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Doctoral College Newsletter - 14 October 2025
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Welcome to our new postgraduate researchers joining us in October! The Doctoral College Newsletter provides you with fortnightly updates for events, opportunities and news specifically relevant to postgraduate researchers.
Here are just some of the highlights this week:
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We have some great opportunities for international visiting studentships; head to our Opportunities section for details and key dates
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Shanza Hussain's cross-university team win first prize in the ASHRAE Region XIV Net-Zero Building Design Competition 2025; read more in our Student Achievements section
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New episode of Exeter Postgraduate Researcher Podcast available- all the details are in our News section
To find out more about these, and everything else at the University for PGRs, jump to the relevant sections using our linked contents list:
News
Induction and New Starters
Events
External Events
Opportunities
Student Achievements
Reminders
Community
Careers Support
Wellbeing Support and Sessions
Enquiries
The next newsletter will go out on Tuesday 28 October 2025. Please submit copy for the next newsletter by Wednesday 22 October 2025.
You can also share your news and events on PGR Community Hub on Viva Engage, or on our new Bluesky account.
Please refer to our style guide before submitting your item.
The place to look for training and development opportunities at the University and beyond is our Postgraduate Researcher Training and Development Bulletin.
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New Episode of Exeter Postgraduate Researcher Podcast: How to make the most of a conference
In the second episode of our Exeter Postgraduate Researcher Podcast series, PGR Aileen Kimuhu chats with our Dean of Postgraduate Research and Doctoral College, Professor Stacey Hynd, about how to make the most of a conference- whether you are attending or presenting. They also discuss the best ways of networking to help you make valuable connections.
Exeter Postgraduate Researcher Podcast is a PGR podcast, by PGRs for PGRs, and this series is a mix of personal experience and practical advice. All our presenters are current PGRs and their guests are a mix of current PGRs, Exeter staff and Exeter alumni, delving into the subjects that interest you- from sharing perspectives as mature students to a panel discussion with alumni working in industry and academia
Follow us on Spotify, Amazon Music and Podbean for the latest updates; you'll also be able to access the episodes on our Essentials webpage.
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Induction and New Starters
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Welcome to Doctoral College Induction Portal!
Our Doctoral College Induction Portal contains all the key information you need to know in your first few weeks in one easy place. Whether you are just beginning your course, or looking to refresh your knowledge, please check out this handy SharePoint resource that covers topics such as PGR Support, wellbeing, student voice, researcher development and peer mentoring, plus many more!
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Podcast Screening: Exeter Impact- 'From Cornwall to the World: Research with Global Impact'
Date: Thursday 13 November 2025
Time: 15.30-17.15
Venue: The Environment and Sustainability Institute, Penryn Campus
The Impact team is excited to launch the screening of our upcoming Exeter Impact Podcast series: ‘From Cornwall to the World: Research with Global Impact’.
Series 2 will feature insightful conversations with research leaders based at Penryn, showcasing how their work is making a global impact. Each episode explores research approaches, impact strategies, and real-world outcomes—providing inspiration and practical guidance for planning and developing your own impact portfolio. The event will be opened by Professor Andy Jones, Assistant Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research Quality and Impact).
A refreshment reception will take place after the event from 17:15- 17:45. We are delighted to invite our PGRs and ECRs to register through the Eventbrite page and join us for an evening of Impact emerging from research at our Cornwall campuses.
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English Language Skills Development: Sessions for international students
If you are an international student, or English is an additional language, check out the following academic writing workshops from University of Exeter International Study Centre (taking place in International Study Centre 2.07, INTO Building):
Please email insessional@exeter.ac.uk if you have any queries.
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Creativity and Communication: Changing Perspective
How can creative thinking enhance your research communication?
This one day in-person workshop will give you the opportunity to explore and experiment with creative techniques for communication alongside other ECRs in a cross-disciplinary, and collaborative environment.
The workshop will take place on Thursday 27 November 2025 (10.00 - 15.00) at Penryn Campus and Friday 5 December 2025 at Streatham Campus
This workshop will emphasise the central role of perspective. The perspectives of both audiences and researchers need to be understood if research communication is to be successful. You will learn key concepts and skills, explore how these can be applied, and begin to plan future creative communication projects associated with your own research. From team building to media engagement, the skills you will develop are highly transferable, in and outside of academia. All materials and will be provided. Please bring lunch and a reusable cup.
This activity is a Researcher-led Initiative funded by the University of Exeter Researcher Development and Research Culture team.
