Welcome to the Doctoral College Newsletter! This is your fortnightly update on events, opportunities and news specifically relevant to you as a PGR.

Here are just some of the highlights this week:

• Applications for researcher-led awards (RLIs) are now open! If you have an idea for professional development but no funding, the RLI is for you.
• Paid opportunities available for Doctoral College Strategy & Policy Interns! Head to the Opportunities section for more details
• We've had a lot of exciting changes recently- take a look at the Reminders section to refresh your memory

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

Opportunities

Events

External Events

Reminders

Community

Careers Support

Wellbeing Support and Sessions

Enquiries

The next Doctoral College newsletter will go out in the week commencing Monday 26 October 2026. The deadline to send items is Wednesday 22 October. Please refer to our style guide before submitting your item.

Don't forget, you can also share your news and events on PGR Community Hub on Viva Engage, or on our Bluesky account. You can also follow us on LinkedIn; we look forward to connecting with you.

The place to look for training and development opportunities at the University and beyond is our Postgraduate Researcher Training and Development Bulletin.

Deadline: Thursday 19 November 2026 (12 noon).

Maximum: £2,500 per Award.

We are delighted to announce that the Researcher Led Initiatives (RLIs) for 2026-2027 are now open for applications! If you have an idea for an activity or event that will benefit your peers and enhance research culture, then why not apply to run your own RLI? 

What is an RLI? An RLI is a competitively awarded small grant provided by the Researcher Development & Research Culture (RD&RC) team funded by Research England monies.

Rationale: The aim of the RLIs is to encourage you to develop your project management skills by initiating, designing, managing and delivering a peer-led professional development, networking or community-building event/activity.

Key themes: All RLI applications must cover at least one of the following Research Culture areas:
• Leadership & Employability
• Wellbeing
• Communication
• Building Community

Funding amount: Awards of up to £2,500.00 will be granted to successful applicants.

The Doctoral College is seeking postgraduate researchers (PGRs) to work as interns to support the delivery of the Doctoral College Strategy 2030 and to improve PGR experience. The role will involve working with academic and professional services staff within the Doctoral College and across the university to develop new policies, implement our action plan and enhance research culture and PGR community. You will gain experience of postgraduate policy development and strategy within the UK higher education sector, with a focus on one (or more) of the project areas listed below. 

Tasks will vary according to role focus and your skill set, but may include desk-based research, quality development support, workshop discussion and focus groups, communications and liaising with different teams across the university.

We are seeking to hire up to 6 interns.

Check out MyCareerZone for full details of the role and eligibility criteria.

Deadline for applications: Thursday 22 October

The Digital Innovation and Circular Economy (DICE) Network+ is recruiting for two Student Campus Partnership roles:
SCP 8313 DICE N+ EDI Project Research Assistant:
Support an exciting research project exploring the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) implications of the transition to a digitally enabled circular economy. The role offers hands-on experience in literature reviews, qualitative research, stakeholder engagement, workshop delivery and research dissemination.
SCP 8314 DICE N+ Research & Impact Assistant:
Support DICE Network+ in translating research and project outcomes into accessible, evidence-based outputs for industry, policy and other non-academic audiences. The role offers experience in research impact, knowledge mobilisation, evidence synthesis, case study and policy brief development, and stakeholder engagement.

Both roles are fully remote, 6 hours per week. Applicants must be University of Exeter students and remain students for the duration of the internship.

Application deadline: Sunday 18 October 2026

The University of Exeter is offering two funded Fellowships for doctoral research students (MPhil, PhD, Professional Doctorates) to undertake a short research project (2 – 12 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 Friday 23 October 2026 with Fellowships to be completed and items expensed by 31 July 2027. For more information, including the guidance document, please visit the Global Partnerships webpage and choose the ‘Exeter-Paris-Saclay Visiting Research Fellowship programme’ dropdown. To apply, you will need to complete the application via the “Démarche numérique” platform via the following link: Visiting Research Student Fellowship.

Application deadline: Friday 23 October 2026

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 Thursday 12 November 2026 with Fellowships to be completed and items expensed by 31 July 2027. For more information and to apply, please visit this University of British Columbia webpage.

Deadline: Thursday 12 November 2026

Join the Entrepreneurial Researcher Programme (ERP) to develop an idea emerging from your research.

Through this applied programme you will:
• Develop and test the commercial potential of your idea
• Engage with external stakeholders & build a network of contacts to help take it forward
• Identify potential markets & understand the value your research can generate
• Build your confidence in external engagement
• Connect with relevant support to identify next steps.

The ERP is open to University of Exeter staff from any Faculty, job family and career stage. Postgraduate researchers are also welcome subject to Supervisor approval.

Term 1 is currently booked; register your interest for Terms 2 and 3:

• ERP Sprint - in person, Penryn
• ERP online

Exeter is part of the UK Reproducibility Network (UKRN) – a national initiative promoting open, transparent, and reproducible research across all disciplines.
The UKRN Exeter local network supports departments and research groups in improving research quality, transparency, and reproducibility. We’ll be running events and initiatives that offer training opportunities and celebrate excellence in open research across the University.

Join the UKRN Exeter mailing list to stay informed by completing this form.

Get in touch with us with any questions or ideas: ukrn@exeter.ac.uk

Let’s work together to strengthen Exeter’s culture of open and reproducible research.

Date: Wednesday 11 November 2026
Time: 10.30-11.45
Venue: Online

Join our Responsible Research Assessment Group for an engaging online workshop with Dr Elizabeth Gadd, a leading international expert in research culture and responsible research assessment.

