Postgraduate researcher workshops

The Researcher Development Programme offers workshops to help you develop transferable and employability skills that will be invaluable for your doctoral research and broader professional development.

You will need to register your place on a workshop through Surrey Self-Service, under the tab 'Researcher Development Details.' You can find out more in our how to book a workshop guide (PDF)

Workshop registration

What's on offer

Scroll down to view our workshop schedule.

If you are particularly interested in a specific workshop but have been unable identify a convenient session, we would encourage you to let us know by emailing rdp@surrey.ac.uk. We always endeavour to be responsive to demand, and we may be able to let you know when the next session will be scheduled, provide you with slides and supporting materials, or offer you a one-to-one discussion of the workshop content.

Workshop delivery

The RDE team offer workshops both in person and as virtual events.

In-person workshops:

In-person workshops take place in the Researcher Development Training Room on the fifth floor of the library (09LB05).  N.b. There is no option to participate virtually in an in-person workshop (i.e. no hybrid sessions), so if you cannot attend an in-person workshop in person then please cancel your booking.

Online workshops:

If you are booked to attend an online workshop, then a link will be emailed to you on the morning of the workshop, once we know the definite attendee list. 

Virtual support

We have produced a booklet summarising virtual key support and resources available to postgraduate researchers, which you can view on SurreyLearn.

Throughout this time, we would like to reassure you that the Researcher Development team is here to support you. We monitor the RDP inbox throughout normal working hours and the team is available to have one-to-ones for those wanting bespoke skill development/planning, academic writing and careers coaching support, or even if you just need to talk something through with someone. 

We will also be looking at new and innovative ways to extend and enhance our support. If you have any suggestions or ideas of how we can better support our researchers, send the team an email: rdp@surrey.ac.uk

Online training modules

Race equality

The University runs an Introduction to Race Equality training module, which is available not only to staff and ECRs, but also PGR students. Visit SurreyLearn to find out more and complete the module.

Open research

Whether you are new to Open Research or already engage with open practices, this module encourages you to turn knowledge to practice and to share your own knowledge and experience with the researcher community. Find out more on SurreyLearn.

Compulsory workshops

There are three compulsory workshops all postgraduate researchers (PGRs) attend during their doctorate. These typically run at least every six weeks throughout the calendar year.

For full workshop details and to register please log into Surrey Self-Service. You can find out about how to book workshops using this guide (pdf).

 

When to book onto the compulsory workshops:

Every doctorate is different and when you book onto each of the compulsory modules will vary for each individual student, but the following is a rough guide:

We recommend you attend the 'Welcome to your Doctorate' workshop within the first 3 months of beginning your doctorate.

We recommend you attend the 'Confirmation Process' workshop between 2-3 months before your Confirmation.  This is usually 6-12 months into a doctorate for most full-time researchers or 15-27 months for part-time researchers.

We recommend you attend the 'Viva Examination' workshop in the final year of your doctoral study, but ideally no earlier than 6 months before your viva, in order for you to gain maximum benefit from the workshop.

 

DateTimeTitle

September

  
05-Sep-2414.30 - 16.30Viva Examination - In Person
11-Sep-2414.00 - 16.00Confirmation Process - Virtual
12-Sep-2410.00 - 12.00Welcome To Your Doctorate - Virtual
19-Sep-2410.00 - 12.00Confirmation Process - In Person
25-Sep-2410.00 - 12.00Viva Examination - Virtual

October

  
04-Oct-2410.30 - 12.30Confirmation Process - In Person
08-Oct-2415.00 - 17.00Viva Examination - Virtual
09-Oct-2411.00 - 13.30Welcome To Your Doctorate - In Person
14-Oct-2411.00 - 13.30Welcome To Your Doctorate - In Person
15-Oct-2410.30 - 12.30Confirmation Process - In Person
21-Oct-2410.30 - 13.00Welcome To Your Doctorate - Virtual
25-Oct-2410.00 - 12.00Viva Examination - In Person
28-Oct-2413.30 - 16.00Welcome To Your Doctorate - In Person

November

  
01-Nov-2410.00 - 12.00Confirmation Process - In Person
11-Nov-2411.00 - 13.00Viva Examination - In Person
15-Nov-2410.00 - 12.30Welcome To Your Doctorate - In Person
19-Nov-2414.00 - 16.00Confirmation Process - Virtual
26-Nov-2414.00 - 16.30Welcome To Your Doctorate - In Person
28-Nov-2414.30 - 16.30Viva Examination - In Person

December

  
03-Dec-2411.00 - 13.30Welcome To Your Doctorate - In Person
04-Dec-2411.00 - 13.00Confirmation Process - In Person
10-Dec-2414.00 - 16.00Viva Examination - Virtual
18-Dec-2417.00 - 19.30Welcome To Your Doctorate - Virtual

Compulsory workshop descriptions

Optional skills development and workshops

View the schedule below of upcoming RDP events and training. Use the subsequent menus to learn more about the training on offer for PGRs.

