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Annual Postgraduate Conference 2025 – Thanks for joining us!

On the 25th June 2025, the GRC welcomed staff and students to our Annual Postgraduate Conference.

It was a busy and vibrant day celebrating all of our postgraduate researchers, thank you to all who attended. If you have any feedback from the event, please fill out our form here.

This year, the Graduate and Researcher College (GRC) collaborated with Academic Schools to celebrate our postgraduate researcher community.

The day kicked off with research talks where we heard from postgraduate researchers across academic schools. We were then also joined by Kent Union, Open Research Team, Careers and Employability Services, and Student Support and Wellbeing, who were at stand over the lunch period to answer any queries and showcase their support/offering.   During the breaks and the lunch period we also viewed the brilliant variety of research posters, created by our research community. The afternoon  was then packed with engaging school-led sessions.

 

The director of the GRC reflected:

“The 2025 GRC Conference was a wonderful way to conclude the academic year, bringing together PGRs from across the university and beyond to celebrate postgraduate research. What struck me was not only how good all the talks and posters were – it was very difficult to choose a winner! – but also just how diverse our postgraduate community is, in terms of both disciplines and locations. It was a pleasure to see students from both Canterbury and Medway, as well as from partner institutions such as Northeastern University and Canterbury Christchurch. Many thanks to everyone who attended, participated, and supported.”

Image: PhD researcher, Yeshu Kadiri, presenting her research talk

“I would like to really thank you for the great event yesterday across all aspects, organisation, atmosphere, engagement etc. that matched our students’ enthusiasm. I felt they didn’t want to leave yesterday.” Dr Fani Papagiannouli

Awards Ceremony 

We ended with an awards ceremony and drinks reception, which celebrated the winners of the Research Poster Competition, Research Talks Competition and the GRC Prizes. We were delighted to announce the winners of all our competitions this year at the event. These were:

Research Poster Competition

Judge’s choice: Chloe Bates, School of Psychology

People’s choice: Sandali Malandkar, Medway School of Pharmacy

 

Research Talks Competition

Research Talk winner:  Connor McClenan, School of Arts and Architecture

 

GRC Prizes

Research Supervisor Winner: Professor Theresa Gannon

Research Supervisor Runner: Up – Dr George Dobre

 

Postgraduate Researcher Winner: Katy Bruce

Postgraduate Researcher Winner: Eduardo Villavicencio Pinto

 

We were delighted to see so many of you at the Annual Postgraduate Conference – thank you for joining us and making it such a wonderful day! Photos from the day can be viewed here.

 

“Hearing and seeing other PGR students present their work- and talk about their research experiences so far has given the confidence l need to complete my PhD”

Postgraduate Winter Showcase – 11th Dec 2024

We heard you!

Following on from insights and feedback we’ve had from our PG community about wanting more opportunities to present their research and network we are excited to offer the following new Winter Showcase event.

On 11 December we are welcoming all PG students to our Winter Showcase 2024. This will be an excellent opportunity for all postgraduate students to hear and see what research is being undertaken by our postgraduate researcher community. Postgraduate researchers can present their research in the form of a talk and/or a research poster or just come along to hear and network with their peers.

There will be the opportunity for 6  postgraduate researchers explain their research via 10 minute research talks. This is a great way to practice your presentation skills , particularly if you are presenting at another event or conference later in the academic year.

A research poster is a fantastic way to communicate your research findings to an audience, and it can also can help to promote discussion and collaboration with your peers.

There will be a number of research posters on display. If you would like to display a research poster you might be interested in attending the ‘Producing a Research Poster‘ workshop we are running online on 14th October, 2-4:30pm.

 

Join us on Wednesday 11 December, 12-3pm at the Winter Showcase 2024 to celebrate postgraduate research and our community at Kent.

 

Sign up details to attend and/or present will follow shortly.

Career Planning Beyond Academia event

On 16th-17th May the GRC hosted its second Career Planning Beyond Academia event for third and fourth year PhD students. The event was attended by 31 researchers, from all divisions.

 

On day one students started by exploring their values, skills and self before considering the job market through discussion with Alumni and undertaking career scanning activities. Day two saw students build on the knowledge and learning of the first day through practical activities which enhanced students’ readiness for getting a job. The activities focused on how to translate your PhD skills, prepare for interview, and protect your mental health and resilience during the post-PhD job hunt.

Both days were facilitated by a mix of internal and external speakers and supported by opportunities for career coaching and CV reviews.

 

The event received fantastic feedback, including:

 

A big thank you for organising this event, an epitome of the support that Kent students can get. I found these two days incredibly useful and provided tools to properly kickstart jobhunting. It was one of those events where you would not let your mind switch because you’ll miss valuable information.”

New online booking system for workshops

New online booking system

 

The Graduate School’s current online booking system (https://bloom.kent.ac.uk) is being replaced by a new system from July/August 2020

You will be able to access the current system (bloom) until 31st July 2020. After this date the system will not be accessible and you will be needing to use the new system to book for upcoming workshops and 1:1 sessions.

 

The new system will be accessible from July and all students will be emailed with the link to the new online system in July 2020.

 

Postgraduate Researchers

 

You have been booking onto workshops and completing your Researcher Development Assessment (RDA) on bloom – https://bloom.kent.ac.uk. You will still be able to access bloom in order to download versions of your RDA and workshop certificates until 31st July 2020. From 1st August you will not be able to access that system.

