If you have a network you wish to share and add to this webpage please email: doctoral.college@exeter.ac.uk.
Networks
Support and Social Networks
Support and Social Networks
Academic Networks
PGR Study Space is an online writing space supported by the Doctoral College and run by a team of PGRs. It is open to anyone across the PGR community, whatever subject you are studying and wherever you are based. PGR Study Space offers structured sessions using the pomodoro technique, which Cirillo (1980) named after a kitchen timer shaped like a tomato. The objective of the pomodoro technique is to focus on one short task for 25 minutes, followed by a 5 minute break. The aim is to find support (or a sense of belonging) in the PGR community, avoid procastination and improve productivity.
Those that attend PGR Study Space have said:
"Having a community to share ‘space’ with while you work has been hugely beneficial. Even if one of us gets distracted during a session we can share this, and the others immediately jump in with support. Anything goes in these sessions, we can spend a session writing emails, prepping for teaching, writing the news in Cornish for the BBC, chapter structures, re-writes, editing, documents for supervisors and so on. All these are part of the PhD journey and [PGR Study Space] allows for this and so the academic guilt is diffused."- Lucy Hilliar, PGR in History
Full details about PGR Study Space can be found here.
Social Networks
The PG Society (society part of the Students Guild Exeter) is a society set up by postgraduates for postgraduates dedicated specifically to postgraduate social life. If you are one of the thousands of Masters/PhD students on campus, this is the society you belong in.
Full details available on the PG Society website.
Calling all Postgraduate Researchers with families! PAFs is a mature PGR group aimed at PGRs with parents and/or partners. Our group runs various meet-ups and events throughout the year. We started in November 2023, so the group is fairly new and we have a lovely and supportive group of PhD students who like to connect with other students with family responsibilities. So far, we have organised an end of year family party, workshops on how the UK school system works, PAF-ed Out Yoga for stressed PGR parents, picnics, Ramadan Iftar, weekend meetups, and this June we have the big family picnic coming up with lots of fun and games. We aim to be inclusive, so whether you are campus or distance based, please connect with us and we try will organise events around the needs of all PGRs.
If you would like to join our supportive and friendly group, please join our mailing list to be kept up to date with the events we organise here or contact Lyndsey Carmichael- lc823@exeter.ac.uk.
The University offers a range of regular weekly/monthly groups focused around specific interests. These are open to all staff and PGRs. Some are run by a professional/experienced coach, teacher or group leader. Others are staff-organised social groups. Groups range from walking groups and role-playing games to crafts, singing and mindful meditation. Many are free and those which aren’t, you can pay the instructor directly. You can see the timetable for current online and in-person groups here as well as seeing those we usually run, AND check this link for the free classes by the Sports Park.
If you are interested in setting up a group, please email colleaguewellbeing@exeter.ac.uk.
You can also explore the University's gym, swim and fitness classes membership options, and the £10 per month wellbeing membership, Ex-Hale.
Although the University's mature students' online forum is not specific to PGRs- it covers all students across the University who are 30 and over- we recognise that it may be of relevance to some of our PGRs. Please find the link to join the pilot scheme here.