What Are We Doing?
We’ve completed a comprehensive review of PGR office spaces across all buildings on the Canterbury campus. The aim is to define, upgrade, and expand PGR dedicated spaces where needed.
Why Are We Doing This?
We’re aware of significant disparities in the facilities and access provided to PhD and Master’s By Research students across different schools. This review addresses those inconsistencies.
What Are We Aiming to Achieve?
We want all PGR students to have a broadly comparable experience, while still meeting subject-specific needs.
What space is currently available to you as a PhD/M-Res Student?
School-Provided Office Spaces: Availability and quality vary significantly between schools.
Study Hubs:
- A number of study hubs available on campus for all students to use
- The Senate Study Hub (Postgraduate-only) offers 39 PCs, 6 individual carrels, and 2 double carrels for collaborative work. Open 24/7 with KentOne card access.
Campus Lounges
- Campus lounges are available for all students (lounges are not specifically designated for postgraduate researchers).
Bookable Rooms
- Meeting rooms and private offices can be booked via SharePoint.
Note: This review focuses specifically on PGR office spaces within schools.
Key Outcomes from the Review
- Dedicated Spaces: Functional, dedicated PGR spaces (where appropriate) will be provided within each school, sized to meet student numbers and research needs.
- Modernisation: Smaller, outdated rooms will be phased out in favour of larger, more collaborative, modern spaces.
- Clear Communication: Details of available PGR spaces will be published via MyKent on the University’s website.
- Flexible Desk Spaces: Schools are advised to offer non-dedicated desk spaces to accommodate future growth, though individual schools can decide their allocation approach.
- Accessibility: Students with specific access needs will continue to be provided with dedicated, fully equipped desks.
- 24/7 Access: Wherever possible, PhD spaces will be accessible 24/7.
What’s new?
Arts and Architecture:
- In addition to existing space in Jarman, a new ground-floor PGR area with 10 desks will be created, a significant upgrade from the Elliot spaces.
Humanities:
- New spaces established in Cornwallis Central and George Allen buildings following the school’s relocation.
Psychology:
- Two new rooms in Keynes, adding capacity for 20 additional desks.
Natural Sciences:
- A number of additional rooms transformed into office space, adding capacity for an additional 35 desks.
Kent Law School (KLS):
- An area in Eliot has been transformed into a dedicated PhD office.
In addition to the above, a potential new PGR specific space within the Templeman library has also been identified.
What’s Being Phased Out?
- Eliot, Rutherford, and Rutherford Extension:
Small, outdated offices to be closed, replaced by modern, brighter spaces.
- Eliot Extension:
Older rooms to be closed in favour of a new KLS space within Eliot itself.
What’s changing?
- Some reallocation of certain existing spaces to align with the new School structure.
What’s Staying the Same?
Current PhD office spaces in the following schools/subject areas will remain unchanged:
- Computing
- Kent Business School (KBS)
- Social Sciences
- Engineering
- Mathematics
- Conservation
- Economics
- Politics & International Relations
- Sports & Exercise Science