postgraduate research experience survey (pres)

Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES) 2024

The Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES) opened on  Monday 15 April   2024  and is an opportunity for all postgraduate research (PGR) students to share experiences about: 

• Supervision
• Research Community
• Progress and Assessment
• Skills and Professional Development

It also considers PGR students’ motivations for taking their research degree programme.

The survey is confidential and takes 15-20 minutes to complete. The feedback will be used to inform BU-wide enhancements to the PGR experience and inform faculty level improvements to the research environment and support for PGRs. It will also help us to benchmark our performance against other Higher Education institutions to identify key areas for development. We would like to know what you think works well and what as a University we could do better.

If you are eligible, you will have received an email on Monday 15 April from BU’s Doctoral College (from  [email protected] ) with a unique link to the survey. If you haven’t received an email and feel that you are eligible, please contact  [email protected] . 

If you would like to know more about the survey, please visit the PRES 2024 webpage . The  PRES 2024 privacy notice  is also available for your perusal.

The deadline to complete the survey is Thursday 16 May 2024. 

Upon completing the survey, PGRs will automatically be entered into a free prize draw.  Four winners will be able to claim a £50 shopping voucher.  Terms and conditions apply.  

In addition, we will be making a £1 donation for every survey completed to the student mental health wellbeing charity,  Student Minds.

Once you have completed the survey, you are entitled to claim a voucher worth £3.20 , from the Doctoral College to use at any BU Chartwells outlet. Please come to the Doctoral College (DLG08, Talbot Campus) to collect your voucher. 

Thank you to all PGRs who completed the 2023 PRES survey – we listened to you and your feedback has helped us to enhance your PGR experience in a range of areas. Click here to view what we have done as a university following the outcomes of the results of the PRES 2023 survey.

The Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES) is a national survey led by AdvanceHE and coordinated by the Doctoral College. 

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PRES: Postgraduate Research Experience Survey

Have your say on the postgraduate experience at Manchester Met

The Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES) will run from 10 March-15 May 2023 . It’s an opportunity to give feedback on your experiences at Manchester Met to improve the research experience for both current and future PGRs.

Overseen by Advance HE , PRES is a survey conducted by institutions across the UK and globally.

Previous surveys have highlighted areas of strength that we should be proud of, and areas where we need to improve. Taking part in PRES really makes a difference. Your responses play a vital role in helping us to deliver improvements to the PGR experience and also help shape national policy- making about postgraduate research.

As a thank you for your time you will also have the opportunity to be entered into a prize draw. Depending on your Faculty you will have the chance to win one of the following prizes, there will also be a chance for all students to win a £50 voucher from the Graduate School:

Winners will be able to choose between an Amazon, Etsy or book token for those prizes which have not been allocated a retailer.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES)?

The Postgraduate Research Experience Survey is a national survey conducted by institutions across the UK and globally. The survey is overseen by Advance HE .

What areas does the survey cover?

PRES concentrates on your course and includes:

• Supervision
• Research culture
• Progress and assessment
• Responsibilities
• Research skills and professional development
• Opportunities
• Overall experience

What is the eligibility criteria to complete the survey?

Most students are eligible to complete the survey. Students who started in January 2023, students on PhD by published works and RNCM students are exempt.

Is the survey anonymous?

Your survey response is confidential to the team processing the results and no reporting outside of this team will identify any individual. Any results communicated to supervisory staff will be anonymised.

The survey asks that any comments you make should not identify yourself or any specific members of staff.

How is my data handled?

Sensitive handling of your data is incredibly important to us. We have produced a detailed privacy notice that tells you how and why we collect and use your data.

PRES Privacy Policy

What if I have questions about the survey?

If you are unsure about anything to do with the survey, or have any difficulty, please see your Principal Supervisor, or contact the Graduate School on [email protected]

See how previous feedback has already shaped the PGR experience

You said: You want improved online resources. We did: We’ve established the PGR Hub on Moodle, and will regularly review to ensure the platform works for you.

You said: You want administration processes streamlined to make them more efficient and less complicated We did: We’ve improved links with key central services to integrate and improve student support processes, such as:

• Agreeing a physical thesis submission service with Assessment Management
• The investigations process with Student Complaints Management (SCM) has been improved so that any panel investigating a PGR-related issue will include at least one academic with supervisory experience.
• DBS check processes for PGRs will be handled in the same way as for all other Manchester Met students

You said: You want PGR needs considered more in University policy and future planning We did: The Graduate School are now a part of general student policy discussions so PGR needs are reflected in policy development. We are inputting into discussions on the planning for the new Library building to ensure the new space works for you.

