Complexity Science: Practicalities for New and Current Students
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Welcome
It is a pleasure to welcome you into the Warwick Complexity Science Doctoral Training Centre. EPSRC, Warwick and the DTC staff have, I hope, created an exciting opportunity for you. We now entrust much of the enterprise to you: it is your efforts, your engagement and your new ideas on which much of our success will depend.
We have tried to collect together key guidance on the following pages. These highlight some important responsibilities for you and I ask you to note them carefully. Some details are links from the online version of this handbook, and it is the online version which is more definitive. For any queries or issues please do not hesitate to consult either our administrator Jen Bowskill or myself as Director.
| I look forward to getting to know you and wish you every success with your studies and research at Warwick.
Yours, Robert MacKay, Complexity DTC Director |
 |
The training programme
Complexity Science’s four year PhD programme consists of a one year taught MSc followed by a PhD.
| MSc |
7 or 8 taught modules (totalling at least 96 CATS) |
Introduction to Computing and Team Development Session |
seminars workshops conferences |
| 2 research miniprojects | |||
| PhD | regular progress reports | skills certificate | |
| PhD thesis |
You should see the Curriculum web pages for more details of what these elements cover, and also individual module pages with details particular to them.
The taught modules include a significant element of classwork, generally carrying 50% of their credit. Key aspects of the MSc classwork are problem based learning and team/group work, which we view as an essential part of practising research. Embedded within the classwork is a systematic development of numerical and computational technique. The first modules should promote simple computational experience using accessible packages such as Matlab, leading on in later modules to developing fully compiled code and issues of numerical algorithm and stability.
Students from different backgrounds will find different aspects of the course most challenging. You are strongly encouraged to help each other in your studies: that knowledge sharing is itself a valuable transferable skill to undertake inter-disciplinary research. When it comes to individual coursework submissions, it is fine that other students might have helped you learn how to do it, but the work presented should be your own: you should include an explicit acknowledgement where that is not the case.
The research miniprojects will be chosen and allocated in the second term, and run from Easter. Each student does two in succession, and whilst you may be able to choose two which inter-relate, you will be required to achieve some spread in the research methods and host departments involved. Each miniproject is a twelve week commitment, typically one week of prior reading, 9-10 weeks of active research, and 1-2 weeks of reporting/presentation and assessment. Presentation of results will be in a Scientific Conference format: a web presentation and associated poster for miniproject one, and a formal report and oral talk for miniproject two (subject to change). Choices of miniproject will not bind students' choice of PhD project, but they will serve as a prospective taster (both individually and through group opinion).
The year 1 programme leads to a Master of Science degree: To pass the MSc, a student is required to achieve at least 50% on thier taught modules combined and at least 50% on thier two miniprojects combined. A student who passes the MSc with an overall taught module mark of at least 60%, an avergae miniproject mark of at least 60% and an overall mark of at least 65% will normally be awared merit. A student who passes the MSc with overall taught module mark of at least 70% and an average miniproject mark of at least 70% will normally be awarded distinction. A merit or distinction is normally required to progress to study the PhD in Complexity Science.
The next three years of the Complexity Science programme involve students undertaking a full PhD research project co-supervised by members of two different departments. Student must also submit an acceptable PhD project proposal by th end of October. All DTC PhD students will also be enrolled on the Warwick Interdisciplinary Science Transferable Skills Certificate and it is a requirement of Doctoral Training Centre funding that you participate fully in that programme.
DTC Timetable
There is a link to the online timetable from the online version of this page, that is from http://go.warwick.ac.uk/complexitydtc/current . We endeavour to keep it accurate but do pay heed to variations and swaps announced by lecturers.
Safety induction
All Warwick students are required to attend all safety induction sessions in all the Departments in which they might work. For first year Complexity students this means a Zeeman Building session, whose schedule will be confirmed to you by email as well as in the online timetable.
