Studying at Loughborough
Support and training for research students
At Loughborough University Graduate School, all our research students can call upon administrative, training and personal development support.
Research Student Office
"I would definitely recommend it. You get a nice, friendly research environment, and the opportunity to be led in your research by highly skilled and dedicated supervisors."
Our staff are here to help you throughout your study at Loughborough.
We provide a one-stop shop for administrative support for research students, from initial inquiry, through application, registration and study, to graduation. Please do not hesitate to contact us.
Induction
The Graduate School organises a University-wide induction programme which normally runs five times a year (October, November, January, May and August), for all new research students. These programmes give you an immediate opportunity to meet fellow research students and cover:
- PhD regulations
- support available
- overview of library and IT facilities
- research and transferable skills
- intellectual property rights
- staff and student perspectives
- safety issues
- studying in the UK
Transferable skills
As part of your personal progress, while studying for a PhD you will develop transferable skills. Workshops to support you are provided through the Graduate School using the skills of the Graduate School, Library, IT Services, Careers Centre, Counselling Service, and others, with a programme developed specifically for research postgraduates covering topics such as:
- time and project management
- writing a literature review
- reading for research
- keeping your research up-to-date
- report writing
- interviewing skills
- networking skills
- getting articles published
- career development
We also provide training should you wish to take the opportunity of part-time employment in your department as a laboratory demonstrator or tutorial assistant in your second and subsequent years.
Personal Development Planning (PDP)
Transferable skills training and development throughout a PhD programme enhance career opportunities, so we encourage you to consider your own development needs as Personal Development Planning (PDP).This is a structured and supported process undertaken by an individual to reflect upon learning, performance and/or achievement and to plan for their personal, educational and career developments.
At Loughborough we have developed RAPID-PGR, an online PDP tool designed for use by postgraduate research students, which defines skills levels appropriate to PhD training. This is very valuable in analysing the skills you have already developed, and those which you may still need to acquire or improve. It also provides a repository to record your achievement and to help build your CV.
As part of the skills training programme the Graduate School offers all research students the opportunity to take part in a UKGrad three-day personal development programme. The primary aims of the course are to:
- allow individuals to develop their networking and team skills
- help to develop strategies for management and leadership issues
- help identify strengths and working as part of a group
- enable participants to understand skills business and enterprise
Departmental resources for research students
All departments have their own individual characteristics but are committed to supporting research students. Resources typically include:
- office space and IT equipment
- office consumables and discipline-relevant materials
- individual allowances for inter-library loans
- departmental training
- support for students to make presentations at departmental seminars
- help with conference attendance
Please consult the department in which you are interested in studying for further details.