You said: You want better interaction and relationships between the Graduate School and other University departments to improve PGR resources and experience. We did: We have created PGR training materials that have been developed with cross-University input and are now available on Moodle. We have an agreement to include PGR key dates in the Academic Calendar to make PGR needs more visible across the University.

We have also improved links with key central services and are now working in collaboration with multiple institutional working groups which aim to improve student experience and improve student experience ensuring you have a voice.

You said: You want better channels of communication with the Graduate School. We did: We have set up a telephone enquiry phone number to deal with enquiries in addition to our ticketing system. Students who have any questions regarding the administration of a research degree, can  call for any non-academic matter on 0161 247 5329 between 10am and 4pm, Monday to Friday .

Postgraduate Research Experience Survey 2022

Advance HE's Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES) is the largest of its kind in UK higher education. In 2022 nearly 14,000 postgraduate research students from 62 higher education institutions took part in PRES, which provides the opportunity for postgraduate research students to give feedback about their learning experience, supervision and research environment, informing activity to enhance their experience. 

Some of the key findings from the 2022 survey are:

Overall satisfaction rises slightly from 79% to 80%, stemming the small but consistent fall over the past three years. 

Satisfaction rates are higher and have increased in 2022 among non-uk nationals while satisfaction for uk domiciled postgraduate research students has fallen slightly. , postgraduate researchers with a declared disability experience significantly lower – and declining – levels of satisfaction. .

The 2022 Postgraduate Research Experience Survey report is available to all and can be downloaded below:

©Advance HE 2020. Company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales no. 04931031 | Company limited by guarantee registered in Ireland no. 703150 | Registered charity, England and Wales 1101607 | Registered charity, Scotland SC043946 | VAT Registered number GB 152 1219 50. Registered UK Address: Advance HE, Innovation Way, York Science Park, Heslington, York, YO10 5BR, United Kingdom | Registered Ireland Address: Advance HE, First Floor, Penrose 1, Penrose Dock, Cork, T23 Kw81, Ireland.

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Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES)

The Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES) runs every two years from March to May and is a chance for research postgraduates to feed back on their experience.

What does it ask about?

• Supervision
• Research culture
• Progress and assessment
• Responsibilities
• Research skills
• Professional development
• Overall experience

How do I take part?

The survey runs every two years from March to May and is completed online. In 2023, PRES is open from 6th March to 15th May.

If your are eligible to complete the survey, you will receive an email with a link to the survey from Student Surveys. 

What happens to the results?

Your feedback is important and the survey is your chance to tell us about your complete experience of being a postgraduate researcher.

Over one hundred universities and colleges take part in the UK and globally. This means we can compare your experience against similar postgraduates at other institutions to see if we are supporting your learning as we should.

We use the findings to improve our programmes and the learning experience for you and future students.

• For students

Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES)

Have your say! Give feedback on your research experience!

Complete the survey between 4 April and 15 May 2024 . Log in details to access the survey will be sent to you via email.

About the Postgraduate Research Experience Survey

This survey will run in 2024, as we run it every 2 years at St George's. The survey will open on 4 April and will close on 15 May 2024 .

The Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES), also facilitated by   Advance HE ,  offers postgraduate research students the opportunity to feedback on their university experience, including aspects such as supervision, resources, research community, skills and professional development, and wellbeing. 

Postgraduate students registered on research programmes will receive an email and reminders about completing the PRES. The survey can be filled out on any device and takes 10-15 minutes to complete. 

All students who complete the survey will also get a chance to win one of two Love2Shop vouchers worth £500!

Learn more about this survey on the  Advance HE Postgraduate Research Experience Survey website .

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Postgraduate Research Experience Survey: PRES

For postgraduate research students across the world.

NEW: A vision for education and skills at Newcastle University:  Education for Life 2030+

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The PRES is a national survey that gathers information about the experience of research students, focusing on students’ experiences of supervision, resources, research community, progress and assessment, and skills and professional development. It includes all full-time and part-time UK, EU, and international postgraduate research (PGR) students.

PRES runs every other year, and will run again in 2024/25 academic year. 

PRES results for 2022/23 are available in the  PowerBi report .   PRES historical results are available on the  Planning Office website .

What does it ask about?

