Services
Specialist support for postgraduate students
Postgraduate study presents unique academic and research challenges. The services below provide specialist guidance and support throughout your studies..
Postgraduate School
Access information on postgraduate research programmes, regulations, policies, funding opportunities and key student resources.
Find guidance on supervision, progression, assessment, regulations and thesis submission requirements.
Library Support
Book an individual or group consultation with the Library Research Support Team for personalised research support.
Access guidance on literature searching, databases, referencing and other essential research skills.
Writing Support
Book an in-person or online appointment for individual support with academic writing at any stage of your research.
Access support with academic writing, study skills and learning strategies.
Planning and Time Management
Plan and manage your research project
Effective planning is essential for successful postgraduate research. The resources below support the planning, organisation and management of your research project.
Access key information on postgraduate research, including the Postgraduate Research Student Handbook, policies and more.
An interactive tool developed by Newcastle University to help you develop, refine, and organise your research proposal ideas.
Access TUS’s subscription to SAGE Research Methods by selecting Institution and signing in with your TUS account. The Project Planner provides guidance throughout the research process.
This short video introduces practical methods to help you prioritise tasks, manage deadlines and plan your workload effectively.Durham OER Resource by Abby Catterson, Durham University, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Review the formatting, presentation and submission requirements for your thesis.
Productivity Tools
A simple task management app that helps you organise tasks, set reminders, and keep track of deadlines and priorities.
A flexible workspace that can help you organise research notes, tasks, timelines, and project planning in one place.
A visual planning tool that helps you organise tasks, deadlines, and project stages using boards, lists, and cards.
Searching for Information
Find academic literature
Develop effective search strategies and access high-quality academic literature using the resources below.
Search library databases, journals and other academic resources available through TUS Library.
Explore subject specific guides with recommended databases, journals, and resources for your area of study.
Access theses, dissertations and published research produced within Technological University of the Shannon.
Improve your searching using keywords, Boolean operators, filters and other techniques to locate relevant literature efficiently.
Reading & Organising Research
Read critically and organise the literature
Reading critically and organising your literature are essential skills for postgraduate study. The resources below support the evaluation, organisation and synthesis of academic literature before writing your literature review.
Develop strategies for reading academic papers efficiently and identifying the most relevant information.
Explore the structure of a scholarly article and understand the purpose of each section.
Strengthen your critical reading skills by analysing arguments, evaluating evidence and identifying strengths and limitations within research.
Learn how to evaluate the credibility of academic and online information using the CRAAP Test.
Compare studies, identify themes and synthesise evidence from multiple sources..
Templates & Checklists
Organise and compare information from multiple journal articles to identify patterns, themes and research gaps.
CRAAP Test – Evaluate the credibility, relevance and reliability of information sources using the CRAAP framework.
Research Methods
Plan and design your research
Research methodology varies between disciplines and research projects. Always follow the guidance provided by your supervisor and School. The resources below introduce research methodology, research design and data collection methods to support your research.
Sign in with your TUS account to access TUS’s subscription to SAGE Research Methods. The Project Planner provides guidance throughout each stage of the research process.
Learn about common approaches to collecting research data, including interviews, surveys, observations, focus groups and other research methods.
Referencing and Reference Management
Reference your work accurately
Accurate referencing acknowledges the work of others, supports academic integrity and enables readers to locate the sources you have used. The resources below will help you reference correctly and organise your references throughout your research.
Access guidance on the referencing styles used across TUS, including Harvard, APA, Vancouver and others.
Find step-by-step examples of how to reference a wide range of source types using different referencing styles.
Reference Management
Compare reference management software, including Zotero, Mendeley and EndNote, and learn how these tools can help you organise your references.
Organise, screen and review research articles using Rayyan, particularly useful for systematic, scoping and other structured literature reviews.
Writing Support
Develop your academic writing
There is no single approach to writing a dissertation or thesis. Writing requirements vary between disciplines and Schools, so always follow the guidance provided by your supervisor and School. The resources below support each stage of the academic writing process and should be used alongside discipline-specific guidance. Individual support is available through the Academic Writing Centre.
Provides a bird’s-eye view of the main sections of a dissertation or thesis, including the introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, conclusion and abstract. Always follow the guidance provided by your School and supervisor, as requirements may vary between disciplines.
Plan, structure and write an effective literature review using practical guidance and examples..
Develop critical arguments by analysing, evaluating and synthesising evidence in your academic writing.
Access academic sentence starters and phrases for introducing your research, referring to sources, describing methods, reporting results, discussing findings and writing conclusions.
Managing Research Data
Organise and manage your research data
Effective research data management helps protect your research, supports good research practice and enables data to be stored, organised and shared appropriately
Access guidance on organising, storing, protecting and sharing research data throughout your project.
Explore guidance on publishing and sharing research through open access.
Learn about research impact, citation metrics and researcher profiles.
Working with Your Supervisor
Making the Most of Meetings with Your Supervisor
Your supervisor is an important source of academic guidance and feedback throughout your postgraduate research. Supervisory arrangements and expectations vary between disciplines, Schools and individual supervisors, so always follow any guidance agreed with your supervisor.
Meetings provide an opportunity to discuss your progress, ask questions, receive feedback and clarify what you need to work on next.
Use the Supervisory Meeting Checklist to help you prepare for meetings, record key points and agreed actions, and plan what to do afterwards.
Before the Meeting
A little preparation can help you get more from your meeting.
Before each meeting:
- Look back at the notes and actions from your previous meeting.
- Make a note of what you have worked on since then.
- Write down two or three points you would like to discuss.
- Note anything you are unsure about or would like guidance on.
- Write down any questions you want to ask.
- Have any relevant notes, drafts, feedback or research documents ready.
- Follow any arrangements agreed with your supervisor about submitting work before meetings.
You might find it helpful to ask yourself:
- What have I worked on since the last meeting?
- What progress have I made?
- What am I unsure about?
- What do I need advice or guidance on?
- What do I need to discuss at this meeting?
During the Meeting
Use your meeting to discuss your research, ask questions and make a note of the main points discussed.
If you are unsure about something, you can check your understanding. For example:
- “Can I check that I have understood this correctly?”
- “Could you explain what you mean by that?”
- “Could you give me an example?”
- “What should I focus on next?”
Make a note of any:
- feedback or advice;
- changes you need to make;
- decisions discussed;
- actions you need to complete;
- important dates or deadlines;
- resources or references mentioned;
- plans discussed for the next meeting.
If you find it difficult to listen and take notes at the same time, take a few minutes after the meeting to write down the main points while they are still fresh in your mind.
After the Meeting
Go through your notes after the meeting and identify what you need to do next.
You can:
- Write a clear list of your next actions.
- Break larger pieces of work into smaller tasks.
- Add important dates and deadlines to your calendar.
- Keep your supervision notes together in one place.
- Decide which task you need to work on first.
- Review your notes and action list before your next meeting.
If a piece of work feels difficult to start, break it into smaller steps and identify the first clear task you can work on.
If You Are Unsure or Falling Behind
If you are having difficulty making progress, it is important to keep in contact with your supervisor and follow the communication arrangements you have agreed.
You may need to make contact if:
- you are unsure how to proceed;
- you are finding it difficult to get started;
- you are falling behind with agreed work;
- you have missed a meeting or deadline;
- you are unsure about feedback or what you need to do;
- something is affecting your research progress.
Making contact early gives you an opportunity to discuss your progress and clarify what you need to focus on next.