Training suggestions

We offer courses tailored to those in the first year of research. Other units can offer more specialised help, such as English language courses.

Training courses

We recommend attending some of the following courses we run:

  • Plan your PhD
  • Information Resources
  • How to be an Effective Researcher
  • Relevant IT courses
  • Getting started with Postgraduate Research

Find out about these and our full range of training courses by visiting the courses and events pages.

Courses and events for PhD students

You may also find the research data management online course 'MANTRA' useful:

MANTRA: research data management online course for PhD students

Writing a first year report

The University's English Language Education unit (ELE) offer a 'Writing Your PhD First-Year Report' course. It can be studies online or on campus. The course is designed to support University of Edinburgh research students in their first year as they prepare their First-Year Report. It focuses on enhancing academic literacies essential for scholarly writing. Through lectures, analysis of authentic reports, and weekly tasks, you will learn about the typical structures and language features of these documents.

You can find out more at the ELE website:

Writing up a first year report

Support for teaching

Information about:

  • courses and events for tutors and demonstrators
  • advice and support for tutoring and demonstrating
  • resources for tutors and demonstrators

Tutors and demonstrators: further queries and contact details

Contact details

Resources

You may also find it useful to download the PhD Planner.

Doing a skills audit to help plan your development

Doing an audit (i.e. an assessment) of your skills now is useful; if you can identify what skills are important to your research success, and whether you are strong or weak in these areas. You can then focus your precious time on developing the areas that will help you most.

Other sources of support

International Students

Get help with English language skills; sign up to some of the training offered by English Language Education.

Find out about the English Language Education

The University's Immigration Advisory Service can offer advice and support throughout your time in Edinburgh.

Get help from the University’s Student Immigration Advisory Service

Vitae

It is also worth looking at the advice and resources available from Vitae, the UK’s national body for supporting research students and staff.

Vitae: planning your doctorate wall planner