The survey focuses on students’ experiences of :

• supervision
• research community
• progress and assessment
• skills and professional development
• overall experience

It also considers students’ motivations for taking their programme.

Who is eligible to take part?

Any research student on a doctoral or research master’s course.

How do students take part?

The survey must be completed online, using PCs or mobile devices.  Eligible students will receive an email with a personalised link to complete the survey.

What happens to the responses?

Student responses are anonymous and are collected by Advance HE. All the responses are aggregated to produce an overall national report, published on the Advanced HE website . The responses from students at each participating university also are aggregated into a confidential report for that institution. Our previous years' PRES results are available on the  Planning Office website .

The quantitative results are discussed at relevant Boards of Studies and Student-Staff Committees. Academic Units respond to feedback with action plans, identifying any agreed actions, timescales for implementation, and who is responsible for each action.

Why should I encourage my students to take part?

As well as the importance of providing feedback, taking part in the PRES is an opportunity to win a prize! Every year shopping vouchers can be won (5x £100 and 10x £50), and a charity donation is chosen in collaboration with Newcastle University Students Union. In 2023, for every survey completed in the first three weeks of the survey running, £2 is donated to  N.E.S.T and Rape Crisis . 

Terms and Conditions  apply for the prize draw.

PRES Toolkit for Schools

If you have any queries about the survey please contact us at [email protected]  

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Postgraduate research experience survey (PRES)

The Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES) is a national survey of postgraduate research students organised by  Advance HE which invites them to comment on their programme and experience. The College takes part in PRES every two years and is now open. The results are considered by departments and the College and used to inform action planning. 

PRES 2021 is open for response until midnight on Monday 17 May 2021. A unique link to complete the survey will be sent to all eligible students by email. If you have not received a link, please contact the Registry Surveys Team   ([email protected]).

The survey opened on Thursday 25 April and closed on Friday 17 May 2019. A participation rate of 50% was achieved.

You can see the results  here:   PRES 2019 results  

PRES was open from Tuesday 25 April to Thursday 18 May 2017 and achieved a participation rate of 59%. 

You can see the results here:  PRES 2017 results ‌ ‌

PRES was open from March to May 2015 and achieved a participation rate of 42.9%.

You can see the results here:   PRES 2015 results

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University home > Academic Quality and Policy Office > Postgraduate Education > Postgraduate Research Experience Survey

Postgraduate Research Experience Survey

Postgraduate research experience survey (pres).

The Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES) is an annual survey offered by the Higher Education Academy (HEA).  Launched in 2007, PRES is a sector-wide survey to gather insight from postgraduate research students about their learning and supervision experience.  The survey involves many other UK higher education institutions, including some of the Russell Group. 

Survey questions

The survey includes a core set of questions designed and developed by the HEA as well as opportunities for free text responses. It aims to highlight areas of strength and areas where the University could enhance the postgraduate research student experience. Students are asked to agree or disagree (on a scale of one to five) with statements, or indicate how often a learning style or behaviour is encouraged.  The statements cover the following areas: supervision, resources, research culture, progress and assessment, responsibilities, research skills, professional development, opportunities and overall experience.

PRES runs in the spring term, exact dates are chosen by individual institutions within February - mid May, it must be open for a minimum of 3 weeks.

Students are emailed and invited to participate in the online survey, non-respondents will receive reminder emails and students may opt out of the survey at any time.  

Response rates

For further information contact Paul Spencer in the Bristol Doctoral College: Education Services.

University of Bristol Beacon House Queens Road Bristol, BS8 1QU, UK Tel: +44 (0)117 928 9000 Contact us

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Postgraduate Research Experience Survey

Your feedback is important to us

Have your say and you could win £1,000

We're keen to make sure postgraduate research students have the best possible experience while studying with us. To do that we need to know what you think we are doing well and where we can do better.

The Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES) 2024 is your chance to tell us your thoughts about your research degree programme. The results help us compare how we are doing with other institutions, to make changes that improve what we do in the future and to keep doing the things that you value.

The PRES is open to all research degree students studying with us for more than one year, including research phase Professional Doctorate students, with a live registration, who started their studies before February 2024.

What will PRES 2024 ask? 

The PRES 2024 should only take 15 minutes to complete and you will be asked to rate your overall satisfaction with the quality of your research degree programme, how well elements of it have met your expectations, and your satisfaction within the following themes:

• Supervision
• Research culture
• Progress and assessment
• Responsibilities
• Research skills and professional development
• Opportunities
• Overall experience
• Motivations

It will also include a few extra questions about issues that are particularly relevant to us and to students at the University of Portsmouth such as the Graduate School and Wellbeing.

