Training

During your PhD you will experience many different aspects of training. These include basic research techniques, communications skills (both verbal and written), collaboration and teamwork with colleagues within MSSL and across the world and independence of thought. These will develop naturally during your PhD.

Log Book

UCL provides every student with an on-line student log book to keep track of their projects to ensure a timely completion of the PhD. This also tracks transferrable skills - very useful when you are applying for jobs. This is a mandatory component of all UCL Research Degrees.

Students are encouraged to take full advantage of the training that the department and UCL can provide, and does this using a 'point' system. The range of activities covered in our department are described here. In addition there are course for students within the Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MAPS) faculty. These are listed here.

Computing courses are available covering topics such as LaTeX, IDL, Fortran (notes available here), an Introduction to Unix/Linux etc.

STFC Training

Many of our students are funded by STFC. They organise two week-long summerschools for its PhD students. The first is an introductory one before the start of the 1st year. This provides students not only with critical foundation in their chosen subject areas, but also provides links with other students across the UK. The second is an advanced one which takes place in the 2nd or 3rd year. Information on other STFC training can be found here.

Lectures

We provide postgraduate lectures at MSSL - approximately one per month. Students are encouraged to request lectures in areas of interest. The purpose is to provide students with a broad base outside their own specific areas of research. In addition astronomy lectures take place in London both at Gower St and IC. Feel free to join in any that interest you. This includes an IDL course early in the first term.

Space Instrumentation Course

This is a series of 10 day-long lectures/practical sessions to introduce students all aspects of designing, protoyping, building, testing and project managing a space project. Details are given here.

Presentations

Students also practise giving talks to each other. This gives students the opportunity to improve their communication skills, and also management skills. Students chair and organise the talks. Details of previous talks are given here.

Supervision

Each student has a personal panel of 3 academic staff. Two will be the main supervisor and subsidiary supervisor,and one will be from another research area. The latter is to ensure a different persective on your project. Your panel will meet with you once or twice a year, or as many times as you feel necessary. Their purpose is provide support during your PhD, and they will carry out at least 1 PhD viva scenario to prepare you for the real event.

Travel

All PhD students have opportunities for both international and national travel to conferences, workshops, observing, operating spacecraft and collaboration.

Outreach

We work in very exciting areas of research - and this provides plenty of opportunity for carrying out public outreach activities such as talks to schools and interviews to journalists. Media courses are periodically available. MSSL's outreach website can be found here.

Placements

If appropriate for your PhD there is also the opportunity for placements abroad. For example, students have taken advantage of funding opportunities such as JSPS funding which provides 2 months stay in Japan. Other fundings opportunities may be availble - discuss with your supervisors how to obtain funding. There are also some opportunities for industrial placements as part of your PhD.