Training

The Researcher Development Programme delivers a variety of transferable skills workshops that are designed to help you be a more effective postgraduate researcher and to assure you develop the skills that will make you highly employable in the future. All workshops are repeated according to demand throughout three cycles: Autumn (Oct-Dec), Spring (Jan-Mar), Summer (May-July). This way you are able to sign up for what you need  will be available, when you need it.

Compulsory workshops

The University has decided that three of our workshops should be compulsory to all PhD researchers.  These are Welcome to YOUR PhD (within first 6 months), The Confirmation Process (between 6-12 months) and The Viva Examination (within the 6 months prior to your viva).  All of these workshops address issues which affect all PhD researchers at a particular stage of the programme.  The workshops are designed to help you understand what is expected of you and give you advice on achieving high standards at these important stages of your PhD.

Other Workshops

Workshops cover skills that are essential for succeeding as a postgraduate researcher (PGR) and which will make you highly desirable to employers both inside and outside academia.  A PhD requires much more than subject knowledge, you will have to manage your time and your project as well as your relationships with your supervisors.  You will be expected to write and present at high levels.  All of these skills and many more will be needed to be effective in your PhD studies. Importantly, these skills will also be helpful to you throughout your lifetime and are valued by employers.

One-to-One Support

If you can not make it to our face-to-face workshops, we will still be able to support you.  We are happy make an appointment with you to provided one-to-one training on any of the transferable skills topics covered in our workshops, academic writing support, careers advice or presentation practice.  The most popular way we do this is by making face-to-face appointments when you are already scheduled to come to campus to meet with your supervisor.  If you have a visit planned email us, well in advance and, we will do our best to accommodate your timetable.  If this option does not work, because you are not going to come to campus or can not fit in an appointment, we can make arrangements to talk via instant messaging, Skype or phone.  Please email for more information or to make an appointment: