School of Economics Research Students’ Induction and Welcome Meeting 2013

1. School of EconomicsResearch Students’ Induction and Welcome Meeting 2013 Head of School: Professor Kevin Lee Director of Postgraduate Research: Professor Gianni De Fraja

2. The School of Economics • One of the leading Economics departments for research and teaching in the UK, set in one of the country’s top universities. • Rankings: • 2008 UK Research Assessment Exercise: Nottingham School of Economics ranked 3rd in UK in research “power” and 6th= on proportion of submitted research given highest two ratings. • Tilburg University 2005-2012 world-wide ranking of Economics departments: Nottingham ranked in Europe’s top 9 and World’s top 31.

3. The School of Economics • Dimensions: • Over 1000 undergraduates and around 120 MSc students. • Around 50 full-time postgraduate research students in residence in Nottingham. • Around 45 full-time academic staff in Nottingham, with research interests and supervision capability across much of Economics, esp. in fields of its research centres.

4. The School of Economics • Research Centres: • Centre for Decision Research & Experimental Economics (CeDEx); • Centre for Finance, Credit & Macroeconomics (CFCM); • Centre for Globalisation & Economic Performance (GEP); • Centre for Research in Economic Development & International Trade (CREDIT); • Granger Centre for Time Series Econometrics. • Less formal groups in other areas of economics.

5. Some key staff • Head of School: Prof. Kevin Lee • Director of PG Research: Gianni De Fraja (rm. B81) • Deputy directors: Profs. Oliver Morrissey and Daniel Seidmann • Support: • School Manager: Sue Berry • School Secretary: Sue MacCormick • PGR Research Secretary: Sarah Nolan (rm. B65) • Finance Officer: Janet Lewis (rm. B67) • IT Support: IT Helpline 16677 or email elsa-it-support@nottingham.ac.uk) • Staff list: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/economics/people/index.aspx

6. Postgraduate research programme • Overview: • Supervision; • Taught modules; • Supplementary, especially: • Research seminars; • Annual PG presentations events; • University Graduate School and DTC courses. • For more information, see School’s Postgraduate Research Student Handbook.

7. Postgraduate research programme • All events relevant for Nottingham PhD students are recorded in a google calendar, https://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=u9slphfi2lmnmkjmqj860rfpl4%40group.calendar.google.com&ctz=Europe/London

8. Early steps • Induction and registration. • Get key to room; find desk; Handbook; and computer. • Initial meeting with supervisor(s). • Agree Year 1 training programme form. • NB: Return to Sarah Nolan by 15th October at latest. • Discuss schedule of supervision meetings (plus perhaps 2nd supervisors). • Discuss initial tasks. • Introduce self to Director of PG Research. • For appointment email gianni.defraja@nottingham.ac.uk

9. Supervision • Format likely to vary between supervisors and over course of your research. BUT • Usually approx. fortnightly. • Usually expected to submit written work first. • Supervision meetings are the main forum in which your developing research is discussed. • Prepare. • Keep records and notes.

10. Taught modules • Role of taught modules. • Your supervisors: • may require you to take particular modules. This means you take the exam. • may also recommend that you attend certain other modules, without doing the exam. • The School requires that you take: • Both PhD Economics Research Methods modules (Micro. and Macro.) in Semester 1. • At least one of the subject-related Semester 2 PGR modules. • Mini-module in Semester 2: Writing and Presenting Economic Research.

11. Writing and Presenting Economic Research • Interview techniques • Small group academic interaction • Marketing research • Writing a PhD • Writing papers for publication • The Academic Job Market

12. Writing and Presenting Economic Research • Various Years: • Interview techniques, academic and non-academic posts – 26th September 2013 9.30-11.15am. • Introduction to writing a PhD thesis – date to be confirmed, Nov/Dec 2013? First years, 1 x 2 hr session. • Introduction to small group teaching – to be confirmed. • Presentations skills training - 2 April 2014, 1-3pm Room A09, Highfield House. • Conference presentation review & debrief - 1 May 2014, 1:30-3:30pm. • Submitting work to academic journals - 2x 2hr sessions 2nd&3rd years – May/June 2014 dates to be confirmed. • Marketing research – to be confirmed. • The US and UK academic job market - 1 x 1.5 hr session, for 2nd, 3rd & 4th years - May/June, dates to be confirmed.

13. Taught modules • Year 1, Semester 1: • PhD Economics Research Methods modules: • Microeconomics: Tuesdays 2-4pm. • Macroeconomics: Fridays 12 noon – 2pm. • All students take both. Exams in January 2013. Teaching starts in week beginning 1st October. • Plus, possibly, some M.Sc. modules. • Year 1, Semester 2: • At least one from • Topics in Microeconomics • International Trade • Econometrics. • Plus, possibly, some M.Sc. Modules.

14. An aside: MSc modules • As refreshers or supplements. • Semester 1: • Microeconomic Theory • Macroeconomic Theory • Econometric Theory • Economic Data Analysis • For this module, contact Dr. Tim Lloyd. • Semester 2: • Around 20 possible modules listed on School intranet. • To access this, click link from School website front page, sign in and select “My School”.