How do I take part?

The PRES 2024 survey launches on Tuesday 9 April 2024  and if eligible* you will be sent an email link to the survey in your student email account (i.e. your [email protected] format email address). If you don’t normally use this account, please ensure you have set up an auto-forward to the email account you regularly use to ensure you receive the link to participate.

By taking part in PRES 2024 you will automatically be entered into our prize draw to win £1,000 towards supporting your studies** here at the University of Portsmouth. The winner will be contacted shortly after the survey has closed.

If you have any problems accessing or completing the survey, please contact Fiona Cook, PRES 2024 administrator: [email protected] .

* All Research Students in their research phase, who registered before February 2024 and held a live registration on 22 March 2024.

** For example: Conference attendance, research equipment, study materials.

PRES 2023 Prize Winner | Gemma Lake

We asked the 2023 PRES Prize draw winner Gemma Lake about the win.

Gemma said “I have been a student at the University of Portsmouth for some time now, starting as an undergraduate, before going on to study a master's degree, and then a PhD. My current research is a celebration of the complexities, multiplicities and differences in female travel writing that goes against the grain of the majority of studies in the field which tend to locate 'difference' in binary categories. I was so surprised when I found out I had won, but I’ve already used it to help with my travel costs for a conference in Lisbon, Portugal, and a pile of (really expensive) research books.”

PRES 2022 Prize Winner | Joshua Ugor

Our 2022 winner, Joshua Ugor, is a PhD researcher specialising in airborne microplastics in coastal areas. Joshua has spent his prize money on a conference in the US.

What happens to the results?

Your feedback is important to us. Over one hundred universities and colleges take part in the PRES, both UK and globally. This means we can compare your experience against similar postgraduate research students at other institutions to see if we are supporting your learning as we should. We use the findings to improve our research degree programmes and the learning experience of future research degree students.

The PRES 2024 Briefing Note provides some details of key outcomes of the previous (2023) PRES survey, and summarises the actions taken since then.

PRES 2024 Briefing Note

Is it anonymous?

Whilst the survey is taking place the database will record user details to allow the survey software to send targeted reminder emails to students who have yet to complete the survey. Whilst the survey is open you have the right to withdraw consent for us to use or store your data. At the end of the survey period (10 May 2024) it will no longer be possible to withdraw your data as the linked email address will be deleted and the data will be held so that individuals are no longer identifiable. After the survey has ended your anonymised data will be held securely for up to 10 years and may be used in summary form by AdvanceHE and the University of Portsmouth in scientific, research or statistical reports to better understand the PGR student experience. No individual will ever be identified in any reports or publications. We will store your data securely and all students will receive a summary of the results later in the year.

Data protection

If you ever have any queries about how your data will be used or processed, please contact the [email protected] or the University’s Disclosure and Complaints Manager, Samantha Hill at [email protected] . You also have the right to lodge a complaint about how your data has been used with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) .

If you do not wish to take part in the survey, please contact  [email protected]  to be removed from the PRES 2024 mailing list.

Please note that because the survey data is anonymous, if you have a specific concern that requires action by the University, you should contact your supervisor, your Departmental Director of Postgraduate Research or your Head of Department.

For further information about the support available to you as a postgraduate research degree student at the University of Portsmouth, please contact the Graduate School at  [email protected] .

Participant in Research Experience Survey (PRES)

Every year, the NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) asks thousands of research participants to share their experiences of taking part in research.

Through the Participant in Research Experience Survey (PRES), the NIHR aims to put participant experience at the heart of research delivery - helping to improve the way research studies are designed and delivered, now and in the future.

2022/23: Increased participation in the Participant Research Experience Survey (PRES)

In the 2022/23 financial year, 30,705 adult participants completed the Participant in Research Experience Survey (PRES). A 21% increase from 2021/22 (30,705 vs 25,459).

“(I was) made to feel that every contribution I made was valuable to the team. It was good to be part of a research trial that has made a positive difference and saved lives. ”

2022/23 is the second time that findings from the Children's and Young People's survey were able to be analysed alongside the adult survey. The number of responses has increased by 653% to 1,898 responses (1,898 vs 252).