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Getting Started with the British Library (Webinar)
Date: Thursday 16 October 2025
Time: 14.00-16.00
Venue: Online
British Library are running a free webinar to introduce attendees to the British Library, showing prospective and current PhD researchers of all disciplines how to access their collections and sharing details of other researcher development opportunities, including their PhD Placement Scheme and fellowship opportunities.
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Visiting Research Student Fellowships with Université Paris-Saclay, France
The University of Exeter is offering two funded Fellowships for doctoral research students (MPhil, PhD, Professional Doctorates) to undertake a short research project (2 – 8 weeks) with the Université Paris-Saclay, France. Each Fellowship is worth up to £3,300 with the funds available to support travel, accommodation, living expenses and other costs. This is an exciting opportunity to gain experience in an international and interdisciplinary academic environment.
The application deadline is Monday 10 November 2025 with Fellowships expected to be undertaken between January 2026 and 31 July 2026. For more information and to apply, please visit: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/departments/globalpartnerships/funding/ and choose the ‘Exeter-Paris-Saclay Visiting Research Fellowship programme’ dropdown.
Deadline: Monday 10 November 2025
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Visting Research Student Fellowships with the University of British Columbia Okanagan (UBCO), Canada
As part of the Exeter-UBCO Sustainability and Resilience Partnership the University of Exeter is offering at least two funded Fellowships for doctoral research students to undertake a short research project (2 – 8 weeks) with the University of British Columbia Okanagan (Canada). We welcome project proposals in the focus areas of: Adaptation to Climate and Ecological Change, Innovative Health Initiatives, and Enhancing Social Justice. Each Fellowship is worth up to £4,000 with the funds available to support travel, accommodation, living expenses and other costs. This is an exciting opportunity to gain research experience in an international and interdisciplinary academic environment.
The application deadline is Wednesday 12 November 2025 with Fellowships to be undertaken between 1 January 2026 and 31 July 2026.
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Shanza Hussain's team win first prize in the ASHRAE Region XIV Net-Zero Building Design Competition 2025
Congratulations to PGR Shanza Hussain (on the far right of the photo), who won part of a cross-university team that won first prize in the ASHRAE Region XIV Net-Zero Building Design Competition 2025. ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) is a global professional body advancing sustainable building and energy-efficient design.
Their team, UK RISE-UP, included students from Exeter, Oxford, Loughborough, and London South Bank Universities. We developed an innovative design for a net-zero data centre that reduces energy demand, uses efficient cooling, and generates renewable power onsite.
This is a huge milestone for Shanza as an Exeter researcher and member of our new ASHRAE student chapter, which officially joined the UK Chapter in March led by Dr Aritra Ghosh. ASHRAE will also be supporting one of her team member to attend their international conference in Las Vegas, January 2026.
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Widening Participation (WP) Networking Event
Are you a Doctoral Student from a WP background (e.g. were on free school meals, are care experienced, are a refugee or asylum seeker, have a physical disability or are neurodivergent, or come from a Black, Asian or minority ethnic background)? Do you want to work in academia or university Professional Services?
Come to our WP Networking masterclasses and Showcase on Thursday 20 November in The Forum, Streatham Campus, to meet the people who can support you in your career ambitions.
Exhibitors at the showcase include: PGR Research Skills, PGR Training and Development, Wellbeing, Peer Programmes, Aspire
Networking enables the development of social capital, communication skills and confidence, and the creation of community and friendship.
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Masterclass 1 – 10:00 -12:30
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Masterclass 2 – 13:00 - 15:30
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Masterclass 3 – 15:30 - 18:00
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Networking Showcase – 18:00 - 20:00. If you have booked onto a Masterclass, you don’t need to book the Showcase!
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PGR Community Hub on Viva Engage
The PGR Community Hub is a collaborative online space for Postgraduate Researchers at the University of Exeter. Posts can be uploaded by PGRs, The Exeter Students' Guild or The Falmouth and Exeter Students' Union, alongside teams that support PGRs such as the Researcher Development and Research Culture Team. Please use this space to discuss ideas, share best practice, ask questions and keep up to date with the latest activities, events and opportunities. Here you can have your voice heard and shape our community and research culture.
Please do not use this channel to advertise/search for rooms to rent; the University has its own Viva Engage channel where you can do this.
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The Exeter Wellbeing Network is a social group for staff and PGRs run by volunteers, hosting a variety of events to help colleagues based at Streatham, St. Luke's or online to connect with one another. Recurring events include StaffCraft, Volleyball, Walk and Talk and Fika; find the full list on our webpage.
You can also contact us at wellbeing-network@exeter.ac.uk.
