Research Student Lifecycle

TRIMESTER ONE:

• Confirm your registration and pay fees.
• Commence your research project and establish a meeting schedule with your Supervisor.
• Liaise with your Supervisor and seek agreement to register for any Taught Modules, MD students can register for up to a maximum of 20 credits over the duration of the programme. There is no taught module requirement for completion of the MD programme. The Academic Regulations will provide additional details. 

• Liaise with your Supervisor regarding the set up of your first RSP meeting. Your RSP should meet at least once soon after you begin your graduate research programme of study, at least twice in the first year and at least once a year thereafter. You should initiate the RDPD form and complete Part 1 in advance of each meeting.

• Complete Research Integrity Training in Brightspace.

TRIMESTER THREE:

• Ensure that you have had at least two Research Studies Panel meetings by the end of the first year.
• Liaise with your Principal Supervisor to complete the required MD Mid programme report.
• Inform the Medicine Research Office (email: (opens in a new window)medicine.research@ucd.ie) if you are intending on applying to transfer to Stage 2 of the PhD programme.

TRIMESTER FOUR:

• Ensure that you have confirmed your registration for year 2 and paid your fees.

TRIMESTER FIVE

• Ensure that your RSP has met at least once during your second year.

• Review Thesis submission deadlines. If you are not able to meet your thesis submission deadline you will be required to apply for an extension of registration in the programme. To discuss the extension of a stipend, if applicable, you should contact your Supervisor or the funding agency.
• Let your Supervisor know that you are intending to submit your thesis. 
• Request your Supervisor to submit details of your proposed External and Internal examiners to (opens in a new window)medicine.research@ucd.ie using the Exam Committee Nomination Form, for approval by the school and university committees. 
• Ensure that you have completed the Research Integrity Training in Brightspace.

TRIMESTER SIX:

• Ensure that you are fully registered with outstanding fees paid.
• You must submit your thesis online. Your Supervisor must permit the upload of your thesis. The e-thesis guidelines and one-to-one Zoom clinics organised by Assessment will assist with this. The guidelines for preparing a research degree thesis will also provide information.

• Confirm your registration every year and pay fees.

Stage 1

• Review the information for new graduate students and explore the Graduate Prospectus.
• Participate in Graduate Research Student orientation activities.
• Establish a meeting schedule with your Principal Supervisor and complete the Research Supervision Agreement. Stage 1 is a period in which you define your research plan, develop your research skills and initiate original research work for your doctorate. 
• Liaise with your Supervisor regarding the set-up of your first RSP meeting. You should bring your The Research Supervision Agreement to this meeting. Your RSP should meet at least twice in the first year and at least once a year thereafter. You should initiate the RDPD form and complete Part 1 in advance of each meeting. Additional details on the RSP can be found HERE.
• Liaise with your Research Studies Panel and seek agreement to register for any Taught Modules, all UCD PhD students must take 30 credits of taught modules over the duration of their programme. The Academic Regulations will provide additional details. Please note that completion of Research Integrity Training is a mandatory requirement. Transferable Skills workshops may also be useful to participate in.
• If your research project involves personal data, you must complete the Data Privacy & Security module in Brightspace.

Stage Transfer Assessment

• All PhD students must undertake a Stage Transfer Assessment (STA) in order to progress from Stage 1 to Stage 2 of the programme. The STA must be completed within five trimesters for a full-time student or seven trimesters for a part-time student.

Thesis Submission

• Review the Thesis submission deadlines. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that they are fully registered and fees compliant prior to thesis submission. If you are not able to meet your thesis submission deadline you will be required to apply for an extension of registration. To discuss the extension of a stipend, if applicable, you should contact your Supervisor or the funding agency.
• Request your Supervisor to submit details of your proposed exam committee to (opens in a new window)medicine.research@ucd.ie using the Exam Exam Committee Nomination Form, for approval by the school and university committees. 
• You must submit your thesis online. Your Supervisor must permit the upload of your thesis. The e-thesis guidelines and one-to-one Zoom clinics organised by Assessment will assist with this. The guidelines for preparing a research degree thesis will also provide information.