 

If applicable please make sure you access bloom and do the following before 31st July 2020:

 

  • 1st year PhD students – complete your RDA and download this if your probation review is due in the next few months
  • Download any copies of your RDA (especially those who are due their probation review over the next few months).
  • Download any certificates of workshops you have attended via My Profile > My workshop history

 

Please note these will not be available after 31st July 2020.

Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) Competition at Kent – Registration now open!

Be part of the Graduate School’s  Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition!

 

Participating in Kent’s University-wide Three Minute Thesis Competition raises your research profile and showcases Kent’s thriving doctoral research.

Developed by The University of Queensland (UQ), the exercise cultivates students’ academic, presentation, and research communication skills. The competition supports your capacity to effectively explain your research in three minutes, in a language appropriate to a non-specialist audience.

You will have the chance of representing Kent at the UK’s competition and you could win one of three prizes.

Please note all those who participate in the University Final will be filmed and the winner’s video will be used to represent Kent in the UK semi-final in July, competing against doctoral researchers from other participating universities. If the winner of the University competition is successful in the semi-final stage, they will be in the final on 11th September 2017 at the Vitae Conference.

For more information and to register to participate please visit:

www.kent.ac.uk/graduateschool/news/3MT.html 

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Funded place at Cumberland Lodge Doctoral Students Conference, 30th August – 2nd September 2016

For the attention of (FAO):  2nd and 3rd year PhD students

9th Cumberland Lodge Doctoral Students Conference, 30th August – 2nd September 2016

The Graduate School is pleased to be able to offer one funded place at the above conference for a second or third year doctoral student.  Please see further details here: www.cumberlandlodge.ac.uk/PhD

The conference is open to students of all disciplines at any stage in their doctorate, and is designed to help both those embarking on doctorates and those considering what they will do in the longer term. During the conference, students will:

  • explore common concerns
  • have opportunities to present their research to those in different disciplines and institutions
  • engage with those with doctorates with careers within and outside the academic world.
  • receive training in communication and successful application writing

Students will also have the unique experience of staying at Cumberland Lodge, a charitable foundation with over sixty years’ experience of working with students from across the world, and which each year hosts approximately 180 academic visits from universities across Britain.

The Graduate School is offering one funded place, to a second or third year PhD student, in single accommodation which includes all meals and refreshments.  We will also refund reasonable travelling expenses to and from the Lodge i.e. rail or mileage from Kent or the South East.

If you are interested in attending this event please email Carla Doolan, Postgraduate Development Coordinator at skills@kent.ac.uk by 5pm, Friday 27th May, explaining briefly what you would hope to gain from the experience.  Applications will then be considered by the Dean of the Graduate School.

Research Cafe at Canterbury Campus

There will be a Research Cafe taking place at the following times, at the Canterbury Campus, in the Graduate School Training Room, Cornwallis East, 3rd floor:

Wednesday 18th May, 10-11am

Tuesday 31st May 10-11:30am

 

Coffee/tea and biscuits provided.

Each café features one or two 20 minute talks from postgraduate researchers from different disciplines, with a chance to ask questions, debate and network.  If you would like to contribute, or have and idea/theme in mind for an upcoming Research Café session, please contact Hannah Huxley at: hh318@kent.ac.uk.

 

Exploring Global Cultures – Final GSA lecture

On Monday 14th March 2016, six postgraduate students gave a short presentation about their culture as part of the Global Skills Award programme. Thank you to the following students who presented and made the evening a great success:

Dorcas Gumbo (Kenya)
Siew Hoay Tang (Malaysia)
Athanasia Varvitsioti (Greece)
Jason Jones (Barbados)
Isilda Hulilapi and Dongala Garcia (Angola)

 

Exploring Global Cultures Lecture – 7th December

 

 

On Monday 7th December 2015, six postgraduate students gave a short presentation about their culture as part of the Global Skills Award programme. Thank you to the following students who presented and made the evening a great success:

Jolie Keemink (Netherlands)
Rajendrani Banerjee (India)
Mariyam Nasheed (Maldives)
Abdoulie Sey (Gambia)
Eleni Choulaki (Greece)
Jude Bataineh (Jordan)

 

Life Beyond the PhD – Cumberland Lodge Conference – 15th- 18th August 2015

For the attention of (FAO):  2nd and 3rd year PhD students

8th Cumberland Lodge Doctoral Students Conference, 15th– 18th August 2015

The Graduate School is pleased to be able to offer one funded place at the above conference for a second or third year doctoral student.  Please see further details here: www.cumberlandlodge.ac.uk/PhD

The conference is open to students of all disciplines at any stage in their doctorate, and is designed to help both those embarking on doctorates and those considering what they will do in the longer term. During the conference, students will:

  • explore common concerns
  • have opportunities to present their research to those in different disciplines and institutions
  • engage with those with doctorates with careers within and outside the academic world.
  • receive training in communication and successful application writing

Students will also have the unique experience of staying at Cumberland Lodge, a charitable foundation with over sixty years’ experience of working with students from across the world, and which each year hosts approximately 180 academic visits from universities across Britain.

The Graduate School is offering one funded place, to a second or third year PhD student, in shared accommodation which includes all meals and refreshments.  We will also refund reasonable travelling expenses to and from the Lodge i.e. rail or mileage from Kent or the South East.

If you are interested in attending this event please email Carla Doolan, Postgraduate Development Coordinator at skills@kent.ac.uk by 5pm, Friday 15th May, explaining briefly what you would hope to gain from the experience.  Applications will then be considered by the Dean of the Graduate School.