It is necessary to conduct a short assessment at the end of the student’s second year in order to ensure timely submission. This has become particularly important with the more stringent target of 80% submission in four years now set by the University. A reminder will be sent when such assessments are due.
Objectives of 2nd Yr Report
- To ensure that the student is continuing to progress appropriately
- To ensure that the student has the best opportunity to complete his/her studies within their time limit (3 or 4 years depending on funder).
Format of second-year assessment report
It is imperative that this assessment takes up as little time as possible for the student. We therefore ask that students produce a report, at the end of their second year, of no more than 3-4 sides of A4 paper listing in concise form (possibly note form) their major achievements in their first two years of and those experiments that still have to be completed. A detailed timetable should aim at completing lab work, field work and/or data analyses at least four months before the end of funding for 3Y funded students and six months before end of funding for 4Y funded students, who have less flexibility at the end of their degrees due to the four year deadline for submission. There should also be an outline plan (chapter headings and rough contents) of the thesis.
Assessment of the report
This short paper will be assessed by you (the supervisor), and at least one other person (often the advisor or the supervisory team) in a meeting with the student, with the agenda to be as sure as possible of timely completion. A short report (one to two paragraphs) must be sent by the assessors to the Graduate Office. It is particularly important that we are made aware at this stage of any possibility of failure to submit on time. The report should later be used as the basis of monitoring progression is on track using the final year timelines.