Getting started

"We hope you're excited to get started on your research degree - it's a joy to get immersed in a topic that fascinates you. Know you have a team to support you in this journey. We're looking forward to cheering you on!"

Professor Clare Warren, Graduate School Director

The links below will help as you are settling in after Induction. They will help you get a sense of the main sources of support and where responsibilities sit in the doctoral journey. Some of these are repeated on the Induction resources page that covers the Induction period.

Forms and Guidance: handbooks contain good overall guides to the research degree programmes, including those for PhD, Professional Doctorate and Affiliated Research Centre. 

Forms and Guidance

Note: if any of these links are broken try searching on the main Forms and Guidance page.

• Academic Attendance and Engagement Policy
• Research code of practice | Research at The Open University
• Disability Support Form
• PGR Manager - Student User Guide
• PGR Manager: Supervision meeting notes guide
• Regulations - Research Degree Regulations
• Research Data Management Policy

GSN Pages

• Training and development | Graduate School Network including subsection Compliance training for PGRs | Graduate School Network
• Disability support | Graduate School Network
• IT support | Graduate School Network
• Getting started at the OU & in the UK | Graduate School Network
• Induction resources | Graduate School Network
• Fees, funding and cost of living | Graduate School Network
• Community | Graduate School Network (open.ac.uk)
• PGR Liaison Group reps listed on Giving feedback
• International student (Student Route) | Graduate School Network (open.ac.uk).

Training resources

• OLCreate: Research skills for PhD students | OLCreate (enrolment keys are here RESEARCH-SKILLS: Enrolment keys | OU online)
• Getting started on your research degree section in Website: Research skills | OU online.

The Open University Library

• The Open University Library
• Library Research Support
• Library checklists for new researchers
• Research Data Management Policy: Key requirements and how to comply

What differs between Faculties?

Each Faculty may have its own policy and procedure around stages and actions including:

• how you can spend any funds related to your training, e.g., Research Training Support Grant (RTSG or Research Student Support Fund/RESSF)
• health and safety, including work stations and risk assessments for fieldwork
• arranging travel for conferences and fieldwork
• equipment and specialist software
• Third Party Monitor allocation and any subject-specific buddying/mentoring.

We recommend you start by talking with your Faculty Administrator about what happens in your Faculty (mailbox address on Contact us | Graduate School Network).