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.

We are now taking a break from the delivery of the programme and designing our Autumn 2026 programme. If you want to see what we've been offering please take a look below at our summer programme and our other resource pages.

We will be updating these sites over the summer and will be completed by beginning of September.

RDO Summer Programme

The RDO Summer Programme supports you to take stock, look ahead, and build confidence in your research and professional development. With a strong focus on career development, conference preparation, and research communication, the programme offers space to reflect on your next steps while developing practical skills to support your progression.

Alongside this focus, we will continue to offer our Writing Support sessions, a range of specialised workshops on Research Practices and Methodologies, and PhD Essentials to help you stay on track at every stage of your journey. We also provide tailored support for those completing a PhD in a second language and for part-time researchers, with evening and Saturday sessions available to improve accessibility.

RDO Summer 2026 Programme

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.

@warwickrdo.bsky.social

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 Moodle

RDO YouTube Videos

RDO Podcasts

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 4^th 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

Our full resources page

RDO Feedback Form

Expression of Interest Form

This is our weekly calendar for when the programme is running. Check in with what is on offer when the Autumn programme starts in October.

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