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PGR exclusive Events

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Forthcoming Events

Tue 19th May

Writing academic job applications: tips tutorial: 2pm - 3:30pm; Online; Learn more about how to write effective academic job applications and understand what academic hiring panels look for at this online seminar.

Thu 21st May

EndNote Desktop Q&A session: 10am - 11am; Online; Completed the Introduction to EndNote 2025 Canvas course and still have questions? Drop-in for an online Q&A with the Research Skills team.

Increasing your productivity: 11am - 12:30pm; Online; As postgraduate researchers (PGRs), we cannot change the number of hours in a day, but we can use them as effectively as possible. This workshop encourages you to understand your own working preferences to be as productive as possible.

Fri 22nd May

Writing clearly and concisely: 11am - 12:30pm; Online; Sharpen up your writing to communicate your research and ideas more effectively. This will be most useful for those who have already drafted some texts.

Introduction to presentation skills: 1:30pm - 3pm; Online; Are you a postgraduate researcher who wants to build your confidence in delivering presentations? This workshop covers the basics of a good presentation, including structure and visual aids. Get peer feedback on an informal presentation of your own.

Wed 27th May

Preparing for academic interviews: tips and techniques: 1pm - 2:30pm; Online; Understand what to expect in a typical interview for an early-career academic job in the UK, plus how to prepare and perform effectively.

Structuring your thesis: 1pm - 2:30pm; Online; Already have some draft texts but unsure how these might fit together in a logical thesis structure? This highly interactive workshop will cover common thesis structures and strategies for creating your own.

Tue 2nd June

Multispecies Collective PhD Workshop 2026: 9am - 5pm; Westmere House; Join a one-day interdisciplinary PhD workshop bringing PG and senior researchers from the arts, humanities, and social sciences together to explore methods, challenges, and interdisciplinary connections in multispecies approaches to research.

Introduction to AI tools for researchers: 11am - noon; Online; Develop an understanding of the opportunities and risks of using AI tools in the research process, explore how AI Tools might be used to augment research processes to create efficiencies, and critically evaluate potential ethical risks.

Preparing postdoc funding and fellowship applications: practical tips for PGRs: noon - 1:30pm; Online; Get practical tips on how to write a strong research funding or fellowship application, identify fellowships, and ask questions to current academics who hold various postdoctoral fellowships.

Wed 3rd June

Starting to write for PGRs: 9am - 10:30am; Online; An introduction to the writing process, your knowledge of yourself as a writer, and strategies for planning and creating text, suitable for those at the beginning of their development as postgraduate research level academic writers.

Thu 4th June

What is Citation Justice?: 10am - 11am; Online; Explore the role of influence and power in who we cite, how bias in this area can occur and be addressed, and discover tools for finding literature that is more representative of the global majority.

Mon 8th June

Reviewing the literature: 1:30pm - 3pm; Online; Understand the nature of a quality literature review and how to effectively synthesise the literature you have read in your thesis.

Tue 9th June

AI for academic writing for PGRs: 10am - 11:30am; Online; Explore effective and appropriate use of generative AI tools in the context of academic writing and the University's regulations and guidelines for the assessment of research degree theses.

Thu 11th June

Designing and presenting your poster at conferences: 2pm - 4pm; Fourth Floor Training Room, Main Library; Learn how to maximise the opportunity to communicate your research in a highly visual way using a poster. Understand the nature of a poster session, how to create visual impact, and how to use PowerPoint in this context.

Fri 12th June

Shut Up and Work for early career researchers: 9:30am - 4:30pm; Fourth Floor Training Room, Main Library; Work on your own writing, planning or literature discovery in a quiet but supportive environment. There will be time to set targets at the beginning of the day and there will be regular planned breaks to enable you to network or take a walk.

Sat 13th June

Luxury Canal Cruise (End of Year Dinner) (Postgraduate only): 3pm - 6pm; Off-campus; An event for postgraduate students to celebrate their achievements, mark the end of the academic year with friends and enjoy Dubai’s stunning skyline

Mon 15th June

Preparing for your viva: 2pm - 3pm; Fourth Floor Training Room, Main Library; The viva is an important part of the assessment for your programme as a Postgraduate Researcher. Attend this workshop in the months approaching your viva to do some practical activities to help you prepare.