For full workshop details and to register please log into Surrey Self-Service. You can find out about how to book workshops using this guide.

 
DateTimeTitle

October

  
01-Oct-2411.00 - 13.00RDP Training: Demonstration in Laboratories - In Person
07-Oct-2410.00 - 13.00MINI Writing Retreat - Virtual
09-Oct-2412.00 - 14.00Getting Published 1: Writing for Academic Journals - Virtual
09-Oct-2414.00 - 16.00Getting the Most out of Your Progress Reviews - In Person
10-Oct-2414.30 - 16.30RDP Training: Demonstration in Laboratories - Virtual
10-Oct-2410.00 - 12.00Getting Started with Thesis Writing - In Person
14-Oct-2414.00 - 16.00Engaging with your Literature: Critical Reading and Thinking - Virtual
15-Oct-2411.00 - 13.00Writing a Thesis by Publication - Virtual
15-Oct-2414.00 - 16.00Driving Your Doctorate: Time and Project Management - In Person
16-Oct-2413.30 - 15.30Research Funding: The Basics - In Person
16-Oct-2410.00 - 12.30Writing Cafe - In Person
21-Oct-2414.00 - 15.00International Mobility: Turing Funding - Virtual
21-Oct-2411.00 - 13.00Writing a Confirmation Report - In Person
22-Oct-2410.30 - 12.30Introduction to qualitative analysis: Principles of thematic analysis - In Person
22-Oct-2414.00 - 16.00So what is a contribution to knowledge anyway? Introduction to Philosophy of Research - In Person
23-Oct-2410.00 - 12.00Thesis Writing: The Literature Review - In Person
24-Oct-2410.00 - 12.00Growing and Maintaining your Supervisory Relationship - In Person
24-Oct-2414.30 - 16.30Making the Most of Feedback: Growing and Developing from Comments on Your Work - Virtual
25-Oct-2410.00 - 13.00MINI Writing Retreat - Virtual
28-Oct-2410.00 - 12.00RDP Training: Demonstration in Laboratories - In Person
29-Oct-2410.30 - 12.30Engaging with your Literature: Critical Reading and Thinking - In Person
30-Oct-2411.00 - 13.00Driving Your Doctorate: Time and Project Management - Virtual
31-Oct-2410.30 - 12.30Principles of mixed methods research - In Person

November

  
05-Nov-2410.00 - 13.00MINI Writing Retreat - Virtual
06-Nov-2411.00 - 13.00Writing Critically - In Person
06-Nov-2411.00 - 13.00Growing and Maintaining your Supervisory Relationship - Virtual
07-Nov-2410.00 - 12.00Getting Started with Thesis Writing - Virtual
07-Nov-2410.30 - 12.30Introduction to qualitative analysis: Principles of thematic analysis - In Person
08-Nov-2411.00 - 13.00Presentation Skills Essentials - In Person
11-Nov-2410.00 - 17.00Writing Retreat - Virtual
12-Nov-2410.30 - 12.30Poster Presentations - In Person
12-Nov-2413.00 - 15.00Writing Coherently - In Person
13-Nov-2411.00 - 13.00Getting Published 1: Writing for Academic Journals - Virtual
13-Nov-2411.00 - 13.00So what is a contribution to knowledge anyway? Introduction to Philosophy of Research - In Person
13-Nov-2414.00 - 16.00Principles of mixed methods research - In Person
14-Nov-2414.30 - 16.30Research Funding: The Basics - Virtual
19-Nov-2411.30 - 13.30Research Funding: The Basics - In Person
19-Nov-2411:00 - 13:00Writing a Conference Abstract - Virtual
20-Nov-2410.30 - 12.30Introduction to qualitative analysis: Principles of thematic analysis - Virtual
20-Nov-2410.00 - 12.00Writing Concisely - In Person
21-Nov-2410.00 - 12.00Getting Published 2: Publication Strategy and Peer Review - Virtual
21-Nov-2410.00 - 12.00Driving Your Doctorate: Time and Project Management - In Person
22-Nov-2410.00 - 17.00Writing Retreat - Virtual
22-Nov-2411.00 - 12.00International Mobility: Turing Funding - Virtual
25-Nov-2411.00 - 13.00Writing a Thesis by Publication - In Person
26-Nov-2413.00 - 15.00Writing a Confirmation Report - Virtual
26-Nov-2411.00 - 13.00Principles of mixed methods research - Virtual
27-Nov-2412.30 - 15.00Writing Cafe - In Person
27-Nov-2410.30 - 12.30Making the Most of Feedback: Growing and Developing from Comments on Your Work - In Person
28-Nov-2410.30 - 12.30Growing and Maintaining your Supervisory Relationship - In Person
28-Nov-2410.00 - 12.00Writing Critically - Virtual

