Getting started on your research degree

On this page you will find information about things you need to be aware of and do in the lead up to commencing your research degree, and during your first few weeks and months of your registration.

Registration

Registration is the formal process of recording that you have become a member of the University. Once you have registered you will be able to engage in supervision, attend researcher development workshops, use labs, and use the Library, Computing and other University facilities. Once registered for the first time you will receive a University registration card which includes membership of the Students’ Union.

In order to remain a candidate for your degree you are required to renew your registration each academic year. Information regarding online registration will be sent to you by email in August/September each year.

Student Loans

If you are in receipt of a postgraduate student loan, Student Data and Records will notify the Student Loan Company when you have completed registration. The Student Loan Company will then release your first loan installment. If you have queries regarding registration, please contact PGR-StudentRecords@sussex.ac.uk. If you have queries regarding your student loan, please contact the Student Finance England Postgraduate Loan Team.

Contact details and communication

You are responsible for keeping your contact details up to date via Sussex Direct throughout your registration. When you register you should confirm your term-time address.

The University will contact you by email in the first instance, using your University of Sussex email address. You should check your account regularly so you don't miss important communications.

Should the University need to contact you in writing, the letter will normally be sent to your term-time address. If you are on a period of approved fieldwork it will be directed to the correspondence address you gave when you applied to do fieldwork. If you are registered to attend via distance learning it will be sent to your home or other correspondence address as you have indicated on your record.

Health Service

You and your dependents may register with the University Health Service.

Council Tax

Eligibility for Council Tax exemption and discounts varies depending on your circumstances:

Full-time registered PGRs living in University-managed accommodation are generally exempt from paying Council Tax and the University supplies details of tenants to the local authority.
If you are a full-time PGR not living in University accommodation, please refer to information on letter and document requests.
If you are a part-time or pre-submission PGR you should contact your local Council Tax Office for further information on any discounts you may be eligible for.

Electoral registration

Arrangements to register to vote whilst a PGR at the University are managed through annual registration. Please note that in order to vote you must be registered.

Induction

The Sussex Researcher School (SRS) provides centralised induction events for PGRs, typically in October and February. You are expected to attend the University induction relevant to your start date. See our Welcome pages for more information.

In addition to the central induction run by the SRS, Faculties/Schools will provide a comprehensive, local induction programme for you that includes Faculty-/School-specific information on supervisory arrangements, research and skills training, networking opportunities, facilities, good research conduct, and health and safety, including (where appropriate) health and safety while undertaking work away from the University (e.g. fieldwork and research visits). Your Faculty/School will also provide you with a handbook (or equivalent resource) for reference.

In addition to these events, you are encouraged to familiarise yourself with the information on these pages, and in particular: Your supervision, Your attendance, Your progress, and Regulations, policies and procedures.

Mandatory training

All PGRs commencing their registration on or after 01 August 2025 are required to complete mandatory training in Research Ethics and Integrity and in Research Data Management. These online modules, which can be found on Canvas (see Introduction to Research Ethics and Integrity for PGRs and Introduction to Research Data Management for PGRs), must be completed by the time you submit your Research Plan (see below).

Research plan

Within your first six months if you are registered full-time, or first twelve months if you are registered part-time, you must prepare a research plan (or Faculty/School equivalent) which sets out the overall plan, objectives and timetable for your project. Your Faculty/School will identify the specific deadline for completion of the plan. A form to confirm the content and working title of your thesis and research plan must be submitted by you and your main supervisor for approval within your Faculty/School per the local process.

Please note:

Should you wish to change the title of your thesis after approval of your Research Plan, you should consult your main supervisor in the first instance. If your supervisor agrees with the change you should then complete and submit an application form which is available on the Forms and Letter Requests page. If you are sponsored by the University on a Student Visa, changing your thesis title can have implications for future visa applications: you must consult an International Student Adviser before submitting the application form.

Ethical review

All PGRs whose research involves living subjects will require ethical approval. Depending on the focus and methodology, other research may also require ethical approval. The checklist Do I need ethics approval for my research? will help you to determine whether ethical review is needed.

Where formal ethical approval from an internal ethics committee (and, where necessary, an external body) is needed, the main supervisor and the PGR will be jointly responsible for securing this in accordance with the Code of Practice for Research before the research commences. For more information about the process, please refer to the Research Governance and Integrity pages.

Please note:

Confirmation of ethical approval (where needed) is required for your Formal Progression Reviews and when you submit your thesis.
With respect to research integrity more broadly, the University's 'Statement on the Use of Generative AI (GenAI) by Postgraduate Researchers' (Appendix 6 of the Procedures on Research Degrees) provides guidance around acceptable use and maintaining good academic practice.

Data Management Plan

As per the University’s Research Data Management Policy, you are expected to have an appropriate data management plan for your research. You should have this in place by your first Formal Progression Review and you may wish to consider the data management for your project when drafting your Research Plan (see above). Your data management plan should be updated as required and checked at subsequent Formal Progression Reviews (where applicable).

Training Needs Analysis

You must complete a Training Needs Analysis with your supervisor at the start of each year of registration (or part-time equivalent). By reflecting on your training needs you can identify areas for development and then target specific workshops and courses, such as those offered via SRS. Your Training Needs Analysis should be considered during your Formal Progression Reviews.

Support for international PGRs

There is a lot of useful information, advice and guidance available for you on the main international student support pages.

If you need help, you can speak to:

the International Advice team, for confidential advice about visas and immigration
the Student Centre, if you have worries or concerns
Residential Life, if you have problems with your living situation.

Personal web profile

Once you have commenced your research degree you are encouraged to set up a personal profile on the University’s website. The profile facility allows you to present yourself and your research on the Sussex website and you can also ask your Faculty/School to display your profile on the Faculty/School webpages. This can help raise your academic profile and promote your research.