Researchers with highly developed skills are vital to our globally connected social, cultural and economic future. The Doctoral College is committed to delivering a researcher development programme which addresses the specific needs of doctoral students, provides a strong foundation for study, and equips students to make a positive contribution to society both during and beyond their years of postgraduate research at Brighton.
The Doctoral College’s Postgraduate Researcher Development Programme (PRDP) provides training, support and advice to research students at the University of Brighton. The aim of the programme is to enable our students to become well-rounded, skilled, efficient and successful researchers with strong career prospects.
The programme comprises a range of workshops, modules and online courses designed to support a student’s progression from the early stages of research through to thesis submission and viva. Several of the workshops are repeated to meet the needs of students starting at any point through the academic year.
Throughout, the programme is informed by the Vitae Researcher Development Framework which sets out the knowledge, behaviour and attributes of effective and highly skilled researchers. Workshops in our lively and challenging programme include ‘Developing your Critical Thinking’, ‘Presenting at Conference’, ‘Publishing your Work’ and ‘Managing your Wellbeing’. While some sessions are discipline-specific, others are relevant for students across all areas of research. Additionally, the programme features three ten-week courses, developed and delivered by the award-winning University of Brighton Language Institute, which are aimed at doctoral students whose first language is not English.
Each year, we publish the PRDP online and we recommended that students work with their supervisors to identify strengths and gaps, and to tailor a training programme suited to their own unique needs.