This practical guide offers a British perspective to beginning, pursuing, and completing a research degree and is designed to aid graduate students in addressing a wide range of new and unfamiliar roles, expectations, and needs. Some issues addressed are specific to foreign students. An introductory section describes the guide's rationale and structure. Subsequent chapters address these topics: registering for the research degree; preparing for the graduate student's way of life; settling in as a new research student; recognizing good research; interacting with supervisor(s); keeping records; planning ahead; managing self and time; taking responsibility for making progress; cooperating with others for mutual help and support; producing reports; giving presentations; landmarks, hurdles, and transferring from MPhil degree to the PhD; coming to terms with originality in research; developing skills for creative thinking; dealing with self-doubt; producing the thesis; preparing for conducting oneself in the examination; and what comes after the degree. A list of further readings, selected bibliography, references, and useful addresses are included. A subject index is included. (Contains 39 references.) (MSE)