Are you a PhD researcher at the University of Kent in your third year (FTE) or beyond? Are you considering a career outside of academia but unsure where to start? If so, the Career Planning Beyond Academia Retreat on Tuesday 13th and Wednesday 14th May 2025 is designed just for you.

This retreat provides a dedicated space to reflect on your future, explore career options beyond academia, and develop practical strategies to navigate the transition.

Over two days, our expert speakers will guide discussions and interactive sessions covering key topics such as:

• Work out what you actually want;
• Prepare to get a job;
• Transfer your PhD skills;
• Manage the transition ‘out’ of academia;
• Make good career decisions

This retreat is not just about career planning; it’s about wellbeing and reflection too. You’ll have the opportunity to take part in yoga, a wellbeing walk, and a social dinner, allowing you to connect with fellow researchers in a relaxed setting.

The Career Planning Beyond Academia Retreat
Tuesday 13th and Wednesday 14th May 2025
University of Kent, Canterbury Campus, Cornwallis East, 3rd floor

Register here

Download the Programme here

This retreat is a fantastic opportunity to gain clarity, confidence, and practical tools to take the next step. Reserve your place today.

We are looking forward to seeing you all there.

Can you capture years of research in just three minutes? The Three Minute Thesis (3MT), developed by The University of Queensland, challenges PhD researchers to present their work clearly and concisely to a non-specialist audience.

The 3MT will help you to:

• Develop your research communication, public engagement, presentation and public speaking skills
• Give you the ability to share your research with a non-expert audience
• Provide networking opportunities
• Help you to reflect on the context and impact of your research

Apart from the invaluable experience, there are also prizes. The winner receives £300, while the runner-up is awarded £100 to be used towards training, development, or their research expenses.

Kent’s 2024 3MT winner, Becky McNeill (PhD in Forensic Psychology), shared her reflections on the competition (read the full article here):

“Even if you are lucky enough to attend plenty of conferences during your studies, the 3MT competition is a great chance to demonstrate an ability to present your research in a clear, succinct manner to an audience who may not be experts in your field, or may not even be that familiar with it at all.”

This year the GRC holds the following events to support you with your 3MT presentation:

• Research Communication: Presenting Your Work with Confidence, Wednesday 26 March, online
• 3MT Presentation Training, Tuesday 15th April 2025, online 
• 3MT Peer Practice Session, Tuesday 20 May 2025, in person

The 3MT semi final will take place on 21 May and the final will be held on 27 May.

Don’t miss out on this chance to share your work, inspire others, and take your research to a new level in just three minutes.

Register here before 10am on 06 May to be considered. All active PhD researchers who have had their probation review (1st year) and not had their viva (final year) by 21st May are eligible to enter.

On 27 February the Black Intellectuals Society, in collaboration with the Graduate and Researcher College, hosted an inspiring and thought-provoking panel discussion on the experiences of Black PhD students and academics. This inspiring event brought together an incredible group of speakers who shared their personal journeys, the challenges they’ve faced, and the insights they’ve gained while navigating the world of academia as Black researchers.

We had a pleasure to hear from 5 speakers:

“The Weighted Waiting Game; Application process” – Wayne Mitchell

“Ignorance is not bliss: what every potential Black PhD science student needs to know” – Jason Amartey

“Challenging Institutional Discrimination” – Hannah Akalu

“The Importance of Black Support Networks” – William Ackah

“Navigating academia post PhD” – Barbara Adewumi

Attendees had the chance to engage with the panel through a lively Q&A session, the discussion was rich with meaningful conversations.

It was an incredibly insightful and inspiring evening. Attendees, including myself, resonated with a lot of what was shared and felt inspired to pursue studying a PhD.

Esther Adebiyi

This event offered invaluable perspectives and inspiration and we are grateful to everyone who joined us and contributed to making this event such a success.

Last week the GRC held the second Exploring Global Cultures PG Talk this academic year which is an inspiring event where we celebrate diversity here at Kent.

This time we had 3 wonderful presenters that took us on a journey to visit Nigeria, Turkey and the United States from the perspective of a Bengali-American.

I enjoyed presenting and sharing my culture with others. It is also really cool learning about other people’s cultures. Although different cultures have differences, there is always a shared love for appreciating other cultures.

Sreejita Ghose

Each presenter showed us how beautiful and diverse our world is and how we should appreciate our differences and value what we have in common.