For students progressing to PhD, there will be safety inductions in departments that you will be working in which are mandatory. It is your responsibility to find out the time and location for these, and attend.
Complexity Forum, Conferences and other Research Events
All DTC students are required to attend our weekly Complexity Forum (a research seminar), generally on Wednesdays at 1pm sharp. We will also expect students to play a role in providing, as well as attending, the open sandwich lunch which precedes it. The seminar catering is the (not insignificant!) responsibility of the students. To this end a rota is drawn up, and it is important to gather from other students what is involved before your turn suddenly arrives.
Part of Complexity Science’s funding covers an Annual Conference for all the students and interested staff, held in the summer term. These are multi-day events held away from Warwick to foster group spirit. The core of the scientific activity is talks and posters from the MSc students at the end of their first mini-project and posters from the more senior students (when this becomes applicable!) Attendance at the Annual Conference is mandatory for all DTC students (MSc and PhD).
Further information on dates of conferences and workshops will become available so keep an eye out on the notice boards and also your email accounts. Other Seminar series of interest are linked from the Complexity Complex web pages (follow "events").
Weekly Student Meeting
Each week, all MSc students have a compulsory weekly meeting with the MSc Coordinator in order to identify any concerns. There is also a weekly meeting of PhD students with the PhD Coordinator. Further details of these meetings will be announced in due course.
Transferable skills
The transferable skills training programme spans the full 4 years in a carefully structured manner. The following PhD years of the programme are administered as a self-standing Skills Certificate, full participation in this being a requirement for DTC PhD students. Details of the certificate are online at http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/wisp/pgcts .
In the round, about half of the programme consists of dedicated courses and sessions such as Teamwork, Science Communication, Team Development and Decision Making. The remainder draws on and enhances activities associated with DTC teaching and research, such as presenting research, budget management, meeting organisation and outreach activities.
Coursework and mini-project deadlines, penalties and extensions
Module leaders will clearly state deadlines for handing in assessed work both to the students and also to Complexity Science Administrative staff. Unless a specific time is stipulated (e.g. the start of a particular lecture session), this will be assumed to be 4pm on the specified date. Penalties for late submission of assignments are whichever is least of:
- 1% for every hour or part thereof
-
5% for every day or part thereof
Coursework extension can only be obtained under special circumstances (i.e.illness or other personal circumstances). Extensions may only be granted by the Module Leader, who in turn will inform the DTC Administrative Office in writing.
Every student will be issued with a file (which will be kept in the Complexity Administrator’s office) for coursework. It is the student’s responsibility to deliver returned marked coursework to the admin office, as soon as it is handed back. An incomplete Coursework file at the end of the year could mean that the External Examiner was unable to approve a student's mark, putting their MSc and PhD progression at risk.
PhD projects
Progression onto the Complexity Science PhD programme requires a student to have obtained at least 60% in the coursework of their MSc, 60% in their miniprojects and 65% overall. Students are encouraged to speak to potential PhD supervisors about projects of interest . Before their final decision, students will have a meeting with the Complexity Science Course Director in order to identify any problems or concerns they may have.
Attendance, absences and holidays
Attendance at taught sessions (lectures, workshops, laboratory practicals etc.) is mandatory and registers will be taken. Periods of absence of less than one week can usually be dealt with by submitting an absence form (see appendix or Complexity Science office). For periods of absence of one week or more, in addition to the absence form, a doctor’s notice clearly stating the reason for the absence, together with start and end dates is required. If the Complexity Science administration has any reason to believe that the system of self-certification for absences is being misused, a doctor’s notice can be requested from the first day of any absence.
Periods of absence due to causes other than illness (e.g. holidays, other external commitments) should be agreed in advance with the Complexity Science administrator (via the online form) as well as any relevant module leaders or supervisors, prior to the time of absence.
Absences from any sessions relevant to marking (e.g. assessed seminars, workshop presentations, exams) will need to be excused with a doctor’s notice irrespective of the duration of absence.