Drawing on her extensive experience, including as Chair of the Research Evaluation Global Alliance and former Vice-Chair of CoARA, Lizzie will explore the relationship between research culture and assessment, asking whether there are essential standards or conditions for enabling wider positive changes.

Through Lizzie’s presentation followed by an interactive discussion, participants will consider which elements of research culture should be established as minimum expectations across research-performing organisations, how we define what "good" looks like and where a more graduated approach may be beneficial.

The session, open to all academic and professional services colleagues, offers a valuable opportunity to reflect on how responsible assessment can support positive research cultures and meaningful institutional change.

Date: Friday 27 November 2026
Time: 10.00- 16.00
Venue: St Luke’s Campus

Are you interested in making your research more transparent, accessible and reproducible? Join PhD students from across the University for an interactive Openness and Reproducibility Sandpit.

The day will provide an opportunity to explore what open research means in practice, discuss challenges and opportunities within your own research, learn from others, and develop practical ideas for improving research practice. You’ll also meet researchers from other disciplines and members of Exeter’s open research community.

No prior experience of open research is required and PhD students from all disciplines are warmly encouraged to attend. Ideas developed during the Sandpit will be eligible for submission to the annual PhD Open Research Awards in June.

Please contact Eilis Hannon with any queries.

The ESRC Festival of Social Science is an annual celebration of research and knowledge about people and society.  It is an opportunity for anyone to explore the world of social science, from understanding how society has shaped our local areas to discovering behaviours that can help tackle climate change, through a range of events run by researchers from UK universities. There’s no cost to attend, and most are open to everyone, though some are aimed at specific groups.  This year, several events will focus on Money, finance and the cost of living, offering tools, insights and ideas to improve daily life.

The University of Exeter Translational Funding Team are proud to be supporting a number of these events this year from Saturday 17 October – Saturday 7 November. Please see their website for more details.

Event: Getting Started with the British Library for Postgraduate Researchers
Venue: Online
Date: Thursday 29 October 2026
Time: 14.00 – 16.00

What is the British Library? What’s in the collection? How can I find what I need? What development opportunities are available?

 Join their team online for an introduction to the British Library for prospective and current PhD researchers of all disciplines looking to engage with our collections. This event may also be useful for Higher Education staff who support postgraduate research.

Our Exeter PGR Development Needs Analysis (DNA) is designed to support and encourage you to think more deeply about your development and career aspirations. The DNA replaces the Training Needs Analysis (TNA) and has been developed with input from PGRs, supervisors and the Researcher Development team. 

All PGRs need to undertake the new Development Needs Analysis, on an annual basis.  For new PGRs, please complete it within your first 6 weeks.  For support and guidance, please see the dedicated DNA resources on the new PGR Resource Hub. 

The Postgraduate Researcher (PGR) Resource Hub is the home of a broad range of resources designed to support you in your personal and professional development at every stage of your research degree.

The site is divided into three sections based on the core domains articulated by the Vitae Researcher Development Framework 2025, a sector-led model for effective researchers for today’s evolving research landscape:

RESEARCHER - personal and professional values and behaviours

RESEARCH - knowledge and skills to undertake research and deliver outcomes

RESEARCH COMMUNITY - knowledge and skills to engage and work with others

These resources support the wider postgraduate researcher training and development programme provided by Exeter's Doctoral College. We encourage you to explore each section and browse our collections as you build a training plan that works for you.

We are delighted to announce that the University of Exeter has a new online PGR Careers Resource. The resource has been designed specifically for you and contains a wealth of PGR-specific information, advice and guidance relevant for all disciplines and career stages. There is an accompanying Career Planning Toolkit with activities linked to the various sections, so you can personalise the information and undertake your own career learning journey.

Topics in the resource include:
• Identifying your ideal role
• Career options
• Top skills employers are seeking
• Networking
• Entrepreneurship
• Professional development
• Applying for academic and non-academic jobs

Our new series of Exeter Postgraduate Researcher Podcast kicks off with an episode on 'International Student Experience'. Each episode is presented by a different postgraduate researcher and this episode's host is Pratiti Ghosh, asking fellow international PGR Yanira Becerra Ortiz about her experience of studying in the UK, from small to big changes.

We have a diverse range of topics and guests coming up this series so don't forget to follow us! You can find Exeter Postgraduate Researcher Podcast on Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts and Podbean. 

The Dean of the Doctoral College, Professor Stacey Hynd, and the PGR Support Team are pleased to launch a PGR timeline, designed as a visual checklist to signpost and support you from your first day up until your graduation, using the key milestones you will have. The timeline can be found here, pictured in the screenshot below.

If you have any questions about the timeline, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with your PGR Support Team.

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.

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 Yanira Becerra, PGR Study Space Coordinator, at PGRStudySpace@exeter.ac.uk. 

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, singing, 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.

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.

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:

• PGR Careers Resource – an online resource containing a wealth of PGR-specific information, advice and guidance relevant for all disciplines and career stages. Includes a Career Planning Toolkit where you can personalise the information and create your own Career Plan.
• Visit Career Zone for access to 'mycareerzone' where you can access careers webinars and 1:1 appointments.
• PGR Resources Hub- contains resources designed to support you in your personal and professional development at every stage of your research degree. For careers, look at the collection on Development and wellbeing.
• PGR Training and Development Bulletin- find out what courses and opportunities are happening at the University in this monthly newsletter, which all PGRs are signed up to
• Upcoming training courses- our training programme is available to book now

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.

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.