The Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES) opens on Monday 13 April 2026 and is an opportunity for all postgraduate research (PGR) students to share experiences about:
- Supervision
- Resources
- Research Culture and Community
- Progress and Assessment
- Skills and Professional Development
- Wellbeing.
It also considers PGR students’ motivations for taking their research degree programme.
The survey is confidential and takes 15-20 minutes to complete. The feedback will be used to inform BU-wide enhancements to the PGR experience and inform faculty level improvements to the research environment and support for PGRs. It will also help us to benchmark our performance against other Higher Education institutions to identify key areas for development. We would like to know what you think works well and what as a University we could do better.
If you are eligible, you will receive an email on Monday 13 April from BU’s Doctoral College (from [email protected]) with a unique link to the survey. If you haven’t received an email and feel that you are eligible, please contact [email protected].
If you would like to know more about the survey, please visit the PRES webpage. The PRES 2026 privacy notice is also available for your perusal.
The deadline to complete the survey is Friday 15 May 2026.
Upon completing the survey, PGRs may opt to enter a free prize draw for the chance to win one of three £50 shopping vouchers. Terms and conditions apply.
Once you have completed the survey, you are entitled to claim a voucher worth £4.25, from the Doctoral College to use at any BU Chartwells outlets. Please come to the Doctoral College (DLG08, Talbot Campus) to collect your voucher.
The Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES) is a national survey led by AdvanceHE and coordinated by the Doctoral College.
