Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES)

The Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES) is the only UK higher education sector-wide survey to gain insight from postgraduate researchers about their learning and supervision experience.

What is PRES?

The Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES) is a survey run by the Higher Education Academy (HEA).

Launched in 2007, PRES is a sector-wide survey to gather insight from postgraduate researchers (PGRs) about their learning and supervision experience.  The survey involves many other UK higher education institutions, including most of the Russell Group

How do I take part?

PRES will be live from 7 March to 18 May 2017.  You will receive an email with a link to the survey and reminders if you have not completed it. You can also access the survey via Minerva.

Once completed, participants will receive a voucher for a free hot drink at the Leeds University Union Building

Why should I take part?

Your thoughts on your experiences as a postgraduate researcher matter to us and we consider the results of PRES in great detail.

Graduate Schools receive the data and use it to formulate an action plan, to address issues that are raised by participants. The University then considers all the action plans, which is then used to shape future PGR strategy.  

For more information on how PRES results are used to make changes, please visit our Postgraduate Researcher Feedback page.

How do I complete the survey?

The survey takes approximately 15 minutes to complete and includes a standard set of questions, as well as opportunities for free text responses. You will be asked to agree or disagree on a scale of one to five. The survey covers the following areas:

  • Supervision
  • Resources
  • Research Culture
  • Progress and Assessment
  • Responsibilities
  • Research Skills
  • Professional Development
  • Opportunities
  • Overall Experience
  • Personal Outlook
  • Motivations
  • You and your programme (demographic questions) 

There is also a section asking you questions specific to your study at the University of Leeds. All responses are anonymous.