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Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES)
Postgraduate Research Experience Survey
The Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES) is a national survey designed to collect feedback from postgraduate research students across different programmes and higher education institutions in the UK.
The 2026 PRES ran from 11 February to 25 March 2026. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their views and experiences.
Your feedback helps us understand what is working well and where further improvements are needed. The results are reviewed by the Graduate School and Research and Postgraduate Office and are used to inform actions to improve the postgraduate research experience.
What did students tell us in PRES 2026?
We saw several very positive results in 2026.
Students reported particularly strong confidence in supervision. 96% agreed that their supervisors have the skills and subject knowledge to support their research, have regular contact with them, and provide feedback that helps direct their research activities.
There were also positive results in research skills development and support. Students reported increased confidence in research integrity, creativity and innovation, research methods, academic skills support and access to IT and online resources.
Our work to strengthen research culture also showed improvement. More students reported having opportunities to discuss their research with other researchers and feeling that their research community influences their work.
The results also helped us identify areas where we can continue to improve the PGR experience, particularly around community and belonging, induction, professional development, and clarity around responsibilities and support.
Overall, 79% of respondents were positive about their overall research degree experience in 2026.
What we did following PRES 2025
Feedback from PRES 2025 led to a number of actions during 2025/26.
Supervision
We strengthened support for supervisors through staff development activity and clearer guidance on supervisory expectations, regulations and good practice.
Online and library resources
We promoted support from Academic Liaison Librarians and increased awareness of the Request-It interlibrary loan service.
Research culture
We continued Coffee Mornings, School and Research Centre events and the annual Student and Staff Research Conference. We also introduced the Research Student Showcase to give PGR students more opportunities to present and discuss their work.
Community and belonging
Current students and recent graduates were invited to contribute to Coffee Mornings and Induction Day to help strengthen connections between students at different stages of the research journey.
We also delivered our first Online Coffee Morning in 2025/26. Participation was very high and feedback from students was positive. Based on this feedback, Online Coffee Mornings will continue in 2026/27.
Communication and support
We improved signposting to key contacts and sources of support through the Student and Supervisor Handbook, induction materials, WebLearn and Student Zone.
Research skills development
The PGR Training Programme was expanded during 2025/26 to include a wider range of development opportunities, including sessions on creativity in research, research methods and data analysis techniques, as well as support for progression beyond the research degree.
We will continue to develop and deliver research skills training in 2026/27, taking account of student feedback and the development needs identified by our PGR community.
Key dates
Key academic and PGR dates were more clearly signposted through Student Zone, WebLearn and communications at the start of the academic year.
Some of these actions will continue into 2026/27, including clearer communication of key dates, improved signposting to recorded PGR training, reminders about library support, further development of supervisor guidance, continued Online Coffee Mornings, and ongoing development of research skills training.
We value the time you take to share your experiences through PRES. Your feedback continues to inform how we develop support, training and opportunities for postgraduate research students. We will continue to share updates as actions are taken forward.
Our PRES 2026 Action Plan
The 2026 results have informed a new action plan for 2026/27.
Induction, progression and assessment
Students told us that there is scope to improve the induction experience and clarity around the expected standard of the thesis.
We will:
- collect feedback following PGR induction to help us improve future sessions
- provide clearer guidance on thesis standards through Student Zone and PGR training
- continue to strengthen communication around progression and assessment requirements.
Responsibilities and sources of support
Students asked for clearer information about their own responsibilities, supervisors' responsibilities, and who to contact if they have concerns.
We will:
- provide a simplified guide to student and supervisor responsibilities
- improve signposting to PGR Coordinators, Research Leads, Course Leaders, the Research and Postgraduate Office, the Head of Graduate School and relevant Student Services
- continue to improve supervisor guidance and support materials.
Community and belonging
Students told us that they would like more opportunities to interact with other postgraduate research students.
We will:
- continue the Research Student Showcase
- continue PGR Coffee Mornings, including online sessions
- introduce more structured and moderated networking opportunities at Coffee Mornings.
Professional development
The results highlighted the need for further support with project management, professional networking and students taking greater ownership of their professional development.
We will:
- include a Coffee Morning session on managing the PhD as a project
- provide a session focused on professional networking and developing contacts beyond the University
- strengthen the RD2 Progress Review process by asking students to reflect on their skills, identify development needs and create an action plan using the Vitae Researcher Development Framework.
Continuing improvements
We will also continue work started in 2025/26, including:
- clearer communication of key dates at the start of the academic year
- improved access to recordings of previous PGR training sessions
- guidance on recommended training for different stages of the research degree
- reminders about the Request-It library service
- continued development of supervisor guidance
- publication of PRES action updates for students.
Is it anonymous?
Survey responses were confidential to the team processing the results, and no reporting outside of this team identifies individual respondents.
Any results shared more widely are anonymised. Students were also asked not to identify themselves or individual members of staff in their free-text comments.
Where can I find out more?
If you are unsure about anything to do with the survey, please speak to your supervisors or email the Research and Postgraduate Office Team.
You can also visit Advance HE for more details.