Author Archives: linaelazhab
PGR Cost of Living Bursary
The University of Northampton recognises that the cost of living crisis presents challenges to students who are studying here, and is developing a number of initiatives to support you. The Graduate School has therefore designed a new scheme, the PGR Cost of Living Bursary. This is intended to provide some support to PGRs who are struggling financially, by awarding grants of £500.
The application form is here, which contains details about eligibility and how to apply. The deadline for applications is 2 December and completed applications should be emailed to Laura Pereira. If you have any queries, you are welcome to email Matthew McCormack for advice.
Presentation Café on the 23rd of November
The Graduate School invites PGRs to the Presentation Café on the 23rd of November at 2 to 3pm.
Presentation Cafés are a great opportunity for PGRs to practice their presenting skills to each other and to gain confidence and feedback. Whether you are practising for a Transfer seminar, a presentation for a conference or simply talk about your research to others, the presentation cafes are there for you. We will be holding these every month. Presentations should be 10-15 minutes long with time for questions after.
To sign up to present your research at a café, please go fill in this form.
To be in the audience (no presenting required!) just click on the green Respond button on the café workshop page on Gateway. Please note, do think about signing up to make a presentation – we will have to cancel sessions if we don’t have any presenters!
There are more Presentation Cafés scheduled for:
Wondering how to start your very own Research Blog? Join our new online workshop
A practical introduction to creating and publishing a Blog for your Research (online workshop)
24 Nov 2022, 12:00 to 14:00
Have you ever thought about starting a Research Blog but wasn’t sure where to begin or how to go about it?
Keeping a Research Blog is an excellent way to document your experience, keep track of your progress and share your research journey with others.
The Graduate School is hosting “A practical introduction to creating and publishing a Blog for your Research”, an online workshop that will introduce you to creating and setting up a blog on Campus Press (the University’s version of WordPress), how to customise it to your needs and how to publish it.
Find out more and sign up for the workshop on Gateway.
Are you a PGR in the beginning stages of your research journey?
Whether you have just joined the University of Northampton or have been with us for some time and need a refresher on the beginning stages of your research journey, the Graduate School would like to invite you to our Development Day: Getting Started which will take place online on November 22 from 10:00 to 16:30.
This series of webinars is for students who have recently joined a research degree programme at the University of Northampton. We will cover what to expect in your first year, how to prepare for key stages and events in your research project and how to prepare for the ethical approval process. There will be plenty of opportunity for questions and discussion.
To find out more information and to sign up please follow this link to the event’s Gateway page.
Research student and supervisor toolkits on the web
Here are links to the supervisor toolkit, the research student toolkit and Information for examiners on the university websites:
Supervisor toolkit, including information on examination (requires login to the Staff Intranet)
Student toolkit (requires login to Student Hub)
Explore the UK’s museums for just £5
Museums and galleries offer a unique cultural experience, but ticket prices can often be unaffordable for regular visits. Fortunately, the Student Art Pass offers free or reduced-price access to arts experiences across the UK, and an opportunity to get involved with a variety of museums and arts organisations. It lets you dive into culture on a budget with free entry to hundreds of museums and galleries across the UK, and 50% off major exhibitions.
You’ll gain access to paid arts opportunities and grow your network by joining the #WeAreArtful @StudentArtPass community. The Pass costs just £5 for a year and is available for a limited time until 12 December to all full-time students studying any subject. You can get your Student Art Pass here.
Black in the Ivory Conference on Wed 19th + other remaining Black History Month events
In observation of Black History Month, there are still several events planned by the UON GEM network happening soon.
The Black in the Ivory Conference, which is a Colloquium of Women Professor of Colour will take place this Wednesday the 19th. It is a free, one-day colloquium featuring research paper presentations from women professors of colour leading race equality. The conference will be held in a hybrid format, so you can attend online, or in person at Waterside Campus. To book, please go to the Eventbrite page. The conference is free and public, so all are welcome to attend.

As well as the Black in the Ivory Conference, a number of other remaining events by the GEM network are taking place in the next two weeks. Please see the calendar above – everyone is welcome. For your free ticket scan the QR code below or contact Gemstaffnetwork@northampton.ac.uk.
Event – Graduate School Development Day: Finishing

The Graduate School’s new Development days are monthly, in-person events on campus, with lunch. These will offer experiential learning, discussion and networking, group work and collaboration – all those things that are far better delivered in-person than online. Each day will have a theme and our first day is on Finishing your Doctorate
Our Graduate School Development Day: Finishing is happening on campus on the 14th of November! It is a full day event (with lunch provided!) designed for those who are in the writing up stage of their doctorate. Consisting of two parts, it will start with a workshop led by Prof Ian Livingstone about editing and proofreading your work. It will be followed by a session with Dr Emel Thomas which will explore the core aspects of the viva experience and include a Q&A panel with UON doctoral alumni.
If you are in the final stages of writing your thesis and preparing for the viva, we invite you to join us for this day packed with valuable information and opportunities to network with your fellow researchers. Find out more information about the sessions and schedule and register for the Development Day on Gateway.
What would your research look like as an image? Images of Research is back!

Winner of the UON Images of Research 2021-22 by Oluwaseyi Omoloso (as chosen by our guest judge)
The Graduate School’s Images of Research (IoR) competition returns! All researchers (staff or research students) at the University of Northampton are invited to participate as the Call for Images is now open. Create a unique image – a painting or a photograph – that captures the essence of your research or captures an element of it in an artistic way. Include a catchy title and a 150 word summary and your entry for Images of Research will be ready for submission. You can find more information on how to apply in the IoR 2022-23 Rules and Guidelines.
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