15. Research seminars • School Senior Seminar series; • School Workshops; • Various research centre series, listed at http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/Economics/research/seminars-workshops/index.aspx • Attend as many seminars as you can. You will be required to list the ones you attend (with a brief summary) as part of your regular review. Some topic seems not immediately “relevant” to your work. • Perspective; • Techniques; • Good and bad presentation skills; • Network.

16. PGR Presentations Event • Annual event. • Required to present in each of Years 1, 2 and 3. • Also required to attend presentations of others and to provide feedback. • Presentation: • 20 minutes presentation, plus 10 minutes questions. • In Year 1, either present own work or a key article in your field. If the latter, show how your planned work will relate to it. • Years 2 and 3: Present one of your draft chapters.

17. 2014 PGR Presentations Event • Preparation meeting: 2 April 2014, 1-3pm Room A09, Highfield House • First years present on 28th and 29th April • First years review session on 1 May 2014, 1:30-3:30pm. • Second and Third years present on 6th-8th May.

18. Conferences • Later in your research, it will be a good idea to try to present your work at academic conferences. • This is not formally part of the programme, but the School has a small fund that can help to cover some of the costs of this. • Details in Postgraduate Research Student Handbook. • Other sources of funding include the University’s Graduate School; the conferences themselves; the Royal Economic Society.

19. Teaching • There may be opportunities for you to gain some teaching experience (but usually not until Year 2). • For those intending academic careers, it is worthwhile to gain some teaching experience.

20. The Graduate School • Located in Highfield House, University Park. • Website: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/graduateschool/index.aspx • Functions include support and training role for all PGR students at University of Nottingham. • Courses: Graduate School list will be provided in Welcome Pack. • Travel prizes can be used to supplement School funding for conference attendance. • Also provides social space and means to meet PGRs in other Schools.

21. Nottingham ESRC DTC • Some of you are funded by this. • Meeting for these students with Prof. Morrissey 2pm Wednesday 25th September, Sir Clive Granger, C43. • Jointly with Graduate School, the ESRC DTC runs a number of research training modules. These are optional for Economics students, but some may be of interest. • Further information in the DTC’s Module Guide. • Apply to register for these modules via Sarah Nolan and DTC Administrator by 5th October.

22. Progress • Monitoring and review: You complete • Quarterly reports; • Annual reports; • (NB: Your funding body may also have reporting requirements.) • The Upgrade. • Formally, new research students in the School are registered for M.Phil. degree. • Upgrade to registration for Ph.D. degree considered early in Year 2.

23. The Upgrade • Upgrade usually considered in November or December of Year 2. • Decision based on: • Year 1 annual report • A draft chapter of your thesis • Marks from all taught modules taken • Formal meeting of you, your supervisors, and an independent, senior member of the School’s PGR Committee. This person takes the chair and is the internal assessor. • Main possible outcomes: • Upgrade, in which case become registered for a Ph.D.; • Deferral of decision, in which case further requirements will be specified. • M.Phil. registration confirmed in which case write up for an M.Phil.

24. Milestones I • September/October, start of Year 1: • Settling in; • Initial meeting with supervisors and agreement of training programme. • PhD Economics Research Methods modules begin. • January, Year 1: • Exams in PhD Economics Research Methods (both micro and Macro) and (maybe) MSc modules. • January, Year 1: • Semester 2 modules begin. • April, Year 1: • PGR Presentations event. • May/early June, Year 1: • Assessment in Semester 2 modules.

25. Milestones II • October, start of Year 2: • Year 1 annual report due. • Draft chapter submitted to Upgrade Internal Assessor. • November/December, Year 2: • Upgrade Meeting. • Around Easter, Year 2: • PGR Presentations event. • October, start of Year 3: • Year 2 annual report due.

26. Milestones III • October, start of Year 3: • Year 2 annual report due. • Around Easter, Year 3: • PGR Presentations event • Year 3 annual report due, mapping final stages to completion. • October, start of Year 4: • Years of study completed. • If thesis not already submitted, move into “registration-only” period for final writing up by following Summer, at the latest, under current regulations. • After submission of thesis: • Viva usually takes place within 3 months.

27. Research ethics • All research at the University covered by its Code of Research Conduct and Research Ethics. • All PGRs must consider (with supervisors) whether the research requires prior ethical approval. • Not normally necessary for economic research that is purely theoretical or uses only published data sets. • Is normally necessary if you gather primary data directly from individuals yourself (surveys, experiments). • For details and approval procedures, see http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/economics/research/research-ethics.aspx

28. Difficulties? • Administrative issues: • See relevant member of the School’s support staff. • Academic issues: • In first instance, discuss with supervisors. • Regular contact with supervisors and reviewing of progress against targets is best way to avoid academic difficulties. • Can also consult Director of Postgraduate Research.

29. And (almost) finally …. • We offer support, advice, training, facilities, exposure to modern research, an environment, …. • BUT: Never forget that it is your PhD! • You do the research. • You are responsible for planning and making progress. • You write the thesis. • You manage your career development.

30. Start of Year Social • School Postgraduate Social: • New postgraduate students invited to start of year social event on evening of 4th October (6-8pm) in The Hemsley.???