All students are entitled to six weeks (30 working days) vacation per year. These will include the statutory holidays as detailed by University policies (i.e: Christmas, Easter and Bank Holidays); it will also be generally presumed, without further accounting, that the whole Christmas & New Year period counts for two of the six weeks (10 days). Remaining vacation plans, after securing any necessary approval per below, should be reported to the DTC (via online form) and also to miniproject supervisors (as applicable, by email), in advance and in a businesslike manner.
Vacation plans which clash with scheduled DTC events should be discussed and agreed with the Director, and cannot be taken for granted. Vacation plans falling during the miniproject period (as many will) should be agreed with miniproject supervisors. Generally if you submit plans before we announce a conflicting event, or before your miniproject supervisors have been allocated, we will respect that. However any student taking an outside option (i.e outside of CH926, CH927 and BS917) needs to be aware that the examination date is beyond the DTC's control, not negotiable, and unlikely to be confirmed until after Easter.
Books, periodicals and laboratory materials
MSc students will be allocated at the beginning of the course a Physics Stores code which they can use to purchase office and computing supplies (for MSc/PhD purposes!), appropriate extra study materials and in some cases travel (consult Phil first).
All of the textbooks recommended by DTC lecturers should be stocked by Warwick Library, and their online catalogue entries are generally linked from our reading page. The library copies can be borrowed, and borrowings are subject to recall through the online system. It is actually recall statistics which drive the Library to purchase multiple copies, so whilst high recall rates might be a little annoying between you they certainly help later students.
We have in addition stocked the MSc room with one copy of the main textbooks, and in key cases two copies. These books are not to go beyond the MSc room so please return them to their shelf without delay. (An overnight book-borrowing system can be agreed and organised by the MSc students, however).
If you feel there is a book Complexity and/or the Library should buy, which would benefit yourself and other students within an academic context, please let us know and we will do our best to provide it. You can also directly request the Library to buy a book.
Expenses guidelines
Expenses for travel to and from approved conferences, workshops and seminars away from Warwick as well as corresponding subsistence (i.e. food, accommodation) are reimbursed in two ways: either via EPSRC (if the event is organised or is under the auspices of the EPSRC) or through the University. For further information please speak to the Administrator, however, please note that you need to keep and submit all relevant receipts otherwise claims cannot be reimbursed.
MSc Room/ Student Offices
You will have been allocated an individual desk and lockable drawer unit. It is your particular responsibility to keep this area tidy. On no account leave valuables unsupervised and unsecured, and that applies to your laptops. University of Warwick Campus is a law abiding place, but instances of theft do occur.
Out of hours access to Complexity Science Centre
Complexity Staff and students should find their University cards give access to the Complexity area of the Zeeman Building, including access through either Mathematics or the back door. The back door requires cards for access 24/7 (in or out). The doors through Maths and to Stats are open weekday working hours. Do not abuse your access to these departments. The Seminar Room (D1.07) is kept locked over the weekend, unless there is prior arrangement.
Computing, printing and copying.
Students funded by our EPSRC grant are provided with a laptop at the beginning of the course as well as a cable lock. Students will be expected to keep their laptop safe using the cable lock provided, as well as more general precautions and also advise Complexity Science administration should any fault arise.
You will also have been given a computer login with Warwick IT Services. You can use this to access any of the public "windows" machines on Campus, and to register for access to Centre for Scientific Computing
machines, see detailed guide here.
A printer will be provided in the MSc room for reasonable study and research related purposes. Further computing and printing information is on the computing web page (ITS login code required). For research presentations, we have an A0 printer which can be accessed in D1.04.
Photocopying: A code for the photocopier will be handed out in week 1.
Do not abuse the privileges of available photocopying and printing.
Personal details and e-mail accounts
It is the student’s responsibility to inform Complexity Science Administrative staff of any changes in contact details (namely address, phone number, emergency contacts). Without these we will be unable to contact you or forward any relevant material. We strongly advise the students to make corrections via Mywarwick, as well.
