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Programme Content

We offer a variety of research training and researcher development sessions for you to choose from.

The programme consists of three parts: Essential requirements, Research Training, and Researcher Development. 

Read on for examples of the programme's content. You'll find full session and module details in the RED handbook on Canvas.

 

Essential requirements

You must complete these elements for each stage of your study.

Stage 1
  • Managing a PhD
  • Information Skills Self-Assessment
Stage 2
  • Research in the Wider Context sessions (minimum of 4 out of 6)
    • Publishing and disseminating academic work
    • How to ensure your research has societal impact
    • Open access publishing: Maximise the visibility and impact of your research
    • Data for the future: Preparing your research data for archive
    • Societal Impact in HASS: Examples from Research Excellence Framework, 2021
    • Becoming a 21st century academic: How to survive and thrive in the neoliberal university
Stage 3
  • Final Stages of your PhD sessions
    • Completing a PhD
    • Preparing for the Viva

Research Training

Everything you need to develop your thesis.

HSS Modules
Thinking Theories and Methods

Academic specialists explore the influence on their research by a:

  • particular thinker
  • theoretical approach
  • method or methodology

These talks showcase the ways researchers in our Faculty engage with their subject matter. Examples of topics include:

  • Queer Theory
  • Feminisms
  • Postcolonialism
  • Phenomenology
NVivo12

We offer a variety of workshops aimed at researchers in different stages. We are always happy to adjust our content based on your needs.

If you are looking for a specific type of NVivo training, please contact us

 

Advanced Training

We offer three workshops each year, open to all Doctorate students:

  • Adventures in R
  • Doing International Fieldwork in Development Contexts
  • Visually Mediated Research: Using Visual Methods in the Social Sciences

Researcher Development

Everything you need to develop your skills as a researcher.

Special Interest Sessions for Research Management

Some topics on offer include:

  • Effectiveness in Doctoral Research and Supervision
  • Coping with the “Research Context” – Reviewing Literature in the Arts and Humanities
  • Writing a Successful Thesis for the Social Sciences
  • Issues in Translating Texts and Data

 

Communicating Your Research

These sessions support your preparation for our mandatory student conferences. You are strongly encouraged to attend as many as possible.

Examples include:

  • Photoshop Basics for Designing Academic Posters
  • Peer Reviewing for Academic Journals
  • Presentation Skills
  • Using Posters to Communicate Your Research

 

PhD and Beyond Workshops (Careers Service)

Employers value certain professional skills across a wide range of sectors. We offer a diverse range of sessions for you to take advantage of:

 

Wellbeing4all

Postgraduate research is about more than just theories and methodologies. Thriving as a PGR can, at times, become a challenge for the best of us. Wellbeing4all sessions help overcome some personal challenges we can face during research, including:

  • coping with imposter syndrome
  • mindfulness

These can have a detrimental effect on our wellbeing if left unaddressed.

Dedicated Sessions for Part-time Researchers

Part-time researchers can often face additional challenges in managing and completing their theses. This includes those involved in long-term fieldwork. These sessions:

  • give you a forum to discuss these
  • help you to find strategies to support your work

Ahead of the session you're offered topics for discussion, to maximise its value to you.

Ways to engage

Hours-based system

Every RED session runs for a varying number of hours. You build up hours in your training portfolio by completing these sessions.

You will complete full training by attending 70 hours’ of modules and/or external opportunities per academic year (35 if part-time). This training method applies to PhD Students (optional at stage 1), MPhil Students, EdD and iPhD Students (from stage 2 onwards)

By engaging in this way you have a number of options to build up hours:

  1. complete essential requirements for your stage
  2. attend modules (either from start to finish, or on an individual basis) throughout the academic year that suit your interests and needs
  3. engage with opportunities outside of our programme. For example: school seminars, conferences, language training, internships, publishing etc
PG Cert in Research Training

A 60 credit Masters level qualification in research training. You must attend all modules and submit assignments. This lasts 9 months for full time students or 1 year and 9 months for part time students. Find out more on our about the programme page.

Compulsory

Find out more on the University PG Cert in Research Training page, including how to apply if you are a stand-alone student. PhD students will receive information during induction about how to sign up.