This podcast by Les Back discusses tips and suggestions for students embarking on doctoral research. It collates tried and tested suggestions that have been offered to generations of PhD students and presented in the form of ten aphorisms.

A PhD viva is perhaps the most nerve racking event in the academic life of a student. This podcast by Les Back explores the nature of the viva and what students can do to prepare for it and also some tips on how to approach the intellectual exchanges that take place in the viva itself.

For research students PhD supervision offers a new and sometimes challenging structure for learning and teaching. This podcast explores the mysteries and challenges of doctoral supervision. Through focusing on how students characterise good supervisors and how supervisors identify good qualities in students, Les Back discusses how to get the best out of this relationship.

Writing a research proposal is about the art of persuasion. In this podcast Les Back offers some tips on writing research proposals drawing on insights from Goldsmiths most successful academics. While this podcast focuses on applying for a Graduate research degree, the principles outlined here are relevant to all research proposals from an MPhil application to a large multi-million pound project.

The MPhil/ PhD upgrade viva is an important test for research students. It is also often the first time that students have had to do a viva voce exam. This podcast from Les Back offer some guidance on how to prepare for you upgrade exam.