“Staff were all very nice and explained the process well, so we always felt informed and valued as participants. ”

52 responses to 3 locally adapted surveys were also received. To provide a more focussed direction for improvement the key results for 2022/23 look at responses from 'Strongly agree' or Yes only. Reporting from previous years showed that the vast majority of participants saw their experience as being positive (strongly agree and agree). A focus on the most favourable response helps to give more insight and targeted recommendations for improvement. Key results from the strongly agree category of the 2022/23 survey include:

• 58% of adults and 60% of young people felt valued by researchers for taking part in research.
• 72% of adults and 70% of young people said research staff have always treated them with courtesy and respect.
• 60% of adults and 57% of young people said they would consider taking part in research again.
• 62% of adults and 86% of young people felt the information they received before they took part in the study helped them prepare for their experience.

Read more results in the PRES 2022/23 Executive Summary report.

Despite the continuing pressures on the NHS, all 15 local CRNs and their partner organisations actively supported the delivery of this important survey. We would like to say a huge thank you to the research staff, the participants, and to the respondents of the survey for their valued contributions.

For a PDF copy of the full Annual PRES 2022/23 report, please contact the CRN Coordinating Centre.

The children and young people survey

To provide greater insight into how the age of study participants might impact on the research experience, an analysis of the adult PRES responses against the Children's and Young People PRES was performed.

Participants in the Children's and Young People survey were aged between 0 and 15 years. Three adapted survey versions are available depending on age:

• 12-15 years.

There was a large increase in the number of responses from 2021/22.

Responses were positive:

• Praising study teams for treating young participants with kindness and respect
• For staff providing information at the start of the research study that was easy to understand.

However they also identified areas of improvement, particularly about:

• Being kept updated
• Knowing how to contact someone from the research study

Young participants' feedback will enable the NIHR to continue improving the delivery of research. The data gives a benchmark for measuring study performance and experience for future Children's and Young People surveys.

The adult survey

The number of responses has increased by 21% in 2022/23.

Responses were most positive for:

• Being treated with courtesy and respect
• Receiving information before taking part
• That participants would consider taking part in research again.

Unfortunately scores for six out of seven questions have dropped across a three year survey period. Participants identified areas of improvement, including:

• The practicalities of taking part
• Improved information and communications
• Around their general experience of research participation

Feedback will enable the NIHR to continue improving the delivery of research. The impact of 2021/22 report recommendations and progress in 2022/23 can be found in the full Annual PRES 2022/23 report.

More information about PRES

What is pres.

PRES is an annual nationally standardised survey used to collect adults and children's views and experiences of participating in NIHR supported research. PRES was developed by the NIHR Clinical Research Network to demonstrate to research participants that their contribution is valued, and to help make meaningful improvements to research based on people's real-life experience. It is the largest survey of its kind, with all 15 local Clinical Research Networks across England supporting it.

Why NIHR conducts PRES

Research is a partnership between the people who volunteer to take part, known as participants, and the researchers. Every year, the NIHR asks thousands of participants to give feedback on their experience to help improve the way research studies are designed and delivered, now and in the future, so that we can positively impact people's experience of recruitment to, and taking part in, research.

The difference participant feedback makes

As far as possible, we want those who begin studies to be able to complete their research journey and go on to take part in further studies and even promote research participation to their friends and families.

• Feedback from research participants can help researchers understand both what they are doing well and where there are opportunities to improve.
• The responses we get to PRES can help shape research far beyond the study someone has taken part in, or the healthcare service they have used.
• Positive feedback is celebrated and can help motivate more people to get involved in research studies. It also helps researchers know that their work is valued by the people they are trying to help.
• Research teams are also able to use feedback about what didn't go well to inform improvement projects. This has led to the introduction of many great new initiatives in research delivery teams across the country.

What NIHR does with the PRES results

Responses to PRES are kept anonymous. Each year, PRES findings are shared back with research teams at the health and care setting (e.g. a hospital, GP surgery, etc.) where you took part in the research. This enables research teams to learn what they are doing well and identify immediate opportunities to make improvements in specific research studies and local research settings.

Each of the 15 local CRNs will also produce a local, regional report. Nationally, NIHR also brings together all of the country's responses and develops a national-level report. Some of the challenges participants experience simply can't be dealt with by the research delivery teams alone - they are often issues that have arisen from the research design or even funding requirements. By completing PRES, participants can ensure their experiences are shared with the bodies that influence the whole research system.

How you can take part in PRES

If you are taking part in NIHR-supported health or care research and want to share your experience, speak to a member of your research team to find out how you can give feedback.

