Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
With Answers
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1. About DCUK & MyDoctorate.org
1. What is Doctoral College UK (DCUK)?
Doctoral College UK is a specialist organisation focused on supporting doctoral and postgraduate researchers, supervisors and research-active professionals. We provide structured programmes, mentoring, and a supportive community to help you design, conduct and complete high-quality research that has real-world impact.
2. What is MyDoctorate.org?
MyDoctorate.org is DCUK’s online community research platform. It brings together doctoral students, early-career researchers, supervisors, industry partners and practitioners to share resources, collaborate on projects, access learning materials and showcase research outputs.
3. How is MyDoctorate.org different from a university’s virtual learning environment (VLE)?
An institutions VLE (like Moodle, Blackboard or Canvas) is usually programme-specific and internal to one institution. The VLE within the MyDoctorate.org platform is cross-institutional and community-driven: it connects researchers from different institutions, disciplines and countries, and focuses on practical research support, networking and knowledge sharing.
4. Is MyDoctorate.org only for people enrolled on DCUK programmes?
No. While DCUK learners get additional benefits, the broader platform can also host external members such as university staff, independent researchers, professionals, and partner organisations. Access levels and features may differ depending on your membership type.
2. Membership & Eligibility
5. Who can join the MyDoctorate.org community?
The platform is open to doctoral researchers (PhD, DBA, EdD, etc.), master’s students undertaking dissertations, supervisors, research mentors, industry professionals involved in research, and institutional partners. If you are engaged in or supporting research, there is a place for you in the community.
6. How do I create an account?
Click “Sign Up” on the homepage, choose the membership type that matches your situation (e.g. Doctoral Researcher, Supervisor, Institutional Partner), and complete the registration form. You’ll receive a verification email; once confirmed, you can log in and personalise your profile.
7. Is there a fee to join?
Membership options may include free and paid tiers depending on your role and the services you require (for example, premium access to courses, events or personalised mentoring). Please refer to the Pricing or Membership page for current details.
8. Can I use my university email address to register?
Yes, and we encourage it where possible as it helps us verify institutional affiliation and connect you with relevant groups and opportunities. You can still register with a personal email if you prefer.
3. Using the Platform
9. What can I do on MyDoctorate.org as a member?
You can build a research profile, join thematic groups and communities of practice, access curated resources and toolkits, attend online events, share your work-in-progress, ask questions, and find collaborators or mentors. Depending on your membership level, you may also access structured courses and supervision support.
10. How do I set up or edit my profile?
After logging in, go to “My Profile” and complete the sections on your research interests, methods, current project, and professional background. You can add a photo, a short biography, key words, and links to your ORCID, LinkedIn, Google Scholar or personal website.
11. How do I find resources relevant to my research topic?
Use the search bar to look for key words related to your topic or methodology, or browse curated collections in the Library/Resources section. You can also follow tags (e.g. “qualitative methods”, “SMEs”, “innovation”, “healthcare”) to get recommendations.
12. Can I create or join groups and communities of practice?
Yes. You can join existing groups based on discipline, methodology, region or theme. If you have a clear purpose and an audience in mind, you may also request to create a new group (for example, a methods clinic, a regional network, or a project-specific collaboration).
13. How do I contact other members?
You can send private messages to members via their profile or participate in group discussions and forums. Please keep communication professional, respectful and aligned with our community guidelines.
4. Research Support & Learning
14. Does MyDoctorate.org replace my university supervisor?
No. The platform complements (not replaces) your institutional supervision. Your primary academic supervision, degree registration and formal assessments remain with your university. DCUK and MyDoctorate.org provide additional mentoring, peer support, skills training and structured guidance.
15. What kind of research support can I get?
You can access resources and workshops on research design, literature reviews, methods, ethics, data analysis, writing, publication strategies and viva preparation. You may also receive feedback on proposals or drafts, join writing retreats, and take part in milestone-based planning sessions.
16. Can I receive one-to-one mentoring or coaching?
Yes, subject to availability and your membership level. One-to-one sessions can focus on clarifying your research question, planning your thesis, overcoming blocks, or preparing for key milestones. Check the Mentoring/Coaching section for details on how to book.
17. Can I get help with research methods and data analysis?
Yes. We provide methods-focused resources, clinics and Q&A sessions. These may cover qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods, as well as specific tools (e.g. NVivo, SPSS, thematic analysis frameworks). Members are also encouraged to share their own tips and experiences.
5. Content, Library & Resources
18. What types of resources are available on MyDoctorate.org?
You’ll find guides, templates, checklists, video tutorials, recorded webinars, reading lists, case studies, sample proposals, and exemplars of research outputs. Resources focus on practical, “how-to” support for designing, conducting and completing research.
19. Can I upload my own materials or research outputs?
Yes, subject to our content and copyright policies. You can upload presentations, posters, preprints, working papers, teaching materials, and practitioner reports, as long as you have appropriate rights and permissions. We encourage you to share work-in-progress to invite feedback.
20. How do you ensure the quality of the resources?
Curated resources are reviewed by DCUK staff and experienced practitioners for clarity, relevance and alignment with good research practice. Community-shared resources may be moderated and can be rated or commented on by members.
21. Will I have access to full journal articles through MyDoctorate.org?
MyDoctorate.org is not a replacement for your university library or commercial databases. Where possible, we signpost open-access materials and provide links to publisher sites. For paywalled content, you should normally access it via your institution or other legitimate routes.
6. Collaboration & Networking
22. How can I find potential collaborators?
You can search member profiles by key word, discipline, sector, region or method, or post a collaboration call in relevant groups. You might, for example, look for co-authors, data collection partners, or practitioners interested in applied research.
22. How can I find potential collaborators?
You can search member profiles by key word, discipline, sector, region or method, or post a collaboration call in relevant groups. You might, for example, look for co-authors, data collection partners, or practitioners interested in applied research.
