PGR Essentials
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Bristol Doctoral College's PGR Essentials programme is designed to provide the fundamental skills required to successfully complete your research degree.
PGR Essentials is relevant to postgraduate researchers working across all disciplines, who have a wide range of career aspirations.
Our guide (below) outlines the core development activities that you should complete at each stage of your research journey.
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Access Bristol Doctoral College's online resources on LinkedIn Learning
Book your place
Reserve a space for our live PPD workshops & events
Early Stage
Check out this Essential PPD if you are in the early stages of your research degree!
Getting started with your research degree (hybrid workshop)
This live, hybrid workshop provides crucial information for postgraduate researchers in the early stages of their degree.
It introduces key personal professional development opportunities and support services at the University of Bristol; teaches PGRs how to identify their existing skills and development needs, and covers the basics of establishing a good relationship with your supervisor – among a range of other topics.
You will also get a chance to connect with PGRs from other disciplines and faculties, to share ideas and tackle the common challenges faced by researchers at the beginning of their research journey.
COMING SOON: Managing your Research Degree (online, self-directed)
Project management is a crucial skill for almost all careers and is fundamental to conducting high quality (and high impact) research. This online, interactive resource provides an introduction to some of the principles of project and time management in the context of your research degree at the University of Bristol.
Managing your Research Degree will be available from 1st October 2024.
Developing an effective relationship with your supervisors (online, self-directed)
Supervisory support is essential for postgraduate researchers. Yet, your relationship with your supervisor can be complicated. In this self-directed, sequential learning resource, you will explore some of the challenges associated with supervision and develop strategies to help you build a strong supervisory relationship.
Access the 'Managing your Supervisor' course on Linkedin Learning.
COMING SOON: Research Integrity and Ethics
This resource is an introduction to the concepts of research integrity and ethics in the context of your postgraduate degree. You will explore what these concepts mean, why they are important, and how to embed integrity and ethics into all aspects of your research - both now and in your future career.
Research Integrity and Ethics will be available from 1st October 2024.
Explore your Career options
Whether you want a career in academia, or elsewhere, it's important to start planning ahead. The Career's Service can help you to reflect on your professional goals, and plan for the future.
Mid-late stage
If you are in the mid-late stages of your research degree, we recommend this essential PPD
Finishing your Research Degree (hybrid workshop)
Congratulations on reaching the final stages of your research degree! This live, hybrid workshop will prepare you for the milestones ahead, including the all important submission process and viva examination. Working in collaboration with other PGRs from across the university, you will trouble-shoot common challenges, and explore how to maintain motivation and transition from postgraduate study into your career.
COMING SOON: Research Funding Toolkit (self-directed)
During your research degree, you’ll likely need to apply for funding for research-related activities, such as travel to conferences, archives, and other institutions. This toolkit has been designed to develop your knowledge, skills and confidence in understanding income and funding generation. It gives an overview of the postgraduate funding landscape; teaches you how to identify funding opportunities and offers guidance for completing successful funding applications.
The Research Funding Toolkit will be available from 1st October 2024.
COMING SOON: Intellectual Property and your research degree (informational resource)
This resource will give you an introduction to Intellectual Property and Intellectual Property Rights as they relate to you as a research student. With this information, you will be able to make informed choices about appropriate actions to take and know where to seek further information and advice should you need it.
Bristol Doctoral College's Introduction to Intellectual Property will be available from 1st October 2024
Preparing for your viva (various)
The concept of a Viva examination can be daunting. Researcher-developer Nathan Ryder can help you set realistic expectations for your viva and prepare with confidence.
- The Viva Survivour Webinar identifies key practical steps to take before submission, and explores practical strategies for preparation and the day of your viva.
Find out more and book your place via our events calendar
- Preparing for your viva is an online course for late stage PGRs. Presented by Dr Nathan Ryder, creator of the Viva Survivor workshops, it can be completed in your own time. This resource will help you get familiar with the research degree examination process at the University of Bristol and consider some of the most common questions asked during viva examinations.
Access the Preparing for your Viva course on Linkedin Learning
- Still feeling nervous? The Viva Survivours website features over 2000 blog posts, along with ebooks, podcasts, and other resources designed to help PGRs tackle the submission process and viva.
Further Development Opportunities
Browse the key themes below to find further personal professional development opportunities.
We highly recommend using the Vitae Researcher Development Framework (RDF) to identify your expertise and capabilities and ensure that you focus your training effort in the areas where you most need to develop.
Find out more about the RDF and how to use it on the Vitae website
Writing and referencing
Good academic writing takes time and effort and is crucial to all research degrees. Writing can be challenging, but there is a lot of support available.
Promoting your Research
Promoting your ideas through presentations, publication, and other forms of engagement is crucial for building the impact of your research
Planning your Career
The Careers Service supports all students, including PGRs to get to where they want to be when they graduate.
Working with Data
There are many ways to approach qualitative and quantitative data.
Explore some of the tools and processes available to help you manage information - coming soon!
Managing your Research
Project Management is crucial to completing and submitting your research degree in good time.
Our guide to managing your research degree is coming soon.