Postgraduate Research exclusive events

Being a Postgraduate Researcher (PGR) is about more than producing a thesis. Discover events and activities designed especially for you as a PGR, from developing your skills and building a community, to taking the next steps in your career. You can also find events for all students and events for the whole University community.

The University Doctoral School is here to support and enhance the postgraduate research experience at Birmingham, working with Colleges and teams across the University like Careers Network, Library Services, and Registry, to guide PGRs from induction to graduation.

Postgraduate Research (PGR) programmes include: PhD, PhD with integrated study, MPhil, MMus, MRes, MA by Research, MSc by Research, MLitt, EngD, DDS, MD, Higher doctorates and Professional doctorates.

Data management plans for PGRs: 10th March 10am - 11am; Online; All postgraduate researchers are required to have a Data Management Plan in place before completing their first annual review (GRS3). This workshop will help you to achieve this by covering the basics of research data management.

Development Needs Analysis: 10th March 10am - noon; Main Library Fourth Floor Training Room; The Development Needs Analysis (GRS1) form is a requirement of research programmes. This highly practical workshop supports the process, including introducing you to Vitae’s Researcher Development Framework.

Introduction to AI tools for researchers: 11th March 10am - 11am; 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.

Reading and note-making: 11th March 11am - 1pm; Main Library Fourth Floor Training Room; A huge quantity of reading is required for postgraduate research. This workshop helps you develop strategies to read effectively and efficiently, extracting the key information into your notes. Bring your own reading material to practise with!

PG Skills: AI in the recruitment process - a recruiter's perspective: 11th March 3pm - 4:30pm; Room G17, Nuffield Building; The second in our PG Skills series for 2025/26 will focus on how AI is impacting the recruitment landscape in the UK and top tips for you to use it with confidence.

Making the most of conferences: 12th March 11am - 12:30pm; Online; This workshop introduces practical tips for postgraduate researchers (PGRs) preparing to attend a conference, helping you get the maximum value from your conference, including getting the most out of networking opportunities.

Shut Up and Work for early career researchers: 13th March 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.

Introduction to presentation skills: 13th March 11:30am - 1pm; 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.

Reviewing the literature: 16th March 1pm - 2:30pm; Online; Understand the nature of a quality literature review and how to effectively synthesise the literature you have read in your thesis.

Preparing for your viva: 17th March 10am - 11am; 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.

Sustainable Research Computing workshop: make your research greener!: 17th March 10am - noon; Muirhead Tower; Make your research greener! Join our workshop for researchers who rely on computing in their work to cut computing energy use and discover tools, training and communities. Book your place now.

Sustainability Café: Lessons from South Asia: 17th March noon - 2pm; Room 214, Elm House; Join an interactive workshop to refine the context of sustainability in South Asia, connect with others, and hear from early career researchers working in the area.

Literature searching: hints and tips for researchers: 17th March 1pm - 3pm; Main Library Fourth Floor Training Room; 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.

Structuring your thesis: 18th March 10am - noon; Main Library Fourth Floor Training Room; 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.

Getting your thesis ready: 18th March 2pm - 4pm; Main Library Fourth Floor Training Room; 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.

PGR Film Club: 19th March 6pm - 9pm; Seminar Room, Westmere House; Join us this Green Week for a screening of David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet, exclusively for our Postgraduate Research (PGR) community. We'll also have pizza, soft drinks, and comfy beanbags!

Hearing voices and suicidality: 20th March 9am - 4:45pm; Assembly Room, The Exchange, Centenary Square; A workshop for mental health researchers, healthcare practitioners, policy makers, and people with lived experience of mental healthcare, exploring AI psychosis and the relationship between hearing voices and suicidality from a range of perspectives.

Sustainable computing: understanding the energy impact of digital workflows: 20th March 1pm - 2pm; Online; Have you ever considered the environmental cost of your everyday digital activities? In this webinar, we’ll explore the carbon footprint of computing – from routine tasks to intensive data processing - and discover small changes you can make.

Cutting carbon from academic travel: 20th March 2pm - 3pm; Room 229, Engineering Building (Y8) and online; While long distance travel is often seen as an essential part of an academic career, it can cause significant environmental damage. This session will explore the necessity of travel and low-carbon alternatives. Book now.

Working effectively with your supervisor: 23rd March 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.

Writing about your research for The Conversation: 25th March 2pm - 3pm; Online; Would you like to build a media profile and take your research to a global public audience? The Conversation is a news analysis and opinion website which is open access, and an independent media charity funded by 90+ UK and European universities.

3MT 2026: The Finals: 25th March 3pm - 5pm; Vaughan Jeffreys Lecture Theatre (Room 135), Education Building; Want to hear about incredible research in campus, in just three minutes? The Birmingham Three Minute Thesis 3MT Finals will see our postgraduate researchers take on the challenge. Come along to support them, learn something new, and enjoy free cake!

Self-Employment: Is It for me?: 26th March 1pm - 3pm; Online; Introduces the opportunities, skills and challenges involved in self-employment and start-up in the UK, and how Careers Network can help you. We'll also be joined by a UoB graduate who will share their self-employment journey.

Preparing for your viva: 13th April 2pm - 3pm; 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.

Shut Up and Work for early career researchers: 17th April 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.

University of Birmingham Inclusion Research Conference: 23rd April 8:30am - 2pm; Great Hall, Aston Webb building; Explore inclusion/SEND research at the University, connect with other researchers at the University interested in Inclusion/SEND, and engage with external partners and individuals especially in the city and region.

Getting your thesis ready: 6th May 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.

UK and Ireland Health Ethics and Law Association Conference: 17th June 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.

Getting your thesis ready: 16th July 2pm - 4pm; Main Library Fourth Floor Training Room; 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.

Getting your thesis ready: 10th August 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.

Getting your thesis ready: 15th September 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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