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Research

Research support – how it works

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An image to illustrate research support with The Open University.

Supervision and how it works

As an OU research student you will have two internal supervisors who are members of the University’s academic staff. You may also have an additional external supervisor, either because of your location as a part-time student or to contribute specific expertise to the supervisory team.

Supervisors provide encouragement and critical advice but also monitor your progress. It is on the basis of their six-monthly reports that the University continues your registration. If you have not made satisfactory progress your registration may be terminated.

The number of meetings you have with your supervisors will depend on the nature of your project and whether you are studying full- or part-time. You may spend a considerable period at the beginning of your project on a preliminary reading programme and literature survey before you produce a significant piece of written work.

Formal planning and milestone meetings

These meetings are held to make sure your research is on track and progressing and serve as focal points for participation by all members of your supervisory team.

Prior to the meeting, you may be asked to submit a written progress report which then serves as the agenda. You might include your achievements and progress over the last quarter, for example, followed by your plans for the next quarter and any issues or concerns you may have. This process helps you develop time management and planning skills by generating and reviewing written records of your achievements and progress to date.

Third-party monitoring

You will also be allocated a ‘third party monitor’. This person will not be a member of the supervisory team. You can discuss freely with them any issues or concerns you may have about any aspect of your studies, or you might just confirm that everything is going well.

Research skills training and development

The University provides general research skills training, and development events designed to complement the subject-specific and project-related training provided by academic units and disciplines. These cover topics such as carrying out a literature review and preparing for your viva. 

Our research career development programme combines training aimed at researchers early on in their careers, with targeted training for research students. In fact, the distinction between these groups is often blurred. Thus, our training provision is wide-ranging and offers considerable benefit to the student experience. The training events are open to all full- and part-time research students.

Our training aligns with the national Research Career Development Framework. Details of this framework can be found on their website.

Additional support

You will normally join an established research group. This ensures that you will be placed within an appropriate, supportive environment from which to build and establish your identity as an independent researcher.

If you are in the Faculty of Science you will be registered on the postgraduate course Postgraduate research skills in science, technology, mathematics and computing (STM895).

All other students will receive our research training resource pack, Doing Postgraduate Research (U501), at the beginning of their studies. 

All research students have access to the Research Degrees Skills website, which provides information about the process of doing a research degree, guidance, related documentation and links to training programmes.

Induction and methods conference

There is an annual induction conference and reception in October, which is mandatory for new students. It gives you an opportunity to meet and get to know other new students and to meet the University’s research community. Each faculty also holds an induction into their own research community.

The October conference is followed by a methods conference in March, designed to contribute to the overall skills training you need to successfully complete your research degree. It provides another opportunity to extend your networks with other research students.

Careers advice

You can get advice on career development via the OU Careers Advisory Service

The OU Library at Walton Hall also has careers information, including books and other material for reference, for loan or to take away.

If you have a disability or additional requirements

The University welcomes people with disabilities or additional requirements and we encourage you to inform us of these as early as possible so that we can support you fully. The How to Apply section of this site gives further details.