Complexity Science will mainly use e-mail as a means of contacting all students. Thus students are required to check their University e-mail account at least once every working day, unless this is impossible due to down times of the University’s IT system. It will be assumed that any message is received within 24 hours of being sent. Students are responsible for liaising with IT services about their University e-mail account and user code if this is necessary. Students have to ensure that their University alias (e.g: A.N.Other@warwick.ac.uk) always points to their current user account (e.g:phrxxx). Please note that the user account changes with the transition from MSc to PhD but your alias should stay the same. Students are responsible for keeping the Complexity Science administration informed of their current IT user codes and also if there are any problems with the University e-mail account so that provision can be made.
Students are advised and encouraged to inform either the Course Director or the Complexity Science Administrator of any concerns regarding either the course or changes in personal circumstances. The information will be kept in the strictest confidence.
Pigeonholes and mail
Every student will be allocated a pigeonhole in which post, University correspondence and coursework can be returned so please check yours daily. Location: Common Room 1st floor. Once something is deposited in your pigeonhole it is assumed to have been received within 24 hours.
Student-Staff Liaison Committee
At Warwick SSLC's are student-led committees that form the basis for the representation of students' views within the department and at higher University committees. They are an integral feature of the University's quality assurance framework. SSLCs provide a forum for staff and students to discuss issues relating to a course, department or centre. There is a website all about them here: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/sunion/sslc/ .
Complexity DTC has an active SSLC. Chair: tba, Secretary: tba.
Pastoral Care
Please for day-to-day and plainly academic matters go first to the DTC staff (Administrator, Course Director, Lecturers). We also have the weekly DTC meeting as well as the SSLC.
Each DTC MSc student will be allocated a member of staff as their Personal Tutor, who will endeavour to give guidance on general matters and such personal matters as you feel able to discuss with them. (For PhD students your lead Research Supervisor takes this role.) They can also refer you to more professional confidential advice, typically through the Senior Tutor's Office to which you also have direct access. At http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/tutors/ the University spells out what you can expect both of your personal tutor and the Senior Tutor's Office.
You can also contact the University Counselling Service directly, for example by telephone on 024 765 23761. See also http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/tutors/counselling/ .
Finally, if you need help of any sort don't hesitate to ask! Whoever on the staff you ask, they will be happy to steer you towards the person who can help.
Appendix: miscellaneous forms.
- Personal information
- Absence due to illness
- Working late in Physical Sciences form
- Coursework extension
- Expenses claims Warwick University
- Expenses claims EPSRC
FAQ
This is what EPSRC say at: http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/PostgraduateTraining/InformationForStudents/AdviceAndGuidance.htm
"If you want to do paid/unpaid work
With the agreement of your supervisor, it is permissible for you to undertake paid work directly related to your training (appropriate placements in industry are encouraged) and a reasonable amount of teaching and demonstrating, for which you must be paid at your institution's normal rates.
There is not a bar on you undertaking work not directly related to your training, but you must seek the advice and agreement of your supervisor before engaging on such an activity."
At Warwick we certainly encourage "a reasonable amount of teaching and demonstrating" although we cannot promise it, and in the Masters year it could prove difficult to schedule. There is some scope for some casual work for the Doctoral Training Centre itself, but like other Depts we would like to get to know students before trusting too much to them. Also please note that the DTC expects a fair amount of 'mucking in' by its students without extra pay (the stipends are already elevated). We do expect that some mini-projects will bear extra funding, but that would constrain your options.
Work unrelated to academic study is a more delicate issue. If it is professional in its skill set and not a distraction beyond limited hours, then like teaching it should be OK, maybe even helpful. If it is low paid work (hence requiring significant hours to help financially), then you have to consider conflict with the main agenda. Unitemps is Warwick's agency for on-campus work, which can make it easier to work around studying.
Intr09 (UoW info - includes lots of practical information)
