Support

As well as excellent supervision, the School provides a rich environment in which to do your research. Among the resources available to you are a sophisticated computing environment, a wide variety of library services (both paper and electronic), and, most importantly, a vigorous society of academic staff and other research students.

The Research Students' Committee (RSC)

The RSC is the committee that looks after PhD and Masters by Research students in the School of Computing Science at the University of Glasgow. It is responsible for the day-to-day handling of research student matters from progress monitoring through to submission and viva arrangements. The RSC holds three open meetings per year with research student representatives, including the Research Corner conveners. Each research group of the School will be represented by one or two research students, nominated by the corresponding group leader. The list of research student representatives is updated yearly, and is provided on the RSC Web page. The role of the research student representatives is to bridge between RSC and students. Representatives are expected to communicate and supply feedback from others in their research group.
During the scheduled meetings both student representatives and staff have the opportunity to raise matters of current interest and concern. In addition, students experiencing problems or difficulties should feel free to approach RSC members at any time.

Research corner

A research students group, called the “research corner”, meets regularly to exchange ideas. Normally, one student gives a short presentation on their work (academic staff are barred!), and then there is a short discussion. The research corner provides a good opportunity to meet and discuss your work with other students, practise giving presentations in a supportive environment, and learn a bit about what everyone else is doing. All research students are encouraged to come along. Research students mix freely with academic staff. We are well known for being a friendly School. You’re bound to meet lots of people in the common room, in the pub, and at the various discussion groups in the School.

Research discussions

All the research groups in the School organise weekly research discussions during term-time. Normally a member of the group or an outside speaker will present a talk, and a discussion follows, often continuing in the pub afterwards. These research discussions provide a valuable opportunity to learn more about your subject area, and get to know other students and members of academic staff who are working in your area. As well as specialised research discussions, the School has a regular seminar series in which distinguished speakers from around the world give talks. These talks are intended for a wide audience, and all research students are encouraged to attend. You are also encouraged to attend some of the courses given to our final-year undergraduates. These cover a range of specialist topics within Computing Science, eg: Distributed Algorithmics and Systems, Databases and Internet Technologies, Computer Architecture, Information Retrieval, Artificial Intelligence, Safety Critical Systems, Advanced Communications, Network Communications Technology. They provide an excellent opportunity for you to widen your knowledge of your subject, or study a related subject that you think may be important for your research.

Your office

You will be given space to work in a research-student office. You will normally share this office with three or four other students, often other people working in your own area. Your office will also have a phone.