Research delivery teams interested in running PRES should contact their local CRN PPIE team or the CRN Coordinating Centre .

Related pages

I want to take part in a study

Executive summary report of the Participant in Research Experience Survey 2020/21

CRN: North East North Cumbria case study

CRN: North West Coast case study

Participant in Research Experience Survey 2019/20

Research Participant Experience Survey 2018/19

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Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES)

Please note the postgraduate research experience survey (pres) takes place every other year. it's due to reopen in spring 2025..

The national survey, run by Advance HE, invites you to share your thoughts on your postgraduate research (PGR) programme and overall experience. This is your opportunity to tell us what we’re doing well and what we can do better.

Your honest feedback really is important. The more responses we can get, the more it will help us to improve the experience of current and future PGRs. 

How do I complete the Postgraduate Research Experience Survey?

Please note that PRES runs every other year so our next launch period will be in March 2025.  

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Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES)

What is the PRES?

The PRES is a national survey run by Advance HE designed to explore postgraduate research students’ (PGRs) experiences of their programme, and their professional development as a researcher. The PRES is for any PGR student at the University of Worcester, including distance learning students.

The survey helps us to know what is working well, and areas where we can improve the student experience for our PGRs.

The survey asks questions about:

supervision

research culture

progression

responsibilities

research skills

professional development

PRES 2023 Results

University of Worcester was one of 105 institutions taking part in the survey. 

• 87% of postgraduate research students were satisfied with their research programme overall.
• In 2023, the University of Worcester was ranked in the top quarter of institutions for several areas of the student experience including supervision, resources, support, research skills and professional development.
• Our postgraduate researchers were particularly positive about research supervision, with 94% of students agreeing that their supervisors have the skills and subject knowledge to support their research.
• Worcester was ranked 1 st for professional development and 2 nd for research skill development - 93% of our students agreed that their ability to communicate their research had developed throughout their time at Worcester.

The PRES runs every other year. The next survey period will be March - May 2025.

What happens to the results?

The results are used by the Doctoral School, academic schools, and institutionally to identify areas where we perform well, and where we can make improvements to the PGR experience. The results are also benchmarked against the Higher Education Sector and Universities with a similar PGR population to Worcester.

Useful Links

• Find out more about PRES on the  AdvanceHE website
• Read the AdvanceHE report on the results of PRES 2023 

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Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES) 2024

  .

We're keen to make sure postgraduate students have the best possible experience while studying at Royal Holloway. To do that, we need to know what you think we are doing well and what we can do better. If you're thinking about taking part this year, these are the answers to some of the questions students often ask:

What is PRES?

The Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES) is a national survey conducted by institutions across the UK and globally. The survey takes around 15 minutes to complete.

Why should I take part?

The Postgraduate Research Experience Survey is your chance to tell us your thoughts about your course. The results help us compare how we are doing with other institutions, to make changes that will improve what we do in future, and to keep doing the things that you value. This will help improve the experience of students like you in the future.

Please note that some departments request that you provide proof that you have completed PRES as part of your yearly progression review meeting. To check whether this is a requirement of your department, please click  here . If confirmation of completion is required, you can take a screenshot of the completion screen as proof.

As a thank you for your feedback you will be entered into a draw to win one of three online Waterstones vouchers of £50 upon completion of the survey.

What does it cover?

PRES concentrates on your course and includes:

• Supervision
• Research culture
• Progress and assessment
• Responsibilities
• Research skills and professional development
• Opportunities
• Overall experience
• Motivations

What happens to the results?

Autumn term: A report summarising your comments and suggestions is considered by the Doctoral School Committee and the Directors of Postgraduate Research Education. Your School's Director of Postgraduate Research Education  will respond to you by email / in person regarding the key points raised in this report. 

January: As part of the PGR Annual Enhancement Review in January, the Directors of PGR Education write a detailed response to the PRES survey results and draw up an action plan, which is reviewed quarterly.

Similiarly, the Doctoral School draws up an action plan to address areas of concern raised at a University level.

February:  'You said / we did' campaign launched to share with you what improvements have been made in the past couple of years in response to your feedback.

Is the survey anonymous?

Your survey response is confidential to the team processing the results and no reporting outside this team will identify any individual. Any results communicated to teaching staff will be anonymised.

The survey asks that any comments you make should not identify yourself or any specific member of staff.

Where can I find out more?

If you are unsure about anything to do with the survey, or have any difficulty, please email [email protected] .

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