Postgraduate researchers

The University Careers service is for all students, not just undergraduates. No matter where you are in your career journey, our professional team can offer you help and advice in achieving your goals.

The Careers service is based on the ground floor of the Carrington building and offers support in the form of one-on-one careers appointments, workshops, advice sessions and recruitment events. Read more about how the University's Careers service can help you during your studies and beyond by visiting their webpages. 

The Graduate School is located on Whiteknights campus, in Old Whiteknights House, providing dedicated space for postgraduate researchers to work and relax. As a postgraduate researcher, you will be given secure access to a wide range of facilities 24 hours a day.

If you require a desk and computer, you can either visit our hot-desk computer room for space as and when you need it, or request an allocated desk for up to a year. In Old Whiteknights House you will have access to photocopying, scanning and printing facilities, as well as Wi-Fi access via our secure network. There is a meeting room available to book, as well as a seminar room equipped with state-of-the-art IT facilities. 

Our Graduate Common Room is the ideal space to take a break and catch up with friends. There are lockers and kitchen facilities available for your use. 

Our well equipped Library  provides access to thousands of print and digital resources, including a wide range of e-books, e-journals and key primary and secondary source databases. It also offers a mixture of bookable study spaces, computing facilities and study support from Academic Liaison Librarians, Study Advisers, and the Maths Support team. 

The Research Engagement Team in the Library can help you:

•    decide where to publish your research
•    achieve Open Access for your research outputs via CentAUR, the University’s institutional repository and via our Gold Open Access funds
•    track the impact of your research via bibliometrics and altmetrics
•    manage, preserve and share your research data and other research materials
•    adopt an Open Research approach

The International Student Advisory Team are able to advise you on all aspects of being an international student in the UK. They can provide professional and confidential support with a range of issues, including:

• Helping you (and your family if applicable) settle in the UK when you arrive
• Understanding the UK culture and developing integration skills
• Providing information about the local area and places of interest
• General advice and signposting to what is available at the University to enable you to make the most of your time here.

They also run events throughout the year aimed at helping international students to make the most of their experience studying in the UK.

Completing a PhD can sometimes feel like a lonely process - but it important to know that you are not alone, and there are lots of other people in the same position. The Graduate School hosts a variety of events, giving you the chance to step away from your research, connect with others, relax and be inspired. We also provide support for you to arrange your own academic, networking and social events.

From breakfast clubs, parties and quizzes to our annual conference and Fairbrother Lecture, showcasing the work of current postgraduate researchers, there are plenty of ways to build your network, exchange ideas and make new friends. Read more about our social and networking opportunities, and see our list of upcoming events on the Graduate School webpages.

There is a range of support available to students bringing their families to Reading. 

Accommodation for couples and families

If you are looking for accommodation, the University has a range of accommodation suitable for for couples and families. More information can be found on our Accommodation pages. Please note that demand for accommodation is high, so you should apply as soon as you can through the Me@Reading Applicant Portal.

If you are looking for private accommodation in the local area, RUSU have compiled a list of letting agents, and can offer advice on a range of topics including housing law, contracts and your rights and responsibilities as a tenant. See the RUSU Housing Advice webpages for more information.

On-campus childcare

Little Learners is an Ofsted-registered nursery that offers childcare exclusively to students and staff of the University. The nursery has 94 places for children aged from three months to five years.

The Little Owl Preschool is also based on campus and offers children a safe and happy place to play, learn and develop before going on to meet the demands of school.

Both the nursery and preschool are very popular with students and there may be a waiting list for a place. You should contact the option that you are interested in as soon as you have accepted your offer to discuss securing a place for your child.

Find more information on childcare options on our Graduate School webpages.

Connect with other families

You may wish to join the PhD Parents at the University of Reading Facebook group, which aims to provide support and encouragement to current doctoral researchers who are pregnant, or who have children or other live-in dependants.

Completing your postgraduate programme may bring challenges at times. The University is here to support you, and there are a range of services available to help you make the most of your experience.

Support Centres are your first port of call for all questions, help or advice throughout your time at Reading. They are staffed by Student Support Coordinators who are able to advise you on a range of academic and non-academic issues. Visit the Support Centres page for more information.

Academic support

• Your supervisor - a member of academic staff in your School or Department who acts as a key point of contact throughout your course. Your supervisor works in partnership with the University’s wider support services to support your academic, personal and professional development.

Personal wellbeing

• Counselling and Wellbeing service: Based in the Carrington building, this free service is available to all students at the University. Our multidisciplinary team of qualified counsellors, social workers and mental health nurses are able to give advice and support with a wide range of issues and are always happy to help. To find out more about the service and how to make an appointment, check out their pages on Essentials.

• RUSU Advice service: Available to all students, the RUSU Advice service can give guidance and support in many areas including housing, personal welfare and financial matters. The RUSU Advisers run drop-in sessions where no appointment is needed. To find out more, visit the RUSU website.

• Disability Advisory service: The University of Reading welcomes disabled students and has a dedicated Disability Advisory Service. The service offers advice and guidance to students with any disability, mental health condition, or specific learning difficulty (SpLD). The service can help you in a number of ways, including arranging non-medical helpers, liaising with the exams office to make special exam arrangements and referral to other services. Find out more about the Disability Advisory service and how they can help on their webpages.  

• International Student Advisory team: This is a dedicated service aimed at providing advice and support to international students during their time at university. The team can provide support and guidance with a wide range of issues such as visas and immigration, bringing your family to the UK, and information about the local area. They run regular events aimed at helping international students to network and settle in to life in the UK. Find out more about the team.

In addition to your studies, there are a number of training opportunities available which are designed to help you with your studies and in your career. Here are some of the training opportunities we currently offer: 

• The Reading Researcher Development Programme: While the focus of your doctoral programme is on expanding your knowledge of your research topic, developing the skills to do this effectively and professionally is an important part of our work with you. As a result, we have created the Reading Researcher Development Programme (RRDP), which allows you to tailor your learning to your personal development needs. Find out more about the benefits of the programme and how to take part here.

• Leadership Programme: Our intensive, three-day Leadership Programme, run jointly between the Graduate School and Henley Business School, is designed specifically for you to experience and develop your skills in leadership. Find out more about what the programme covers and how it can benefit you both in your studies and your professional life on the Graduate School website.

• Preparing to Teach Programme: As a postgraduate researcher you may have the opportunity to support the teaching and learning of other students. Covering the essentials of teaching, marking and giving feedback, the Preparing to Teach programme will ensure you have the training you need. Read more and find out how to book your place.

• PhD Plus Programme: Our PhD Plus programme is designed to meet the specific needs of overseas lecturers who want to study for a PhD while also learning about higher education in the UK and improving their teaching skills. At no additional cost, this enhanced PhD programme offers participants the chance to gain an insight into teaching and learning within the UK Higher Education sector, and undertake specialist training, whilst simultaneously pursuing PhD study. Find out more about the programme.

As a student at the University of Reading, you will also have access to a wide array of online training courses, volunteering and outreach activities and career development resources.