As a leading research-intensive institution, we believe that postgraduates are central to our research mission. At Nottingham we are committed to working with you to ensure you receive all the support and skills training you need to fulfill your full potential.
On joining the University, you will receive automatic membership of the Graduate School, a unique facility for our postgraduate students, which provides a range of facilities, training opportunities and support, as well as workshops and events to enhance the postgraduate experience and help you to develop a range of transferable skills.
As well as co-ordinating your induction, ensuring a full introduction to Nottingham and the postgraduate community, the Graduate School also offers an ideal place to meet friends and colleagues in a relaxed environment, to catch up on your email using the short stay computers, to do some work between classes or appointments, or just to relax.
Watch the Graduate School's Welcome video here.
"The world of research can be daunting when you first embark on a project or programme. The Graduate School is here to help you connect with the wider postgraduate community, to share ideas, create networks and link with like-minded people. We also provide researchers with dedicated sessions to help build vital careers skills. We want to make sure you never feel isolated during your time with us."
Professor Jerry Roberts, Dean of the Graduate School
It also supports your postgraduate study in a number of other ways:
Workshops and events
The Graduate School runs a series of events throughout the year including:
- Careers workshops – including advice on planning your career following your postgraduate studies
- Recruitment events – to meet potential employers and learn about the opportunities for research careers
- Insider knowledge events – providing in-depth information on postgraduate issues, including how to apply for and make yourself more eligible for specific funding
- Social events – including the ever-popular Coffee, cake and catch up gatherings
Further information is available in our online programme of events.
Research Training Programme
The experience of undertaking research for the first time can be very different to undergraduate study – and rather daunting. The Graduate School is able to offer support in making this transition. Working closely with academic schools, the Graduate School’s dedicated training team offers core training in line with Research Councils UK standards.
All registered research students are offered training including:
- generic research skills
- IT skills
- communication skills
- career management
- teaching
The Graduate School also offers a number of online research training courses as well as a wide range of more specific courses, from Getting Going on Your Thesis, to Introduction to Creating and Publishing Web Pages.
The programme is hugely successful in helping students to carry out their research, meet other researchers and develop skills transferable to other areas of life and work.
The Graduate School receives substantial funds from the research councils to spend on additional transferable skills training for our postgraduate research students. Therefore, you can benefit from:
- modern foreign language training
- enhanced support and training if you teach
- a dedicated postgraduate careers adviser
Postgraduate funding
The Graduate School offers a number of funding opportunities for postgraduate students who wish to present their research overseas, or spend time researching abroad, including:
The Graduate School Travel Prizes
The University is keen to support postgraduate research students in presenting their research, both nationally and internationally. Last year, 102 competitive Travel Prizes were awarded enabling students to travel to conferences in the UK and overseas.
The Graduate School Universitas 21 Research Scholarship Prizes
Universitas 21 (U21), an international network of leading research-intensive universities facilitates collaboration and co-operation between member universities and creates entrepreneurial opportunities for them on a scale that none would be able to achieve operating independently or through traditional alliances.
Up to 20 U21 Scholarships, to a maximum of £1,000 each, are offered by the Graduate School to full and part-time PhD students to spend a month at a U21 partner institution.
Services
While academic excellence is crucial, we realise that our students require more from their postgraduate experience. To this end, we seek to provide both the resources and facilities to help you excel in your postgraduate studies as well as strong support for you as an individual. We’re committed to looking after the health and welfare of our students, and to creating a stimulating and relaxing social life too.
Contact
The Graduate School
The University of Nottingham
University Park
Nottingham
NG7 2RD
t: +44 (0)115 846 8400
e: graduate-school@nottingham.ac.uk
w: www.nottingham.ac.uk/gradschool/