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New PGRs
Our website for new researchers is designed to help you navigate the early days of your research degree.
The new postgraduate researcher webpages provide all the information you need to get started, bringing together resources from the main Sussex website in addition to video interviews with Sussex PGRs and staff, sharing lots of advice on making the most of your time here.
PGR Induction, Monday 29 September 2025
We are pleased to welcome all new postgraduate researchers (PGRs) to the Sussex Researcher School in September 2025.
Our induction events will introduce some of the key services that support PGRs at Sussex, offer a chance to meet other new PGRs and get to know the research community, and provide a space to ask questions of experienced PGRs and staff who support researchers within Schools.
While most of these events will be held in person, we know you may not be on campus in the first few weeks. For those of you who won't be able to join us, recordings and slides of the Sussex Researcher School Induction will be added onto . You will also find recordings and slides from induction events from previous years there.
| PGR Induction on Monday 29 September 2025 |
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9.15am - 3pm, Bramber House Conference Centre, see campus map and Library floor map for directions. |
Registration: tea, coffee and pastries9.15 - 9.45am |
Icebreaker activity9.45 - 10am |
Welcome session10 - 11.20am This session will introduce you to the key parts within the Ò»±¾µÀ that can provide structure and support for you throughout your PGR studies. You’ll also learn more about the key source of structure and support, your supervisor/s, and how to ensure that your relationship is placed on a firm footing. |
Starting your Research Degree panels11.20am - 12.45pm Make a successful start to your research degree with this panel discussion developed to prepare you for the journey ahead. Panellists will include Research and Enterprise Coordinators (RECs) and Directors of Postgraduate Researchers (DPGRs), who support PGRs within the Schools, alongside later-stage PGRs who can share their experiences of sitting where you are now! |
Market Stalls and lunch12.45 - 1.30pm Find out about the various services around campus, chat to staff, and get to know other new researchers over food and refreshments. |
Workshop on developing a Personal Development Plan1.30 - 3pm The Personal Development Plan is a key document that you will revisit throughout your research degree. In this interative workshop, you'll learn about the concept, purpose and benefits of developing a PDP and have a go at writing your own, with help from your peers. |
Previous Induction on September 2024
The recording below is from last year’s Welcome Talks for new postgraduate researchers. It offers an introduction to the research community at Sussex and key information to help you settle in. Please note that some details may have changed since the session took place.
During the main morning session of the Sussex Researcher School Induction Day, Prof Jeremy Niven and Susanna Broom, Dean and Head of the Sussex Researcher School respectively, introduced postgraduate research at Sussex and the Sussex Researcher School offer.
They were followed by representatives from Student Advice and Guidance, Therapeutic Services and the Students' Union, discussing the support and services available for PGRs at Sussex. The session wrapped up with a short group activity on supervisory expectations led by Prof Jeremy Niven.
PowerPoint slides from the session:
The afternoon session of the Sussex Researcher School Induction Day, which took place on 23 September 2024, This session focused on the Researcher Development workshops available to PGRs at Sussex.
You will hear from Researcher Development representative Alex Aghajanian, Careers and Entrepreneurship's PGR lead Andy Howard and Tomasz Kowalczyk from Library Research Support.
Read through the slides for an introduction to Personal Development Plans and the teams that can support your learning at Sussex, then use the template to start mapping out your training needs as you start your research degree.
Other PGR Induction documents:
PGR Essentials recordings
The recordings below are from our PGR Essentials workshops held last year, designed to support new PGRs as they begin their research journey at Sussex.
While some details may have changed since then, the sessions still provide valuable guidance and insights to help you get started.
You can not collect any new data from humans, animals, social media or conduct auto-ethnographic research without having received ethics approval beforehand, so at this early stage of your postgraduate research, it is essential to understand the ethics approval process.
This workshop looked at the key principles of undertaking ethical research, and explained how to go about obtaining ethical approval from the University's Ethics team. There were also opportunities to consider some case studies, ask questions about your own work, and gain insights on how to embed good ethical practices in your research.
PowerPoint slides from the session:
Facilitated by the Innovation and Business Partnerships team, this session will equip you with practical knowledge to navigate the world of IP, ensuring your hard work is protected and ready for future opportunities.
PowerPoint slides from the session: