulberry Bush Studentship 2022. My research will further our understanding of how to assess children’s social and emotional development, particularly for those who have experienced trauma, to enable practitioners to understand and help a child in practical ways. It builds on a previous collaboration between researchers at the Â鶹´«Ã½ÉçÇøÈë¿Ú and practitioners at the Mulberry Bush School to develop innovative ways to measure the progress of children’s social and emotional competencies in real world settings.
I feel this is a fascinating opportunity to identify what is needed to support learning from practice that leads to better outcomes for children. I’m grateful for the fantastic support from the school of Education and Social Work and the school of Psychology at Sussex and from the rich research culture at the Mulberry Bush Organisation. Thank you for this opportunity."
Fezile Sibanda: Education PhD (2021)
"I was awarded ESW's BAME studentship in 2021 for my research proposal which focused on coloniality in English Higher Education institutions and the experience of Black academics within these spaces. I feel that my research aims to unpack the very thing I am receiving funding for, which is essential. While I am honoured to receive such funding, I feel that this is also a perfect opportunity for institutions like Sussex to start to actively work towards anti-racism and decoloniality within the academy as this under-representation and persisting inequality is not new, but has been bought to the forefront within recent years. This can start by creating more opportunities and providing resources specifically for marginalised and ‘non- traditional’ students. A seat at the table is only the beginning. We also need to be heard, valued, and championed. Thank you for the fantastic opportunity.”
Paul Shuttleworth: Social Work and Social Care PhD (2019)"I won first place at Sussex University's Doctoral Research Poster Competition. This was established to showcase the research undertaken by doctoral researchers at the University. Doctoral researchers from across all years and disciplines were invited to submit a poster on an aspect of their doctoral research which was displayed at the Festival of Doctoral Reseach between 18-20 June 2019. It was shortlisted by a panel drawn from the University's research community and then voted on by the attending public.
The title of the poster was: Absent Voices - Where Are Children's Accounts Of Being In Kinship Care. It was based around the findings from my thesis literature review."
Tanja Jovanovic: Education PhD (2018)Tanja was recommended for the award of PhD on Thursday 5 July 2018 for her "highly original and engaging study", 'Roma Student Access to Higher Education in Serbia: Challenges and Promises' following a successful viva voce examination.
Tanja is the first Roma woman from Serbia to gain a PhD in the UK.
- Supervisor Training and Workshops
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Sussex Researcher School oversees support for PGRs, including key information and guidance to support supervisors of PGRs in their role.
The Procedures on Research Degrees have recently been updated for 2025/26. You can view the updates here: Regulations and policies.
Visit the LearnUpon platform to access the mandatory training necessary for all PGR supervisors.
See also the Canvas pages for the latest developments on support for supervisors in the Faculty.
- Sussex Researcher School
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As a postgraduate researcher at the Â鶹´«Ã½ÉçÇøÈë¿Ú, you are supported by the Sussex Researcher School. This central resource, which works with all Schools to support over 1,100 doctoral scholars, offers guidance, training and development, as well as access to scholarships and other funding opportunities for UK and international students.
E: researcher-school@sussex.ac.ukThere are various prizes, grants and other opportunities for funding your doctorate or professional development, including the Researcher-Led Initiative (RLI) Fund which supports peer-led activities and Sussex Fund for Doctoral Overseas Conference Grants that supports Sussex postgraduate researchers presenting at an overseas conference. Go to the Sussex Researcher School webpages for more information.