23. Can industry partners and organisations participate?
Yes. Industry and organisational partners can showcase projects, propose research challenges, host internships or collaborative projects, and connect with researchers who are interested in real-world impact and knowledge exchange.
24. Are there events I can attend?
The platform may host webinars, workshops, clinics, panel discussions, writing retreats, and networking events. Check the Events section for upcoming dates, registration details, and whether events are open, member-only, or invitation-based.
7. Programmes, Accreditation & Institutions
25. Is DCUK a university?
DCUK is not a traditional university. It is a specialist organisation that designs and delivers research-focused programmes, mentoring and support, often in collaboration with universities and other partners. Degrees and formal qualifications are awarded by the relevant awarding bodies, not by MyDoctorate.org itself.
26. How does DCUK work with universities and partners?
DCUK may collaborate through articulated pathways, franchise or validation arrangements, joint delivery of modules, or co-designed professional doctorates and research programmes. Specific details depend on the agreement with each partner institution.
27. Will participation on MyDoctorate.org appear on my academic record?
Your use of MyDoctorate.org will not automatically appear on your university transcript. However, you may be able to reference it in your development portfolio, professional review, CPD record, or annual review documentation.
8. Payments & Membership Management
28. How do I upgrade, downgrade or cancel my membership?
You can manage your membership options from the “Account” or “Billing” section after you log in. There you can change plans, update payment details, or cancel renewal. Please check the terms for notice periods and refund policies.
28. How do I upgrade, downgrade or cancel my membership?
You can manage your membership options from the “Account” or “Billing” section after you log in. There you can change plans, update payment details, or cancel renewal. Please check the terms for notice periods and refund policies.
29. What payment methods are accepted?
Typically, we accept major credit/debit cards and may also support institutional invoicing for group memberships or partnerships. Check the Payments page for current options and currencies.
30. Do you offer institutional or group memberships?
Yes. Universities, colleges and organisations can arrange group or institutional access for their staff and learners, which may include tailored spaces and additional services. Contact us for partnership or institutional membership options.
9. Data, Privacy & Security
31. How is my personal data used?
We collect and use your data to operate the platform, personalise your experience, and communicate with you about relevant services and events. We do not sell your data to third parties. Full details are provided in our Privacy Policy, which explains what we collect, why, and for how long.
31. How is my personal data used?
We collect and use your data to operate the platform, personalise your experience, and communicate with you about relevant services and events. We do not sell your data to third parties. Full details are provided in our Privacy Policy, which explains what we collect, why, and for how long.
32. Who can see my profile information?
Basic profile details (name, affiliation, research interests) are usually visible to other members to support networking. You can control some aspects of visibility in your account settings. Sensitive information such as payment details is never visible to other users.
33. How secure is the platform?
We use industry-standard security measures, such as encrypted connections (HTTPS) and secure storage of credentials, to protect your data. You can further protect your account by using strong, unique passwords and keeping your login details private.
10. Intellectual Property, Ethics & Publishing
34. Who owns the intellectual property (IP) in the work I upload?
You retain ownership of your work. By uploading content, you grant DCUK / MyDoctorate.org a licence to host and display it on the platform, but you do not transfer your rights. Always ensure that you have the legal right to share the material (for example, no confidential or third-party owned content without permission).
34. Who owns the intellectual property (IP) in the work I upload?
You retain ownership of your work. By uploading content, you grant DCUK / MyDoctorate.org a licence to host and display it on the platform, but you do not transfer your rights. Always ensure that you have the legal right to share the material (for example, no confidential or third-party owned content without permission).
35. Can I share sensitive or confidential data on the platform?
No. You must not upload confidential, personally identifiable, or ethically sensitive data unless it has been fully anonymised and you have appropriate permissions and approvals. Always follow your institution’s ethics and data protection policies.
36. Will sharing my work on MyDoctorate.org affect journal publication?
Many journals allow prior sharing of early drafts, preprints or conference materials, but policies vary. If you plan to publish in a particular journal, check its rules on preprint and prior dissemination. You may choose to share summaries, posters or non-final versions rather than full manuscripts.
11. Community Guidelines & Moderation
37. What are the expectations for behaviour on the platform?
We expect all members to behave professionally, respectfully and inclusively. Harassment, discrimination, academic misconduct, or misuse of the platform are not tolerated. Our Community Guidelines provide more detail on what is acceptable and what is not.
38. How is content moderated?
Content may be moderated by DCUK staff and designated community leaders. We may remove content that breaches our guidelines, infringes copyright, or risks harm to individuals or communities. Repeat or serious breaches may lead to suspension or removal from the platform.
39. How do I report a problem or inappropriate behaviour?
You can report posts or users via the “Report” option where available, or contact the support team with details. We take all reports seriously and will review them confidentially and promptly.
12. Technical Support
40. I’m having trouble logging in. What should I do?
First, check that your email and password are correct and that you have verified your account via the link sent after registration. If you still cannot log in, use the “Forgot password” option. If the problem continues, contact support with a description and screenshots if possible.
41. Which devices and browsers are supported?
MyDoctorate.org is designed to work on modern desktop and mobile browsers. For the best experience, use the latest version of Chrome, Firefox, Edge or Safari. Some features may be limited in outdated browsers.
42. What should I do if I find a bug or technical issue?
Please report it through the Help/Support section, describing what you were trying to do, what happened, and any error messages you saw. Include your browser and device details where possible to help us investigate.
13. Getting Started & Contact
43. I’ve just joined. Where should I start?
Begin by completing your profile, joining 1–3 groups that match your interests, and exploring the core resource collections. You might also introduce yourself in a welcome or “new members” space and register for an upcoming webinar or clinic.