Doctoral College

Focusing on all matters related to postgraduate research degrees

Welcome to the Doctoral College

The Doctoral College works with staff and students across the entire University to ensure that our diverse community of postgraduate and postdoctoral early career researchers is offered the best possible experience.

Its primary purpose is to support excellence and employability across all stages of the researcher journey by facilitating and providing first class training and excellent supervision, cohort development, networking opportunities and mentoring. The Doctoral College acts a centre of expertise in postgraduate research and is responsible for the quality assurance and enhancement of the University's research degree programmes.

The Doctoral College aims to stimulate and facilitate a vibrant intellectual environment across and between disciplines for all research degrees candidates, as well as postdoctoral early career researchers, allowing each individual to reach their full potential.

It runs training sessions for supervisors and examiners, University-level inductions for new students, as well as an established and successful Researcher Development Programme that includes a wide range of courses and sessions to help postgraduate and postdoctoral early career researchers develop and broaden their research and transferable skills. These are all free for research students and staff at the University.

Doctoral College staff are available to answer your questions about any aspect of postgraduate research, from eligibility to applying to funding opportunities to examination: doctoralcollege@plymouth.ac.uk

Find out about our internationally renowned research and expertise.

Tweets from @PlymUniPGR

All you need to know

Postgraduate research degrees

Find out more about the research degrees we offer, our areas of expertise and supervision, what studentships are available and how to apply.

You will join a vibrant, supportive and forward-thinking community, that is committed to meeting global challenges in creative and imaginative ways.

Explore the opportunities available to you

Images of Research Exhibition

An exhibition of images that captured the true essence of our postgraduates' research.

The University’s Doctoral College invited postgraduate research students and staff to submit an eye-catching photographic image, and captivating description, for the third Images of Research competition.

Prize winners received up to £150 in research travel or research funding, selected by public votes cast in the Research Festival 2020.

The exhibition was on display in Roland Levinsky Building 20-23 January, with public voting on 20 & 21 January.

Interested in participating next year? Keep an eye out for the Call for Submissions in the Autumn.

Find out more about the competition

The Research Degrees Handbook

Guidance for research degree students, academic staff, examination teams and professional staff.

This handbook includes an introduction to the Doctoral College and the University's Code of Practice for research degrees, covering enrolment, supervision, key milestones and examination. It should be read in conjunction with University-wide academic regulations and the University student handbook.

Research Degrees Handbook