Upon seeing the email about presenting about your country at a PG talk, I was immediately conflicted. Part of me wanted to jump at the opportunity, as I viewed it as a way to push myself out of my comfort zone and improve my public speaking skills. The other part of me didn’t think I was qualified enough to present about Nigeria, as I was raised in the UK and had only visited Nigeria once. Despite being ethnically Nigerian, I knew little about the country other than what my parents told me. I’ve struggled with feeling ‘Nigerian enough’ for years, especially with me not speaking my native language (Igbo). I was scared I would be judged by Nigerian audience members in the crowd, who could actually call Nigeria their homeland. Despite these fears and uncertainties, I felt pulled to volunteer. My parents, although surprised, encouraged me. I researched hard, wanting to ensure I was presenting only accurate information, and spent hours deciding the correct design. In the end, to the glory of Jesus, the presentation came together. On the day to present, I was surprisingly nervous beyond belief. Would I speak too fast? Would I mispronounce things? Praying about these fears did calm me down, but the stress persisted. I really wanted to make my family proud and represent Nigeria correctly. When I think back to presenting, it is a blur. Everything went slow yet amazingly fast at the same time. The moments that stand out to me is the aftermath – when I received applause and was told by someone who was in the audience ‘thank you for representing Nigeria’. That’s when I knew I had done my country proud.

Chidubem Obosi

It’s been a wonderful experience to have such beautiful presentations where we could see the love and admiration for your home countries and the fascinating impact they have on your life. It is truly a privilege for us to host this fantastic event that serves us as a reminder that our world is a great place where we can admire and celebrate each other’s backgrounds and cultures.

The Graduate and Researcher College is excited to welcome you to our Postgraduate Researcher Forum.

We have taken on board feedback where postgraduates asked for more ways to connect with one another, so we have created an online forum to accommodate those who are based on campus and those who study remotely.

We dedicated this space for you to connect, collaborate, and support one another throughout your research journey. This could be an invaluable opportunity to connect with other Kent researchers, receive advice, or share knowledge and experiences.

Below are some key topics you may wish to discuss:

• Tools & Software for Research
• Networking & Connecting
• Work-Life Balance
• Research Methods

Please note that this forum is not monitored by staff. While we will offer support where possible if we come across discussions where we can assist, we have created this platform for peer-to-peer interaction.

You have the option to subscribe or unsubscribe from the forum, which will enable or disable notification emails when new posts are made.

To explore the new Postgraduate Researcher Forum please click here.

Last week, we had the pleasure of hosting our Winter Showcase 2024, and we’re excited to share that it was a wonderful success.

The Winter Showcase is more than just an event—it’s a platform designed to empower researchers giving them the opportunity to connect, learn from each other and practise their presentation skills. Whether you’re drawn to insightful research talks, captivated by the diversity of research posters, or eager to present your own findings, the Winter Showcase offers something for everyone.

This year’s programme featured a lineup of thought-provoking presentations that highlighted the diversity and depth of research in our community:

• Chris Payne “Are e-scooters active transport? Measured physical activity outputs of e-scooter riding vs walking”
• Shiyu Yuan “The Power of Two: Couples’ Combined Work-from-Home Status, commuting time, and Childbirth in the UK”
• Inah Okpa Okpa “Mitigating Carbonwashing in ESG Marketing: Can Artificial Intelligence Adoption Enhance Corporate Climate Governance?”
• Yeshu Kadiri “Informal Urbanism and Gendered Infrastructure in the Global South: Ethnography of a Basti in Hyderabad, India”
• Emily Su “Visualizing a ‘Synergy of Greatness’: A Study of the Sublime through Napoleonic Battle Painting, c. 1800-1815”
• Yvonne Cullen “How to relearn creative and collaborative learning”
• Hugh Robertson-Ritchie “Epistemic Injustice in ME (Myalgic Encephalomyopathy or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) is Exacerbated by Uncertainty”

The event also featured a variety of impressive research posters created by our talented PhD students. Covering a wide range of themes, these posters sparked engaging discussions and gave the opportunity to learn about the innovative projects being conducted at Kent.

It was really uplifting. I enjoyed connecting with other postgraduate students and building my self-confidence to speak about my research. The Graduate and Researcher College really works for the students and that it’s an amazing asset to the PhD experience.

Barbara Denuelle

If you weren’t able to join us this year, don’t worry—there will be plenty more opportunities to get involved. Whether as a presenter or attendee, your presence can make this event even more exciting and impactful in the future.

Stay tuned for updates on upcoming events and ways to connect.