December

  
02-Dec-2410.00 - 13.00MINI Writing Retreat - Virtual
03-Dec-2411.00 - 13.00Writing Coherently - Virtual
04-Dec-2411.00 - 13.00Thesis Writing: The Literature Review - Virtual
04-Dec-2414.00 - 16.00Engaging with your Literature: Critical Reading and Thinking - In Person
05-Dec-2410.30 - 12.30So what is a contribution to knowledge anyway? Introduction to Philosophy of Research - Virtual
05-Dec-2414.30 - 16.30Presentation Skills Essentials - In Person
10-Dec-2410.30 - 12.30Making the Most of Feedback: Growing and Developing from Comments on Your Work - In Person
10-Dec-2413.00 - 15.00Getting Published 1: Writing for Academic Journals - In Person
11-Dec-2410.00 - 12.00Getting Published 2: Publication Strategy and peer Review - In Person
11-Dec-2414.00 - 16.00Presentation Skills Essentials - Virtual
11-Dec-2412.30 - 15.00Writing Cafe - In Person
12-Dec-2410.30 - 12.30Poster Presentations - In Person
16-Dec-2411.00 - 13.00Writing Concisely - Virtual
17-Dec-2410.30 - 12.30Poster Presentations - Virtual
20-Dec-2410.00 - 13.00MINI Writing Retreat - Virtual

*Demonstration workshops are compulsory for PGRs who will be demonstrating.

Optional skills development and workshop descriptions

Academic writing

Career and professional development

We run a number of workshops for preparing for your professional life after the doctorate. The careers team within the RDE offer a range of workshops to support you with your professional development and transition to employment after the doctorate, both within and beyond academia. Tailored workshops can be offered on request. In addition to the Careers Workshops, you can book a Careers 121 with one of our professional Careers Consultants, either book via Surrey Pathfinder here or email rdp@surrey.ac.uk 

Research and information skills

We provide a number of tools and training for managing your research literature and data.

Publishing and presenting

Publishing and presenting are essentials skills for researchers. RDP run a number of workshops to support researcher development in these areas.

Project and self-management

Teaching

If you are planning on teaching during your doctorate, or wish to pursue an academic career, you may consider the teaching training on offer through RDP and the Department of Higher Education.

23 Things: Digital tools for your professional and personal development

23 Things international is a unique annual collaboration between universities around the world, offering participants fantastic opportunities to build their network, develop skills with research tools, and establish their professional profile. The Universities of Cambridge, Otago and Florida, Auckland University of Technology, and Avondale University College invite you to explore some amazing connections. The course is also open to members of Techne and SeNSS institutions, and the Africa Research Excellence Fund. 

Our aim is for this course to suit researchers at different stages of their careers, including doctoral researchers, early career researchers and supervising academics. Whether you’re looking for project management tools, careers coaching, or a refresher in new apps and websites, there will be something for you. With the right support and community discussion, this should be valuable for everyone from beginner to expert.

The course consists of 23 ‘Things’, each of which is a useful tool or technique that you may not have encountered before, or may want to develop further. We release a blog post each week with two new Things (plus a couple of break weeks), so you can work through them to a simple regular timetable, or at your own pace. Most of the Things invite you to complete a short task to trial or reflect on the tools.

We also put you into 'pods' with researchers from other institutions who work in a related field - instant global network! By the end of the course we hope you will have your own professional academic website and profile, as well as hands-on experience with the tools discussed.

Learn more on the 23 Things website.