HEA PRES FAQ
The Higher Education Academy
Postgraduate Research Experience Survey
What is it?

The Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (PRES) is designed for postgraduate
research students, with reference to their experience of supervision, the research
environment and their development as a researcher;

PRES takes place every two years and in 2015 will run from 1st March to 14th May;

The survey is administered by institutions, supported by the HEA, and will use the new
BOS2.0 survey platform hosted at the University of Bristol.
You can customise our publicity, or create your own, to fit your institution’s campaign
Why take part?
1. Understand the postgraduate research experience, with the ability to analyse within subject,
explore student demographics, or look within your institution down to any level;
2. Compare your institution to others using sector and mission group1 benchmarks, or use our
custom benchmarking service to create your own, whilst preserving confidentiality;
3. Enhance provision by using a survey designed for research postgraduates, with students
invited to give comments around specific areas, focusing on issues and solutions;
4. Raise the profile of postgraduate research provision within your institution with a survey
aligned with the Vitae RDF and mapped to QAA indicators, but which can also be customised
by adding your own set of institutional questions;
5. Gain support with every part of the process, including: phone and email support, training
days, seminars on topics such as raising response rates, a comprehensive set of resources
covering survey setup to best practice in using the results.
Standard benchmarking groups are expected to include: GuildHE, Million+, Russell Group, Scottish, Small
and Specialist, University Alliance, Post/Pre-92 as well as sector average and quartiles.
1
Who takes part?

any PhD or Doctoral student as well as Research Masters students;;

Part-time and full-time, distance and face-to-face, home and international students.

In the last round of PRES over 48,000 students took part from over 120 HE providers, nearly
half of all research postgraduates in the UK;

Participating institutions include most members of the Russell Group, Million+ and University
Alliance.
You will receive a benchmarking report tailored for your institution with graphs and summarised tables, all
statistically tested, in addition to a national report, and being able to download your complete dataset
What resources do we need?
1. A Bristol Online Surveys account (www.survey.bris.ac.uk) which your institution may have
already. If not, accounts cost from £600+VAT;
2. Staff time to provide survey administration, marketing and dissemination;
3. Funding for custom benchmarking or other further services if you require them.
How do I take part?
1. Please express your interest in participating in PRES 2015 by 12 November 2014, though we
are happy to discuss participation at any time – just get in touch;
2. You can express your interest by e-mailing [email protected], along with the name
and contact details of your nominated PRES Officer - the main point of contact with the HEA;
3. Expressions of Interest do not commit you to taking part, but make sure that your institution
receives the information needed to prepare. Formal Participants Agreements need to be
signed before you can receive benchmarking information.
How do I find out more?

Website https://www.heacademy.ac.uk/pres

Email [email protected] or call 01904 717 500 and ask to speak to the Surveys Team