NINE DTP funding is available for our awards holders to create a personalised training experience. Candidates can attend our programme of events, apply for small grants to attend and engage in external training opportunities, or even create or propose events of their own devising.

Define your research training programme

Create a personalised research training experience

NINE DTP award-holders have the opportunity to create and shape their own training experience during their PhD.

We offer a rich and diverse set of training opportunities through the DTP. Training is offered through a number of different modes:

  • NINE DTP Autumn Conference and Summer School. These are typically 3-4 day events, offered in November and June respectively, on one or more of the NINE DTP campuses and bring together all of the NINE DTP students from the seven partner institutions for a comprehensive programme covering everything from conceptual questions in the social sciences to strategies for professional development. All costs for attendance by NINE DTP students are covered by the DTP
  • Short courses on personal and professional development and research communication. NINE DTP works with outside experts to teach short (usually 2-4-hour) courses on a range of topics that our research postgraduates have recognised as meeting professional needs. Most of these courses are taught in online or hybrid format, so they’re easily accessible to students from across the DTP. Some of the topics covered in recent years include:
    • Time Management
    • Networking
    • Building confidence and resilience
    • Preparing your CV
    • Preparing for academic and non-academic interviews
    • Presentation Skills
    • Developing podcasts
    • Writing for non-academic audiences
    • Influencing policy
    • Achieving impact
    • Learning to work collaboratively (this is a 6-part course that is required for students in collaborative PhD programmes and optional for others)
  • Multi-day specialised courses led by NINE DTP academic staff. These are courses on topics that cut across pathway specialisations. They are typically taught in-person and run for 1-3 days. In-person attendance by NINE DTP students is covered by the DTP. On a space available basis, students from beyond the DTP or its institutions may be able to attend for a fee. Some of the courses offered in recent years include:
    • Writing Across Boundaries
    • Visual Methodologies
    • International Fieldwork in Development Contexts
    • Participatory Action Research

If you don’t see what you’re looking for on the NINE DTP calendar, there are three other sources you should explore:

  • Institution-sponsored training courses. Most of the NINE DTP partner institutions have centres that provide training in research methods and design, as well as personal and professional development. If your institution doesn’t offer the course that you’re looking for it may be available to you at one of the other NINE DTP institutions. We try listing courses offered at partner institutions, but we’re aware that our listing may be incomplete.
  • RTSG-funded training. You may use a portion of your Research Training and Support Grant (RTSG) to cover fees and other expenses associated with a training course offered outside the NINE DTP framework.
  • Develop your own training event. See below for more information on proposing your own, student-initiated (or student-led) training event.

    RTSG

    Use your RTSG to attend external research training events, conferences and workshops

    Find out more

    Internships and Placements

    Internships and Placements may form an integral part of your training experience

    Find out more

    Student Led or Suggested Events

    Create or Suggest your ideas for new research-related Training Events

    NINE DTP welcomes suggestions from our award-holders around the kind of events they would like to see run. We are particularly keen to encourage and support student-led events.

    These events can be for internal or external audiences, for DTP students or the wider PGR community.

    All award-holders are invited to submit applications for funding to run their own events, or to recruit trainers to lead training courses. Simply complete this form and submit it to the DTP at least two months in advance of the events expected date.

    Student-led Events

    Submit an application to seek funding to support a student-led training event

    Download form

    Development Needs Analysis

    All NINE DTP students will be required to complete an annual Development Needs Analysis exercise. Using the vitae framework, all award-holders will be asked to identify training needs and progress against four key categories:

    • Knowledge and Intellectual Abilities
    • Professional Effectiveness
    • Research Governance and Organisation
    • Engagement, Influence and Impact

    The outcomes of this exercise are analysed on an institutional, pathway and overall DTP level, with the NINE DTP Director reporting the findings to the Academic Quality Committee. The ESRC also review individual responses, to ensure the exercise is being completed effectively and the training needs of our students are being identified and addressed appropriately within our remit.

    We encourage our award-holders to engage with the process, and to use it to shape their own research training experience in conjunction with their supervisors.

    Any questions?

    Contact us