While the first year of the programme introduces students to generic skills needed to begin a research thesis, the second year of the programme recognises that students are at a more advanced stage of their research and that their needs are beginning to diverge. We also want to encourage students to take greater control of their research programme and to find relevant opportunities to develop their skills and their knowlege of the substantive area of law in which they are researching. At the same time, we continue to provide students with a system of support from the faculty and opportunities to meet as a group to reflect on the research process and to offer one another mutual support.
For these reasons, the Research Support Programme will take a slightly different approach in the second year than it did in the first year. There will be two parts to the programme. The first part will be a series of six classes spread across the year that refelect issues of interest to students toward the middle of their thesis. The second will be a programme of self-selected and self-directed opportunities for students to develop their skills and to develop their networks within the research community.
Part One: Structured Course
Requirements: All students are required to attend the first class and one of the classes for reporting back on the research class (any student who is unable to do so will need to meet with the course coordinator separately). Students will also be required to attend at least one other class given in the structured course and are encouraged to attend all parts of the course.
Part Two: Paper Workshops
In second semester students will present their research in progress to other PhD students and will also be required to give feedback on the paper of another student. This aims to give students a chance to talk through some of the ideas in their own papers and to develop skills in constructive engagement with the work of others.
top of page
