Welcome to this fortnight's edition of Doctoral College Newsletter; here are just some of the highlights this week:

• Check out the Research Showcase poster exhibition at Streatham and other related events in our Events section
• Excellent paid opportunity in our Opportunities section- apply for PGR Study Space Coordinator role
• Don't forget that the deadline for 3 Minute Thesis is 12.00pm on Wednesday 11 June. Find out more in our Reminders 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:

Events

Opportunities

Reminders

Community

Reminders

Careers Support and Sessions

Wellbeing Support and Sessions

Enquiries

Our next newsletter will go out on Tuesday 24 June 2025. If you have a news story or opportunity you would like to advertise, please email ResearcherDevelopment@exeter.ac.uk by Wednesday 18 June 2025.

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. The next bulletin will be sent out on Wednesday 2 July.

If you are not participating in the Three Minute Thesis but would like to support your fellow PGRs (and get some inspiration for your own presentations!), sign up to be an audience member for the Three Minute Thesis final, which takes place in-person, on Wednesday 18 June 2025, 13:30 - 15:00, The Bateman Lecture Theatre, Building One, The Streatham Campus.

Only audience members will be able to vote for the People's Choice award; this is done via QR code so please remember to bring an electronic device with you.

Please note that photography and filming will take place at this event for University of Exeter marketing and promotional purposes. By attending, you give your consent to be included in this material. If you do not wish to be photographed or filmed, please inform the photographer or a member of University staff on the day.

Date: Monday 16 June
Time: 15.30-16.30
Venue: Online through Microsoft Teams

This informal, peer-led event aims to support first-year PGR students across the university by inviting senior PGRs from the faculties of HASS, HLS, and ESE to share their personal experiences of the upgrade process and answer any questions you might have. Sign up for this event using the button below.

Our Research Showcase display takes place in Streatham Campus on Monday 16- Wednesday 18 June in the Terrace Restaurant.

Some of the people who created the posters will be at our lunchtime poster display sessions, which are taking place on: 

• Monday 16 June, 13.00-14.00, Terrace Restaurant, Streatham Campus
• Tuesday 17 June, 13.00-14.00, Terrace Restaurant, Streatham Campus

The posters cover a range of subject areas and research topics so we hope you will take the opportunity to view the display and meet the PGRs behind the research posters.

No sign-up is required, just drop in on the day!

The PhD Day at the Critical Legal Conference will take place in person at the University of Exeter on Wednesday 3 September 2025. Open to all PhD researchers from any discipline, the day will explore the role of critical theory and social justice in academic work. Activities include two interactive workshops, a networking session, and a documentary screening.

The event is free to attend and funded by the South West Doctoral Training Partnership (SWDTP), but places are limited. Sign up here.

For questions, contact Ksenia Lavrenteva (info-clc2025@exeter.ac.uk).

Deadline to register: 15 August 2025 (or earlier if places fill up)

We are looking to appoint someone to coordinate the running of the PGR Study Space. PGR Study Space is an online space to work alongside other PGRs, run by PGRs for PGRs, to help PGRs focus on tasks by running facilitated sessions using the Pomodoro technique – 25-50 minutes of time writing, then a short break. As well as being a useful method for productivity, it is also a valuable opportunity for PGRs to meet other PGRs from other faculties and disciplines and gain peer support.

This role involves
• Preparing the schedule for facilitated sessions
• Promoting PGR Study Space
• Recruitment and support of volunteer PGR Study Space Facilitators
• Recording and reporting on the number of attendees at sessions
• Working with the Researcher Development Managers (PGR) to further develop PGR Study Space.

Time commitment is roughly 1 hour per week and is paid at the standard PTA rate (currently £20.95 per hour)

If you would like to discuss this casual role before applying, please contact the current coordinator Jo Sutherst (js1187@exeter.ac.uk) or the Researcher Development Managers (PGRs) Kathryn Coombes/Gabby Davies (rdpgr@exeter.ac.uk).

Apply here by 12pm (12 noon) on Wednesday 25 June.

The Doctoral College is working with the Career Zone on an “Inspiring Future Researchers” project to encourage students from *underrepresented groups to consider research as an achievable career choice.