If you are looking for information about activities at Penryn, Falmouth and Truro, please visit the Cornwall Wellbeing Network webpage.
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Join fellow PGRs in this online space, led by PGRs for PGRs to focus individually on whatever tasks you would like to work on. You can join the PGR Study Space Microsoft Teams Group here.
The PGR Study Space facilitated hours are as and when facilitators are available.
There are unfacilitated sessions outside of these hours so you can fit it around your working patterns.
If you have any queries, please contact PGRStudySpace@exeter.ac.uk.
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Doctoral College Networks and Student Societies
There are a wide range of societies and/or groups that you may like to join, such as the Mature Students Society and the PG Society (Exeter).
Check out the Doctoral College Networks webpage for full information. Don't forget to also take a look at the societies on offer at Exeter Students' Guild and Falmouth and Exeter Students’ Union websites, which include a society for international students as well as various sports and interests.
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PAFS: Parent and Family Support
Parent and Family Support (PAFs) is a community of university wide student parents that currently has 100 registered members from the University of Exeter, with individuals choosing to attend inclusive events that best fit their schedules and family responsibilities. The group has expanded to support a wider community, as well as ‘mature-mature’ students with or without children, and postdoctoral researchers, at the University of Exeter who were drawn to our inclusive community.
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Career Support Resources at University of Exeter
The University has some excellent resources to help with careers. Whether you plan to work in industry, set up your own business, join the third sector, stay in academia, or are not yet sure and want to explore your options, you can find guidance and helpful pointers using these resources:
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Wellbeing Support and Sessions
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Every Mind Matters
Having good mental health helps us relax more, achieve more and enjoy our lives more. The NHS have expert advice and practical tips to help you look after your mental health and wellbeing. See their website here.
Spectrum.Life
Spectrum.Life provides a confidential telephone, video, and live chat counselling service to help with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, bereavement and more (sign up using your University of Exeter email address).. The Spectrum Life web portal offers wellbeing courses, mindfulness, healthy eating resources and online fitness classes to help you to stay well.
Wellbeing Centre
If you would like to speak to PGR Education Welfare Team for Welfare, they can be contacted at welfare.pgr@exeter.ac.uk or tel: 01392 726207. Further wellbeing information, tools and support can be found on our wellbeing webpages.
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Nurture-U: Are you feeling worried about your thesis or other PhD work?
The Nurture-U team are offering FREE resources and therapies to help with confidence and stress while doing your PhD.
We have:
1. An online toolkit, to help you track your mood over time and manage your busy lives
2. An innovative app to build confidence,
3. Online therapy, with a therapist or self-guided, and
4. A resilience workbook, with support from a therapist.
All these options have been proven to work, we’re just researching who responds best to what type of support. You can hopefully improve your wellbeing, earn shopping vouchers, and help other students in the future by contributing to research!
Any questions, please email nurture-u@exeter.ac.uk. You can also follow us on Instagram.
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Free Mindfulness Sessions for Wellbeing
Mindfulness is a powerful practice of training our attention and an evidence-based way to tackle anxiety, stress and low mood. If you’re interested in exploring more, there is a variety of free internal options available for all colleagues.
Sessions from the internal Mood Disorders Centre mindfulness team include: an eight-week MBCT-L course (2hrs weekly), an eight-week ‘deeper mindfulness’ course for those who’ve completed the MBCT-L course and bespoke ‘healthy mind’ sessions for whole teams, which can be delivered in-person or online.
You may also be interested in trying mindful meditation in 30 min online sessions each Thursday lunchtime. This is a secular practice run by the Chaplaincy.
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Details on how you can contact the PGR support team, either via email, telephone or face to face via our hubs (located on all campuses) is available on our contact us webpage.
Remember you can come along and meet the team or to ask any enquiries you might have at either of our helpdesk hubs below at any of our campuses:
The Streatham PGR Hub is open from 10.00 – 15.00 Monday to Friday. The Streatham Hub is situated in the Old Library Ground Floor next to the Quiet Study Space and Bill Douglas Centre.
The St Luke’s PGR Hub is open from 10.00 – 15.00 on a Monday and a Thursday. Students wishing to access the hub should go to the Info at St Luke’s desk and request PGR support, the PGR team will then be called to see you.
The Penryn PGR Support Office is open from 10.00 – 14.00 Monday to Friday. It is based in the Postgraduate Suite in Daphne Du Maurier building 3 (next to the SU and opposite the Stannary).
For enquiries surrounding training and development, please contact the team on: ResearcherDevelopment@exeter.ac.uk
You can view previous versions of the newsletter here.
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