Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES)

PRES Questions and Answers

In order to make sure PhD Researchers have the best possible experience while studying at Ulster University we need to know what you think we are doing well and what we can do better.

If you’re thinking about taking part this year, these are the answers to some of the questions students often ask:

• What is it?

  The Postgraduate Research Experience Survey is a national survey conducted by institutions across the UK and globally.

  The survey takes around 15 minutes to complete.

• Why should I take part?

  The Postgraduate Research Experience Survey is your chance to tell us your thoughts about your course.

  The results help us compare how we are doing with other institutions, to make changes that will improve what we do in future and to keep doing the things that you value.

  This will help improve the experience of PhD Researchers like you in the future.

  Because we value your feedback and wish to engage as many PhD Researchers as possible in the survey, we are offering an incentive to participation in the form of a prize draw for two £100 Amazon vouchers.

• What does it cover?

  PRES concentrates on the following aspects of your degree programme:

  • Supervision
  • Resources
  • research culture
  • progress and assessment
  • responsibilities
  • research skills and professional development
  • opportunities
  • overall experience
• What happens to the results?

  Your feedback is important. Over one hundred universities and colleges take part in the UK and globally.

  This means we can compare your experience against similar postgraduates at other institutions to see if we are supporting your learning as we should.

  We use the findings to improve the learning experience for future PhD Researchers.

• Is it anonymous?

  Your survey response is confidential to the team processing the results and no reporting outside of this team will identify any individual.

  Any results communicated to academic staff will be anonymised.

  The survey asks that any comments you make should not identify yourself or any specific members of staff.

  If you do have any issues that need resolved, please contact either your Research Director or the Doctoral College team outside of this survey.

• What do I need to do?

  You will receive an email with a link to the questionnaire on 1 March 2021.

  Simply click on your unique survey link and enter and complete the online form.

  The survey is open until 17 May 2021.