Last week, we hosted our annual Exploring Global Cultures PG Talk—an event that has become a highlight of the year at the Graduate and Researcher College. This eagerly anticipated talk brings together postgraduate students to share fascinating insights into their unique cultural backgrounds.

This engaging event invites Master’s students to share insights into their unique cultures through 7-minute presentations, offering a fascinating glimpse into the traditions, values, and perspectives that make our community so diverse.

This year’s event was no exception, as four incredible students transported us to Grenada,  Mauritius, Nigeria and Cyprus.

The PG Talk: Exploring global cultures was fascinating. It was lovely meeting the other speakers and listening as they talked us through their histories, from tragic stories of slave trade to the beauty of diverse cultures, landscapes, and carnivals.

Aderonke

Each presentation offered a unique perspective, reminding us of how much we can learn from one another and how wonderful it is to celebrate our differences and connections.

I am always very proud when I am able to shine the spotlight on Grenada because being from this island has shaped a very large part of my identity. I am happy to introduce a piece of my culture and history to the other students. And if I am able to spark curiosity through my love and pride of my homeland, then I have successfully represented Grenada to the best of my ability.

Kamille

Events like these offer us a glimpse into the worlds of our peers, fostering a sense of connection and togetherness.

Presenting Nigeria was particularly special for me, as in recent years, Nigeria has grown significantly in tech, fashion, art, film, and music, and sharing these beautiful aspects of Nigeria with others was quite fulfilling.

Aderonke

Stay tuned for more exciting events from the Graduate and Researcher College.

Over 50 PGR students along with their supervisors gathered upstairs in Woody’s for the BIG PGR Quiz of the Year.  It was a joint social event organised by the Graduate Researcher College(GRC) and Kent Student’s Union (KSU) with a free spread of tasty food and refreshments provided too.

14 teams took part with innovative and inventive names: Non-Applicable, The Smooth Brains, Yeasty Boys, The Centrifugitives, Psycho Linguistics, Biohazardous Waste(d), Philanthropy Fantastica, Inspire, Hybrid Vigour, Unsupervised Learners, Quiz-ics and Astronomy, Statistically Insignificant, ChemisTRY Harder and The Mushkateers.

Quizzers battled their heads over a picture round and questions on Food, Films, Around the World and History of Kent University whilst socialising with fellow PhD students and supervisors in the warmth of Woody’s.  There was much fun and laughter had by the PGR community at Kent.

It was a close competition with Non-Applicable winning the Booby Prize and The Mushkateers (pictured above) scooping the top prize of £100.  Josh, from the Mushkateers winning team, summarised the evening by saying: “Nothing brings friends and co-workers together like a good old-fashioned Quiz night!”

*Disclaimer: This article discusses my recovery from a substance use disorder and provides resources at the end, if you or someone you know is struggling.

Who am I?

My name is Katelyn, and I am a first-year PhD student in Sociology at the University of Kent.  Originally from a small town outside Columbus, Ohio, my journey to the PhD has brought me around the world.  From growing up in the Swiss suburbs to studying at university in five different countries, my academic journey has been all but straightforward.  In this article, you’ll read more about my path from brick uni to distance-learning and back again.  It has not been easy, but I hope I can inspire others that anything is possible if you believe in yourself.

My Undergraduate Journey

Like many people, I began my university journey at the age of eighteen, freshly graduated from my International School in Switzerland, where I grew up.  Also like many people, I was uncertain which direction to take, so I went with my safest bet, which was to study English Literature and Linguistics at the University of Edinburgh.  However, near the end of my first year, I realised the course wasn’t right for me.  I have always loved reading and creative writing growing up, but I didn’t have passion for my course.  That’s when I decided to transfer unis and took the leap to study back in my home country, at the George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

My time in D.C. led to a similar fate, and by the end of my first year there, I was ready to return to Europe.  Even though I looked and sounded like my peers, my time living abroad for so long left me feeling disconnected from the American experience.  I wanted desperately to move back to Europe and be closer to my family, who were still in Switzerland, so I transferred yet again to the American University of Paris, in France.

For the most part, I enjoyed life in Paris.  It was a hustling and bustling city with lots to do, and my professors were very knowledgeable about their subjects.  However, I fell in with the wrong crowd, and my academics started slipping.  I developed a substance use disorder and eventually withdrew from my studies there.

In February 2020, I went to treatment to get the help I needed.  Although it was the most difficult experience of my life, I came out clean and ready for a new beginning.  That said, I couldn’t help but feel like my university destiny was shattered.  That is, until I heard about the Open University.

