Researcher Development
The Researcher Development programme is provided by the Doctoral College to help you get the best out of your time at Warwick and the best out of yourself.
The RDO programme is designed to help you make the most of your time at Warwick and of yourself. We offer a wide range of workshops to support your research, your personal, and your professional development. The curriculum is comprehensive, integrating intellectual expansion with wellbeing. Our holistic approach recognises PGRs as researchers and academics, and also as individuals with diverse needs. We offer four main pillars of support: Research Methods, Writing, PhD Essentials and Career Development and two additional programmes Accelerator Series ( designed for first years PGRs specifically) and for those undertaking their PhD in second ( or third) language.
The programme is organised by Early, Mid and Late Stage PhD suggesting sessions that you may want to attend depending where you are in your PhD and work life. This will allow you to prioritise which sessions to attend over the years and assure you that support is available no matter what stage of your research life you are in.
We also run sessions to support you if you are researching part time, around family or in are working in your second or third language. We offer sessions at the weekends and evenings for those who find these times more convenient. Where we can we also have included workshop dates for next Spring so that if you cannot attend something this term, there may be a date already planned for next year.
Autumn Programme 2025 (by Pillar & Stage)
Early Stage PhD Autumn Programme
Mid Stage PhD Autumn Programme
Late Stage PhD Autumn Programme
Bookings open on Skills Forge on 10th September
Want to know even more - then check out our presentation Researcher Development 2025-2026 ( we suggest you use the arrow buttons on your keyboard to match your reading speed)
Check out our How to guides for SkillsForge
"The prime gain from doing a PhD is little to do with the subject.
It is the life skills; surviving countless struggles, persisting through difficult times, becoming a resourceful problem solver and independent thinker; and knowing when to ask for help.
Invaluable for any future role!!"
Researcher Development Team
Want to keep up with what is on offer each week- then join our 1500+ community on our
Researcher Development Online Teams
Want to hear more about events and activities across Warwick, to publicise your own events, to get updates on workshops and also conferences, work opportunities, then do join this site. There is only one tagged post per week ( on a Wednesday) so your inbox will not be blocked with communications from us.
Researcher Development Online (RDO)
RDO is a Performance Coaching programme to help you get the best from yourself whilst studying for your research degree. We run small, bespoke online workshops online via RDO Teams. The programme runs throughout the year including evenings, weekends and vacation periods; so hopefully you will find an event which suits your timing.
Researcher Development Online Moodle
Want the Top Tips from your workshop?Looking for the follow up material?
Or do you want a refresher of the key areas covered in your workshop?
Or maybe you're on the waiting list for the workshop and want some key learning now?
Check out our
Researcher Development Programme - the 6 Pillars of Support
Our approach to PGR development is holistic, which acknowledges that PGRs are researchers and academics, and also multifaceted individuals with diverse needs. We offer a comprehensive and integrative curriculum that supports your intellectual development and also your wellbeing. Success encompasses more than just research achievements; it also includes the overall fulfilment and growth of an individual. For this, we've designed our sessions around six main 'pillars' of support:
Accelerator series –Sessions that will get your PhD off to the best start. It will bring you into contact with other new arrivals at Warwick, starting to build your professional network and peer group of colleagues. Check out what is specifically available for you in the next few months.
PhD Essentials: Includes our Productivity and Wellbeing series, Communicating Research, and . The key areas that we all will need to cover no matter what our discipline and sessions to keep us on track, motivated, and meeting milestones.
Research Practices & Methodologies series- in addition to our popular research methods training we also focus on integrity, ethics, planning and team working
PhD in Second Language Series – If you are doing your PhD in your second, third or even 4th language then we run weekly sessions focussing on writing, presenting, speaking and also navigating strange accents and British culture. See our specific support for you
Writing Support- we start from the basics of sentence structure, through to writing your first press release. We cover how to manage large volumes of material, organising your argument, signposting and storyboarding. And when you are writing up, we offer retreats, proof reading circles and creative writing sessions to deal with writers block. Check out our dedicated Writing page
Planning your Career Path: our dedicated summer programme - we need to start thinking and planning where next, so that we can make the most of any opportunities we have during our PhD. Check out our dedicated Careers page
Coming up in the next weeks of the RDO Autumn programme
No events to show.
Bookings open 10th September
Do you have any questions? Contact us via RDcontact@warwick.ac.uk or use the Contact and Feedback Form
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