Organising your Research in Practice Placement is a 5 step process
Step 1 Identify a suitable placement host
- You can find a placement host either through your own networks, your supervisory team’s networks or the placement opportunities regularly presented by The SCDTP Research in Practice Team.
- Speak to your supervisory team about the suitability of the placement and when would be most appropriate time to go on the placement.
- Negotiate the finer details of the placement project with your host and proposed start dates align with your expectations.
- Confirm any financial contributions your placement host is able to make.
The South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership requires you to complete your Research in Practice placement at least 3 months before the end of your candidature (or 6 months if you are part-time). You therefore need to start 6 months before your end of funding (12 months for part-time students).
To allow for contingencies we therefore urge you aim to start a couple of months earlier still.
Step 2 Apply to South Coast DTP for Placement approval and any funding if required
- You will need to go through your placement host’s application process first (if they have a formal process), if you are successful you will then need to apply to SCDTP for final approval.
- Use the Research in Practice Placement and Funding application form to apply.
- Here is the link to the Research in Practice Placement form.
- Include any Research in Practice Placement funding you wish to apply for.
- The form will need to be completed by you, with the support of your placement host and supervisor.
- Once complete, email the form to The Research in Practice Team using email scdtp@soton.ac.uk
Step 3 The South Coast DTP Senior Management Team will review your application
- The SCDTP Senior Management Team will review your application. This is a supportive process to confirm your application meets ESRC placement criteria, the expectations from your placement host are appropriate and aligns with your ongoing professional development needs.
- The SCDTP Senior Management Team will either, approve your application or ask for some revisions and give you guidance on what changes or adaptions need to be made.
- The SCDTP Senior Management Team will review any funding requests made for your placement, they will check the funds requested meet the ESRC criteria and whether the host should be responsible for providing more funding towards the placement.
- Once your application has been approved, you will receive an email from The Research in Practice Team confirming this. The email will also copy in your Graduate School administration.
Step 4 On Placement, preparing any paperwork needed
- International students need to inform their awarding university’s Visa Team the dates and details of the placement to meet Home Office guidelines. If specific dates are not known, International students can let know their awarding university’s Visa Team of their intention to go on placement with specific date to be confirmed.
- You will need to ask your Graduate School for a Travel Risk Assessment, complete this documentation.
- Any travel and/or accommodation will need to be booked through your awarding university’s Travel Management Company.
- Please refer to the SCDTP Finance Guide for reference.
Step 5 Reflective Practice
- On return from your placement, you will need to complete your on-going reflective practice and submit to The Research in Practice Team for assessment.
- Once your Placement Reflective Practice has been assessed and approved by the Research in Practice Team, you will receive an email confirmation.
- Please email your Assignment for Research in Practice to scdtp@soton.ac.uk
