- personal attention from your tutor, advisor, or research degree supervisor
- our Doctoral School provides a home for researchers, integrating them into the wider University research community and enhancing local arrangements in schools of studies
- research skills training helps your academic career develop
- opportunities to get involved with research groups tackling real-world problems
The Library houses the Sussex Research Hive, a dedicated graduate study area for doctoral students and researchers
As a postgraduate research (PGR) student your primary source of academic support will be your main supervisor. You will also be assigned a second supervisor and have a further member of academic staff who oversees your research degree. The overall responsibility for research students in each school of studies rests with the school's Director of Doctoral Studies.
In addition to the support of your school of studies, you are automatically enrolled as a member of the University's Doctoral School. The Doctoral School is a distinctive development at Sussex, operating alongside our schools of studies. The Doctoral School recognises that the more than 1,200 postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers at Sussex are a fundamental part of the University’s intellectual vitality and seeks to enable you to feel fully integrated as a member of the wider research community of the University.
The Doctoral School provides a stimulating environment to support the skills development of our research students, helping them prepare for their future careers. This includes a programme of courses designed to meet the skills training requirements of doctoral researchers and to help you successfully complete your degree.
Also visit Professional development for researchers and Doctoral School.
Shadreck's student perspective
‘What's struck me most about Sussex during my time here is that we, as students, are viewed not just as a statistic but as individuals. In particular, the staff at the Doctoral Training Centre have been very friendly and supportive, as well as offering me a range of personal and professional development opportunities such as the Vitae career development programme and the Training Needs Analysis initiative. Whether you intend to remain in academia or pursue a career outside a university context, the Doctoral Training Centre is on hand to support you.
‘These schemes, alongside the existing interdisciplinary culture of the University and the vast range of social activities and networking events provided by individual schools, mean that you have the chance to interact with professionals and fellow students from a myriad of disciplines and backgrounds, creating a lively doctoral community.’
Shadreck Mwale
PhD in Sociology
Sebastian's student perspective
‘Sussex offers an outstanding academic experience, but I also very quickly got to love its supportive and family-like environment – you never feel isolated and left alone with your research.
‘As a member of the Doctoral School I've had the opportunity to enrol on some of the many modules run by experts designed to help you realise and further develop your transferable skills. Regular research seminars across the subjects, together with knowledge hubs such as the Research Hive in the Library, build on the strong interdisciplinary tradition of the University. They've provided me with an excellent opportunity to broaden my horizons and given me the chance to tap into the vast knowledge base that a research-intensive institution such as Sussex thrives on.
‘I like to think of myself as an early career researcher in need of experience and guidance in preparation for the next step. To me, it feels like this is exactly what Sussex is about, shaping us into individuals able to fulfil our potential, while giving us the freedom to explore our own ideas and undertake exciting research with some of the most remarkable researchers in the field.’
Sebastian Weidt
PhD in Physics