How we support PhD students

You will be assigned two supervisors who will usually meet with you once a week to provide support.

Additionally, the Department will monitor you each year to ensure that you are on track with your studies and help you to resolve any issues you may have with progression or supervision.

You will also have access to the Doctoral Research Office. Located in the Doctoral and Researcher College, the Doctoral Research Office is a key point of contact for any doctoral researchers who have questions relating to registration, student status, immigration, studentships, University policy and procedures.

Find out how we create an inclusive and supportive environment within the Department

In the first two years of your doctorate, alongside your compulsory taught modules, you will benefit from training programmes including workshops, seminars and regular presentations of your work. You and your supervisor/s will decide which programmes you need to undertake.

At the start of the programme, you will complete a Learning Needs Assessment to determine what training would be beneficial to your studies and ongoing career development. 

Find out more about your training in our Economics PhD Programme Guide.

Over the course of your PhD, you will be involved in opportunities to communicate your work to and network with other researchers, present a seminar, speak at conferences and workshops, and visit or host researchers from elsewhere.

The Department encourages you to attend conferences and other events to widen your network of contacts. We can assist with travel and accommodation arrangements.

The Economics Department holds a regular PhD seminar series, which aims to give you the opportunity to practise speaking about your work at a friendly, informal event. There are also opportunities to teach on undergraduate courses.

In addition to offering training and support to doctoral researchers, the Doctoral and Researcher College co-ordinates a range of activities that brings students together from across the University. These include the annual Doctoral Research Conference, an event that showcases the variety and excellence of postgraduate research taking place at Reading. The conference features a number of competitions and presentations including the PhD researcher of the year award.

Another event that celebrates academic excellence is the Doctoral and Researcher College's annual public lecture – the Fairbrother Lecture – delivered by a current or recent postgraduate research student. This is a fantastic opportunity for a wider audience to hear about the high quality doctoral research taking place at Reading.