We’re looking for Postgraduate Researchers (PGR’s) and postdoctoral researchers (ECR’s) from similar underrepresented backgrounds to share their stories (the highs and the challenges!) to illustrate that research is an attainable goal.

We’ll be using various channels to share stories including online profiles and prerecorded podcasts. If you’d like to find out more and get involved in the project, please complete the short registration of interest form.

*Underrepresented groups include those students who identify with at least one of the following indicators as defined by the University of Exeter’s Access and Participation plan 2025-29: socio-economically disadvantaged background, 1st generation in family to access Higher Education, Bursary recipient, mature, Disabled (physical, mental health condition, social and communication or multiple disabilities), ethnic minority, care experienced or estranged from family.

Presenting is a key skill you will use throughout your degree and career and knowing how to condense your information in an engaging but clear way is vital for a strong presentation. The Three Minute Thesis (3MT) is the perfect opportunity to practice those skills; if your recorded version of the presentation is selected to go through to the final, you will perform in front of a friendly supportive audience on Wednesday 18 June, 13.30-15.00 in Bateman Lecture Theatre. The winner will then receive a coaching session, and will be re-recorded, ready to be entered for the Vitae National Competition.

Please note that the application process is different from last year as you will need to submit a video recording of yourself presenting your 3MT Presentation at the point of applying, as well as submitting your slide. Please do read the Apply tab on the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) webpage and contact researcherdevelopment@exeter.ac.uk if you have any questions.

For some inspiration, check out previous winner Michael Shrauben's blog post on 3MT, which also includes a video of his 3MT presentation.

Deadline for applications: 12.00 (midday) on Wednesday 11 June 2025

 

This resource available on RIME provides tutorials, tips, and practical guidance to help you plan and implement an effective dissemination strategy, ensuring your research reaches the right audiences. It includes a pre-publication checklist, advice on using academic networking platforms, social media, and engagement events, as well as tips for creating engaging content—such as infographics—and strategies for reaching policy, industry, and other stakeholder groups.

By understanding the most effective platforms, methods, and audiences for sharing your research, you can enhance its visibility, accessibility, and impact. Effective dissemination can also strengthen your academic profile, support future funding applications, facilitate in advancing your career, and help you to build valuable networks and collaborations.

For further support or queries, contact Bethany Knight, our Research Dissemination Librarian, at b.c.knight@exeter.ac.uk.

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, or for further information, please contact Jo Sutherst.

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.

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.

During a successful first term, our staff choir has evolved and now enjoys singing a range of both classical and contemporary songs, with only the occasional sea shanty 😉 Do consider dropping in for a mid-week singalong and enjoy the mood-boosting effects of group singing while having fun, all under the expert guidance of local artist and musician, Charlotte Cripwell.

Every Wednesday, 13.00 – 14.00, Stella Turk Seminar room, Penryn Campus.

Brought to you by the Cornwall Wellbeing Network- enquiries to Natasha Hammond or Andrew Pye.

You will be pleased to hear that the Travel Risk Assessment for International Travel has been updated to make it more concise and easier to complete. Please note that risk assessments for Fieldwork have not changed. You can find all the guidance on travelling internationally and latest risk assessments on the Travel Sharepoint. Guidance for travellers and approvers on completing risk assessments has also been updated.

New rules now also apply to personal travel. Holiday travel taken in conjunction with business travel will no longer be covered under the University of Exeter travel insurance policy. Only incidental travel in the country associated with University travel will be covered.

If you have any questions, please contact the Insurance Team at insurance@exeter.ac.uk.

1-2-1 careers appointments with our dedicated PGR careers coach, Kenneth Howgill, are available to book on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Kenneth is a qualified and experienced career coach, lecturer and learning and development professional with over 20 years’ experience within the corporate sector, universities, further and adult education. He has held management roles in the public, corporate and not for profit sectors, leading professional development, coaching programmes, and recruiting graduates. Kenneth is a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He is a member of the European Mentoring and Coaching Council and holds a business degree, a master's in music and a professional career coaching qualification.

All appointments are 50 minutes long. Please contact researcherdevelopment@exeter.ac.uk if there are any technical difficulties.

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. 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.

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.

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.

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.