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Writing a PhD thesis requires a number of skills including, understanding the contribution of your work, a clear structure and the use of an unambiguous style. This course is comprised of four seminar sessions in which the process of writing a thesis will be considered.

The final-stage of the Brunel training module set provides PGRs with an opportunity to meet other research students from across the university, develop research ideas, plan the next year of your skills training, think about career development and focus on the areas needed to complete the PhD on time. The final-stage module includes sessions on 'Getting Published', 'Building and Academic Career' and 'Preparing for your Viva'

Make Some Noise is an annual series of linked training, practise and awareness raising events linked by competitions, all of which aim to develop strong communication and public engagement skills. it is also a means of celebrating the excellent research work taking place in the Faculty of Engineering.

In this 3 hour session, we invited an expert panel comprising journal editors, funders, academics, journalist and a science communication charity to discuss peer review with our PhD students and postdoc - looking at peer review from the academic community’s point of view and how the public gauges if scientific evidence is robust or not.

Six fortnightly workshops to support final year PhD students with the writing up process. Each session is run from 2-3 in the afternoon and tea and cake is provided to promote an informal and collegiate atmosphere. The aim is to help the students support one another as well as offering them helpful advice. The themes of the sessions are as follows: 1) University of Nottingham regulations and formatting your thesis properly from the beginning - delivered by a member of research staff. 2) Supervisor’s comments – how much should you give them how often, and not taking the first draft edits personally - delivered by a supervisor. 3) Getting started with/problems with referencing and Endnote - delivered by information services. 4) How to get over a blank screen and what to do on the days the writing just isn’t happening - delivered by a lecturer. 5) The viva: the examiner’s side of the table - delivered by two supervisors who have acted as external examiners 6) The viva: the PhD student’s side of the table - delivered by two former PhD students. The sessions are designed as an informal complement to the more in-depth training on these subjects provided by the Graduate School of the University of Nottingham.

The project aimed to train postgraduate students in public communication of science by providing hands-on experience of National Science Week talks

A training module on public engagement for research students in science and engineering. The aim is to equip students in the Faculties of Science and Engineering with the skills needed to effectively communicate science to the public.

Science and the media: a workshop on effective communication skills.

Programme of workshops available to research staff, mapped to Loughborough Skills Statements and Concordat Principles

The Talent Pool provides a unique opportunity for doctoral and post-doctoral researchers at all stages of their studies to engage with external organisations and develop into the next generation of academics, business consultants and entrepreneurs. The Talent Pool offers enterprise training that creates a network of students with various skills and ambitions who are able to make time for work experience, placements, internships, consultancy contracts or the chance to set up their own business, by understanding the important skills and strategies behind business ventures. The Talent Pool can be compared with other programmes that have been used at the University in previous years, such as Medici and SPEED.