Pursuing a research degree isn’t just about knowledge – you need to manage yourself, too. Make a successful start to your postgraduate degree with this practical workshop, designed to prepare you for the journey ahead. You’ll get the opportunity to meet researchers from across the University and build your skills in communication, problem-solving, and time-management.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the session, you’ll have:

• Identified the key skills and attributes of an effective researcher
• Considered the challenges of a PGR
• Established your priorities
• Boosted your confidence in planning and managing your research
• Developed a peer support group

Target audience

Postgraduate researchers in the early stages of their research degree and from all disciplines.

Workshop feedback

• "I went home with a new understanding of what a 'postgraduate researcher' means. I don't have to stress about time and think more about tasks per week rather than 'what I achieved this day'."

About the facilitators

This workshop is facilitated by Dr Emily Danvers and Dr Rebecca Webb from the School of Education and Social Work.

Booking information

For online workshops, the link to join the session will be shared to your Sussex email address one working day before the event.

This participative event promotes the University's Careers and Entrepreneurship services. You’ll find out how the Sussex Careers team supports researchers and explore various career destinations for PGRs, including setting up your own business or social enterprise. It's never too early to start thinking about what you're aiming for after your degree!

Target audience

Postgraduate researchers in the early stages of their research degree and from all disciplines.

About the facilitators

The Careers, Employability and Entrepreneurship team is based in the Student Centre. They work closely with post-graduate researchers to enhance their professional identity, employability and career awareness. They can help you to explore your career ideas and find out more about the pathways open to you both within and beyond academia.

Booking information

For online workshops, the link to join the session will be shared to your Sussex email address one working day before the event.

You can not collect any new data from humans, animals, social media or conduct auto-ethnographic research without having received ethics approval beforehand, so at this early stage of your postgraduate research, it is essential to understand the ethics approval process.

This workshop will look at the key principles of undertaking ethical research, and explain how to go about obtaining ethical approval from the University. There will also be opportunities to consider some case studies, ask questions about your own work, and gain insights on how to embed good ethical practices in your research.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the workshop you will:

• Understand the University process for gaining ethical approval and received guidance on how to make a strong application
• Have had the opportunity to discuss ethical issues arising in your research and explored how to address them

Target audience

Postgraduate researchers in the early stages of their research degree and from all disciplines.

Workshop feedback

• "I now have a much better idea of the ethics clearance forms"

About the facilitators

This workshop is designed and delivered by Alice Saryazdi, Carol Cooley and Alice Ashford - Senior Research Ethics and Integrity Officers from the Professional Services Research Ethics and Integrity team.

Booking information

For online workshops, the link to join the session will be shared to your Sussex email address one working day before the event.

This workshop will introduce you to the Library's collections and discovery tools. With guidance from the Library Research and Open Scholarship Team, the workshop will highlight key Library resources and services for PGRs.

Target audience

Postgraduate researchers in the early stages of their research degree and from all disciplines.

About the facilitators

The Library Research Support team support researchers at all levels across the University. They offer bookable one-to-one sessions tailored to suit your specific research needs, run various group training workshops, and organise seminars and events to engage with the research community on campus.

Booking information

For online workshops, the link to join the session will be shared to your Sussex email address one working day before the event.

The supervisory relationship is crucial to the success of your research degree. In this interactive 2-hour workshop, you’ll discover practical tips for optimising this relationship. We’ll consider common problems and develop strategies for overcoming them.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the session, you’ll have:

• A clearer sense of the supervisory relationship and how it develops
• Tools and templates for getting the most out of your supervisory meetings
• Techniques for requesting and implementing constructive feedback
• An awareness of common problems and how to deal with them

Target audience

Postgraduate researchers at all stages and from all disciplines.

About the facilitator

This workshop is designed and delivered by Dr Catherine Pope, a self-employed coach and workshop facilitator.

Booking information

For online workshops, the link to join the session will be shared to your Sussex email address one working day before the event.

Doing a research degree poses some unique challenges that can affect your mental health and wellbeing. In this workshop, we will explore these challenges and the factors that influence wellbeing and mental health during the research degree (like isolation or the relation with supervisors) in a supportive environment.

We will talk about how to understand wellbeing and mental health issues within people’s own situations/experiences and therefore explore how various self-care strategies can be tailored to people’s specific needs, not with a ‘one-size fits all’ approach. We will discuss when to seek help and how to navigate support services at Sussex and beyond.

Target audience

Postgraduate researchers at all stages and from all disciplines.

About the facilitators

Helen Quin, Student Advisor at BSMS and Humanistic Psychotherapeutic Counsellors and Dr Sophie Valeix, a Sussex PhD graduate with extensive experience researching PGR mental health, bringing her lived experience to these sessions.

Booking information

For online workshops, the link to join the session will be shared to your Sussex email address one working day before the event.

Are you part-way through your research degree and wondering how to keep going? Do you need a push to progress to the final stages? If yes, this session is for you.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the workshop you will:

• Clarify where you are with your research degree
• Identify your critical success factors
• Learn tools and techniques to boost your productivity
• Build a support network
• Develop a plan for success

Target audience

Postgraduate researchers in the mid stage of their research degree and from all disciplines.

Workshop feedback

• "I needed motivation to continue as I'm overwhelmed at the moment. Thank you – I got what I wanted to carry on."
• "Excellent workshop, very pleased with the speaker. The experience was vital to moving forward"
• "After being initially sceptical of the workshop being of use due to the disparate nature of research degree projects, it was interesting and useful to recognise we are all essentially in the same boat and share same anxieties and concerns. All in all, it is comforting to realise I am largely on track."

About the facilitator

This workshop is designed and delivered by Dr Catherine Pope, a self-employed coach and workshop facilitator.

Booking information

For online workshops, the link to join the session will be shared to your Sussex email address one working day before the event.

There's so much to fit in to your final year and careful planning is essential. With clear guidance, individual exercises, and group discussion, this practical workshop helps you prepare for the last stages of your research degree, including submission, the viva, and what happens next. Please note, there is a separate workshop that goes into much more detail on the viva.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the session, you’ll have:

• A strategy for the successful completion of your thesis
• More confidence in your ability to get through the final year
• A clear idea of the skills you need to develop

Target audience

Postgraduate researchers in the late stage of their research degree and from all disciplines.

Workshop feedback

• "I needed motivation to continue as I'm overwhelmed at the moment. Thank you – I got what I wanted to carry on."
• "Unravelled mysteries about the last few months before and after submission"
• "Essential workshop. Excellent and knowledgeable trainer. Should be compulsory. So glad I spotted it"
• "All very useful - really enabled me to move forward with shaping my thesis"

About the facilitators

This workshop is designed and delivered by Dr Catherine Pope, a self-employed coach and workshop facilitator.

Booking information

For online workshops, the link to join the session will be shared to your Sussex email address one working day before the event.