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Science and Engineering Doctoral Academy

PGR feedback

We are committed to ensuring that you have the best possible experience while undertaking your research at Manchester.

To do this, we need to know what works well and what we need to improve, so we have launched our PGR Voice Survey that takes place every two years.

Please note, the most recent survey closed on 27th June 2025. Results will be published in Autumn/Winter 2025. If you have any questions, please contact PGRVoice@manchester.ac.uk.

It has been created with contributions from across the university including PGR Reps and is developed and delivered in collaboration with The University of Sheffield.

The survey will collect anonymised feedback from PGRs on a range of issues including your overall experience, research culture, community, supervision, resources and our training and skills development offer. It helps the University to evaluate our work and gives you an opportunity to give us honest feedback. From the survey we will draw up accountable action plans identifying areas where improvements could be made based upon the responses, so it is vital that as many PGRs as possible respond to the survey.

PGR Voice Survey Response (2023)

The last survey conducted provided valuable insights. Overall, the feedback was positive, with 90.3% respondents saying that their doctoral programme had fully or partially matched the expectations they had when starting the programme and rating their PGR experience as good (40.9%), excellent (28.7%), or satisfactory (21.0%). Here are the actions being taken to support the PGR community and enhance your experience.

Key findings

  • Research culture: 74.4% of respondents reported a positive or very positive research culture in their department.
  • Supervision: 54.1% rated supervision as excellent, 26.9% as good.
  • Training: 41.8% rated the overall training and development offer as good, with 23.4% rating it as excellent.
  • Resources: ≥89% found resources (e.g., library) to be of satisfactory quality.

Feedback themes

  • Supervision: 90% respondents agreed that their supervisory team is approachable. In September 2024, we introduced a new pastoral advisor scheme. Your PGR advisor can provide pastoral support and advice and is completely independent of your supervisory team. If you have any questions, please contact: FSE.doctoralacademy.support@manchester.ac.uk.
  • Research culture: 46% rated it positive, 28% very positive. We’ve improved communication about reporting bullying and discrimination via email, newsletters, and the FSE Doctoral Academy website. 
  • PGR community: 73% work on campus most of the time, contributing to a sense of community. Monthly PGR Online Open Forums and enhanced collaboration with PGR Reps are part of ongoing efforts to foster belonging. Find out who your Reps are.
  • Training: Looking at the results of the survey, 89% rated training satisfactory or above, with gaps in provision for key skills training (e.g., research ethics, academic writing). Mandatory and recommended training was rolled out from September 2024.

Support services and wellbeing

  • 91% rated their overall PGR experience positively, though 27% considered leaving due to mental health, isolation, supervision, and financial concerns.
  • PGRs with disabilities: 7% of respondents identified as disabled, with many feeling the support provided was only slightly effective. We are committed to ensuring equity, particularly for PGRs with disabilities. We are engaging with Reps, internal disability networks and using other key resources to improve our EDIA efforts. The Disability Advisory and Support Service (DASS) provides practical support and can help to identify practical adjustments needed.

PGR experience

  • Areas to improve overall PGR experience:  Researcher development (19%), Supervision (14%), Research culture (12%), Facilities and environment (11%) and Mental health and wellbeing (11%).
  • PGR representatives: We have introduced a new PGR Representative scheme, whereby two school Reps and ten departmental Reps are paid for their contribution and commitment. We have continued to appoint voluntary departmental Reps. This new scheme has made for a positive and engaging community of Reps.
  • Ignite Innovation Fund
  • Doctoral Training and Development Support Fund
  • We regularly update the Doctoral Academy website. A recent example is a Frequently Asked Questions document as requested by our PGR Reps.

We are grateful for your feedback and will continue working to improve the PGR experience.