'I feel this is a pivotal point in my life - I now have the self-confidence and skills to hopefully shape my life.'
UK GRADschools are exceptionally highly rated by attendees. All participants are asked for feedback at the end of the course. The testimonials come from a range of participants: postgraduate researchers of Arts/Humanities and Science, mature researchers, and researchers who have participated in both a local and a UK GRADschool.
New insights
'An entirely new world of possibilities opened up to me and allowed me to follow a career path which I feel will be more rewarding than my original choice.'
'The sense of genuine achievement was very tangible. I can honestly say that the course has changed my attitude to work, research and work colleagues quite fundamentally.'
'Fun. Challenging place to be. Centred my own personal opinions and allowed me to relate those to my PhD without being too cheesy.'
'An antidote to the strains of the last months of a PhD, when you ask what it's all about.'
Skills development
'I suprised myself with what I was actually capable of.'
'I still use the negotiation skills with my staff and boss that I learned on the course.'
'I never thought that I could learn so many things about myself: the way I work and how to improve, in such a short time. Even though I was quite cynical about the whole thing to start with, I realise that it has helped me a great deal.'
Effective research management
'I had become stuck in an experimental rut for too long. The course taught me how to gather everything together and organise myself to get my PhD moving again.'
'It probably made the difference between finishing and not finishing, and certainly made my third year bearable.'
Career management
'It was almost entirely because of the course that I researched, applied for and got my current job. The skills I learned at the school were exceptionally useful at the selection stages.'
'It highlighted the fact that I had already learned skills that were useful across different work areas and helped to show ways in which I could present these skills to a potential employer.'
Personal development
'Time and chance to discover more about myself and feedback really helped - I have a clearer idea of where I want to head in the future.'
'A chance to experience something different, it gave me confidence a chance to meet new people and develop team working skills.'
"I honestly think this is one of the best things I have ever done!"
Motivation
'90 highly disbelieving and cynical students, gathered in a conference room, wondering exactly what we were doing there and how the week ahead could possibly fulfil all the wild claims of the publicity. Five days later we returned home inspired, motivated and bursting with confidence about our abilities and the future.'
'I feel this is a pivotal point in my life - I now have the self-confidence and skills to hopefully shape my life.'
'You don’t know you need it until you have done it.'
Teamwork
'It increased my confidence about working in groups with people I didn't already know.'
'Being forced to work as a team with total strangers was great. I'd like to do more of it!'
Meeting other postgraduate researchers
'An enjoyable experience and I hope to keep in contact with the people I met on the course.'
'Great to meet others in similar situations and exchange experiences.'
Overseas attendees
'At the close of the week I realised how many more opportunities were out there, and the innumerable alternatives to academia that existed. This was particularly beneficial to an overseas student such as myself, since we are not exposed to areas other than the discipline that we are groomed in.'
Mature participants
'A week in pleasant surroundings away from work - family and domestic responsibilities, part-time paid employment and PhD studies. An opportunity to consider what you are doing and where you want to be.'
'Maybe as a (chronologically) mature student I approached UK gradschools week with a greater than usual mix of interest and scepticism but it turned out to be all the above and more!'
Recharging your batteries
'DON'T LISTEN if you are told you can't afford the time: you can't afford to miss this course.'
'It has been such a good time to be away from everything and take a look at the next steps in my career. I've really benefitted from meeting loads of like-minded individuals and building a real closeness with my group. It's left me refreshed and motivated for my last few months in the lab.'