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This interactive online MSD Skills training course complements 'Transfer of status' and is most suitable for first-year DPhil students in their second or third term who are preparing to write their transfer report. First term DPhil students may find many of the exercises are not yet helpful. Part 1 has to be completed in Canvas before booking links for the optional live sessions are made available.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

By the end of the course, you will:

  • Have found your transfer story – while meeting transfer aims
  • Have developed an initial outline of your transfer report for discussion with your supervisor
  • Feel ready to write each section of your report
  • Be confident in revising your own writing for clarity, simplicity, and completeness and in applying feedback

enrolment instructions

Self-enrol now to start Part 1 using this link

Please note that enrolling on Canvas does not automatically book you onto a live session. Live session booking links are made available in Canvas once you have completed the Part 1 materials, by following the instructions in the videos.

Part 2 dates for Michaelmas term 2022: 13 October 10:00-11:30 and 14 November 14:00-15:30 (booking through the Part 1 Canvas space).

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This two-part course consists of a self-study Canvas course, supported by live sessions for exercises, discussion, and questions.

PART 1:

Part 1 is delivered online using Canvas. We’ll cover how to plan, write, and revise your transfer report. The course consists of short pre-recorded videos (2-12 min) supported by examples and suggested exercises, drawing on your research thus far and your plans for the rest of your DPhil.

Please allow around 3 hours to watch the videos and at least another 3 hours to complete the exercises. Depending on how far along you are in your DPhil journey, you may wish to dedicate much more time than this, to use the prompts and exercises to fully develop your report. 

Module 1: How to write the transfer report

  • Defining the aim of the report
  • Figuring out your overall message
  • Deciding a structure and outline that supports your message
  • Communicating with your supervisor about how and when to request feedback
  • Strategies for writing and overcoming pain points

Module 2: What to write in the transfer report

  • Tips for each section: abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, and proposal

Module 3: How to review the transfer report

  • Editing your work from rough draft to simple, clear, and complete final report
  • Strategies for requesting, coping with, and incorporating feedback

PART 2:

Once you have completed the self-study in Part 1, you can choose to attend a Part 2 live session. These are optional! 

The live session will not repeat the information in Part 1. Instead, we will use this time for discussion, guided exercises, and to answer your submitted questions. You can choose whether to join using audio and visual, just audio, or text chat.

Live sessions will not be recorded.

Please make sure you read all of the sections below relating to how the course will work, the surveys and attendance certificates.

PARTICIPANT NUMBERS

Part 1: Unlimited via self-enrolment

Part 2: 40 per live session date

COURSE FORMAT

Part 1 consists of a series of pre-recorded talks and exercises in Canvas. The pre-recorded materials are broken into short videos, to make it easier for you to fit this course around other commitments.

Part 2 session dates and booking links are made available in Canvas once the majority of Part 1 has been completed. For the live session, you can choose whether to join using audio and visual, just audio, or text chat. Live sessions will not be recorded.

HOW IT WILL WORK

Self-enrol now to start Part 1 using this link. Select ‘Join this course’ on the home page. 

Dates and booking instructions for the Part 2 live sessions are included in the Part 1 Canvas space. Once you have booked, you will receive an automated email with the joining instructions and session link. You can join by clicking the link 15 minutes before the session starts. Once the tutor has started the session, they will tell you what to do.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED

A good internet connection, uninterrupted time, camera and microphone enabled on PC.

COURSE CERTIFICATES

You will receive separate certificates for Part 1 and Part 2.

The Part 1 Canvas course completion certificate will be automatically generated once you have gone through all three modules and answered a short three-question feedback survey.

After attending a Part 2 Live session, you will be sent a link to complete a separate feedback survey. Once you have submitted the survey, you will be sent an email with a link to your Part 2 attendance certificate.

Part 1 and 2 certificates are only released after feedback surveys are submitted to ensure we receive the feedback we need to evaluate and improve our courses. Survey results are downloaded and stored anonymously.

PLEASE NOTE

Where there is no cost indicated in the shopping trolley, no deposit is required to book onto this course. However, two or more non-attendances or late cancellations without good reason will be logged and may mean you cannot attend any further MSD training that term. Please refer to our Terms and Conditions for further information.