Year 1 foundations
Build sound questions, scope, literature and methods decisions before costly research begins.
- Research question
- Conceptual framing
- Methods
- Ethics
Structured support across the doctorate
Doctoral Development Programmes
Create a coherent researcher-development pathway that follows doctoral candidates from research design through analysis, writing, publication, viva and corrections.
Doctoral schoolsPhD programmesDBA programmesProfessional doctoratesGraduate collegesResearcher development
Stage-basedDifferent support for early, mid and late candidature
BlendedWorkshops + clinics + tools + 1-to-1
Professional doctoratesSuitable for PhD, DBA and other doctorates
FlexibleStandalone strand or annual programme
What the programme can include01 02 03 04 05 06
Build support around real researcher needs.
Rather than forcing every cohort into the same package, Thesis Tutors can combine live teaching, specialist clinics, digital research tools and targeted one-to-one support around the institution’s actual gaps.
Mid-stage research
Support data collection, analysis, researcher decision-making and progress planning.
- Data quality
- Analysis plan
- Software
- Progress
Writing-up stage
Strengthen thesis structure, argument, chapter coherence and contribution articulation.
- Thesis architecture
- Discussion
- Contribution
- Editing
Publication development
Help researchers understand journal fit, manuscript readiness and reviewer response.
- Journal fit
- Submission checklist
- Reviewer response
- Conference outputs
Viva readiness
Use structured practice to develop confidence and clarity around contribution, methods and limitations.
- Mock viva
- Question practice
- Methodology defence
- Limitations
Corrections & transition
Turn examiner feedback into a manageable revision plan and next-stage research outputs.
- Corrections map
- Revision plan
- Publication bridge
- Research communication
Implementation
One programme, different researcher stages
A clear implementation sequence keeps responsibilities, academic-integrity boundaries, communications and support routes understandable for both staff and researchers.
1. Segment
Group participants by research stage and support need.
2. Build strands
Create distinct workshops, clinics and resources for each stage.
3. Connect
Use Research Room and booking routes to connect live sessions with ongoing progress.
4. Review
Evaluate participation and recurring needs before the next academic cycle.
Institutional use
Example annual pathway
- Autumn: Research Design & Literature
- Winter: Methods & Analysis
- Spring: Writing & Publication
- Summer: Viva & Completion
- Monthly: Specialist Clinics
- Ongoing: Research Room tools
Flexible configuration
Doctoral skills supported
- Critical thinking
- Methods confidence
- Academic writing
- Data literacy
- Research communication
- Defence skills
Governance & quality
Supplementary support, with clear boundaries.
Thesis Tutors is designed to complement formal supervision and existing university services. We support researcher development through teaching, coaching, feedback, legitimate editing and specialist guidance; we do not write assessed theses or make academic decisions on behalf of researchers.
Academic integrity
Researchers retain responsibility for the ideas, analysis, arguments, decisions and final work they submit.
Privacy by scope
Institutional delivery can be designed around the minimum data needed for access, support and agreed reporting.
Human support
Specialist expertise remains central where judgement, teaching and methodological explanation are required.
Frequently asked questions
Questions institutional teams often ask.
Does Thesis Tutors replace university supervision?
No. Our institutional work is supplementary. Formal supervision, assessment and academic decisions remain with the university and researcher.
Can programmes be adapted to a specific cohort?
Yes. Delivery can be scoped around degree level, discipline mix, programme calendar, cohort size, research stage and the institution’s own policies.
How is academic integrity protected?
Support focuses on teaching, coaching, feedback, skills development and legitimate editing. Researchers remain responsible for the ideas, analysis, decisions and assessed work they submit.
Can we start with a pilot?
Yes. A defined pilot or clinic is often the simplest route for testing demand, delivery fit and administration before a wider programme is considered.
Start with a defined scope
Tell us the cohort, challenge and delivery window.
We can help you shape a pilot, clinic, workshop series, support pool or Research Room licence without committing the institution to a larger programme before the model has been tested.