Postgraduate community and research culture
As a research student you spend a significant amount of time focusing on your individual research interests. However, you are also a member of a vibrant and supportive postgraduate research community.
Research seminars and conferences
Digital Humanities Institute (DHI)
Lunchtime Seminars: In the DHI, we will encourage you to get involved in our lunchtime research seminars, which will take place throughout the academic year. This is a casual and non-formal opportunity for DHI colleagues and PGR students to present their research to one another.
Business Leader Talks: Each year the DHI hosts a series of talks by business leaders who have created and run some of the UK’s leading technology and new media projects in the cultural industries. It is an opportunity for you to hear their ideas, and share their journeys and experiences in a series of in-person talks at the University. All DHI students will be invited to these. Find out more here.
Digital Humanities Congress (DHC): The Digital Humanities Congress is a conference held in Sheffield every two years. Its purpose is to promote the sharing of knowledge, ideas and techniques within the digital humanities. Some of the papers presented at the Digital Humanities Congress are available via DHI Books, our online publication website.
You are, of course, more than welcome to form your own DHI research reading groups, seminars, and events! If you have any ideas or would like further advice, please contact dhi-pgr@sheffield.ac.uk.
Faculty of Arts & Humanities
Arts & Humanities Research Community: The Faculty of Arts & Humanities hold various departmental research seminars, lectures, reading groups, and other research events which may also be of interest. These are open to all students/staff and members of the public. To find out more, please visit the links below:
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Faculty Research Centres (some of these research centres hold their own seminars, lectures, and other events which might be of interest)
Faculty Graduate School
The Faculty of Arts and Humanities Graduate School aims to provide a central point of support for all postgraduate students studying in the Faculty. This includes a wonderful Graduate School Centre, which is a dedicated space for all Arts & Humanities postgraduate research students to use!
Doctoral Development Programme (DDP)
The Doctoral Development Programme (DDP) is a flexible training plan for all doctoral researchers. It helps you progress through your research studies by identifying your existing skills and providing opportunities to further develop your skills and experience.
About the Doctoral Development Programme (DDP)
Research, Partnership and Innovation
The University of Sheffield Research, Partnership and Innovation (RPI) support postgraduate research (PGR) students and staff with all aspects of University regulations and policies concerning postgraduate study.
The University of Sheffield is committed to supporting researchers by enhancing their experience at the University and contributing to their career development. This includes supporting PGR students with their Researcher Development. The Research Development team can help with:
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Academic writing support
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Career development
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Leadership and management opportunities
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Mentoring and coaching programmes
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Researcher wellbeing
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Researcher events and publications
You will also be encouraged to explore resources from the University's Think Ahead, which is a framework for the continuous professional development of researchers at the University of Sheffield, supporting individual career ambitions in and beyond academia. The Think Ahead team can provide support via:
- Think Ahead's Writing Retreats
- Annual Research Development programmes (includes various workshops/courses/activities throughout the academic year)
- Think Further (your monthly coaching prompt)
- Researcher-led networks
University of Sheffield postgraduate community
With the extra demands of postgraduate study, we know that meeting other students isn’t always easy, so don’t worry if you’re finding this a bit difficult! Coming to events or joining a club or society is a great way to meet people, but that’s not the only way.
Below are some university social media platforms which you may find useful for connecting with other postgraduates:
- The Instagram Postgraduate Community is run by the Students' Union (SU) Postgraduate Officer. Here you can find out the latest postgraduate social events and connect with other students from the University of Sheffield.
SU Instagram Postgraduate Community
- The Facebook Postgraduate Community is a group run by fellow postgraduate students at the Students' Union (SU). This Facebook page also provides the latest news and updates for postgraduate taught and research students to get involved in a range of activities.
SU Facebook Postgraduate Community
Other useful resources:
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Postgraduate Hub: This is the Students' Union (SU) main hub for all postgraduate students. This is where you can find out the latest updates from your Postgraduate Students’ Officer, read about relevant campaigns, and be in the know about upcoming events and opportunities for postgraduate students. You can also find out more about some of the SU's postgrad friendly societies.
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Postgraduate Committee: The Postgraduate Committee is a representative student committee within the Students’ Union (SU), which aims to specifically support and represent postgraduate students in both the Students' Union and University.
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The Students' Union (SU): the SU is run by students for students. They are here to represent, support and enhance the lives of all University of Sheffield students. With over 370 societies and 58 student-led society and representation groups, the SU is a great place to meet new people and develop your current interests or learn something completely new.
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Umii App: Connect with other postgraduate students at the University of Sheffield (download Umii from Google Play or the App Store).