Supporting students' research

Once a student has shaped their research proposal, with guidance from supervisors, they will then need to develop a plan to implement the study. Good plans include clear milestones with concrete deliverables to enable students to see their progress and supervisors to monitor their development. Depending on the nature of the study there may be a number of specific elements to consider in the plan, for instance: 

• ethical clearance; 
• risk assessment (including health and safety concerns); 
• arrangements for leave of absence to study away from the School;
• Funders and sponsors; 
• Research subjects and informed consent; 
• Data management; 
• Publication and co-authorship (see the Regulations for Research Degrees and the relevant programme-level regulations); and 
• Academic integrity. 

Supervisors can seek guidance from the relevant teams. If you are uncertain about where to find guidance documents, or who to contact on these topics, please contact the PhD Academy in the first instance. 

LSE library provides a wide variety of support for PhD researchers and supervisors. For resources and how to get help from their Academic Support Librarian, see this link: https://www.lse.ac.uk/library/using-the-library/library-resources-guide 

• The Open Research Services team can provide advice, training and guidance on increasing research transparency and visibility. For information and advice on open research practices (including open data, open access, and metrics), see the following link: https://www.lse.ac.uk/library/research-support 
• For advice on publishing their research, publishing contracts and licensing, supervisors can direct their students to contact Lucy Lambe at l.lambe@lse.ac.uk. 

Fieldwork is vital to doctoral research but can be intense, isolating and logistically demanding. While students remain enrolled during fieldwork, and are both entitled and required to engage in three supervisory meetings per term, their engagement with the School environment is – in most other respects – necessarily much more limited than students enrolled for on campus study 

Returning from fieldwork presents academic, practical, and personal challenges requiring structured support for successful reintegration. Reintegrating into academic life, re-establishing routines, and processing data require careful planning. 

• It is important to be aware of the specific circumstances that students may encounter during fieldwork and their return:
• International students navigating visa compliance, housing and readjustment to UK academic culture
• Students from marginalised backgrounds who may encounter discrimination during fieldwork 
• Students with disabilities requiring working practice adjustments 
• Students with caring responsibilities needing additional time and flexibility 
• Self-funded students potentially requiring financial assistance. 

A whole-School approach requires coordination with: 

• The PhD Academy for registry, academic and wellbeing support 
• Student Wellbeing Services and Disability and Mental Health Service 
• The Financial Support Office  
• The Student Advice and Engagement Team for visa guidance 

Structuring the return 

Supervisors should work with returning students to develop re-engagement plans, which might include: discussions about any fieldwork challenges; post-fieldwork activities including data processing, analysis, writing, and any identified training needs; activities to re-establish departmental community position, including seminars, progress reviews and teaching. These plans should be revisited upon return to ensure they remain viable. 

Addressing challenges 

Students should be encouraged to reflect on fieldwork experiences and articulate challenges encountered. This is essential because: 

• If fieldwork didn't proceed as planned, supervisors must help assess the impact and consider adjustments to meet submission deadlines 
• Students may have faced distressing experiences requiring signposting to support services 
• Departments where fieldwork is common should provide structured, cohort-level support including sessions on fieldwork stresses and coping strategies.  

Re-establishing academic engagement

Supervisors should ensure students reconnect with Departmental seminars, reading groups, and research centres, LSE support resources for data analysis and management and the PhD Academy's professional development programme.

Students often feel disconnected upon return. Supervisors should plan structured, gradual re-engagement to ensure participation is manageable. Pairing returning students with experienced colleagues can provide valuable peer support. 

Managing wellbeing and practical matters 

Fieldwork can be physically and emotionally demanding. Students may experience culture shock, isolation or fatigue. Supervisors should recognise these issues and signpost to wellbeing services. 

Practical considerations include accommodation, visa status and finances. While departmental staff shouldn't provide direct advice, they should signpost students to appropriate services: the PhD Academy for re-enrollment, Student Advice and Engagement Team for visa queries, and Financial Support Office for financial concerns. 

Students should re-familiarise themselves with departmental requirements for progress reviews and assessments, discussing these with programme managers and the PhD Academy. 

If students struggle to adjust or fall behind, supervisors should discuss phased reintegration strategies with realistic goals and regular check-ins.