Develop the unique skills and knowledge that you need

We know that each research degree is unique, which means the skills and knowledge required to create an outstanding piece of work can be extremely varied. We want you to have access to all the training and development you need to excel in your research degree, which is why we give all our research students up to £2,500 funding to curate a tailored training plan with Proficio. 

• Every research student will receive up to £2,500 to put towards training courses and conferences
• The amount of funding available depends on the type of research degree undertaken, see below for a detailed breakdown
• We provide hundreds of training courses internally, but you can also apply for external courses if we do not offer something you need
• Funding can also be spent on attending conferences, both in the UK and internationally

Once you have completed a short introductory training course, your funds will be released and you will be registered to Proficio, which is where you can start spending your funding by booking your place onto courses. There are a huge variety of courses available, including short courses, online learning and multi-day training, across all academic departments and more generic topics such as data analysis, languages,  IT, software, writing and more. There are over 100 to choose from so we're sure you'll find something useful! 

Here are just a few of the courses that are offered on Proficio:

Making The Most Of Your Supervisory Relationship

One ingredient for a successful PhD journey is the supervisor/student relationship. The purpose of this training is to provide an overview of the key elements of research supervision, the interactive session will explore the perspectives of students and supervisors and discuss what each can and should reasonably expect from supervision, how to identify and address potential problems and how to maintain an effective working relationship. 

Thesis Writing Bootcamp

Bootcamp recruits will learn how to battle through third-year blues, address writer’s block, kick-start their writing if it has stalled, and overcome thesis fatigue to achieve significant progress on their manuscript. Sessions will include motivational talks, goal setting and strategies for writing quickly and well.

Creating Digital Content on Adobe

Attendees will explore Photoshop to edit, fix and augment images to make them look striking and prepare them for web and print. They will then be introduced to Illustrator and vector graphics for logos and infographics. Lastly, students will concentrate on InDesign, where they will put together brochures, banners and other materials using the media previously created. 

Time Management

Time management can be a major challenge for research students, this short session introduces a number of tools and techniques to help you manage your time effectively. 

Longitudal Data Analysis

This course is an introduction to longitudal data analysis on an applied level using Stata. The focus of the course is on data management and analysing micro panel data. The course will begin by discussing the advantages, and limitations of panel data and show how to handle and describe a panel dataset. We will also cover linear regression techniques, non-linear models, and identifying time societal dynamics.

Methods of Fieldwork

Participants will be trained to design, prepare and run their own field research using their increased knowledge of the practical and logistical issues facing early career researchers in the field. For doctoral students planning to incorporate fieldwork in their dissertation, this course will provide essential support.