After three failed attempts at uni, I felt nervous embarking on a distance-learning journey with the OU.  What if I wasn’t meant for university?  What if I failed again?  I also didn’t have a lot of support from my family when I announced that I wanted to finish my Bachelor’s degree online; however, they did let me move back home to Switzerland to give it one last go.

The first few months were an adjustment.  I had gone from very structured learning to structuring my own learning, and it was a learning curve to say the least.  However, I persevered and I made it through.  I graduated with my BA in Criminology and Sociology from the Open University with first-class honours, and to this day, I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities the OU provided me.

Transferrable Skills for the Future

Distance-learning gave me skills that have translated directly to my PhD, such as time-management, organisation, independence and self-motivation.  It allowed me time to focus on myself and my recovery while still pursuing my academic passions.  Distance-learning with the OU really helped me rebuild my life and restore my confidence – so much so, that I ended up pursuing a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice Policy from the London School of Economics.

Once again, I found myself country-hopping, hoping to find success as a young academic.  I won’t lie – going to LSE scared me, because my first several attempts at brick uni were unsuccessful.  Not to mention I was leaving behind my closest friends and family in Switzerland.

However, despite the challenges that I faced moving to London, I am so glad I did, or else I would not be in Canterbury today.  Pursuing my MSc in Criminal Justice Policy solidified my interest in, and passion for, criminology and sociology which led me to apply for a PhD at the University of Kent.

Why Kent?

 Something I’ve been asked a lot is, Why Kent?  Firstly, I chose the University of Kent because their motto stood out to me.  “We stand for ambition” was something that resonated with me, because despite facing adversity, I did feel like I had no ambition necessary to succeed at a PhD.  Secondly, I found a PhD supervisor whose expertise aligned very closely to my proposed research – an interdisciplinary study of the gentrification of sexual geographies in London’s Kings Cross.  Mentorship is something I really value, and I firmly believed that the guidance I would receive at the University of Kent would be unparalleled to any other.

So, I began my PhD in Sociology in January of 2024 as an international and mature student.  Moving to Canterbury has been an amazing experience for me so far.  Despite London’s influence on my academic journey, the city was overwhelming to me.  I find Canterbury much more bite-size, and my studies so far have been nothing but satisfying.

Mentorship is something I really value, and I firmly believed that the guidance I would receive at the University of Kent would be unparalleled to any other.

In particular, the student support at the uni – including that from my supervisor – has been extremely helpful for me.  A few months before commencing my PhD, I was diagnosed with ADHD and was finding it hard to come to terms with what that meant for my future studies.  Yet, the support I’ve received has helped me learn to work with my ADHD, rather than against it.

I also really value the diversity at the University of Kent.  I feel like I belong, and I think that is what I have been searching for all along.

I also really value the diversity at the University of Kent.  Despite living in a different country and being slightly older than my peers, I feel at home here.  I feel like I belong, and I think that is what I have been searching for all along.

What’s Next?

Now, as I head into my second year of the PhD, I am excited for what lays ahead.  I have the tools I learnt from the Open University and four years in recovery under my belt, and I have never felt more prepared to face what comes my way.

Of course, PhDs aren’t easy.  In fact, I’ve faced lots of challenges already such as recruiting participants for my ethnography.  But, it’s all part of the learning experience, and I’m so glad I’m experiencing it at the University of Kent.

Thank you for taking the time to read about my diverse route to PhD studies.

Katelyn Owens

Resources

Looking for a fun social event with other Postgraduate researchers?

Join us on Wednesday 27th November at 16:00 for an afternoon of fun, food, and friendly competition at our Postgraduate Researcher Quiz!

Come along and make up PGR teams of up to 5 – invite your supervisors to join in! Don’t have a team? No worries! Sign up solo and we’ll help you find one on the day.

A chance to exercise your quizzing muscles, meet other researchers with a tasty spread of nachos, wings, loaded fries, and more provided at each table (vegan options available!) The winning team could even win £100 prize too!

Stay after the Quiz to mingle with your fellow PGR colleagues and supervisors in a relaxed, social atmosphere.

When? Wednesday 27 November, 16:00 – 18:00

Where?  Woody’s Pub and Café.

Don’t delay, book today! Fill in this form to book a place. Link to calendar event here.

N.B.  Spaces are limited, so make sure you sign up! Deadline for signing up is Wednesday 20th November.