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Support for postgraduate researchers is available throughout every step of your research journey. Here you'll find resources, guidance and opportunities designed to promote both academic achievement and personal wellbeing. Our aim is to help you navigate the challenges of research, develop essential skills, and maintain a healthy balance.
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Support and wellbeing resources for PGRs
Quick links to wellbeing, inclusion, and reporting support across the University.
Find out more about the many ways the University can help you take care of your mind, body and spirit so that you are set to manage challenges and fulfil your potential.
Individual student needs, equal access and reasonable adjustments.
This page allows you to report any incident of socially unacceptable behaviour so that the University can identify common issues and offer support. There are two ways to make a report: anonymous or informal. Please note that if you make an anonymous report you may not be contacted or responded to. If you wish to be contacted please use the informal report.
The WEDI Group at the Doctoral College are keen to hear from Postgraduate Researchers across the University. This is your opportunity to connect with the WEDI Group members and share your concerns, suggest new ideas or offer recommendations on improving the PGR experience at the University of Portsmouth. This is a safe and inclusive space so please bring your thoughts, issues, queries and we will try our best to work through them with you! All PGRs are welcome!
Find all event details on our Eventbrite page.
Development opportunities
The Doctoral Development Programme’s (DDP) Personal Effectiveness skills domain can help you make the transition to postgraduate research by developing your ability to manage your research and time, and offer strategies for success and wellbeing.
Workshops can be booked via Skills Forge and resources can be found in Moodle.
Community and culture
As a postgraduate researcher (PGR) at the University of Portsmouth, you are part of a vibrant and supportive research community which is led by the Doctoral College. Networking with fellow researchers across disciplines is invaluable for sharing ideas, insights, and experiences. We encourage you to attend Doctoral College events to build connections and enhance your research journey.
Find out more about PGR research culture and community.
Research Culture Drop-Ins (Online)
Our regular drop-in events provide a relaxed space for PGR students to connect, share experiences, and discuss their research with peers from across the University. Each month, we offer one in-person and one online session, ensuring accessibility and flexibility. These gatherings encourage collaboration, build supportive relationships and create opportunities for academic and personal growth.
Find all event details on our Eventbrite page.
PGR Thesis Cafe (In-Person)
These monthly sessions are opportunities for you to get some research work done in an environment in which mutual support is at hand. The Doctoral College Training Room will be available for you to plug-in and get working in the company of fellow postgraduate research students.
Find all event details on our Eventbrite page.
PGR Society
The Postgraduate Research Society (PGR Society) invites you to connect with students across the University and enhance cross-faculty research culture. This vibrant group, comprising students from all five faculties, represents a global community at various stages of their research journeys. What unites them is the shared experience of navigating the research process together.
Find out more and become a member via the PGR Society page on The Union website.
Further resources
The Doctoral College and WEDI Group have gathered together some further resources that they think might be helpful to postgraduate researchers.
Wellbeing Thesis
The Wellbeing Thesis is an online resource dedicated to supporting postgraduate researcher wellbeing, learning and research.
Researcher Wellbeing Cymru
Researcher Wellbeing Cymru (RWC) is an online resource designed to enable doctoral researchers to foster a healthy sense of wellbeing. It can help you navigate your doctoral journey, become more resilient and identify beneficial ways of working.
Student Minds
Postgraduate research students: looking after your wellbeing - from Student Space, which is part of Student Minds, the UK’s student mental health charity.
Students Against Depression
Students Against Depression provides resources to help you find a way forward - a website offering advice, information and guidance to those affected by low mood, depression and suicidal thinking.
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