Wed 17th June

UK and Ireland Health Ethics and Law Association Conference: 9:30am - 5:30pm; Law building; Birmingham Law School is delighted to host the first Conference of the new UK and Ireland Health Ethics and Law Association, with themes including End of Life, Reproduction, Consent and Capacity, Mental Health. Registration is free for PGR students.

Organising your research notes: 10am - noon; Fourth Floor Training Room, Main Library; For Postgraduate Researchers who have begun gathering sources - develop a more structured approach to managing notes, explore different approaches to organising research notes and practical guidance on developing a clear and searchable system.

Thu 18th June

PGR Festival Shut Up and Work: 9:30am - 4:30pm; Fourth Floor Training Room, Main Library; Work on your own writing, planning or literature discovery in a quiet but supportive environment. There will be time to set targets at the beginning of the day and there will be regular planned breaks to enable you to network or take a walk.

Fri 19th June

Literature searching: hints and tips for researchers: 10am - noon; Fourth Floor Training Room, Main Library; This practical introduction to effective literature searching provides guidance on search strategy planning, the use of keywords and subject headings, and tips on managing search results.

Working effectively with your supervisor: 2pm - 3:30pm; Online; Understand what to expect from the supervisor-PGR relationship, how to get the most from your supervisory team, and the support available to complement your supervision.

Tue 23rd June

Explore careers outside academia for STEM PGRs & ECRs: 9:45am - 3pm; Lloyd Suite, Edgbaston Park Hotel; Hear a variety of presentations from guests in different industries, take part in direct discussions with speakers, meet fellow researchers, and enjoy lunch at this session for Postgraduate Researchers and Early Career Researchers in STEM fields.

Researcher visibility essentials: ORCID and Pure: 10am - 11am; Online; Learn how to create an ORCID profile for yourself that is recognised in academia and grows in value as your career progresses. Link it to your University of Birmingham Research Portal webpage to increase your discoverability.

Thu 25th June

Introduction to presentation skills: 2pm - 4pm; Fourth Floor Training Room, Main Library; Are you a postgraduate researcher who wants to build your confidence in delivering presentations? This workshop covers the basics of a good presentation, including structure and visual aids. Get peer feedback on an informal presentation of your own.

Fri 10th July

Shut Up and Work for early career researchers: 9:30am - 4:30pm; Main Library Fourth Floor Training Room; Work on your own writing, planning or literature discovery in a quiet but supportive environment. There will be time to set targets at the beginning of the day and there will be regular planned breaks to enable you to network or take a walk.

Thu 16th July

Getting your thesis ready: 2pm - 4pm; Room 112, Muirhead Tower; For postgraduate researchers (PGRs) approaching the final stages of preparing their thesis (4-6 months from submission), this workshop covers thesis presentation, the submission process and copyright considerations.

Fri 17th July

Preparing for your viva: 11am - noon; Online; The viva is an important part of the assessment for your programme. Attend this workshop in the months approaching your viva to do some practical activities to help you prepare.

Mon 10th August

Getting your thesis ready: 10am - noon; Online; For postgraduate researchers (PGRs) approaching the final stages of preparing their thesis (4-6 months from submission), this workshop covers thesis presentation, the submission process and copyright considerations.

Wed 12th August

Preparing for your viva: 3pm - 4pm; Main Library Fourth Floor Training Room; The viva is an important part of the assessment for your programme. Attend this workshop in the months approaching your viva to do some practical activities to help you prepare.

Fri 14th August

Shut Up and Work for early career researchers: 9:30am - 4:30pm; Main Library Fourth Floor Training Room; Work on your own writing, planning or literature discovery in a quiet but supportive environment. There will be time to set targets at the beginning of the day and there will be regular planned breaks to enable you to network or take a walk.

Thu 10th September

Preparing for your viva: 4pm - 5pm; Online; The viva is an important part of the assessment for your programme. Attend this workshop in the months approaching your viva to do some practical activities to help you prepare.

Tue 15th September

Getting your thesis ready: 2pm - 4pm; Online; For postgraduate researchers (PGRs) approaching the final stages of preparing their thesis (4-6 months from submission), this workshop covers thesis presentation, the submission process and copyright considerations.

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