DOUBLE JEOPARDY

The business of being a research student is finally at hand. The 3 day induction was reasonably painless. The process of putting together a research paper is just that, a process; however; there are obstacles along the way. The first hurdle is slightly disconcerting. Having been accepted on the program on the basis of a proposal and an interview involving a 10 min power point presentation and 20 min of questions, one has to submit a fresh proposal in the guise of what is referred to as an ATR, an Application to Register. It cannot be any longer that the 1000 word proposal already submitted. It is in effect a more refined version of the initial proposal. The ATR’s are presented to two committees or RDCs (Research Development Committee) - one at Falmouth and the other at the University of the Arts London, under whose auspices Falmouth University must continue to function until Falmouth receives its own licence for accreditation of PhD degrees.

Thus, having been enrolled at Falmouth as a PhD student from the 25^th September, if the Application to Register is turned down, what is one supposed to do.  It feels a bit of a con. One is encouraged to apply and pay the dues, only to have to re-apply with what is suggested is a more refined version of the initial application.

Whilst I understand that a research project must be focused on as specific an argument as one can muster, it seems a bit of a swiz to go through the process of refining the first 1000 words into yet another 1000 words which run the risk of being knocked back. One goes through considerable time and expense to be accepted, only to find one has to go through the whole thing again on the basis that it is a more considered application. More expense and time. It feels a bit like double jeopardy.

If the initial expression of interest, proposal and interview are not sufficient, what is the point of them? Why not say from the outset that acceptance on the research programme is a four stage process:

1-    Expression of Interest

2-    Initial Proposal

3-    Interview

4-    Application to Register.

Only after one has been accepted from stage four, should one be enrolled. It seems a very cumbersome process.

I understand the need to hone one’s research question into something manageable and indicative of some degree of original thinking on a subject, but that is presumably what the first year of a PhD is about, and the supervisors’ job is to guide the student towards that end.

Am I wrong to feel disgruntled about this process? Comment please.