{"id":3085,"date":"2025-07-22T15:08:50","date_gmt":"2025-07-22T15:08:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/doctoralresearcherdevelopmentprogramme\/?page_id=3085"},"modified":"2026-03-11T15:58:38","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T15:58:38","slug":"doctoral-essentials","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/blog.westminster.ac.uk\/doctoralresearcherdevelopmentprogramme\/doctoral-essentials\/","title":{"rendered":"Doctoral Essentials"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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In addition to your induction<\/a>, plan to attend the DRDP workshops identified as \u2018essential\u2018: <\/strong> these cover core skills for your development as a researcher, preparation for key stages of the doctoral process and your Annual Performance Review (APR) alongside important information relating to the requirements of your PhD. The rest of the DRDP contains optional sessions to further your development as a researcher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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First Year Essential Workshops<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your Research at Westminster and Introduction to the DRDP<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Wednesday 28 January 2026, 10:00-15:30, In Person, UG02, Regent Street<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Book in Inkpath<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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This workshop will start to get you thinking about the kind of researcher you are. Are you goal oriented? What form of learning best suits you? How do you relate to others involved in your research? This will help you begin to answer these questions and will suggest active and productive strategies to make sure that your style as a researcher works for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It will also consider the activities which frame your research, but are crucial to its success, such as time management, academic writing and reading skills, networking (this is your opportunity to work with your peers from across the university), working with your supervisor, planning for the first 90 days of your doctoral degree, and much more!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With over 60 workshops on offer in the Doctoral Researcher Development Programme (DRDP), it is useful to plan ahead in terms of which ones to prioritise, and how to approach different ways of thinking around gaining new skills and knowledge \u2013 these are all issues covered at the session. We will explore the field of research development, address any questions about the DRDP workshops and help to clarify the distinction between the workshops offered by the Graduate School and the discipline specific ones organised by the individual schools. Open to all new doctoral researchers, this workshop will also be a way to meet doctoral researchers from other disciplines as well as a way to make new friends!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This workshop aligns with the Vitae Researcher Development Framework descriptors:
1.1 Development Focused; 1.2 Strategic; 1.3 Organised 1.8 Motivated; 3.2 Project Management; 5.1 Research Culture; <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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The Ethical Researcher<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

NEW DATE ANNOUNCED: Monday 30 March 2026, 10am – 1pm, UG.02, Regent St<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Book in Inkpath<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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All research involves important but sometimes complex engagements with other people \u2013 colleagues, supervisors, participants, interviewees, and so on. Primarily for new doctoral researchers, The Ethical Researcher<\/em> covers the ways research demands ethical and responsible behaviours. It covers the university\u2019s ethical approval processes, researcher safety, responsibility toward research participants and the secure handling of data. Discussion focuses on a series of scenarios and case studies and is always lively!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This workshop aligns with the Vitae Researcher Development Framework descriptors:
1.7 Reflexive; 1.9 Reponsible; 3.3 Risk Management; 3.5 Research Integrity and Ethics<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Starting Out as a Researcher in…<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Beginning your research will involve different questions and activities depending on the nature of your work and the disciplinary area or areas you are working within. These workshops, delivered by your DRDP School Coordinators, will cover questions of research skills and methods, time planning, ethics and communication strategies from your discipline perspective. If your work is interdisciplinary, it may be useful to attend more than one workshop. This workshop will also be repeated for January starters, times tbc<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Starting Out as a Researcher in Arts<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Tuesday 20 January 2026, 14:00-17:00, In Person, Room J1.22, J Block,<\/strong> Harrow<\/strong> Campus<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Book in Inkpath<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Starting Out as a Researcher in Media and Communication<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Wednesday 21 January 2026, 14:00-17:00, In Person, Room TBC, Harrow Campus<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Book in Inkpath<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Starting Out as a Researcher in Business<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Tuesday 20 January 2026, 13:00-17:00<\/strong>, In Person, M113, Marylebone <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Book in Inkpath<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Starting Out as a Researcher in Computer Science, Engineering and Life Sciences<\/strong> (STEMM)<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Day 1:<\/strong> Wednesday 21 January 2026, 14:00-17:00, In Person, Room TBC, New Cavendish<\/strong> Street<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Book in Inkpath<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Day 2: Thursday 22 January 2026, 14:00-17:00, In Person, C105, New Cavendish<\/strong> Street<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Book in Inkpath<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Starting Out as a Researcher in Social Sciences, Law, Humanities and Architecture (SHAPE)<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Day 1:<\/strong> Now being delivered as part of Day 2 – see below<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Book in Inkpath<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Day 2: Thursday 22 January 2026, 13:00-16:00, Online<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Book in Inkpath<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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This workshop aligns with the Vitae Researcher Development Framework descriptors:
1.1 Development Focused; 2.2 Research Methods; 4.1 Communication; 5.1 Research Culture<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Preparing for Annual Progress Reviews (APRs) in…<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Your progress through your degree will be assessed each year (or every other year if you are part-time) through the Annual Progress Review. Preparing for this can be daunting, so this workshop is designed to take the mystery out of the process. Each workshop will explain how the APRs work in specific disciplinary areas and give you the information you need to approach your next APR with confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Preparing for Annual Progress Reviews in Arts, Media and Communication<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Wednesday 18 March 2026, 17:00-19:00, Online.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Book in Inkpath<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Preparing for Annual Progress Reviews in Business<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

New Date! Now – Tuesday 09 March 2026, 14:00-16:00, In Person, Marylebone<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Book in Inkpath<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Preparing for Annual Progress Reviews in Computer Science, Engineering and Life Sciences (STEMM)<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Wednesday 18 March 2026, 14:00-17:00, In Person, New Cavendish Street<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Book in Inkpath<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Preparing for Annual Progress Reviews in Social Sciences, Law, Humanities and Architecture (SHAPE)<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Wednesday 18 March 2026, 10:00-13:00, In Person, Little Titchfield Street.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Book in Inkpath<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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This workshop aligns with the Vitae Researcher Development Framework descriptors:
1.1 Development Focused; 1.2 Strategic; 1.3 Organised; 3.2 Project Management<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Further Essential Workshops – To Attend During Your Doctoral Studies<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ethics in…<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

School DRDP workshop focusing on your ethics and ethics applications for your doctoral research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ethics in Arts, Media and Communication<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n